Best deal I got was 15 car built most were Tichy or Intermountain (Tichy did the molds for Intermountain) for $56 out the door. After I built my layout, I had used up almost all my turnouts (Shinohara code 70), turned to e-bay and bought 15 at $5 each, brand new in box!
I've never looked for trains on craigslist to be honest - just Ebay and HOExchange and HOswap. Of course for selling on Ebay, it can go either way, sometimes you may end up selling for a lot less than you'd like but OTOH, stuff like those Thrall gons happens and it's pay dirt!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Speaking of Ebay wonders, I was watching a 5-car set of Athearn (ex_MDC) Hi-side Thrall gons with blue ends lettered for D&RGW sell for $240 a few days ago. Thats by far the highest I've seen those go for. I was thinking man, thats nearly a grand for the 4 sets I have! The street price they were going for when I got mine was about $60 per 5-pack; hobby shops price them ranging from $60 to $70 discount, if you were lucky, a bit less - the MRSP $89.98 on those produced at that time. The 2010 runs were $99.98 MRSP. Latest runs were for refuse/scrap versions 3-packs priced at $71.98.
Anyhow, someone made some money off that set of 5 for $240 selling price - nice return on investment 4 x the price paid for! There are some others up right now at a rather nutty price of $155 per 5-pack. But it's not unusual to see some hard to find items at 50 to 100% increase over the original MRSP. I've noticed the Athearn Fruehauf trailers (both 40 and 45') often priced at 2 x the MSRP or more. Doubt many things sell at those greatly inflated prices - apparently a result of the ability to relist at no cost, indefinitely.
Athearn, are you taking notice? Maybe it's time to re-run some of those unit coal train versions, like NORX, D&RGW, PCSX etc.!!!!
Just a quick tip for ebaying: look for items sold in lots. Things listed as trainset with buildings/track/scenery usually go very cheap. The trick is to look closely at the photos, you may find a hidden gem in that mess of junk. That one item may be worth more than the rest together (or the price of the lot)
For example, I bought a couple lots that were mostly old junk 70's trainset stuff but have come with a couple nice Athearn cars for like $10. One purchase of similar stuff inluded a nice Atlas loco. The good stuff was kept, the rest can be resold for about what you paid for it= free good quality stuff.
The thing I look for is knuckle couplers. It's quite often that someone whos new to model railroading want to add cars to their train, or the cheap loco from the set died, so they buy some and then discover the difference in couplers. Now their new cars cant be used in the trains anyways. It all gets shelved and then sold.
True most of those lots of trainset stuff have a preponderance of UP or ATSF cars which aren't useable for me (at least not inthe quantity I've gotten) but even some of it can be rehashed to fit. I'm still about 50 hoppers short of what I need for my layout, but a cheap (like 50 cent) UP hopper can be fitted with Kadees, and repainted/decaled for the PC/PRR/NYC and I end up with a decent workable car for under $5. In the days of $30 RTR cars thats a definite bargain, and even still cheaper than finding a Blue Box kit! And it doesn't take much longer to update a Tyco or Bachmann car than to to the kit. Of course there are lot sales of unbuilt Bowser kits, I've purchased a few and the averag ends up being about $5 per kit.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
thomas81zLol so that was you !!!! I was watching that auction
-Bob
Here's one of the finished kits.
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I look for bargains all the time on Ebay and then try to sell them at a profit to finance my RR empire. Being retired I can't use household funding for my hobby. I enjoy building and weathering structures, so that is what I concentrate on. I have sold over 34 coaling towers that I built and weathered, so others can enjoy the finished model on their layout. Ebay has provided me with a steady source of financial aid for my hobby.
I just bought 4 Monogram Big Boy kits for $32 (3 weeks ago) and built and weathered them and sold all 4 at $50 to $75 each. This is not 'rip off' prices as each model took 1-2 days to finish and they really look nice sitting on the layout or shelf, plus the kits retail for $24.95 alone. I have had some of my models go for much more than I expected, but as was mentioned you should put a 'max' on what you are willing to pay for something, and some value an item more than others.
Building a cement batch plant, I'd been hunting for mixers, especially Mack B from Athearn. Snapped up 3 Macks in my colors, along with 3 different Ford C cabs; 2 tractors and the JD flatbed. $54 incl shipping. Not bad when a single B61 goes for around 30 something plus shipping.(or buy-it-now, more than I paid for the batch) Can always use those great little Ford Cs!
Got a BB GP35 with the brass flywheels for $11.50 incl ship.
And a nasty looking bachman GP30 cobbed on an athearn frame, with a Sagami Can for about half of what the motor goes for. Put it in a Hustler. SMOOOOTH!
Best deal though, a box of 3 Namika and 11 Minimotor coreless motor gearheads, 2 larger coreless cans, and lots of hardware and doo-dads for under 40, incl ship. Well worth over 250.
Probably the best one I ever got off eBay has to be my Walthers SW1 (1st production). They can run over $100 from what I recall. If memory serves (it's been a few years), I ended up getting it for somewhere around $60. Even with putting in the drive conversion (it had the rubber tube in it), it still ended up less than $80.
Santa Fe all the way!I have a list of items that I check every day. Sometimes it takes a week or maybe a couple years, but if your patient you will get a good deal. Eventually your item will go unnoticed and you will get it. I recently won a Vollmer, 3 stall roundhouse, nicely built, for under $40 including shipping. I've be watching them for 3 years.
steemtrayn I thought this was kinda funny: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221197881772?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I thought this was kinda funny:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221197881772?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
yoh have got to be kidding me...
