SeeYou190 riogrande5761 there are Facebook garage sale sites . Heck yeah! . My wife watched those constantly. Never found any train stuff worth having. . We did get a signed cel from my daughter's favorite Disney movie for $50.00 from one of those. That was our best score to date. . -Kevin .
riogrande5761 there are Facebook garage sale sites
.
Heck yeah!
My wife watched those constantly. Never found any train stuff worth having.
We did get a signed cel from my daughter's favorite Disney movie for $50.00 from one of those. That was our best score to date.
-Kevin
I have used Facebook groupsfor several years now. If you have not found anything worth having I would say you are not watching the right groups. I have had very little issues with the things I have got from the groups. The bad ones dont last long. Ebay is hit or miss and sad to say mostly miss.
Mike
Howard Zane Now smart LHS owners are going on-line and being competitive again rather than crying foul.
Howard,Are you aware some B&M hobby shops have a e-Bay store so they can move old stock?
If at all possible I avoid private sellers and use those B&M hobby shops e-Bay stores. These stores give a decent discount and usually have detail parts and some have parts from Atlas,Kato and Athearn.
I've also notice prices for new stock at train shows is getting close to full MSRP and lower prices can be found on line.
What killed many LHS is old line business as usual thinking in a computer world..
Looking back 30 or so years we accepted the fact old Danny was a grumpy old man that just happen to own a fully stocked hobby shop and back then we seem more forgiving then now.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
CGW121 have used Facebook groupsfor several years now. If you have not found anything worth having I would say you are not watching the right groups.
I do not do facebook. My wife watches the yard sales, that is all. I seriously doubt she would ever watch a train group for me.
Living the dream.
BRAKIE Howard Zane Now smart LHS owners are going on-line and being competitive again rather than crying foul. Howard,Are you aware some B&M hobby shops have a e-Bay store so they can move old stock? If at all possible I avoid private sellers and use those B&M hobby shops e-Bay stores. These stores give a decent discount and usually have detail parts and some have parts from Atlas,Kato and Athearn. I've also notice prices for new stock at train shows is getting close to full MSRP and lower prices can be found on line. What killed many LHS is old line business as usual thinking in a computer world.. Looking back 30 or so years we accepted the fact old Danny was a grumpy old man that just happen to own a fully stocked hobby shop and back then we seem more forgiving then now.
HZ
Howard Zane....and the mega use of B&M shops also using the many train shows for dumping old stock. This is standard.....
The train shows that I go to around here have the same crowd of bandits, trying to sell old stock at the same prices at which they couldn't move it in their shops. I don't even both looking, as none of them would deign to bargain.There's a similar group of (usually) old timers, trying to sell stuff from a friend's estate, and they have the same mindset, although at least some of it is worth looking at, even if the prices are far from realistic. The thing that amazes me is that they're there, show after show, never selling much, and never lowering their prices...perhaps they're coming to these shows only for the social aspect of it.
I learned of an estate sale through my local hobby shop (sadly, soon to be closed), but while the owner often bought estate lots and sold the stuff at realistic prices, this one was being done by the daughter of the deceased (a modeller whom I knew casually through chats at another store).A friend and I contacted the son-in-law, who was handling things, and we made an appointment to have a viewing. Over two or three visits (for me, mostly just to see what was available, as there were several hundred brass steam locomotives), my friend bought seven (and gave me one of them), and I bought one. The prices were, in my opinion, very reasonable, but the seller felt that they were realistic.
Family members had picked keepsakes of remembrance, and had agreed that the rest be sold - not given away, but at prices where they would move well-enough so that it didn't drag on for months, or even years.There were three identical examples of one particular locomotive, all factory-painted...my friend had bought one, some years earlier, at close to two grand. These identical locos were going at, if I recall correctly, $750.00/$800.00. I was tempted, as my friend's version is possibly the best running locomotive (steam or diesel) that I've seen: absolutely silent and as smooth as a fine Swiss watch. However, common sense prevailed, although I did get a nice little Ten Wheeler for about $200.00.
I think that most of my big (a relative term) model railroad purchases are in my past, but I do enjoy going to the train shows and picking up the occasional bargain.
