SeeYou190 Doughless I don't use Ebay much anymore, but I visited the site yesterday and was shocked at the prices. Here is another great example I just stumbled onto. RIDICULOUS! $25.00 for a train car that can be bought direct from Tichy for $12.00 from their website. I hope nobody falls for this. Even two at that price is high. -Kevin
Doughless I don't use Ebay much anymore, but I visited the site yesterday and was shocked at the prices.
Here is another great example I just stumbled onto.
RIDICULOUS!
$25.00 for a train car that can be bought direct from Tichy for $12.00 from their website.
I hope nobody falls for this. Even two at that price is high.
-Kevin
I see lots of kits like that, or even higher prices that Exactrail, Genesis, etc... cars would normally pull, all from Titchy, MDC, Roundhouse, Athearn BlueBox, etc... I always do a hard pass on those listings.
A really good kit car score I got over the summer, that I snagged as soon as the saved search alerted me of the new listing, was listed as a TTX 50' FBOX kit, and I thought "one kit for that? No.", but the listing details mentioned a quantity of 7, and secondary pictures confirmed it. They were the old LBF/E&C kits, and at less than $7 each, after shipping!
A couple of duplicated road numbers, and two unnumbered cars, but a decal sheet can easily fix that.
So yes, you have to search for the deals, but they do still pop up.
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.
PennsyLou richhotrain PennsyLou I was wondering what proportion of listings actually get bids - did a search for "PRR Pennsylvania HO Scale" - which turned up 5400 listings, then I did an advanced search for the same that actually had one or more bids - for which 53 listings came up - a bit less than 1% of the total - so at least for this particular search term, 99%+ of the listings appear to go bidless. Something doesn't make sense here. That result seemed unusually low, so I did a search using the same words as you did. I get entirely different results. Rich Dunno - did it again with the same results. There are 5520 listings for PRR Pennsylvania in HO scale, 502 (about 10%) of which are actual auctions (rather than "Buy it Now" listings) and of those 53 have one or more bids. If I then search for zero bids it comes up at 449 auctions so the math checks out. "Buy it Now" is 5078 listings so in summary 5078 BIN listings, 502 auctions, 53 with bids. Some of the "Buy it Now" listing obviously do sell, but it is difficult to know how many vs. the auctions.
richhotrain PennsyLou I was wondering what proportion of listings actually get bids - did a search for "PRR Pennsylvania HO Scale" - which turned up 5400 listings, then I did an advanced search for the same that actually had one or more bids - for which 53 listings came up - a bit less than 1% of the total - so at least for this particular search term, 99%+ of the listings appear to go bidless. Something doesn't make sense here. That result seemed unusually low, so I did a search using the same words as you did. I get entirely different results. Rich
PennsyLou I was wondering what proportion of listings actually get bids - did a search for "PRR Pennsylvania HO Scale" - which turned up 5400 listings, then I did an advanced search for the same that actually had one or more bids - for which 53 listings came up - a bit less than 1% of the total - so at least for this particular search term, 99%+ of the listings appear to go bidless.
I was wondering what proportion of listings actually get bids - did a search for "PRR Pennsylvania HO Scale" - which turned up 5400 listings, then I did an advanced search for the same that actually had one or more bids - for which 53 listings came up - a bit less than 1% of the total - so at least for this particular search term, 99%+ of the listings appear to go bidless.
Something doesn't make sense here. That result seemed unusually low, so I did a search using the same words as you did. I get entirely different results.
Rich
Dunno - did it again with the same results. There are 5520 listings for PRR Pennsylvania in HO scale, 502 (about 10%) of which are actual auctions (rather than "Buy it Now" listings) and of those 53 have one or more bids. If I then search for zero bids it comes up at 449 auctions so the math checks out. "Buy it Now" is 5078 listings so in summary 5078 BIN listings, 502 auctions, 53 with bids. Some of the "Buy it Now" listing obviously do sell, but it is difficult to know how many vs. the auctions.
DoughlessI don't use Ebay much anymore, but I visited the site yesterday and was shocked at the prices.
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 The seller corrected the problem with the shipping charges. All is well again. -Kevin
The seller corrected the problem with the shipping charges.
All is well again.
Alton Junction
Tin Can II I do check from time to time looking for hard-to-find brass pieces. The Holy Grail for me is a model of ATSF motorcar M122. I know it exists, although I have only seen one ever listed for sale at another online auction.
I do check from time to time looking for hard-to-find brass pieces. The Holy Grail for me is a model of ATSF motorcar M122. I know it exists, although I have only seen one ever listed for sale at another online auction.
