Value of Cox fuel cans?

We were thinking of listing them for $49 (which includes a $10 surcharge for shipping as we only charge a low flat-fee for our merchandise).

Looks as if we are getting a pallet of them and would ask the vendor to dump the fuel before shipping. Shipping fuel from Canada costs about $80 or so.

I am assuming that the fuel is stale anyhow?

That aside, we can ship sans fuel for like $20 internationally as, without fuel, the kits squeak in just under 1/2 KG weight. Add a few grams and the shipping cost goes up to $40.

Sealed in cans the fuel lasts a good long time. I used fuel from the late 60's that worked as if it was fresh.

Too bad you have to dump the fuel. I assume you can't dump it down the drain? Best bet may be to burn it.

Ron

If the full fuel cans were stored in a reasonably stable environment, it's probably still good for your own personal use, but I think it's a risky choice to sell. So if you're a fuelaholic like some of us, you may want to keep a few full ones for yourself. It's pretty high nitro stuff. If it's clear and pink, fire it up.

Rusty

I was thinking of keeping some fuel for myself, yes.

However, shipping fuel is totally out of the question.

We will have the vendor dispose of the fuel before they ship to us.

"Dispose of the fuel..."

Ouch. Makes me cringe. But I guess you gotta do what you gotta do...

I'm assuming the kits is being sold as more of a collector's item rather than for practical use.

Collector as well as practical. One can always refill the fuel cans.

The other option is to sell in pieces:

$20 battery box with clip
$8 two OEM wrenches
$10 - $15 Empty fuel can
$2 Chicken stick

Cox International wrote:
Looks as if we are getting a pallet of them and would ask the vendor to dump the fuel before shipping. Shipping fuel from Canada costs about $80 or so.

I am assuming that the fuel is stale anyhow?

A "pallet".. is how many pints (approximately)?? I would understand that to be a $#@&LOAD of pints! Sure; people would buy a nice empty can.. they'd buy a nice "full" can too... if it hasn't spoiled. If it's all been stored as a lot; then opening one can and testing... should tell whether "it's all good" (literally). If the fuel is still good... why not drop-ship the pallet to a business partner in the U.S.? I guess it all depends on what you have into it for costs. Can "vintage" fuel be sold? If I saw a full Cox pint.. in a nice can for $15... I'd personally buy it.

Just sayin"   
Roddie

I would bet that fuel is still good. Do you have a full can of it with you right now? I had a can of that fuel and it was some good stuff (it was old too, I used it up a few years ago). So were the later plastic bottles of it like pictured on the package. I would at least keep a good 10-15 cans or so full for yourself. Has the fuel been dumped yet? I haven't looked exactly into how the HazMat shipping works and pricing, but these other outfits seem to get by with selling pint/quart and gallon size bottles of fuel for reasonable shipping prices. I could see how it would be trouble with the international shipping and customs. Does Matt not want to go in on it with you (or do you not want him to LOL)? With him being in the US, perhaps the shipping would be cheaper (at least to us US guys) and the fuel wouldn't need to be wasted. I just hate to hear about the fuel being wasted.

If you are going to have them emptied anyway, I would school the sellers of it on how to empty them properly without popping a hole in the bottom or denting the can by squeezing them out. I'm sure you know but in case you don't, the cans have a filter cap in the top that would need to be carefully pulled out before they could be poured out easily. In the can I have, its not the easiest to just pull out. I'm sure you have plenty of new filter caps to replace them with so if they do get destroyed from being removed, you could just toss a new one of those in.

As long as it isn't traveling out of the US I am pretty sure pints and quarts avoid the haz-mat issues. Have your US partner verify this. (I know Brodak and SIG don't charge extra shipping for quarts)

Phil

They are still counting but looks to be over 200 starter kits.

This is something we need to ship from our location as we offer flat-fee combined shipping and many, if not most, buyers will add other merchandise to their order to take advantage of the low $5.95 shipping cost per order.

Checking historical sales, there should be no problem getting $10 for the empty cans but I think we will simply offer the sets as is for $49.

