How would you rate Ebay for train purchases overall

[Anonymous]

To Buy: Bad, too many bidders to get good purchase price.

To Sell: Good, lots of bidders to get good selling price.


Charlie

[Anonymous]

I have got a couple of nice sets including my Lack., and a small collection of cabosses.
The problem I have is communication, very rarely do I get any answers, or a congrad. note.
Bought one item from guy in NY, never did hear from him by e-mail or otherwise, although
the item was very nice. He in turn gave me a + rate., but said I didn't know how to e-mail which
was totally wrong!!
I think like most overall--Not bad deals, I use Green. guide on everything.[:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

I buy and sell on ebay all kinds of items closest sale was 15 miles from home longest distance was JAPAN. Overall great time only one problem and they had a 100% rating never got item or money back, used a money orer now I will only pay if they accept PAYPAL I never had a problem that way.
I do wi***he rest of you fine Gentleman and Ladies (if any) would stop out bidding ME!?!?

[philo426]

To Mike Balog.I have an assembled MDC 2-truck Shay that runs great.If you are interested e-mail me at [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Here is a comparsion I have made. If I sell a like new lionel type Z transformer on svc trains the most I can expect to get out of it is about 100 bucks.
When then are on ebay and do not guarantee they work like mine, they will go for over 200. Dave.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by macaste

To all of you who don't think sellers bid on their own items. I am bidding on a tyco ho scale track. I set my max bid to 20.00. I was the only bidder and the bidding started at 1.00. One day I noticed 5 new bids. I was suprised to see that I was now the current high bidder. Someone had placed five bids 2.00,5.00,10.00,15.00 and 20.00. Since my bid was placed first I am the lucky winner. The bids were all placed by the same bidder. The bidder did not have the same name but it was the seller or a friend of the seller. I sent a message to the bidder and told then all they have to do is bid 20.50 and the item is theirs. I have recieved no reply and I am still the high bidder. It is like the bidder knew what my maximum bid was and did not bid above that.

Your max bid should not be seen by the seller.

I refuse to play that game. I withhold my max bid until less than 30 seconds prior to end of auction. Dailup requires 20 seconds to complete a bid and DSL less than 6.

Snipe the darn thing and be done with it. Win it fast and give them no time to react or drive up the price.

True bidders who actually want to buy the item will be bidding you for it. These would display consistent historys for a variety of items.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Almost all of my AF stuff came from ebay and I have had all positive outcomes. I agree with the quoted suggestions posted previously. In addition, expect the item to be as described and no better, if it is great, but if there was misinformation, work it out with the seller., if you miss something in a photo, that's your problem. Above all ask questions, examine photos, know the item you are biding on. All sellers I have delt with are honest folks and ifa mistake is made, will reconcile the issue.
Jim

[Anonymous]

To all of you who don't think sellers bid on their own items. I am bidding on a tyco ho scale track. I set my max bid to 20.00. I was the only bidder and the bidding started at 1.00. One day I noticed 5 new bids. I was suprised to see that I was now the current high bidder. Someone had placed five bids 2.00,5.00,10.00,15.00 and 20.00. Since my bid was placed first I am the lucky winner. The bids were all placed by the same bidder. The bidder did not have the same name but it was the seller or a friend of the seller. I sent a message to the bidder and told then all they have to do is bid 20.50 and the item is theirs. I have recieved no reply and I am still the high bidder. It is like the bidder knew what my maximum bid was and did not bid above that.

[Anonymous]

Hello Forum.:
First time I am on this forum. Just to let you know, I had some great deals on home
and pro audio - video equipment. Problem was both UPS and USPS. They dropped
an Expensive Vintage Reel to Reel Deck. Which Burned Up with Pluged in. USPS
shipped me an AMP that was in Mint Conditions as I had Photos from the Seller. The
USPS Actually Backed over the Box and BENT the AMP CASE ! Took Three Months for
me to Settle the Case with USPS to get my Money Back.

As Far as Model RR Trains go,,,,,,, Seems I don't have Luck trying to Find Specific
Items.. End up with page after page of items instead of the Items I typed in Search
by Specific Name, came back, they could not find. Is there a Specific Way to Find items
by their name or Road? Spent Hours trying to find a HO MDC Shay that was already
to run with No Luck.

Am Looking for the Best Deal on Model RR Publications, such as "How to Build
Detailed RR Scenes" and "Building City Scenery For Your Model Railroad". ?