As for on-line auctions - never had an interest, although if I did, my method would likely be the same as this:
riogrande5761Are you talking about the automatic bid programs that people use to outbid you at the last second of an Ebay auction? My answer to that is I put in my maximum bid that I am willing to pay, and if I win it good, if not, I wasn't willing to pay more anyway. Problem solved.
That said, I have bought off e-bay, but not on auctions. There's very little I need that would involve major expenditures.
Wayne
Howard ZaneThis is standard............problems???
Howard,I think its good that B&M hobby shops has a e-Bay store since that widens their customer base.A win for sure.
The best three shows I attend is Berea,Dalton and Bucyrus if my health permits.
How many B&M shops ever catered to reselling used items or estate buyouts?
If ebay is scoring business because of that, it seems that they simply tapped a market that was being unserved by LHSs, since I know of very few LHSs that would ever have a used/estate section (maybe they thought it would cannibalize new sales)
If we're talking strictly online buying of new items vs B&M shops, I find that the prices aren't much different. Trainworld and MBKlein tend to have better prices, but all of the other online shops seem to have similar prices to B&M stores, from what I've seen.
- Douglas
Doughless How many B&M shops ever catered to reselling used items or estate buyouts? If ebay is scoring business because of that, it seems that they simply tapped a market that was being unserved by LHSs, since I know of very few LHSs that would ever have a used/estate section (maybe they thought it would cannibalize new sales) If we're talking strictly online buying of new items vs B&M shops, I find that the prices aren't much different. Trainworld and MBKlein tend to have better prices, but all of the other online shops seem to have similar prices to B&M stores, from what I've seen. Interesting, but almost futile topic.............LHS's offering used merchandise. Some are catching on now as so much is coming on the market due to the many passings of older modelers. I owned a shop from 1973-1975 as I spoke of in threads past, and soon learned about competition and pricing, as if I stayed with purchasing from the same distrubutors as other shops were, I vitrually had the same merchandise and I could only win by lowering prices...............enter the downward spiral. Being of an art and design background, I fashioned a huge banner/sign whch hung over my entrance portico..............."WE BUY USED TRAINS". In addition I advertised in magazines and local newspapers. within two months over half of my 2000 sq. ft. was used trains. At first I turned nothing down, but later specialized in used brass and really exceptional models. The only drawback was that I could not order anything specific, but the great profit margin offset this problem and then some. Plus, I was drawing customers from far due to the unique offerings. The shop became quite succesful, and sold only due to an offer I could not turn down to get back into left seat of a fine aircraft.( I had two professions....industrial designer and commercial pilot). These were the seeds for me with Ken Young to begin the Timonioum/Great Scale Model Train Show in 1982.....still running, but with new owners. HZ
doctorwayne I have bought off e-bay, but not on auctions. There's very little I need that would involve major expenditures. Wayne
I have bought off e-bay, but not on auctions. There's very little I need that would involve major expenditures.