Admin wrote: I just hate to hear about the fuel being wasted.

If you are going to have them emptied anyway, I would school the sellers of it on how to empty them properly without popping a hole in the bottom or denting the can by squeezing them out. I'm sure you know but in case you don't, the cans have a filter cap in the top that would need to be carefully pulled out before they could be poured out easily. In the can I have, its not the easiest to just pull out. I'm sure you have plenty of new filter caps to replace them with so if they do get destroyed from being removed, you could just toss a new one of those in.

That's a good point.. I know I busted at least one small screwdriver.. prying those caps out... the cans are worth nothing if they're damaged from being emptied impatiently... and "I just hate to hear about the fuel being wasted..."   

Roddie

Cox International wrote:
We will have the vendor dispose of the fuel before they ship to us.

  

Still though, I think some kind of deal should be done to save at least some of that fuel. Sure, empty some cans to sell in the kit but set a number aside to sell to the hardcore collectors. An exception to your low shipping prices for that very special and rare product wouldn't be bad.

At least obtain one can of it to inspect, make sure it hasn't separated, isn't full of particles, if it smells rancid, if its too thick from evaporation...

Yes, I have smelled rancid fuel before, it was some old 70s gallon cans of K&B fuel a hobby shop up north had some years ago. One can was full and you could tell it held its seal but the other one felt like it has evaporated some and smelled awful. A friend of mine bought the good can of K&B, I have no idea how good it really was though.

I am not sure if you all understand correctly.

The product is located in Canada and would cost a fortune simply to ship to us with fuel in the cans.

To ship individual cans outside of the country is so cost-prohibitive, that we would likely never sell a can of it. No one is going to pay us $80 to ship a can of fuel.

To ship the pallet to the USA for re-ship would cost about $2,000, which negates the anticipated $10 per can we might get more if they were full. So what's the point?

The value of the fuel in a case lot of 200 should have you considering picking it up where ever it is in Canada..... I had a 40+ year old pint can of missile mist that a local offered me $50 for until I admitted to him that Fox still sells the same formula..... Sealed metal cans is the absolute best way to store the stuff and I bet over 90% of the 200 pints are very usable

TRUE actual shipping to USA would make price prohibitive.... but on the other hand...YOU would personally have a long lasting supply for your use!

Cox International wrote:
The product is located in Canada and would cost a fortune simply to ship to us with fuel in the cans.

I see, so the kits are located in Canada...   . I guess I assumed they were located in the US which would be cheaper to distribute the fuel. Do what you have to do, its still a shame. Just be sure they empty the cans carefully so they don't get marked up or damaged. You should have no problem getting $40-50 for a complete kit with a nice empty can. Those starting kit boxes are cool. I do refill and use my can, it adds to the engine starting experience. You should get about $10 for a single empty can. If you did find some way to lower the shipping cost, for a full mint condition authentic original can, you should have no trouble getting at least $20-25 for it.


In a matter of fact, look at this http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-Cox-Thimble-Drome-Tether-Car-Plane-Boat-Glow-Fuel-Metal-Can-FULL-/111243120968?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item19e69b5148

The empty cans we can ship for like under $10 but I think the complete kits will be the way to go.

We also have over 4,000 of the fuel can caps here to replace any damaged ones and, of course, the vendor will be gentle with the cans.

You shouldn't have mentioned the fuel Bernie!!!   

Maybe Duke or Dave could take a drive up to BC to grab it....

I see your point of disposing it, but boy it would be nice to run that stuff through my engines.

Oh well, as Jason said  

Twenty five gallons of fuel... (200+ pints right?)   

I've got an Australian "Duster"... could probably fit a dozen pints in the pockets...   

When will the kits or individual peices be available?  

craig bernard wrote:When will the kits or individual peices be available?  

Need to pay for them and get them shipped. A few weeks perhaps?

I could run my old blue truck across the border, fill a bunch of quart mason jars, and un back to the states like a moonshiner.