Hi!
Been there, done that!
I've been an Ebay seller/buyer for about 10 years, electing to sell train stuff in the winters (best price, most customers). Your description sounds like you have quality items that should sell well.
I suggest listing the locos separately over a period of a few weeks (so to not compete against yourself), and bundling the KD cars in groups of 2 or 4. Trackage can be bundled as well.
Ebay is not the only way to sell them, and it does involve some work on your part. But the return - even after Ebay and Paypal fees - is probably higher than you will get elsewhere.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Friends,
I never know whether to take up the bandwidth to do it, but I want to express my thanks to all who responded to my question. Your answers were very helpful, and of course I'll be giving each of you a cut of the take when I finally sell my old stuff--unless I discover that starting a new HO DCC layout (with sound, naturally) costs a bit more than I'm hoping!
A good topic! Being the co-promotor of a large mid Atlantic show, I'd love to say train shows are the best market for used equipment, but this is not always the case. We have several thousand attendees at each show, and mostly looking for bargains. Ain't nothin' wrong with that as that is the way of it.
If you go the show route, you may want to consider some marketing tips. If your items are common un- weathered or customized plastic locos and freight cars with an average street value of around $5 per car, $25 for used diesels(DC) and possibly around one third of steam loco retail tag, you should consider how to create a feeding frenzy. No table cover, place items randomly on table in or out of boxes, but with no order.....just tossed any which way. If you price items, know what your bottom price is. I have seen literally hundreds of these feeding frenzies, and many have sold out in the first few hours...some during set-up. Many have had good results with sign...."make offer" Special lighting is not important with this route....you want to set the stage for a fire sale.
Now for well built structures, kit built wood rolling stock. good electronics, and brass locos (or really well enhanced die cast or plastic locos) usually works with a better presentation as your possible buyer will be in an upgrade class or possible collector. Here, a good table cover is recommended, spot lights ( assuming hall is poorlly lighted), items in boxes, pricing on everything and possible descriptions. Again be prepared for haggling, but as long as you know your bottom price, you may do well. Above all....research current values and price accordingly. You may want to attend a few shows first to test waters.
I'd also place some itmes on the show consignment tables (white elephant).
Well built structures usually sell rather well. Common plastic buidings assembled with poor or no paint other than moulded color...not so unless at give away prices.
Usually a good collection will be picked over by first customers. Many at shows end will sell remaning items to a dealer at wholesale or possibly lower prices vs renting more tables at future shows. Still my experience tells me that this is a better way to go than ebay. ebay???I f you factor in your time in doing listings, packing and shipping (ebay, I hear ebay now charges a steep commission on shiping fees) and other ebay fees, you are probably better off selling to the dealer as long as his offer seems fair.
Bottom line....model railroad items were purchased for your enjoyment....rarely and investment. Be of a mind set, that you have enjoyed owning and playing with these toys. When and if it becomes time to let go, try to remember that the value was in your enjoyment.
HZ
Try: Trainsand stuff, HOSwap, HOSwap2; all @ Yahoo Groups. Have been on these for some time. Some GOOD FOLKS running these sites! My 2 cents.......papaHOsmurf in NH
G Paine Why do this??? Because you can claim the value as a charitable contribution on your income taxes, and you will get many more dollars from this than you could by trying to sell them at train shows or EBay. I realize this is not cash in hand, but it saves a lot of work and hassle for you.
Why do this??? Because you can claim the value as a charitable contribution on your income taxes, and you will get many more dollars from this than you could by trying to sell them at train shows or EBay. I realize this is not cash in hand, but it saves a lot of work and hassle for you.
While I have no problem with donating items, I sort of disagree with your premise that anyone will get more dollars from claiming the donation on a tax return rather than selling the items outright. This is because you can only claim whatever the fair value of the item is, not the original price. Further, it takes a lot of deductions to get to the current standard deduction, so any incremental deduction increase that doesn't get you over that amount does nothing for you. Better to have cash in hand in my opinion.
An alternative to sellng is to donate your items to a model railroad club or similar non-profit. Just be sure they are a 401.3.c non-profit organization and will give you a confirmation of your donation. You should tell them the value of the items donated and this should be stated in their confirmation along with a statement of their non-profit status.
