I am not sure what the going rate for one would be.....but, ultimately, it comes down to it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Go with that and that it is worth it to you. You are obviously enamoured with it, and it gets the eye of your visitors. For you, I would say it was worth it. Now, don't worry about others getting one for less on Ebay. Who knows, maybe those will not work as well, or be as nice as yours. Good luck with it and enjoy it.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
I think you were the real winner !! You won the bidding war & are having fun with it too !!
Thanks, John
The intermodal cranes typically have a street value around $150-200. Based on that assumption, you may have overpaid. But as the others have said, if you really wanted it that bad and you got it, enjoy it. If you're still having buyer's remorse, put it back up on Ebay around Xmas time- you might get lucky and sell it for close to what you paid for it.The important thing to remember about Ebay is do your homework and find out how much the item you what is worth, and to set a max price on what you're willing to pay. Do this for everything you want on Ebay and you will never get sucked into a bidding war again.
Geno
I agree that if you enjoy it and can afford it the cost should not be an issue now. It is great to get something at a rock bottom price....but much better to enjoy it. Be it Trains or telescopes, automobiles or houses...I do not know anyone that never overpayed for at least one item. This is a small price of tuition to the school of hard knocks...and next time you will do better.
In order to prevent over bidding I keep a Greenberg's Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide next to my computer. Mine dates to 2003 but it is close enough.
Jim H
Yep...what Jim said. When I see something on ebay that catches my eye I look at the Greensberg guide and then determine just how much I'm willing to bid. But as others have said...if you're happy with the purchase...then that is what matters. You won....
Jerry
As others have said, the key is that you really enjoy it. Purchase prices will even out over the long run. Some items will be obtained at bargain prices and others you will pay top dollar for. When I look at all the items on my layout now, I no longer remember or care which ones I "paid too much for."
Jim
Yeah, just go ahead and enjoy it. Here's two ways to put things in perspective: Go down to your LHS, pay near or at list for something, and wait 10 years. Then try to sell it and see what you get.
Alternately, this holiday season, rush out to every Hallmark store you can find for the price of $18.99, and buy up all the Lionel Keepsake ornaments. Wait until spring, then put them all on eBay and be thankful if you get $6.00 for any of 'em.
If you wanted it, you got it. Enjoy it. I just went out and bought the B&O PWC set from my LHS because I wanted it - had the same set in the '70's and sold it in '78. Been kicking myself ever since. I don't care WHAT it's worth today or 5 years from now, I'm enjoying it and running it.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
if you are happy with it and it works, that's the first important thing.
as to its worth, consider this.....
the twopack cars sell for 125.
quite a number of forum-ites have paid 280 for the gunderson cars without containers that go for 20 each, two to a car.
there is an ho version of the crane by walthers on ebay right now going for 150
you like it, enjoy it but you probably overpaid for it.
ralph
jimsrpo wrote:As others have said, the key is that you really enjoy it. Purchase prices will even out over the long run. Some items will be obtained at bargain prices and others you will pay top dollar for. When I look at all the items on my layout now, I no longer remember or care which ones I "paid too much for."Jim
Jim hit the nail on the head. And this does not just apply to toy trains.
FYI, Ebay did not get you. As you now know, your emotion got you. And that is what auctions are about.
Rod L.
I have been using E-Bay to buy and sell for quite a few years. When I decide to "buy" something, I give myself a set price (including shipping) and go for it. If I am successful, it is always a terrific deal.
This "older" guy can't worry about what the other guy says about "my deal". AND, if by chance he is correct, I just file the information in my memory bank for future transactions.
If at the time you bought the crane you were happy, so be it. Enjoy!
eBay doesn't "get" anyone. A buyer might get into a deal with a bum seller, or a buyer may "get" himself by not doing his homework or keeping a level head.
It sounds to me like you may have gotten a little carried away, but value is a judgment, not a law, and, if you're happy, you didn't get "got."
Thought you might find this interesting:
http://www.choochooauctions.com/cgi-bin/ua/item.pl?item=48495
Bid $95 or buy now for $149.
"But may I say this, Out of all the Accessories on my layout, Everytime I get a visitor, I always get (tons) of comments how thats the best thing on the layout. May I say myself, It is a great product, It has nver failed on me to this day!"
Sounds like you're getting $400 worth of enjoyment out of it!
Paul
corton wrote: Alternately, this holiday season, rush out to every Hallmark store you can find for the price of $18.99, and buy up all the Lionel Keepsake ornaments. Wait until spring, then put them all on eBay and be thankful if you get $6.00 for any of 'em.
This works great for selling Danbury Mint diecast $100 cars for $40 too.
Happy or not, I think he screwed himself royally by bidding way too high.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
csxt30 wrote: I think you were the real winner !! You won the bidding war & are having fun with it too !! Thanks, John
Heck, I never thought that I would say this, but I agree with John.
Lionel collector, stuck in an N scaler's modelling space.
1. Know what the market value is before you bid? (it may be more or less than the original list price)
2. Is it scarce, are you willing to over market to get it?
3. Go in with your "Max Bid" and let "E-bay" raise it as needed.
4. If you are outbid, they will tell you. While you may not want to loose an item by $1 or $2, do not raise your "Max Bid" more than twice. (but then again, I'm cheap)
5. No mass produced item is worth overpaying, there will be others.
Ever notice on E-bay, if an item sells for a very high price, a few weeks later a 2 or 3 of that item will show up as others try to get that overpriced sale. That's the time to buy.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
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