I relisted some items that didn't get sold for months during last summer break. Literally within a few hours, 5 items were puchased by buyers!
I'v also purchased more than usual, there's been lots more deals on "restoration required" engines these days...
Seems like many people now have free time to sell off some stuff, and others finally have time to enjoy the hobby. Have you felt the increased activity?
Although its putting a strain on USPS and others, if you were planning to one day sell something, I recommend selling it now...there's lots more buyers now than before.
Charles
PS I do apologize if this should go under the coronavirus post, but I think this relates to the hobby enough to have its own forum.
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Modeling the Santa Fe & Pennsylvania in HO
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLb3FRqukolAtnD1khrb6lQ
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Does not surprise me, since the LHS are mostly closed, so it's the few that are open for mail order, or eBay. And many people have more time on their hands for hobby activities. Unfortunately I long ago thinned my herd so I have little or anything to sell off right now - usually Summer is a hard time to move model railroad equipment.
Reminds me, I need to order some roadbed, I'm almost to the point where I can put some track down. Only available on eBay.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have noticed that prices for many items I have interest in have gone up.
Now is the time to start auctions for $1.00 and let it ride. The active bidders are out there and running up the prices.
I have not scored many bargains since the quarantine became a thing, and some items I have seen relisted every week for months have been sold.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I usually sell my unwanted models in bulk to a freind or train show dealer I know.. I find its easier that way..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Hello guys!
Regarding the strain on the USPS: Considering the thousands of hardworking people that lost their jobs, due to the pandemic, imho many post office workers are likely grateful for the additional mail and packages! I hope that they all remain employed.
On another note, I'm still purchasing items on ebay and am finding good bargains, in spite of the increased activity! Just takes patience.
The older run Walthers passenger cars are, generally, still selling for what they were 2 to 3 years ago. Since I'm paint stripping them anyway (for metalizing), I target the least popular road names, which often works out well (Yes, one of my shopping strategies but I'm always glad to help fellow modelers). But of course, if you're looking for specific, factory painted units then you'll find that some of the more popular road names might start at higher bidding prices.
For some Santa Fe modelers, you may find good deals since ebay is saturated with HO Santa Fe equipment. This may contribute to the prices being reasonable since sellers, with identical equipment, are competing against each other.
Overall, for passenger rail modelers, this seems to be a good time for finding wanted, out of production models.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Heh - It's been sort of a two month version of what I tend to do during blizzards in winter when I feel antsy and house-bound. I suspect the confinement/safer at home situation resulted in a fair number of us rummaging through boxes and shelves of model railroad stuff taking stock of what we have while looking for projects. That always results in "discoveries" that are either swap meet or Ebay (for those who do Ebay, I don't) material. Or trash can material.
I can see that several of my neighbors must have taken the opportunity to clean out garages or attics based on the junk I see set out for the garbage/recycling people.
I know my wife has done some sorting and cleaning and re arranging and we have boxes of stuff for Goodwill. But her sock drawer and cookbook collection are now both totally organized. And I now have all of my 2-56 screws together in one container.
The advent of nicer weather outdoors will slow this phenomenon down a bit. I am spending less time at the workbench not just because it is finally nice outside and there is garlic mustard to pull, but our basement this time of year is the coolest/coldest/dampest part of the house and I almost need a sweater down there while I am in shorts and T shirts upstairs. But I do need to get down there and finish the last two cars of my "cushion underframe extended coupler pocket" project before I forget all the little techniques I learned for using the aftermarket parts. Plus I need to prepare for the clinics I have agreed to give this fall.
Dave Nelson
dknelsonI know my wife has done some sorting and cleaning and re arranging and we have boxes of stuff for Goodwill.
When Goodwill opened up last week, the line of cars dropping off donations went around the building.
I have 6 boxes of stuff my wife put together to give to them.
It's not just eBay; according to news, online purchases in general are up, reportedly because people are bored at home and buying stuff.
I'm still purchasing items on ebay and am finding good bargains, in spite of the increased activity! Just takes patience. The older run Walthers passenger cars are, generally, still selling for what they were 2 to 3 years ago.
The older run Walthers passenger cars are, generally, still selling for what they were 2 to 3 years ago.
That's pretty much same for me and what I'm observing.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
My best friend runs an online store for RC model sailboats and his sales have been off the charts since the health crissis started. I think this goes for most hobbies in general. We had a very chilly and damp spring, so most outdoor stuff at home was on hold much longer, so model trains kept selling locally. The local shop said they were quite busy with phone in and online orders that the buyer would either have shipped or stop by and pick up in person as this shop is based out of the owners house in a seperate building. Keeping cabin fever at bay is best done with a good hobby! Mikie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Accually the number of lisying never got above x-mas listings and is still running a bit higher but not by that much, yeah I follow this stuff. As far as price it depends on what it is. Craftsman kits can be had cheap along with alot of brass, othere items are going for a premium.
rrebell Craftsman kits can be had cheap along with alot of brass
I search for "ho brass" in auction format every day. Listing of brass auctions have easily quadrupled since the stay at home orders began.
There are a lot of models that show up very rarely getting listed.
The starting bids are all over the place. Many as low as 99 cents, and some three times what the value of the model is.
Brasstrains Dot Com of Ocala, Florida is also listing a lot more models than normal recently. Sometimes two or three pages in a single day. Many at very low prices.
It is a circus right now in the brass model world.
I'm not sure whether the total number of listings through all categories is up, but I am not seeing it in the model railroad searches that I do on a regular basis.