The group I volunteer with does this, and we have trouble selling HO scale freight cars with kadee couplers for more than $4 to $7 - even at a big show like Amhurst. N scale items sell for similar amounts. Locomotives go for $10 to $20 depending on manufacturer and condition, although your locos probably would got for more than this. We had some N buildings last winter that sold for under $10 each. Used track goes for about $5 or less for a bundle of 10 pieces. Figures and detail parts are dufficult to sell; we put a bunch in a baggie for a dollar or two.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
AltonFan Due to economic setbacks, I am in the process of liquidating my model railroad equipment, my personal library, and some other personal effects. I am working with a local "ebay store". This particular store has been around for a while and has some experience selling model railroad equipment. The downside is that the ebay store deducts costs and fees, and then takes a 35% commission. Another downside is that they will refuse to sell items for which they cannot acertain a potential market price, or feel that there is too little potential return. On the other hand, they have a studio to photograph the lots, they have experience marketing the stuff, they collect the payments, they handle the shipping, and they deal with the customers. If you have the time, and are in a position to do the work, this might not be a good solution. But in my circumstances, this has represented the best way to deal with a bad situation.
Due to economic setbacks, I am in the process of liquidating my model railroad equipment, my personal library, and some other personal effects. I am working with a local "ebay store". This particular store has been around for a while and has some experience selling model railroad equipment.
The downside is that the ebay store deducts costs and fees, and then takes a 35% commission. Another downside is that they will refuse to sell items for which they cannot acertain a potential market price, or feel that there is too little potential return. On the other hand, they have a studio to photograph the lots, they have experience marketing the stuff, they collect the payments, they handle the shipping, and they deal with the customers.
If you have the time, and are in a position to do the work, this might not be a good solution. But in my circumstances, this has represented the best way to deal with a bad situation.
Those eBay resellers are quite common. Years ago I used a local outfit to sell off the remains of my G-scale. (Having decided the climate in Iowa was not all that conducive to true Garden railroading.) As you said, it was convienient and easy, but you give up a substantial percentage of the sale price. Now I have an eBay seller's account. I have a digital camera to upload my own photos, I use USPS flat rate shipping for delivery, and I only accept PayPal as payment. It's not that hard at all, and the fees I pay to eBay are a fraction of what I used to pay to the consignment shop. I would recommend it to anybody.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Dan
Went to local annual train show here in NH in June. Brought 6 surplus HO locos, 4 RR photo books with me. Sold all books, 4 locos; made $185 and was extremely happy! If there's an upcoming area train show near your, try it, My 2 cents. GOOD LUCK ......papaHOsmurf
I have changed scales twice in the past. I have used eBay, and I have sold items at swap meets. My personal experience is that the latter is often more effective than the former for moving lots of items quickly.
You can identify swap meets and train shows in your area by looking at the Events calendar here at Trains.com. It's found under the Resources heading, right here at the top of the website. In most cases clicking on the item's information link will get you a name and an email address of someone who you can contact regarding reserving a booth or table. They should also advise you regarding their state's rules regarding the collection and payment of sales tax. Many states have a single-sale exemption rule that covers those of us who don't do this sort of thing for a living.
You then have to figure out how you are going to price, pack, transport, and display the items you want to sell. You might want to make up a sign indicating whether you will take checks, or accept cash only. Remember you are selling used equipment, and there will be those who want to haggle over even your low,low prices. You will have to decide how you want to deal with those situations.
As long as you limit yourself to single-day events, close to home, you shouldn't incur a lot of travel and hotel costs. Plus you get to experience the camraderie of fellow model railroaders. What you don't sell, you can eBay later.
slammin HOYardsale has been mentioned, but the OP stated that he was changing TO HO from N scale. HOYradsale is limited to HO sale items only and will be no help to him.
HOYardsale has been mentioned, but the OP stated that he was changing TO HO from N scale. HOYradsale is limited to HO sale items only and will be no help to him.
oops - I knew that.... my bad
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
HOYardsale has been mentioned, but the OP stated that he was changing TO HO from N scale. HOYradsale is limited to HO sale items only and will be no help to him. Perhaps there is a similar site for N scale. If he can find a train show or swap meet in his area, that is the best way to get it over and done with. Tables are usually cheap. Price things reasonably, and the stuff will sell. Look around the show and find a dealer with a lot of N scale items. At the end of the show, approach him about buying your leftovers. That way you will go home with empty boxes and full pockets! Ebay may net you more money, but it is a lot more work.
Looking at the list I would say the items of value are the cars, locos, kits, switches and figures. Keep some of the castings, you can use them in HO.
The choice of selling method has somewhat to do with the amount of time and effort you want to put into this. I would do a quick estimate of what you paid for all of the stuff. Expect to get somewhere between 30-60% of the original value back out of it. Decide how hard you want to work for that return.
Selling the items individually on either Ebay or HO yardsale will yield the best return but in your case, you are talking about at least 70+ separate listings/auctions. Listing items on Ebay takes time, lots of it. Yardsale is easier but sometimes you won't get the price that you will get on Ebay.
