What's up with recent eBay beer reefer prices?

[bennerc]

Anybody notice a couple of sky high bids currently out on eBay for some of Lionel's MPC era billboard reefers [?]
$183 for a 9850 Budweiser ?
$180 for a 9862 Hamm's ?
$76 for a 9859 Pabst ?
[:0] At meets, these are $20-40 reefers!!

Part of the recent eBay "marketing" for these items states that they are "discontinued" or can no longer be produced due to "current government regulations on advertising alcohol and tobacco..."

Does anybody know where that's coming from ? I heard that rumor a couple of years ago, but...

- In 2002, Walthers teamed with Lionel to create a couple of wonderful Miller reefers albeit with a special label on the box end: "Adult collectible... Recommended for ages 21 and up."
- Also in 2002, LOTS created a beautiful Schlitz reefer.

Does anyone know if this is really the end [xx(] of our "production" beer reefers ?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Sounds like a scam to me. But then I own a full set of the beer, and the tobacco, and the hard liquor cars. As long as you see beer commercials on TV, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

[Anonymous]

EBAY Prices are sometimes below market value on NEW Items where sellers break even or loose money risking an item on an auction. However, small town living without a hobby shop in your area or where hobby shops are available the product may not be, then people are willing to pay over retail on an item to have them. Additionally, buyers often get into bidding wars not willing to walk away at any price which makes the price much higher. Some software companies make bidding software so that you are assured to win the item you want. Get two people using the this software and the item will surely be at a higher price. Although you will also find many items that are not in production and often rare on Ebay too. And most sellers are very honest people. On the production side****LICENCES ****Many items are often removed from licence which allows a company whether LIONEL, ATHEARN Etc, to use their LOGO's producing cars. This makes them become scrace but not rare. They also go out of production after a run to avoid force pricing down before they release the items again which allows getting the MSRP. While the US Gov has regulated advisements of cigarettes on radio and TV they have not forced the end of production of tobacco Cars or Billboard Reefers of our favorite brews. Manufactures, licence and the negotiated terms $ "MONEY" set these limitations. PRODUCTION will continue on most items as long as the price is right...Some things to aviod: Sellers who state I know nothing about trains but surely know how to price the item. Good luck and Cheers............

[Algonquin]

If I am remembering correctly, *** Maddox made a comment, when he was still in charge at Lionel, that Lionel would not directly market "alcohol" cars. I believe these comments were made a couple years ago. The impression I got was that they were doing this since Lionel products are directly advertised to children. Last year, Lionel did produce two Miller cars to be distributed through one of the major collector clubs (LOTS?) which does not directly sell to children.

I have been picking the cars up this year. I have purchased them from hobby shops and Ebay. I have paid less than $50 for each of them. Ebay can get a little wild once in a while. But keep watching and you should be able to pick them up for more reasonable prices.

[Anonymous]

Have you seen some of the prices that MTH Rolling Rock cars have been going for? I have seen most sell for $75 - $100.