So it sounds like you have very little stake in that part of the discussion? *shrugs*
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Howard Zane Doughless How many B&M shops ever catered to reselling used items or estate buyouts? If ebay is scoring business because of that, it seems that they simply tapped a market that was being unserved by LHSs, since I know of very few LHSs that would ever have a used/estate section (maybe they thought it would cannibalize new sales) If we're talking strictly online buying of new items vs B&M shops, I find that the prices aren't much different. Trainworld and MBKlein tend to have better prices, but all of the other online shops seem to have similar prices to B&M stores, from what I've seen. Interesting, but almost futile topic.............LHS's offering used merchandise. Some are catching on now as so much is coming on the market due to the many passings of older modelers. I owened a shop from 1973-1975 as I spoke of in threads past, and soon learned about competition and pricing, as if I stayed with purchasing from the same distrubutors as other shops were, I vitrually had the same merchandise and I could only win by lowering prices...............enter the downward spiral. Being of an art and design background, I fashioned a huge banner/sign whch hung over my entrance portico..............."WE BUY USED TRAINS". In addition I advetised in magazines and local newspapers. within two months over half of my 2000 sq. ft. was used trains. At first I turned nothing down, but later specialized in used brass and really exceptional models. The only drawback was that I could not order anything specific, but the great profit margin offset this problem and then some. Plus, I was drawing customers from far due to the unique offerings. The shop became quite succesful, and sold only due to an offer I could not turn down to get back into left seat of a fine aircraft.( I had two professions....industrial designer and commercial pilot). These were the seeds for me with Ken Young to begin the Timonioum/Great Scale Model Train Show in 1982.....still running, but with new owners. HZ
Doughless How many B&M shops ever catered to reselling used items or estate buyouts? If ebay is scoring business because of that, it seems that they simply tapped a market that was being unserved by LHSs, since I know of very few LHSs that would ever have a used/estate section (maybe they thought it would cannibalize new sales) If we're talking strictly online buying of new items vs B&M shops, I find that the prices aren't much different. Trainworld and MBKlein tend to have better prices, but all of the other online shops seem to have similar prices to B&M stores, from what I've seen. Interesting, but almost futile topic.............LHS's offering used merchandise. Some are catching on now as so much is coming on the market due to the many passings of older modelers. I owened a shop from 1973-1975 as I spoke of in threads past, and soon learned about competition and pricing, as if I stayed with purchasing from the same distrubutors as other shops were, I vitrually had the same merchandise and I could only win by lowering prices...............enter the downward spiral. Being of an art and design background, I fashioned a huge banner/sign whch hung over my entrance portico..............."WE BUY USED TRAINS". In addition I advetised in magazines and local newspapers. within two months over half of my 2000 sq. ft. was used trains. At first I turned nothing down, but later specialized in used brass and really exceptional models. The only drawback was that I could not order anything specific, but the great profit margin offset this problem and then some. Plus, I was drawing customers from far due to the unique offerings. The shop became quite succesful, and sold only due to an offer I could not turn down to get back into left seat of a fine aircraft.( I had two professions....industrial designer and commercial pilot). These were the seeds for me with Ken Young to begin the Timonioum/Great Scale Model Train Show in 1982.....still running, but with new owners. HZ
Its a shame it didn't catch on quicker.
Houses last a long time. Because of this, any realtor working in the same town for a couple of decades can wind up listing and selling the same house several times over the course of his career. Makes a profit (commission) each time he sells the house.
If trains last a long time, why can't the local expert LHS be the source, the middle man, for all sales of trains in a local area?
Trains aren't as marketable as houses, but there are dozens of realtors and usually only one or two train shops.
Interesting idea and I think it had been handled that way for many years - prior to the internet and auction sites. As a seller, why should I accept a lower price, or, as a buyer, why should I pay a higher price, just to make the LHS owner happy?
I am a regular buyer at Ebay and an infrequent seller. Moost of the time, I use the "buy it now" option when I think the price is right. Only rarely I bid in an auction, the bid being limited to what I think is a fair price for the item. I never change that bid in the frenzy of a bidding war. Never!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
riogrande5761 doctorwayne I have bought off e-bay, but not on auctions. There's very little I need that would involve major expenditures. Wayne
doctorwayne
With some exceptions, most of the stuff I buy on eBay (or model railroad flea markets) are things that usually aren't at the LHS anymore, like old railroad books, discontinued freight or passenger cars (like old AHM/Rivarossi heavyweights) and such.
PWRS is a short drive from my house, it is nothing but a big warehouse full of stuff. I go there and wander around looking at all the stuff they have. If you buy something you pay the shipper as it is not a retail outlet. They have way more stuff there than you would ever find at a Brick and Mortar store, however, there is no storefront as it is in a warehouse complex and no displays other than some examples of what North American Railcar has to offer that sits on some flex track on a shelf. They have a good-sized staff working there and for all intensive purposes, it is my local brick and mortar store. I know most don't have an MRR mail order business close to where they live and I consider myself lucky as I never have to pay shipping, I pick it up next time I go out.
It is not only the MRR industry that has moved to the mailorder model, you can buy just about anything online and in many cases, my wife, kids or I make offers on things that we find online and those offers are often accepted even though they are not action sites. It never hurts to ask.