I sold off a large Marklin collection on Ebay several years ago. It took many months and was lots of work. I got some return on my items but I did not make lots of money. When I factor in my time, I barely made much above minimum wage on some items (and that is assuming a cost per item basis of 0)...... On the other hand; it was exciting to watch the bidding on the items, I sold my trains to people who wanted them and I did get cash to support my train hobby.
My advice would be to bundle items together as much as possible and sell the stuff in lots. If you want quick and simple, you might consider selling the whole collection at once to a dealer, club or on one of the auction sites. While you won't get as much money, you won't spend as much time either.
Good luck,
You don't sell the stuff, you put it in a box and mail it to me!
On a serious note . . . . . . . . . . I do have them . . . . . . . . . . I'm faced with somewhat the same issues and I have given some consideration to returning to the HO-Scale fold. My eyesignt sure ain't what it whar 20- years ago but my major physical problem now is a growing stiffness in my hands; I don't suffer from arthritic pain but forming a claw to handle N-Scale lokes and rolling stock is getting just a little difficult.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Depending on where you are, you might rent a table at a train show. Also, some shows have a consignment table where you set the price and they take a percentage. But this depends on desirable your items are to the attendees.
Paul
Our division has sold stuff for our members at the Christmas auction for a percentage. It was easy, but did not generate a lot of money. We have flea markets around here where you can rent a table. Good stuff will sell, but at a reduced price. These shows generate bargin hunters unless you have true high end collectibles. I have seen a few type estate sales at the flea markets who did well with the good stuff. The one I ran sold out, but in the end we gave stuff away to be done with it. Ebay looks like a lot of work. The local hobby shop that will do this is easy, but they take a lot of the profit. I don't think that "easy" and "Profit" go together. Good luck with the HO
BE CAREFUL HERE!
Moderators may THINK you are trying to sell here! You can GIVE AWAY anything you wnat, but NO SELLING!
You can do any of the ones you mentioned as long as you have the tolerance for that method. People here will recommend what they like best.
There is aslo this site that if you join and scroll down, you can sell stuff at:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com
Then there is HO yardsale at Yahoo.com a lot of people like {i don't}.
Watch what Ebay and paypal charge you in FEES!!
You can bundle up in quantities of 5 or 6 to unload quicker the quantity you have. Sell engines separate. DO check with local clubs, BUT they are generally picky if it doesn't fit their "theme". Be prepared to dicker SOME. Set a price you'd like to get, and be ready to settle for your "settle for price". DO go to Ebay and LOOK to see about what your stuff is SELLING AT to give you an idea of its value. Be prepared to take a huge loss over what you paid unless you have brasss stuff. You most likely won't sell your new unopened packages of switches at only 10% of retail now.bettter think at leat 1/2 off prices.
Take only money orders. Find out what actual shipping charges are to their destination and then add that to the cost. OR find out what Post Office is charging for "x package" adn add it on to sales price. People don't like to pay $20 for something to have $25 added for "shipping and handling" and then find out it only cost you $2,98 to mail it!
Good luck.
I have some old HO stuff I will sell at the above link cheaply just to give it a new home and get it out of my way!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Ebay, You can sell your items 1 piece at a time (LOCOS/rolling stock) or bundle some of it such as tracks. You can also set the starting bid. and if it does not sell the first time you can relist it. There is a small fee for listing and selling. But you may want to check, sometimes newcomers can list a certain amount of items for free. You can calculate the shipping charges the buyer will have to pay also.
You can also go on Ebay and see what simular items as yours are selling for to get an idea of how much bidders are willing to pay for them.
Setting up a Paypal acount is easy and a secure way to get your money also.
Truck.
Failing eyesight, an impending move, and, frankly, insufficient skill to make N scale consistently operable have all conspired to make me decide to switch (as it were) to HO--and my wife supports it.
What's the best way to sell:
about fifty weathered Kadee cars with boxes
two each of the Kato Mikado, Spectrum 2-8-0, and Heritage 0-8-0, only one of which is repainted
about fifteen structure kits in original packing
about a dozen lengths of unused Atlas Code 55 flextrack and about eight unopened turnouts
lots of painted metal castings, including thirty unopened NJ switchstands, barrels and drums, battery boxes and pallets, and the like
a few dozen painted Preiser figures
Auction online? Sell at local train show? Advertise at local club meeting? Bundle it or break it up? Dicker or not? I don't want to get rich, but I don't want to get robbed, either. I prefer ease and security of transaction over money, too.
Have any of you advice, preferably based on first-hand knowledge or experience? I'd be most grateful.