I'm upgrading a number of vintage Rivarossi passenger cars with interiors, body mounted KD couplers, diaphragms, weights and metal wheels. I needed to get some interiors for a couple of 1930 lightweight coaches. I went out to ebay and there were a number of listings for the old IHC interiors, all in mid twenty price range. Then I came across two different listings for 1930 lightweight coaches with interiors, both selling for $15.99 plus shipping including one which is a duplicate of a car I am upgrading. Both of them were Buy It Now as opposed to auctions. It was a no brainer to get the complete cars over the interiors. If I choose I can turn around and resell the coaches sans interiors and get back some of my money.
Hi John-NYBW,
I made the same decision when I was just starting in the hobby. I bought some passenger cars (can't remember who made them) and figured I would have some fun modelling the interiors. Unfortunately finding the right interiors proved to be quite a challenge, and when I did find them, they were expensive. It didn't take me long to decide that cars with the interiors already installed were a much better solution.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
It so often depends upon who is the seller and what that seller is selling.
I will give you an example. Go on eBay and search for Rapido Monon. I failed to buy some Monon coaches when Rapido first produced them. Ever since, I do occasional searches to no avail. So, I got a bit excited when I saw one New for sale. But, the seller, gabetrains, wants $219 for just one coach. I will pass. In fact, this seller has several other listings, and all are at ridiculously high prices. So, his items linger on eBay.
I missed an auction in November when 4 new Monon coaches went for $200 - - only $50 per car.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain It so often depends upon who is the seller and what that seller is selling. I will give you an example. Go on eBay and search for Rapido Monon. I failed to buy some Monon coaches when Rapido first produced them. Ever since, I do occasional searches to no avail. So, I got a bit excited when I saw one New for sale. But, the seller, gabetrains, wants $219 for just one coach. I will pass. In fact, this seller has several other listings, and all are at ridiculously high prices. So, his items linger on eBay. I missed an auction in November when 4 new Monon coaches went for $200 - - only $50 per car. Rich
The same thing has happened with the MTH equipment now that they have gone out of business. It is selling at a premium. I bought the five car passenger set for the 1938 20th Century Limited but not the two car add on set. I figured I could always add that on later. Now both the five car and two car sets are selling on ebay for a higher price than what they originally sold for new. I bought the MTH streamlined Hudson for the 1941 Empire State Express but instead of buying the MTH cars that went with it, I opted to build a train with second hand Walthers Budd cars. Big mistake. I had nothing but trouble with those cars which I documented in another thread while the MTH cars for the 20th Century have performed flawlessly. On ebay, the asking price for the MTH ESE 5 car set is $600 and up.
hon30critter Hi John-NYBW, I made the same decision when I was just starting in the hobby. I bought some passenger cars (can't remember who made them) and figured I would have some fun modelling the interiors. Unfortunately finding the right interiors proved to be quite a challenge, and when I did find them, they were expensive. It didn't take me long to decide that cars with the interiors already installed were a much better solution. Cheers!! Dave
I would have been happy getting just the interiors for what I paid for the complete car with interior. Even if they have been glued in place, I should be able to pop then out. If not, I can just swap the under carriages since they are generic Rivarossi cars and the components are interchangeable. I wanted interiors for two lightweight NYC coaches and what I found was one NYC coach and one Empire Builder coach with interiors. Now I have a third NYC coach and all I need to do is find one other cheap interior or coach with interior.
This is not hard to understand, some people on Ebay are trying to make money, like a real job to feed their family.
Other people are just getting rid of things they no longer want and are happy to get a few dollars in the process, as quickly and easily as possible, and are happy the items go to someone who wants them.
When I was just a teen, my father explained - "the value of anything is only determined by how much the buyer wants it, and how much the seller wants to be rid of it".
All the recent changes at Ebay have eliminated a lot of the second group, but there are still a few on there just using Ebay as their "yard sale".
I once bought a lot of train stuff, and some other struff (tractor parts), and sold stuff (not trains), on Ebay. Now I hardly even go on that site for anything.
Sheldon
There are still deals on EBay, the issue is that there is an overwhelming amount of chaff, people trying to take advantage etc. which has to be waded through to find the deals - but that is no different than anything else associated with the internet nowadays (clickbait, scams, political discourse on Facebook and Twitter etc.).