The number of certain brass locos listed has dropped in recent weeks rather than gone up. I kept expecting to see an uptick but it doesn't look much different to me than it usually does. The items that are overpriced still sit there like they always do.
One thing to consider is that many people stopped all discretionary spending when the pandemic hit due to finacial uncertainty - whether it be loss of job, loss of hours on the job or stock market uncertainty. This may be offsetting those who are buying more to keep themselves busy....
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I have tried to keep my brass buys to what Dan gets in at Brasstrains. To many non train people selling estates that have no idea how to properly ship brass. Like Kevin, I watch the cheaper side of diesels on Brasstrains like a hawk and grab a deal when I can. Being able to do my own repair work, repowering and so forth helps. Even parts engines get my money once and awhile to keep my stash of spare parts stocked up as I do rework for others on older brass engines. Most new stuff has little to no interest for me. Older kits, older brass and estates tables once shows start up again are where I shop. I give Dan and his crew down there in Florida 5 out of 5 stars for accurate descriptions of models, excellent and fair pricing along with steller packing for a safe journey to me. While my wife and I havent gone hog wild on spending. We have saved back enough that with the extra boost from the Fed, we have been able to do some work/upgrades to our Jeeps and I have been able to get a few train items. If we do not spend some $$, the economy will stall out even more. We have to buy to keep things moving, even if its in small ways. For those that love vintage brass and can buy, its a buyers market right now and will be for some time to come IMHO. Mikie
Oh boy yes indeed. Lets see here I have made about 20 purchases on ebay since March. I think its fun just researching what equipment I want and more than likely its on ebay.
And I just received my stimulus money, so I will keep buying right now.
I have been keeping busy with my new layout, but dang Im sure getting cabin fever and need to get out and see people. They just now started opening retail shops so Im gonna visit my LHS.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Another thing to note, a big chunk of listings in trains on e-bay are not viable, things like mirroer listings.
trainnut1250One thing to consider is that many people stopped all discretionary spending when the pandemic hit due to finacial uncertainty - whether it be loss of job, loss of hours on the job or stock market uncertainty. This may be offsetting those who are buying more to keep themselves busy.... Guy
That is probably true for some, but apparently it doesn't explain the additional online buying spree. Perhaps that is a boost which offset those who are spending less.
I actually recently learned about the OR command on Ebay. Its super useful.
For example, instead of searching
-BLI ATSF
-BLI Santa Fe
-Broadway Ltd ATSF
-Broadway Ltd Santa Fe
-Broadway Limited ATSF
-Broadway Limited Santa Fe
I just search: (BLI,Broadway Ltd,Broadway Limited) (ATSF,Santa Fe), and every combination comes up!
This can be applied to things like "reefer" and "refrigerator", or "Observation" and "Obs".
You'd be surprised how many ways a seller can write a title for a listing!
You don't even know how complex my "ho brass" search is
Im sure most are aware of this little trick, but for those who weren't its worth knowing.
emdmikeI have tried to keep my brass buys to what Dan gets in at Brasstrains. To many non train people selling estates that have no idea how to properly ship brass.
I will agree with you whole-heartedly on that point.
Every purchase I have made from Brasstrains Dot Com has been packaged carefully and securely.
I bought a Key light USRA 4-8-2 on eBay once that was just tossed into a bigger box. The locomotive came out of the original Key box in transit. Miraculously it arrived undamaged.
Trainman440I actually recently learned about the OR command on Ebay.
Ebay used to have a long tutorial on their community pages that explained the proper syntax to use in the search fields to make better searches.
I have saved searches with all kinds of special commands in them.
It was a sad day when eBay did away with the wildcard character "*". Many of my searches used this character to filter out much of the chaff and clutter from my searches. They say it's no longer necessary, but my searches have been much less specific and concentrated.
And don't forget the "-" in searches to filter out what you don't want to see, e.g. "-(cups,plates,spoons)" if you don't want to see ATSF cups, plates or spoons.
JohnnypopperIt was a sad day when eBay did away with the wildcard character "*".
Very sad indeed.
One of my Warhammer armies is the "Bretonnian" army, and that would be mispelled countless different ways when people listed them.
The wildcard character let me search for:
"warhammer" +(bret*)
Then I could find most of the mispelled listings.
This was surprising... a Key USRA Heavy 2-10-2 did not even make it to $200.00 when the bids were over.
E-bay listings back to normal for this time of year.
Summer time has started and volume has dropped, as usual, IMO.
- Douglas
It ussually started going down in Feb though.
It seemed to me the prime Ebay activity has generally been January through April tax day.
On eBay the purchase of newer items seems almost impossible for the prices being asked. There are allot of sellers and dealers that are out their minds with the prices they are asking.I have bought nothing on eBay in months due to this but have bought from some of my favorite dealers like train world, MTS.
NOW if you want used there are some good buys on eBay but it's a crap shoot most of the time.
Brass seems to be all over place in price and qua!ity. I stay away from brass because today's models being made are far superior than almost anything in brass. Now if you pay top dollar for some the brass being made today of which I can't and even if I had the money I would not spend it on brass. But if you can more power to you, have fun.
Dave
The level of activity certainly depends on demand. Yes, there are PLENTY of old cars, but I've not seen what I need and might get through an online store.
Amazon also is doing well with MR-related sales.
Another Ebay trick is to use the minus sign for things you don't want. Try searching HO Consolidated Loco vs
HO Consolidated Loco -Bachmann
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
When this thread started back on May 25th, I didn't think that eBay activity was "through the roof". I agree with others that the bulk of model railroading activity is from December through April with the peak period being in January and February.
Rich
Alton Junction