Speaking of getting "caught up in the moment," I suppose that everyone who's spent much time on eBay has seen some cases of this.
A personal favorite of mine was a bidding war I watched a couple years ago, over a single edition of Trains magazine from 1957; July I believe. I noticed because I was trying to pick one up myself, but the price seemed to be getting carried away and I stopped following it. I checked back after the close, and the thing had gone to $76.00! Apparently, two guys after it took the whole matter personally and just got into a bidding war and lost all sight of the intrinsic value. Weird!
By the way, that seller (Dan's Train Depot) seems like a first-class operation. I've bought stuff there, and always found the descriptions to be honest and the shipping service excellent.
Maybe this guy really does know what he's doing. That's a bit more than I would pay for one, of course, but ever since Bachmann discontinued the DD40 that's been one of the most requested "if you ever get a used one through here, I'll be glad to pay whatever to get one..." requests.
Several of those DD40s are on display around the UP system, including one near here in North Little Rock. A lot of UP modelers could/would/do want one of these - running or not - for no other reason than to have one on display on their layout.
Believe me, if I could get them in my store, I'd be looking at around a 75.00 used item if it was in good shape. You can fix the thick handrails. You can repaint it into a more accurate paint scheme. They msrp'd at over a 100 before they were discontinued if I recall.
Yeah, 140.00 seems a little high to me too, but like any other auction, it's how bad you want to get one. Not like anyone else is making of copy.
Notice it was the guys first win on eBay. People get "caught up in the moment" of bidding and overbid for the item. I just hope that mopac11 will be happy with his "prize".
At least the seller was honest enough about the condition of the locomotive. You can't stop people from overbidding...or from their own stupidity.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
That is the old drive. Only 2 axles powered, out of 8. I Bet she runs sweet and you got to love the open pilots, always a great prototypical appearance.
That sure is an expensive paperweight; I have gotten NIB Katos from the LHS for less than that.
My opinion is that epay has become infested with fools as of late. Some are sellers, more are buyers. You know the old saying about a fool and his money.
On a more constructive note, has anyone ever successfully re-powered one of these? I do not mean theoretically, I mean having actually done it?
Now I am wondering how the B-man is going to service this gem when it gets sent in? Do they ask for proof of original ownership? Maybe they will send out another one with the newer drive.
Jim
Hmmm maybe they wanted the shell for a repowering project. Wait, the shell isn't all that great either. I especially like the nice thick handrails.
Just goes to show that those graphs and slopes I learned in econ class really are correct. When the supply runs low, the price (if there is sufficient demand) goes up. But I bet there is plenty of left over stock sitting somewhere, and a lot cheaper too.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Like anything else in the world, you need to know what you are purchasing!!! And some people will buy some very strange things and pay some foolish money for it. Someone actually bought a "used" wad of gum, wrapped in it's paper, that Jerry Seinfeld had thrown in a trash bin in NY. The person following Jerry, knew who he was, removed the wrapped used, chewed, gum from the trash bin, and sold it on EBay for $11 I believe. The point being, some people will buy anything at any price. Why? Because they want it.
As for trains.....know what you are buying !!!!!!!!!
Oh, I forgot one thing to remember when buying on Ebay or anywhere else for that matter: "Quality is like buying oats. If you want nice, fresh oats, you have to expect to pay a fair price. However........if you don't mind buying oats that have already been through the horse......well son, ......that comes a little cheaper!!! "
CONDITION: Used but in Excellent Condition. It is powered and the motor works but it is slipping so it doesn't run.For $139.50 + shipping, you at least get twice the engine in HO Scale as you would if it were in N Scale.
CONDITION: Used but in Excellent Condition. It is powered and the motor works but it is slipping so it doesn't run.
For $139.50 + shipping, you at least get twice the engine in HO Scale as you would if it were in N Scale.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Well, the DD40 barely runs right out of the box, so it's probably not that badly damaged. There were multiple bidders, too, so it seems to be have been a case of a "bid frenzy", people going head-to-head with a kind of "I'll be darned if I'm going to let him get away with it" attitude.
I didn't even see the part were it doesn't run. That is a pretty abnormal buy...
-beegle55
But $139 for A Bachman that doesn't run?
He must have wanted one badly.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
eBay is surley filled full of good and not so good deals, but like mentioned before, the buyer did get what he wanted.
Hm, I paid 50 Marks for mine, which converted to something like 8-14 dollars at the time (this was in 1994-1996, I think).
So what?
Something is only as valuable as what someone is willing to pay for it.
The buyer got what he wanted.
Unbelievable, I could have picked up one of these at my local hobby shop last year for $39.99 Canadian.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200070397271