People are not honest about what the true cost of moving their car down the street is, and often only think of the cost of gas. Any accountant will tell you the only way you can realize the true cost is on a per mile/km basis. The Government will let you claim mileage on your taxes if in business and we know they will not give up an extra cent when doing so. I think the current rate in the U.S. is about $.65 per mile. Shipping rates are not that bad when properly compared to driving to the hobby shop.
I check out auctions all over the world and have found some deals. I put in a bid on about 20 different brass engines that were in an auction house in a very small farming community. I only won only one of them and got this GN 4-6-2 for $36.00
I don't sit and watch the auction, I place my maximum bid if they have auto bid and will get an E-Mail if I win. I think online auctions and mailorder are the best. I don't need to be loyal to a hobby shop owner, any more than my Grandfather had to be loyal to the buggy whip manufacturer after he gave up his horse and carriage and bought a motor car to do his rounds as a Doctor in rural Manitoba.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I would say they are helping keep the hobby afloat. But they are hurting the train shows and the brick and morter hobby shops that lack any kind of website. The younger generation are doing most of thier shopping from thier smartphone/tablet. Having product, both new and second hand, available to them helps create sales. Whether we like it or not, this is the route the hobby is going. Even mainline stores like Sears, Kmart, many shopping malls are closing up as the public doing the bulk of the buying are moving to online platforms like Amazon and similar online retailers. Point-click-pay-delivered to thier door. Just like in our hobby we have transitioned from mostly kits and models that needed tweaking and tuning to RTR with near flawless operation out of the box(most of the time). I myself, spread my $$ around, shows and 2 different LHS's during the winter time for the most part, and online sources year round. Mostly Facebook groups with just a smidge of ebay. Most trains and supplies I am looking for are long out of production, so ebay, shows, facebook groups and one store in Indianapolis that sells mostly estates are my sources. My one big online retailer I buy from is Brasstrains.com. Hassle and worry free brass shopping from them, with accurate and honest descriptions of the models. No relation, just a very satisfied customer. Mike the Aspie.
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
sfprairieIt seems that there are not a lot of people who enjoy that anymore.
What makes you think there ever was "a lot" of people who enjoy building kits before RTR came out. Logically, if sales fell off when RTR got popular, to me that is a clear indication that "a lot" of people never really enjoyed building kits in the olden days, but did so because it was a means to an end, a necessary evil if you will. Hey, I remember those days and was in the hobby since the early 1970's - I built kits cause I had no choice. To some degree I enjoyed some kits but evenually the "fun" wore off after I have built many many kits. I don't understand where people get this rose colored glasses notion about the days before RTR.
Finding new kits is hard. There are some, certainly, but not like the 90’s. Personally, I really enjoy building Intermountain kits. Which they don’t sell any more. It is all RTR, which I just don’t care about and don’t want. I can buy Intermountain kits all day long on ebay. Same with other brands (Walthers, Proto2000, ect). I appreciate Bowser and others still selling some kits ( and I love Tichy). And I buy from them, too.
So if you can get what you want on Ebay, it's more a matter of changing venues or vendors. But they are available so no reason to be unhappy.
I am afraid that the supply of used kits will dry up and I will not have a lot of choices left.
If the Timonium show is any indication, there is still a lot of kits going on the secondary market from people who stored up way more than they had time to build. I've sold some of my excess kits and estates do fairly regular. My guess is a good supply of kits will linger for some years to come so you probably don't have to worry.