A brass model of the 75 ft Santa Fe doodlebugs M115 - M125 was imported in the late 1970s by Hallmark. To the best of my knowledge, they came only in unpainted form (the 80 footers were later also offered by Key factory-painted). Thus, hoping to find one that was painted and numbered M122 by a previous owner seems next-to-impossible (except for the one you saw). The unpainted version comes up on ebay from time to time. They just have one up for auction, not running and with the rear truck missing (search for: Hallmark Brass M115).
JW
richhotrain He did ask that the buyer request a combined shipping invoice before paying. Did you do that?
He sent me the combined invoice about three hours after the purchases.
ricktrains4824Is that 31.10 the "after tax" total?
Nope, that is before taxes are added at checkout.
Kevin,
Is that 31.10 the "after tax" total? Not sure what tax is for you, but it would be close for me with a combined shipping charge for the two.
That still seems high for shipping, but if your tax rate is higher there...
I quit selling on ebay a few years back with all the changes they implemented. And now that they are issuing 1099's for $600; it just compounds the hassle. There are other ways to sell stuff without the expense and the tax hassles.
Kevin, don't be so quick on the negative feedback idea. I would bet that the seller will correct the problem. He did ask that the buyer request a combined shipping invoice before paying. Did you do that?
Well... eBay problems... with train purchases.
I just purchased two DPM models for a good price.
The seller is asking $15.10 shipping for the two items.
Problem... shipping was quoted as $6.60 for EACH item.
Problem two... he said he would combine shipping.
I sent the seller a request for him to fix the invoice. I hope he does... or someone is going to get some negative feedback.
I checked to see what I have been buying recently:
It looks like I am still finding things for the layout.
PennsyLou Yes this was looking at active listings only, so the ~50% figure would indicate that about half of all auctions sell - eventually - but may have to get listed multiple times (with possible downward price adjustments) before they finally sell.
Yes this was looking at active listings only, so the ~50% figure would indicate that about half of all auctions sell - eventually - but may have to get listed multiple times (with possible downward price adjustments) before they finally sell.
In the early days, auctions seemed a lot "fairer". Potential buyers would bid throughout the listing period and items would sell for reasonable prices. But things have changed as a lot of last second sniping now takes place. And, often, there is no bidding whatsoever until the last day, the last hour, the last minute. That would explain your 99% of auctions with no bids.
Today, you often see an auction begin at $0.01 or $.99, by way of example, which sets off a bidding frenzy that does not hold up in the end. Most auctions are decided within the last few seconds. Other auctions begin at an unreasonably high price, and the item goes unsold with no bids.
Speaking for myself, I avoid selling items auction style, choosing to use the Buy It Now method instead. I set the BIN price at what I believe is fair and the amount that I want to receive which is usually somewhere between 50% and 70% of what I originally paid for the item. I have nearly a 100% success record.
Are you looking at active listings? That could explain the lack of bids on auction type listings.
I looked at Completed Items and Sold Items and found that about 50% of the completed auctions resulted in sales.
I haven't sold on Ebay for 15 years, but I do buy because I can find things that are usually sold out at vendors. I sell on HOSWAP and so far it's worked well over the past 10 years.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The longer that I'm in this hobby, the more selective I have gotten regarding what I will purchase. Mostly, because the layout is getting quite full, and there's not much I need. I do have certain keywords that I will search for every week or so to see if anything comes up. Ironically, I just bought a 40s era HO fire truck this morning on Ebay that I was looking for.
Modeling the B&M Railroad during the transition era in Lowell, MA
IC_TomIf you see it on ebay and it's from Trainz, turn around and buy it from their website, instead.
It's been a while now but I was looking for a particular Mikado that Trainz had listed on eBay. I also did a Google search for the same engine and an Amazon hit came up which turned out to be the same engine and the seller was Trainz. Price was $15 cheaper and shipping was free.
It can be advantageous to explore all your options.
My eBay activity has practically dropped off the chart. Sometimes I'll find something of interest but not too often. I use saved searches and if it is really something I've been interested in I'll keep the email notification active to alert me.