Had Tried to locate a decent price for the Newest top of the Line Dremel Motor Tool
Kit with no luck. Have had Much Better Results going to Local Model RR Shows.
Where I can meet the dealers Face to Face. Waiting for a Reply,. And the Big Snow
Storm that is Predicted on the East Coast. ~ Mike

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am new to this buying trains thing, but I enjoy it and like looking around, for
the few things I have bought I got a good deal, The biggest problem I have is
getting people to respond to questions, wanting pictures, and even conformation of purchased items.
I bought two items from one place-they were very nice, sent money orders, they
in turn said I didn't know how to use e-mail---every one else got there e-mail--
Only two ways that I know of is "ask-seller" & "contact-seller""
For the most partt I see the trains going for as much or more than Greenbergs
has price listed. Unless it is a rare item or a good set I don't pay retail. I realize the book is just a guide but I take it for what its worth and valuable.
Seems the beer cars go way overpriced for most part-but I might just get lucky--
Thanks for all your views!![:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

I always try to buy the cheapest so I lose out a lot. I do see a lot of unrealistic opening bids on some things and high shipping & handling costs. I just enjoy looking at what's for sale - I know I can't buy everything that I see. I guess I don't pay attention as to who else is bidding on stuff, if I get it fine, if I don't it'll always be on sale again sometime. I look for mostly wabash and t,p& w stuff so i see the same pieces over and over. John

[cmrj]

on a scale of one to ten a five . over the past few months, I have seen a lot of junk sell for big dollars. even if it's for parts,the restoration guy's must be able to get it back.I also see the other end go higher than some repro. listed in the cat. you can't look at the older piece's as money in the bank.when the older baby boomers start dieing off . the market is going to change . sure there are young people up and comeing to the hobby.but not in the same percentage's as we are.Iwould not buy ahigh dollar item with out prsonaly check ing it my selfand test running it. I looked at a bridge several weeks ago and stayed away from it. Iplace amax bid and watch.

[2343]

I've made lots of purchases on Ebay:

a TW Transformer that was completely reconditioned for about $85;
a 2343 AA set that is a great runner (although the horn does not work - my fault not the seller's)
a 675 Loco that is out of this world as far as being serviced and a great runner
a searchlight car
a 3457 caboose
a Sunoco tank car
a Lehigh Valley Hopper, etc. etc.

and accessories:

Billboard set from the early 50's
Lionel Flagpole
Diesel Horn shed (the old 9V battery type).

I can say that Ebay has provided a much better pricing point than my local train shop that sells many of these postwar items. For example, they want want $159 for the TW Transformer alone.

[underworld]

Everybody starts with zero......sometimes you just have to take a chance.
Congratulations on your cool purchase!!!!!
[swg][swg][swg][swg][swg]

[Anonymous]

Wow now I wish I could have gotten the sd 90mac she had for sale. I'm glad
tgovebaker got a good deal.

[tgovebaker]

Ok, as promised, it is time for my public apology to eBay member debbi391. As noted when this thread began, a few weeks ago a large lot of O guage trains were listed for sale on eBay by debbi391, but with some ominous characteristics: debbi391 had received no feedback; none of the listed items had photos; the description for nearly every item was the same (as macaste noted earlier). Normally this is a recipe for disaster, and I expected I had made an error.

Today I received both of the engines that I ordered -- two Rio Grande SD-50s in their original boxes, with the original paperwork. The engines are in great shape, and were purchased for what, ultimately, was a great, great price. Thus, to debbi391, I am sorry for doubting you.

Check Sunday photo fun for pictures of the new engines in action.

[powernailer]

This is a super question? I myself do buy and I do sell on Ebay, but I can't say that ever seller out there is totally honest, we're there to sell and hopfully make a few bucks. I have had a little trouble with a couple of items and with no recourse. What I consider in good condition, might be very good to others. If I am to buy new, I'm back to a dealer that I can trust and get service. The dealers need our business, we need their service (electronics?). Most are willing to bargain a little, and if not, it's our money, our choice if we buy or not. My dealer takes good care of me and has helped me find parts I need. It doesn't get any better than that..

[underworld]

You have to know what you are bidding on. Don't get into a bidding war and don't bid too much. READ the entire ad including any bits about shipping and payment. I've found some things that I've not seen anywhere else. I've gotten some Ok deals and some good deals. You just have to be aware of what's going on. I give ebay a 10.

[hsaxon]

Guess I'll chime in but only to echo the good advice others have already given. Caveat emptor-always. Most of the e-bayers are honest and friendly folks. Shipping can really bite, so look hard at the costs. Clearly some folks appear to be "selling" you shipping services with a cheap product thrown in to justify the way they make their money. Pay attention to ratings. Good ocassional source of scarce prewar stock and parts. Most offerings run long enough for you to ask questions and do research. The real bidding happens in the last hour before the sale closes anyway.

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by expogs6

Hi Frank-you say you are into coins, my grandmother gave me several old coins
a long time ago, nickles, dimes, quqrters, halves and silver dollars and a couple
of bills. How do you go about finding value of these. Don't want to go to pawn
shop, or maybe you can help.
Thanks[:)][:)]

Expo - soory for not responding to this sooner. Send me an email at [e-mail]. I will give you an idea of what you may have.