Seems like the issue is with the internet in general, not EBay specifically.
Based on my experience, about 95% of the people selling on ebay have been reputable and if there is a problem, they try their best to work it out. There will always be shady people no matter where you go.
E-bay has rules to protect the buyers. As for the goods, e-bay used to charge fees based on starting price for trains plus listing fee and a few other, now the charge a final value fee so less people starting their listing low and letting it build so less bargins for us dedicated e-bayers. Also stores are more common on e-bay and they have their own rules.
rrebell E-bay has rules to protect the buyers. As for the goods, e-bay used to charge fees based on starting price for trains plus listing fee and a few other, now the charge a final value fee so less people starting their listing low and letting it build so less bargins for us dedicated e-bayers. Also stores are more common on e-bay and they have their own rules.
These purchase were all Buy It Now so setting an artificially low starting price wouldn't apply.
I just skip an item if I think is it too expensive. Sometimes, however, if it isn't out of line and it is a seller I have done business, I'd being willing to pay a little more. I also try to get multiple things from a single seller to save on shipping costs. As I don't have an LHS, eBay is the closest thing I have.
Even once in awhile a seller is willing to do something custom if you ask. I have a 3D printed park shelter from one and within the last week I got some custom LED lights for a bunch of my Athearn drive engines that I don't have the ability to use the stock lighting system any longer.
Just like anything out there eBay has the good and the bad.
With shipping prices rising, and with them pushing out the small garage sales guys willing to sell their items at a loss, I find Ebay to not be a very desireable place to buy. I'm not interested in buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP.
The ebay retailers who use it as a store front are not nearly as competitive as the hobby shops who have a website.
- Douglas
Doughless With shipping prices rising, and with them pushing out the small garage sales guys willing to sell their items at a loss, I find Ebay to not be a very desireable place to buy.
With shipping prices rising, and with them pushing out the small garage sales guys willing to sell their items at a loss, I find Ebay to not be a very desireable place to buy.
Doughless I'm not interested in buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP.
I'm not interested in buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP.
richhotrain Doughless With shipping prices rising, and with them pushing out the small garage sales guys willing to sell their items at a loss, I find Ebay to not be a very desireable place to buy. Yep, the cost of shipping has become a barrier for selling even smaller items, and the cost of shipping applies everywhere, not only on eBay. But, eBay still is the place to buy and sell a lot of model railroading stuff, especially discontinued items. Doughless I'm not interested in buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP. Unfortunately, right now, that is often the case on eBay, that is buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP or even above the original MSRP. The current situation is sure good for sellers though. Rich
Yep, the cost of shipping has become a barrier for selling even smaller items, and the cost of shipping applies everywhere, not only on eBay. But, eBay still is the place to buy and sell a lot of model railroading stuff, especially discontinued items.
Unfortunately, right now, that is often the case on eBay, that is buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP or even above the original MSRP. The current situation is sure good for sellers though.
The price increases on ebay are far higher than the price increases on individual LHS websites. And they happened very suddenly.
I think its become a place for sellers to try to take advantage of uninformed buyers, where before it seemed more like a close-knit family of informed buyers and sellers bidding and asking prices within a pretty well-defined range.
When I see the experienced retailers trying and not succeeding in selling a used 15 year old Atlas MP15 with QSI sound for $145, I think of modest price increases. When I see another retailer or individual trying to sell the same basic loco for $225, methinks a lot of turds have dropped into the punchbowl.
Doughless The price increases on ebay are far higher than the price increases on individual LHS websites. And they happened very suddenly.
Doughless I think its become a place for sellers to try to take advantage of uninformed buyers, where before it seemed more like a close-knit family of informed buyers and sellers bidding and asking prices in a pretty defined range.
I think its become a place for sellers to try to take advantage of uninformed buyers, where before it seemed more like a close-knit family of informed buyers and sellers bidding and asking prices in a pretty defined range.
Doughless When I see the experienced retailers trying and not succeeding in selling a used 15 year old Atlas MP15 with QSI sound for $145, I think of modest price increases. When I see another retailer or individual trying to sell the same basice loco for $225, methinks a lot of turds have dropped into the punchbowl.