Good Luck, Ed
I haven't looked at eBay for a while. This thread encouraged me to have another look at what was available. I was shocked to see the current shipping prices to Canada! When I first started buying on eBay 16 years ago, the shipping was affordable. Not any more! Shipping to Canada, with very few exceptions, starts at about $30.00 Cdn. and goes up from there. If I ever buy from eBay again, the item is going to have to be pretty darn desirable!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
richhotrain I have bought several used but "like new" items from Trainz on eBay, and I have always been pleased with my purchases. Apparently, Trainz does buy used items for resale, and their descriptions and photos honestly describe and show defects which are always minor. Rich
I have bought several used but "like new" items from Trainz on eBay, and I have always been pleased with my purchases. Apparently, Trainz does buy used items for resale, and their descriptions and photos honestly describe and show defects which are always minor.
If you see it on ebay and it's from Trainz, turn around and buy it from their website, instead. You'll save a dollar or two, maybe more depending on whether you have some points built up or a coupon from them.
I have been buying and selling (mostly buying) on Ebay since the late 1990's. I have found all kinds of great train stuff on Ebay.
Brass, rolling stock kits and all kinds of OOP items that I might find at a train show but would never see in a shop. I find that I buy on a pretty constant basis over the years.
The layout is much closer to completion so the purchases have changed from infrastructure things like track, turnouts and other items in the early days to things like scenery details and rolling stock more recently.
on the selling side - I did liquidate lots of childhood train items and I purged lots of other items but my selling experiences have been less satisfactory than buying - there is lots of time involved and comparatively little return when all is said and done...
I am pretty careful about knowing the value of items so I rarely overpay and usually get a good to decent deal (depending). I have also bought skis, shoes and other items as well as selling music gear and even a marimba on Ebay - very few bad experiences....
If you are looking for a scarce OOP train item - it will eventually show up on Ebay...
My two cents,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
As I said earlier, I was ecstatic after receiving my first purchase from eBay. However, the feeling is fading within a week as now I seem to be getting daily email ads from them. The latest was a reminder that I had looked at an item, but but that it was still available. It was an item (LNE 70 ton covered hopper) that I had wished I bought almost 20 years ago when it was available. I slept on it, and bought it the next day. I guess seeing so many previously hard-to-find items in one spot made me start to take it for granted now.
I do for quite a bit of my items. I don't have an LHS. The closest shop with some items is 40 miles and the next closest is about 145. I have done mail order with the 145 one but the last time I called them they wanted more for shipping than the item.
Mostly it's for detail parts, but every once in awhile I might buy a shell or an engine if the mood strikes. My latest purchase however was for some RTA boxes for a number of projects I have in the queue.
I also try to keep the costs down. If I think something is too expensive I won't buy it.
I have repaired and rebuilt/repowered engines for my layout. I have 4 AHM U-boats and a bunch of Tythearn GP20s and cabooses that came via eBay. (Tythearn is my name for my Tyco/Athearn kitbashs. Engines are GP20 shells riding on Athearn BB GP35 drives. Caboose have Athearn caboose trucks.)
thomas81zyes im a ebay addict
You love eBay?
thomas81zthey are listed for 1k on evilbay
You hate eBay?
I can't quite tell.
I use eBay much less lately than I used to but that might be because I'm in the "thinning out" stage of my model hobby life. I still look for certain items and I use the "saved search" options with some good results.
Sometimes simply by placing an item in my "watch list" I'll get a notification from the seller that they are offering a "deal". Not long ago this resulted in me picking up a fourteen-car Challenger set of Congressional Limited cars for about half of the usual street prices.
I still buy many of my electronic components, LEDs, resistors, caps and such from eBay sellers. I have almost 2000 feedback "scores" and have never had much of an issue that I can recall. The one time I bought a set of three Trix freight cars from Germany and they all had zinc-pest (the box was still factory sealed so the seller hadn't even checked) the seller refunded my entire cost. I later repaired the cars with new underframes.
me yes im a ebay addict thou it has to be a good deal or i wait
i did get a trix big boy off of fb union pacifc modeling page for 400 dollars shipped with the box that was an outstanding price considering they are listed for 1k on evilbay. im done with my big articulated steam purchases. but i will look to see whats out there , that and facebook HO sales pages also
I used to buy quite a bit. A seller, 120 miles from me, routinely had very good prices on items from estate sales. He did not charge shipping as he came up here every weekend to visit his daughter. Gave him a good tip. He has since adjusted his prices similar to others on ebay and no longer has good buys.
Shipping on ebay items really frosts me. I will see the quoted shipping price at the time of the sale and then see that the actual shipping is $3 to $5 less. Items were pictured with Kadee couplers but were not included in the actual shipment. Small thing I know, but why, why be dishonest? I call em out in a message and give them a down vote if they "female dog back".
LOL, I did not type female dog...