[Anonymous]

Just adding a couple cents.
I buy only pre-war Lionel on e-bay (so far). I recently purchased a 1933 Lionel 259 which was described as "does not run." So, I got it fairly cheap. When it arrived, I found the reason it didn't run. The e-unit lever was in neutral. I threw the level up, and the thing sped off down the test track.

I guess the moral of the story is to be very careful and don't expect the sellers to be collectors or experts. Also, be wary of the pictures. Or should I say, what's NOT in the pictures. If there is a portion of the item never shown in pictures, assume it's the worst portion and something is not right with it. I realize this is a negative attitude, but I say better safe than sorry. There are wonderful people, selling wonderful things on e-bay that they simply have no use for anymore. But there are just as many people of the opposite type.

Good luck and happy hunting.
T

[palallin]

I've bought and sold on eBay. I've studied eBay, too (for an article that I wrote on on-line auctions--a much smaller subject at the time!--for CTT). My experiences has been almost universally positive. When I've sold, one buyer backed out of the deal. Some pieces went cheap, some went for more than I'd thought. When I've bought, I've gotten less that I expected twice, one time having been my inattention and one time having been seller ignorance. Each of those problems was resolved to my satisfaction.

Something upward of 75% of my trains are eBay purchases; without eBay, I'm nearly dead in the water, lost out here without a local train dealer ("local" being operationally defined as closer than 100 miles away).

[Anonymous]

Hi Frank-you say you are into coins, my grandmother gave me several old coins
a long time ago, nickles, dimes, quqrters, halves and silver dollars and a couple
of bills. How do you go about finding value of these. Don't want to go to pawn
shop, or maybe you can help.
Thanks[:)][:)]

[Dave Farquhar]

Depending on what it is you like, Ebay may be your best outlet to buy stuff. I know a lot of Marx collectors who built 90% of their collections off Ebay, because you just don't see much Marx at swap meets and the like. It's good for the obscure manufacturers too--you may see a handful of Bing or Dorfan auctions each week on Ebay. Chances are you don't get very many chances locally to buy that kind of stuff.

But if your tastes run more toward the modern, the deals are harder to find. By the time you factor in shipping it might be cheaper to just buy it at the local hobby shop. Or you could always just mail-order it and know exactly what it's going to cost up front. The deals on modern stuff tend to be on the low-end pieces from set break-ups, and chances are you're not going to be as interested in those.

The more your tastes tend towards the modern, the less you'll like Ebay, I'm betting. Since I like the old stuff and I generally enjoy fixing it (as long as I didn't pay a premium for a working item that didn't, that is) I buy a lot on Ebay.

[Frank53]

I've bought and sold coins on ebay, and have not yet had a bad experience. I have looked at lots of trains, but have yet to buy because of the numerous wild cards. Does it work? What if it doesn't? Coins are certified and rarely do you end up sending one back, trains that don't work are another story.

Also, shipping is going to be a nightmare. I looked at a number of cars that I felt would give me nice sets of rolling stock at reasonable prices, only to see flat $8.00, $10.00 and $12.00 per car shipping charges.

Like in coins, I would stil prefer to buy from fellow train folk on forums like this via a buy/sel/trade board.

[Anonymous]

I buy things occasionally from Ebay. I just sold all my HO stuff on it, racking up a good sum of $45. I, myself is a good horse trader, I get much better deals at swap meets. I think they are more fun then Ebay too. You can touch, hold, examine and even sometimes test the trains sometimes. I like Ebay, but I would not be to dependent on it.

Just my [2c] .

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor is In !!! I have bought items for my collection and items to fix and resell. I have done well so far. I bought a SP box car new in box and got it for less than the price in the Greenburg price book. I had one bad deal, I bid and won an SP caboose from an east coast shop(antique shop, i think) They were hard to get in touch with, did not know
what I was buying from them. I had to trace the postal m.o. I got a refund and gave up.
They struck me as people I did not want to deal with. Buyer Beware! I also have found items that were cheaper on Ebay than the train shows. Bottom Line, More Winners Than Losers ! Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly Evil Doctor !!! [}:)]

[Anonymous]

Didn't realize they have a protection program.... but having been very active on eBay the last 3 months, getting into the hobby, have gotten all my trains either directly on eBay, or from dealers who happen to sell on eBay----- especially go to their "See sellers other products", or their eBay store.... also found dealers thru Google by product wanted....and found this site that way....

Several of my purchases were from an initial eBay contact which lead to my dealing directly with the seller - (Shhhhh) - tried to stick with dealers and individuals with excellent feedbacks.

[Anonymous]

Yeah the woman or person had a lot of items for sale. Her descriptions were as follows "It has ran for about 15 hrs". She had no pictures of her products and did not accept paypal. I was suspicious also. I do wish you luck.