When I see the experienced retailers trying and not succeeding in selling a used 15 year old Atlas MP15 with QSI sound for $145, I think of modest price increases. When I see another retailer or individual trying to sell the same basice loco for $225, methinks a lot of turds have dropped into the punchbowl.
I use that Rapido Monon coach car as a good example. $219??? But, eventually, I won't be surprised to see that it is sold. Meanwhile, it has 13 Watchers. In my experience, Watchers on Buy It Now listings are just curious onlookers that have no intention of buying that item, at least not at its current price.
Add another wrinkle, if you put a watch on something and it dosn't sell the seller will start sending out e-mails to buyers with a lower price on buy it now, got a few things that way. Sometimes they offer 5% off and other times it is like 30%.
richhotrainWell, yes and no. I do see a lot of stuff on eBay that sits there for what seems like forever, and that tells me that potential buyers are informed.
Agreed. My reference is directed more at the sellers. It seemed like during and post-covid, a lot of sellers started to ask very high prices. That's where I was seeing this remarkable asking price inflation all of a sudden. Makes me wonder how so many could jump on the rising price bandwagon so quickly.
Actual sales prices have not inflated more than the new internet Hobby Shop website offerings, which haven't been huge, IMO, yet ebay sellers are keying off of something.
Maybe ebay should start charging fees for simply holding an item on its bandwidth. It seems now that the guy can simply list those MONON coaches for years and never get charged a fee. He has no overhead costs to force his price down to reasonableness. Ebay bears the overhead cost for his 2 year old listing.
It's not a serious listing, IMO, if the seller is simply willing to wait a long time for one uninformed or desperate buyer to show up.
I say support your local LHS. We now have at least a dozen within reach of your Tablet.
richhotrain Unfortunately, right now, that is often the case on eBay, that is buying a used or nearly new item at close to its original MSRP or even above the original MSRP. The current situation is sure good for sellers though. Rich
Doughless I say support your local LHS. We now have at least a dozen within reach of your Tablet.
Ebay is still a good source, although I also share the view that it's not the "garage sale" place it used to be. Used engines used to be available at a reasonable price. Forget that. And some sellers are just abusive - I sent a few messages to some to point out that their information about an engine was wrong, and some just totally ignored me.
I bought some REALLY nice brass engines this year at a low price, but none were from Ebay. They were all from generic online sites with a strong local presence (Kijiji and Marketplace). The sellers were all private owners who were happy to sell them at a low price. With the LHS disappearing, it's getting complicated for someone selling used brass.
Simon
What is kijiji?
I googled it and it comes up as ebay classifieds.
John-NYBW Doughless I say support your local LHS. We now have at least a dozen within reach of your Tablet. Supporting the LHS is easier said than done for many of us. My favorite LHS is almost an hour drive one way. I used to drive into town twice a week to bowl but since the pandemic, our bowling alley is on restricted hours and our bowling group is on hold until further notice. We don't even know if they will ever return to normal hours. This past week, I had to take my dogs in to the vet so I took advantage to stop by the LHS and I picked up a few items. If I have to make a special trip, I figure in the cost of the gas as well as the value of my time when deciding where to buy. Usually that means buying online. The LHS and the online seller are both in competition for my business. I'll go with the one that gives me the best value for my money. If it's a toss up, I'll probably go with the LHS but if I can save signicant time or money buying online, whether that's ebay or an e-tailer, that's the route I will go. Businesses have to learn to adjust to changing times. That's always been the case. Those that do that well will stay in business. Those that can't won't.
I was using the term LHS in a certain way. I can sit at my desk and visit a dozen brick and mortar sites that give me access to their inventory as if I was going to drive 10 miles to my own LHS. In that sense, they are local. They are a B&M shop that are within 10 miles away from a lot of people, just not me, but give me access to their inventory as if I was.
I prefer those sellers over the ebay sellers, although some of the ebay sellers can be tied back to a LHS too. Not wanting to paint with too broad of a brush here.
rrebell Add another wrinkle, if you put a watch on something and it dosn't sell the seller will start sending out e-mails to buyers with a lower price on buy it now, got a few things that way. Sometimes they offer 5% off and other times it is like 30%.
Very true. I've gotten a few things that way myself.
As to supporting your LHS, I would if I had one.
maxman What is kijiji? I googled it and it comes up as ebay classifieds.
