With train shows almost nonexistant right now (been on the decline on west coast for many years now anyway) and ebay changing things around ( auction listings down 20% at a time they should be way up). By the way I don't know why this forum is against mentioning e-bay, it is an impotant part of the retail chain. Can you imagine with no outlets for used or not wanted stuff how this would affect retail sales, people would be less willing to try new products and be wary of over ordering. Then there can be the cost issue, there was a time when I could not afford new and even though most of my main engines now are retail through an MR retailer, I tend to over order on stuff so not having an outlet will mean less retail buying by me. Another example, recently I ran out of a certain size and color of static grass, bought another medium sized batch, now I will stash the excess but others would want to unload this.
I usually buy stuff from ebay and facebook marketplace (HO buy sell trade group). But there's also a swap group on groups.io that Ive seen. I prefer non-ebay sources cause the ebay selling fee and tax is really discouraging, but its much harder to find what you're looking for in those places.
Im also fortunante enough to be on the northeast area, which has many many train shows.
As far as what to do with leftover layout building materials (such as scenery materials)...tbh they're basically worthless. Donate it to your local club, or give it to a friend, but IMHO its not worth the time or effort to list it on any online site. Maybe sell all of the leftovers as a big lot.
Good luck,
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
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Trainman440 Maybe sell all of the leftovers as a big lot.
Maybe sell all of the leftovers as a big lot.
Rich
Alton Junction
rrebellway I don't know why this forum is against mentioning eBay, it is an impotant part of the retail chain.
Overmod rrebell way I don't know why this forum is against mentioning eBay, it is an impotant part of the retail chain. It's not mentioning eBay that's the issue. It's talking about (or grousing about) eBay policies or performance... or advocating a particular item or seller there, which violates the TOS about not using the forum for commercial advocacy.
rrebell way I don't know why this forum is against mentioning eBay, it is an impotant part of the retail chain.
It's not mentioning eBay that's the issue. It's talking about (or grousing about) eBay policies or performance... or advocating a particular item or seller there, which violates the TOS about not using the forum for commercial advocacy.
Donate to a local model club?
Youth club?
Other model railroaders?
Things like static grass, ballast, etc... that are purely "left overs" are not worth the hassle of posting for sale, on the bay or off.
I will actually applaud the bay for the move that many complained about recently - it allowed me to find at a spectacular price a OOP Bowser locomotive that is very hard to find because they normally go higher than when new. This lightly used one went for under retail when new....
So them "breaking saved searches" with a change they made helped me out in that case.
YMMV.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I have a question, how much time does it take to complete the sale until the money is in the bank when selling online?
You take photos and create the listing.
You monitor the listing.
You deal with closing the deal.
You have to package the thing up.
You stand in line at the Post Office and may even have to make a special trip @$.68km.
Unless you are selling for some serious coin, the rate of return for your time would seem pretty low.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Really, no model railroad is ever complete until the owner goes to the big roundhouse in the sky. Save scenery materials, roadbed, and bits of everything. You'll use them again.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasleySave scenery materials, roadbed, and bits of everything. You'll use them again.
Scenery needs to be retouched and refereshed over time. Save your leftovers.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190MisterBeasley Save scenery materials, roadbed, and bits of everything. You'll use them again. Scenery needs to be retouched and refereshed over time. Save your leftovers. -Kevin
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
BATMAN I have a question, how much time does it take to complete the sale until the money is in the bank when selling online? You take photos and create the listing. You monitor the listing. You deal with closing the deal. You have to package the thing up. You stand in line at the Post Office and may even have to make a special trip @$.68km. Unless you are selling for some serious coin, the rate of return for your time would seem pretty low.
On the scenery note, this was just a generalized example, most of what I need to get rid of are engines, cars and craftsman kits. Engines include things like a Backmann E-Z App, just didn't like using my phone to operate a train and a BLI NW2 that dose not like one turnout (engine defect which could be fixed but the handrails on this are chunky and I have a Kato one with DCC to take its place).
Local hobby shops will do used engines, cars, kits.
Not sure where on the west coast you are from, but a few shops have started doing very good business in Cali. One I know of is constantly listing pre-owned loco's & cars, and sells a good deal of them pretty quickly.
West coast roadnames go best at least at his location, so SP, UP, ATSF, etc... But he has done a few east coast, like PRR & NS.
Other options, as were mentioned, other than the bay, are the FB & groups.io swap and sale groups.
No experience with the FB ones, as I despise FB and refuse to have a account on FB.
Bay area, about 30 miles but no public transportaion near them and with traffic even if I had a car, it could take an hour each way. Only two real shops left in the bay area with a few very small places here or there, used to be dozens.
ricktrains4824 Local hobby shops will do used engines, cars, kits. Not sure where on the west coast you are from, but a few shops have started doing very good business in Cali. One I know of is constantly listing pre-owned loco's & cars, and sells a good deal of them pretty quickly. West coast roadnames go best at least at his location, so SP, UP, ATSF, etc... But he has done a few east coast, like PRR & NS. Other options, as were mentioned, other than the bay, are the FB & groups.io swap and sale groups. No experience with the FB ones, as I despise FB and refuse to have a account on FB.
I literally never use facebook except for the buy sell trade page...would much rather pay paypal 2% fees instead of ebays ridiculous 12.5% fees. And when buying I like to save on taxes and negotiate with the seller.
Selection is very limited though, not much steam.
Count me in for the HO swap site.
One more vote for the ho swap site.
groups.io/g/HOswap/search?p=Created,,,20,2,0,0&d=3
(put "https://" in front of that)
Who stands behind the trades on HO swap site. Had enough deals go bad on ebay to know you need someone to cover your interests.
kasskaboose Count me in for the HO swap site. [
Me too!
Jim