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
About a month ago I bought 2 Walthers / Shinohara code 83 #6 double crossovers for $29.99 each with free shipping. Normally they are ~$80.00 and up. They were brand new and DCC ready. He had more but when I went back, they were gone.
South Penn
A few years ago I found a Precision Scale brass HOn3 model D&RGW C-16 #268 in the famous "bumblebee" paint scheme for an absurd buy-it-now price of $165. Either the seller was EXTREMELY motivated or they just didn't know what they had - I sold her a few years later (as much as I liked the engine, she was about 40 years outside my era) for about 3 times what I paid. It financed about 1.5 Blackstone C-19s, which are more fitting for my timeframe.
hon30critter Hi everyone: I have ranted about ridiculous eBay asking prices a couple of times before, but this time what's ridiculous is the low price I paid. I was bidding on a CMW IH R-190 tandem axle tractor with an aero trailer (I need more vehicles like a hole in the head!). The usual selling price for tandem axle tractors is over $30.00 USD and there are a couple listed right now on eBay for $40.00 USD, and those are without trailers. The asking price for my little steal was $9.95 USD and that is exactly what I paid. No other bids. Even the shipping was lower than usual! So, to those of you who, like me, are in a love/hate relationship with eBay, tell us about your bargains! Dave
Hi everyone:
I have ranted about ridiculous eBay asking prices a couple of times before, but this time what's ridiculous is the low price I paid.
I was bidding on a CMW IH R-190 tandem axle tractor with an aero trailer (I need more vehicles like a hole in the head!). The usual selling price for tandem axle tractors is over $30.00 USD and there are a couple listed right now on eBay for $40.00 USD, and those are without trailers. The asking price for my little steal was $9.95 USD and that is exactly what I paid. No other bids. Even the shipping was lower than usual!
So, to those of you who, like me, are in a love/hate relationship with eBay, tell us about your bargains!
Hi Dave
While I have had several good buys over the years I still like the Roundhouse bulkhead flatcar with pipe load for $14.55 (BIN) with free shipping.That was still cheaper then the Athearn(exRoundhouse) RTR bulkhead with pipe load..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
slammin There are always bargains on eBay. I buy a lot (and sell things as well). It's important to set a max price and stick to it.
There are always bargains on eBay. I buy a lot (and sell things as well). It's important to set a max price and stick to it.
Yes, thats really the only way to do it. Sure, sometimes you get out-bid and its disappointing, but often you get an items for a decent price and thats nice. If you watch items, you'll see people get them very often with no competition at all. You just have to be patient and over the course of a year or a couple years you often find you end up with what you need, and can fill in from train shows too.
The problem is that so many of the listings are by people trying to make a living selling on eBay. I have noticed a marked increase in listing prices for early Proto 2000 diesels, $70.00 and up. Look at the sold listing and see what most people are willing to pay. EBay offers free listing to most sellers. Since it is free, some sellers will list an item thats selling for $35 for $70. Maybe it will sell, but if it doesn't, they aren't out the listing fee. I see the same "sellers" relisting the same overpriced items for months. They aren't really sellers.
Thats for sure. I've noticed certain items like Athearn Fruehauf trailers are listed at double or almost triple the original MRSP price set by the manufacturer. Totally nuts and of course it just gets relisted over and over and most never sell. How can you call them sellers when they aren't really selling, unless a celebrity or rich doctor comes where money is no object - which rare. Certainly the average person is going to pass by those crazy listing - all I can do is shake my head and scroll on by.
There are always bargains on eBay. I buy a lot (and sell things as well). It's important to set a max price and stick to it. The problem is that so many of the listings are by people trying to make a living selling on eBay. I have noticed a marked increase in listing prices for early Proto 2000 diesels, $70.00 and up. Look at the sold listing and see what most people are willing to pay. EBay offers free listing to most sellers. Since it is free, some sellers will list an item thats selling for $35 for $70. Maybe it will sell, but if it doesn't, they aren't out the listing fee. I see the same "sellers" relisting the same overpriced items for months. They aren't really sellers.
I've noticed a lot of items I've watched going for the lowest asking price or only a little more so it does seem demand is soft in general. Of course certain items, as usual, if in demand get bid up. I was looking at a 3 pack of 40' IMR SP/UP shield reefers to pull behind a Cab Forward priced at $45 + $11.xx shipping. Thought I would watch them and maybe bid - Intermountain had new ones listed as coming in a couple months - I see it's changed on their website to "Reserve Now" meaning they've delayed production - that must explain why the 3 pack got bid up to $99, which is basically MSRP. I'll wait until they produce more, maybe next year or watch shows.
I just won a Bowser a5 that is superdetailed and is slightly modified to their custom road. It is the newest version with a can motor!
A5s kits are worth $95 and a superdetail kit costs $40. I got mine, granted it is missing some parts, for only $58 shipping included!
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
For some reason this time of year, mid August through mid November is a slow time for train sales on eBay. Items sell, but the demand is softer.
In addition, buyers come in all sizes. My experience says you can not find logic in what they will pay at one moment compared to the next. However, for every item that sells for a crazy figure, there are several similar items that don't get any buyers at all.
It is all the right time, right item and most important the right buyer.
www.llxlocomotives.com
So many trains, so little time,
I am usually happy to pick an item up for a price which would be in the range of a modest discount off of MRSP.
I did get what seemed like a bargain recently with an Athearn RTR 60' bulkhead flat with a wrapped gypsum board load $20 plus 8 shipping and change ($28.xx). The flat car alone discount is usually in the $22/24 so combined it seemed pretty good.
Shanny10
B&O, C&O, PRR
Just lovin trains
I have seen the same item, exact, offerered by 4 different people at the same time and no one bought the lowest price point one, but the top 3 sold.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!