Doughless John-NYBW Doughless I say support your local LHS. We now have at least a dozen within reach of your Tablet. Supporting the LHS is easier said than done for many of us. My favorite LHS is almost an hour drive one way. I used to drive into town twice a week to bowl but since the pandemic, our bowling alley is on restricted hours and our bowling group is on hold until further notice. We don't even know if they will ever return to normal hours. This past week, I had to take my dogs in to the vet so I took advantage to stop by the LHS and I picked up a few items. If I have to make a special trip, I figure in the cost of the gas as well as the value of my time when deciding where to buy. Usually that means buying online. The LHS and the online seller are both in competition for my business. I'll go with the one that gives me the best value for my money. If it's a toss up, I'll probably go with the LHS but if I can save signicant time or money buying online, whether that's ebay or an e-tailer, that's the route I will go. Businesses have to learn to adjust to changing times. That's always been the case. Those that do that well will stay in business. Those that can't won't. I was using the term LHS in a certain way. I can sit at my desk and visit a dozen brick and mortar sites that give me access to their inventory as if I was going to drive 10 miles to my own LHS. In that sense, they are local. They are a B&M shop that are within 10 miles away from a lot of people, just not me, but give me access to their inventory as if I was. I prefer those sellers over the ebay sellers, although some of the ebay sellers can be tied back to a LHS too. Not wanting to paint with too broad of a brush here.
My favorite LHS has an ebay store and an Amazon store although I find them difficult to find what I am looking for. Generally when I'm looking on ebay it is for a vintage or other discontinued item, not for something readily available new. The advantage of buying from Amazon is I can get it the next day if it is an item they stock. If it comes from a third party vendor, it can sometimes take a week or more. If it's coming from China, it might be a month or more.
My most recent Amazon purchase was for a turnout which I got the next day. Had I ordered through my LHS's Amazon store, it would have taken longer and slowed the progress on my layout. I consider both price and convenience in deciding from whom I will purchase.
snjroy maxman What is kijiji? I googled it and it comes up as ebay classifieds. Ah, I just realized it's only a Canadian thing. It's basically a used items selling site. Very similar to Marketplace.
maxman
What is kijiji? I googled it and it comes up as ebay classifieds. Ah, I just realized it's only a Canadian thing. It's basically a used items selling site. Very similar to Marketplace.
Ah, I just realized it's only a Canadian thing. It's basically a used items selling site. Very similar to Marketplace.
FRRYKid rrebell Add another wrinkle, if you put a watch on something and it dosn't sell the seller will start sending out e-mails to buyers with a lower price on buy it now, got a few things that way. Sometimes they offer 5% off and other times it is like 30%. Very true. I've gotten a few things that way myself. As to supporting your LHS, I would if I had one.
rrebellWhy support your local shop, used to go all the time and they were ussually very rude (being kind here) for the last 20 years or so. In my youth you got help but not anymore and their prices are much higher to boot!
Hi rrebell,
I think that you might be painting with a rather broad brush when you ask "Why support your local shop". Obviously you have had a lot of bad experiences with your local shop, but not all shops are the same. My 'local' hobby shop is always a pleasure to do business with. They are very friendly, helpful and patient, and their prices are good when compared to bringing items into Canada by ordering directly from the USA.
When I say 'patient', I have a (bad) habit of adding several items, often one at a time, to an outstanding order. It doesn't seem to annoy them, although I may be looking through rose coloured glasses at that. When I say 'local' that is a figure of speech. They are 4 1/2 hrs. away but shipping is cheap so I really have no need to visit the shop in person. I have a good rapport with the person who handles the orders (Mark R on the forums if you are interested). Our relationship is very similar to the hobby shop banter of days past, although perhaps not as frequent.
No offense intended rrebell. Just my worth.
E-bay has nothing to do with pricing. Most are reasonible, some are outlandish.
Take for example power supplies for my servers. They are obsolete and so the manufacturer does not have them, and if they did the price for a gnu one would be just over $200.
So I looked on e-bay and bought some used for about $40. each. But there on e-bay was an ad for the same power supplies for $2000.
Isuspect that some dude bought them for $40.00, listed them for $2000, and bought them for his employer at that price, keeping the rest of the money.
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