There's probably also a "clean out the attic" effect to be considered at this time of year too. I've noticed a definate surge in rare, and I mean really trully rare items in the last 3 years since the economy began tanking. With so many people suffering long term unemployment, a lot of people are being forced to sell family heirlooms wether they're using them or not. The Christmas season is just a natural time to do that.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
A few sellers such as Trainz.com start the bidding at a very minimum, Trainz.com starts most bids at 99 cents. It is then up to the bidders to decide what the item is worth. When I see an item that I would like I put in a bid at around 40% of what the item is worth, a lot of times that bid will hold up, if not I will wait till the next time that item shows up.
Bill T.
Rich: Kev: RTrain: Wally: Thanks for your 'thoughtful' replies. Appreciate it.
It's a tough call for buyers and sellers where to draw the line as far as what is fair. You can tell that a lot of sellers don't know what they have is worth. Some prices and descriptions that call an item rare are ridiculous with a price to match. Some you almost feel like you are robbing the guy as he does not know the value of what he's got. Its always the luck of the draw, and it does not help that the USPS after the beginning of the year will probably have a price increase .My experience as both a buyer and seller is that price guides are more of an academic mind game than reality in the market. Buyers sometimes forget the competition between sellers,,you think you got an inside line and five other guys list the same item. Then what? When you list something and the time of day you do it is critical..most guys work and Ive had several watchers who always wait until the last minute and then it expires during the work day..I lose, they lose.
.Its a rare day when an item is priced appropriately on Ebay on either side of the coin.Thats why I don't trust the going price to set my own price when I sell..there is more often than not a fifty dollar spread on identical items. How much you want to sell and how much you are motivated to spend has a lot to do with self discipline which is tough to do. I have let some items that I really wanted ..let them go just because the price jumped the shark and I don't want to give away anything I sell. Sticking with a budget ..is really tough on both sides of the fence.
The G market comes into Spring, I pulled four items, and sold one..in the northern climes..weather and outdoor railroading well, you have to really be motivated tor nuts o go out at ten below to run a train in the drifts.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
To me back in June till October I believe as a hole the prices where down some from what the starting prices are on a lot and theres some sellers that you just have to watch from the word go ( I'm talking about a power seller) That has a habit of one selling items with false description ( I know of one forum member got an item stated nib and it was far from that) and also list items for more than what it would cost you to get it from Lionel and pay Lionel's shipping.
Shipping has raised the price of a lot of items especially if they list it as free shipping as you know there going to add the cost of shipping into the starting price.
I try when selling to list an item at a price which I think is very fair.
Yes prices are up for what I can see.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
I would think it is because it Tis The Season and there are more people looking for things and the sellers know it and are taking advantage of the situation just like retailers do
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
My son is a Power Seller on eBay, so I get a lot of good information, as well as interesting perspectives, from him.
Some items, including anything related to the model railroad hobby, are seasonal in nature. eBay sellers definitely target the month of December as the one of the very best times to sell items relating to the model railroad hobby. But, in fact, the best month is January, once the Holidays are over and winter has set in.
As far as increased prices go, that may or may not be true for Buy It Now pricing, but a lot of stuff sold on ebay is still carried on with the traditional auction system. So, increased prices only occur there if the seller sets a higher starting bid or if the potential buyers get carried away in their bidding.
Regarding "rare items", or perhaps the better term is "hard to find" items, eBay sellers definitely hold back on listing these items until the December-January time frame when higher winning bids are more likely to occur for the reasons already stated.
I personally know several forum members who time all of their selling activity to the December-January time frame.
So, indeed, Tis The Season.
Rich
Alton Junction
Just wondering......Is it my conception or is 'Tis the season' for increased prices and "rare" items listed on E-Bay? There are still good deals out there but they are more difficult to find during the holidays.
PLEASE .......... I know that there are a lot of negative opinions of E-Bay ....Let's not get into that.
As always, thanks for reading.
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