I think plenty of people enjoy building kits, espically back then. We had more free time as a society back then many times. Folks today are working several jobs, both mother and father working. Add to that our "gotta have it now" society. Back then it took most of ones lifetime to build a beautiful model railroad of any decent size. As society changed, folks desires changed(such as plastic engines with brass level detailing, factory sound/DCC installed ect). What once was done by the modeler him/herself, is now done by the Chinese assembly line worker or where ever the model is produced. Beautiful buildings from Woodland Scenics ect. Our whole society is moving away from brick and morter stores in general, not just in the hobby world. Sears failed to realize this, said Amazon would never work. Yet, a few short years later, Sears is all but gone and Amazon is a internet giant. Same can be said for our beloved hobby shops that failed to embrase the digital world in relation to sales. Develope an easy to use website with real time inventory, have an ebay store to clear out dead product. Both not only drive your sales upwards, but also advertise the store to others. Many hobbiests I know, will stop at the actual shop if they are traveling in that area. One post I see all the time on the facebook groups is when a model will be on vacation or a business trip in an unfamilar area. They ask, where the local hobby shops are? Most times, folks will reply with links and such to those shops websites or E stores so the person can scope out where it wants to go. Folks do not have as much time to go to shows, hobby shops and so forth. Life's other responciblites are more important. This is where the online auctions, E stores, websites and so froth become important to keeping the hobby going, as it is these avenues that those young and busy modelers will point-click-and buy on thier smartphone/tablet. The shop in Indy, Train Central, survives on mostly estate and collections that are brought in and consigned or sold outright to the owner. You never know what you going to find when you stop in, from brass to Tyco and everything inbetween. Very fair prices as well. Mike the Aspie
Mike you have been very open about your Aspergers.
I and a lot of people in various forums on the web have an un-named condition. It is very hard to read a post that is 20, 30 40 lines of text. If there are 4 or 5 lines of text, we can eventually find the next line. A big block of text, I read the line, and then lose my place. I don't have a tablet for that very reason.
It doesn't have to required by grammatical standards. This is much easier for me to read.
Edit I tried to add paragraphs, and then got fancy with the formatting and all the text printed on top of itself.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I think plenty of people enjoy building kits, espically back then. We had more free time as a society back then many times. Folks today are working several jobs, both mother and father working. Add to that our "gotta have it now" society.
Back then it took most of ones lifetime to build a beautiful model railroad of any decent size.
As society changed, folks desires changed(such as plastic engines with brass level detailing, factory sound/DCC installed ect). What once was done by the modeler him/herself, is now done by the Chinese assembly line worker or where ever the model is produced.
Beautiful buildings from Woodland Scenics ect. Our whole society is moving away from brick and morter stores in general, not just in the hobby world. Sears failed to realize this, said Amazon would never work. Yet, a few short years later, Sears is all but gone and Amazon is a internet giant.
Same can be said for our beloved hobby shops that failed to embrase the digital world in relation to sales.
Develope an easy to use website with real time inventory, have an ebay store to clear out dead product. Both not only drive your sales upwards, but also advertise the store to others. Many hobbiests I know, will stop at the actual shop if they are traveling in that area.
One post I see all the time on the facebook groups is when a model will be on vacation or a business trip in an unfamilar area. They ask, where the local hobby shops are? Most times, folks will reply with links and such to those shops websites or E stores so the person can scope out where it wants to go.
Folks do not have as much time to go to shows, hobby shops and so for. Life's other responciblites are more important. This is where the online auctions, E stores, websites and so froth become important to keeping the hobby going, as it is these avenues that those young and busy modelers will point-click-and buy on thier smartphone/tablet.
The shop in Indy, Train Central, survives on mostly estate and collect that are brought in and consigned or sold outright to the owner. You never know what you going to find when you stop in, from brass to Tyco and everything inbetween. Very fair prices as well.
Mike the Aspie
David, Thank for fixing Mike's post. I cannot read a wall of text either.
I will be in Indianapolis next month and I am looking foward to a visit to Train Central.
Howard Zane I'm lucky as I now live in north central Maryland and we have several really good train shops close by, but I do remember my many forays into shops throughout the country whereas some attitudes were............"what are you doing here", and there was once a shop in Silver Spring where as when you walked in, the owner would toss a Walthers catalog at you with the utmost of unfriendlyness flavored with arrogance. My last trip there I tossed the catolog back at him, let go an F-bomb and just left. Being the old dinosaur that I am, I do pine for the days of yore, when hobby shops were great, well stocked, centers of knowledge, and Saturday morning gathering places for modelers of all skill levels. I purchased my first computer in 2000, reluctantly at first, but now I find that on- ordering is quite simple, offers decent prices, and is available 24/7. There is one drawback....I and many of you know what you are shopping for, but what about the newbie, or the prospect who may want to enter the hobby? Overall, my opinion now is overwhelming in support of on-line auctions and shopping as I do feel when the dust finally settles, the answer is "yes", the hobby is being helped by on-line activity. The comments about driving sometimes long distances to a LHS and find that what you want is not in stock, but could be ordered with a deposit or full payment up front, and possibly receive it in a week or two vs. punching a few keys at 4 AM and have it here within two days, and at a better price.....is a very strong and valid argument for on-line vs. LHS. My ten bucks.............. HZ
I'm lucky as I now live in north central Maryland and we have several really good train shops close by, but I do remember my many forays into shops throughout the country whereas some attitudes were............"what are you doing here", and there was once a shop in Silver Spring where as when you walked in, the owner would toss a Walthers catalog at you with the utmost of unfriendlyness flavored with arrogance. My last trip there I tossed the catolog back at him, let go an F-bomb and just left.
Being the old dinosaur that I am, I do pine for the days of yore, when hobby shops were great, well stocked, centers of knowledge, and Saturday morning gathering places for modelers of all skill levels.
I purchased my first computer in 2000, reluctantly at first, but now I find that on- ordering is quite simple, offers decent prices, and is available 24/7. There is one drawback....I and many of you know what you are shopping for, but what about the newbie, or the prospect who may want to enter the hobby?
Overall, my opinion now is overwhelming in support of on-line auctions and shopping as I do feel when the dust finally settles, the answer is "yes", the hobby is being helped by on-line activity. The comments about driving sometimes long distances to a LHS and find that what you want is not in stock, but could be ordered with a deposit or full payment up front, and possibly receive it in a week or two vs. punching a few keys at 4 AM and have it here within two days, and at a better price.....is a very strong and valid argument for on-line vs. LHS.
My ten bucks..............
I used to go to a hobby shop in Silver Spring in the 80's and early 90's. The name of it was The Train Shed on Bonifant St. Never had any problems. I used to go to P. D. Craft House on Colesville Rd and Fenton St. in the late 70's and early 80's. Earl
nssd70m Howard Zane I'm lucky as I now live in north central Maryland and we have several really good train shops close by, but I do remember my many forays into shops throughout the country whereas some attitudes were............"what are you doing here", and there was once a shop in Silver Spring where as when you walked in, the owner would toss a Walthers catalog at you with the utmost of unfriendlyness flavored with arrogance. My last trip there I tossed the catolog back at him, let go an F-bomb and just left. Being the old dinosaur that I am, I do pine for the days of yore, when hobby shops were great, well stocked, centers of knowledge, and Saturday morning gathering places for modelers of all skill levels. I purchased my first computer in 2000, reluctantly at first, but now I find that on- ordering is quite simple, offers decent prices, and is available 24/7. There is one drawback....I and many of you know what you are shopping for, but what about the newbie, or the prospect who may want to enter the hobby? Overall, my opinion now is overwhelming in support of on-line auctions and shopping as I do feel when the dust finally settles, the answer is "yes", the hobby is being helped by on-line activity. The comments about driving sometimes long distances to a LHS and find that what you want is not in stock, but could be ordered with a deposit or full payment up front, and possibly receive it in a week or two vs. punching a few keys at 4 AM and have it here within two days, and at a better price.....is a very strong and valid argument for on-line vs. LHS. My ten bucks.............. HZ I used to go to a hobby shop in Silver Spring in the 80's and early 90's. The name of it was The Train Shed on Bonifant St. Never had any problems. I used to go to P. D. Craft House on Colesville Rd and Fenton St. in the late 70's and early 80's. Earl
On the other hand, the other shop you mentioned was also well stocked, but asked customers to find items in store copy Walthers catalog.....then would try to find said model in rear inventory or order it for you at full price. I found this quite annoying and impersonal. There are and were better shops.
I am not sure if the question is being asked the right way. Obviously, as proven by the number of purchases that are made via auction sites, they fulfill a need for some (many) in "the hobby" (including me), and since it does so, I can't see how it would hurt "the hobby". In fact, it enables me.
It's another question if they hurt the LHS, as we knew it. The problem (in my opinion) is that business owners need to watch what is going on and go with the time. As another poster noted, the writing on the wall about the internet revolution was there for a long time, and adaptation was the way to survival. Those that have done so are sucessfully in business today.
The used market seems to have been changed dramaticly through the years. It seemed like a lot of hobby shops used to cary a fair amount of used stuff. Thinking over the shops that I have known while living in Oklahoma, Indiana, and Chicago it seems like there is no pattern to those that survived. Some that survived carried lots of used- some were all new. I think a third type would be the hobby shop that is mainly NOS- some of those have just have never moved inventory. I wonder if the used stuff and the new stuff appeals to different buyers in some ways.There is always the bargain hunter.
Train Central mentioned by See you 190 has been through three owners. It was once Vary Trains then it was sold and moved to the current location. The previous owner passed away and then it was bought by Wayne. It has always carried lots of used. Two other new stock hobby shops in the area had no succession and just closed.
Jim
Everything is evolving. Not a big deal. Just go with the flow and adapt.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
richg1998 Everything is evolving. Not a big deal. Just go with the flow and adapt. Rich
Pretty much.
So in conclusion, it seems online auctions are not hurting but helping the hobby. Same with online sales.
BATMAN People are not honest about what the true cost of moving their car down the street is, and often only think of the cost of gas. Any accountant will tell you the only way you can realize the true cost is on a per mile/km basis. The Government will let you claim mileage on your taxes if in business and we know they will not give up an extra cent when doing so. I think the current rate in the U.S. is about $.65 per mile.
People are not honest about what the true cost of moving their car down the street is, and often only think of the cost of gas. Any accountant will tell you the only way you can realize the true cost is on a per mile/km basis. The Government will let you claim mileage on your taxes if in business and we know they will not give up an extra cent when doing so. I think the current rate in the U.S. is about $.65 per mile.
The reimbursment rate is not a good measure of that.
My job requires me to use my POV, personally owned vehicle, and the reimbursment rate is .56 per mile. Most of that is depreciation.
What governs the depreceation rate is an assumption made by the IRS that a car is worthless after about 5 years or 75,000 miles. So .56/mile is actually way over what it costs most people to operate a car. After about 75,000 miles people make 56 cents a mile for every mile they drive, and its income tax free because all of it is considered reimbursement of expenses and not revenue.
Depreciation is basically the cost of replacing the car after about 75,000 miles. Keep your car for 250,000 miles and you make enough money to buy two more cars.
Sorry for the OT.
As far as trains and the costs to go to the LHS, the train has to get to my house some way, whether its me burning gas, oil, and tire rubber or its the UPS truck doing it. Somebody has to pay for those operating costs. And if I don't pay them directly, I pay them indirectly plus the cost of the driver who I'm basically paying to drive the stuff to my house instead of me fetching it myself.
The savings that online sales brings is overrated, IMO.
Even ignoring depreciation or IRS rates, it costs about $0.20 a mile to fuel and maintain plus $3 a day to insure a car in the US. Even a zero mile trip costs $3. These are averages, of course, but an average must be typical.
A top load medium USPS box is $12.85. This is a fairly common box, in my experience, for hobby vendors, eBay, and others. Your break even is $9.85 because of that insurance cost. If your time has no value, then you have a one way cost of $4.92. So once you exceed 24.6 miles each way, it was cheaper to ship.
For me to drive to the two nearest good shops, it costs me $23.60 or $33.20. I'd be dumb to drive.
NittanyLion Even ignoring depreciation or IRS rates, it costs about $0.20 a mile to fuel and maintain plus $3 a day to insure a car in the US. Even a zero mile trip costs $3. These are averages, of course, but an average must be typical. A top load medium USPS box is $12.85. This is a fairly common box, in my experience, for hobby vendors, eBay, and others. Your break even is $9.85 because of that insurance cost. If your time has no value, then you have a one way cost of $4.92. So once you exceed 24.6 miles each way, it was cheaper to ship. For me to drive to the two nearest good shops, it costs me $23.60 or $33.20. I'd be dumb to drive.
But that cost is for a trip that is solely dedicated to going to the LHS.
Everyone's situation is different, but if you went when you also drove to the grocery store, the hardware store, to or from work, etc.; the cost of any one trip gets reduced significantly.
OTOH, when I buy online, every vendor has its own dedicated shipping charge.