Typical Ebay Experience?

[Anonymous]

How many guys here buy some of their cars/locomotives from Ebay? Granted, I rarely use Ebay and the last time I used it was about 3 years ago. Generally I can be leery about buying things on there because there are often alot of dishonest people that tend to sell on there.

On the other hand, it would be a great way to get some great items for alot less, especially those that you can't find anymore. I really dont like bidding because there is usually a 98% chance of geting outbidded at the last second and end up losing. I would prefer the Buy It Now option and completely bypass the bdding altogether.

On one listing I say an Allegeny steam loco that has a current bid of $45. Now what are the odds that the bid will skyrocket right at the end? Pretty high most likely. I put a watch on the listing but I highly doubt that kind of engine would be purchased with a low winning bid...especially for what the retail of it is.

What have your Ebay experiences for trains been like? Positive? Negative? Unsure?

Chris

[dwiemer]

Chris,
I have made many purchases on ebay and have not been burned yet. that said, I always check the feedback and don't bid if it is not good. Also, my practice is to not bid on high end items, I think the most I bid was $180.00. One big problem is that the sellers have no idea how to rate quality.
Dennis

[tcripe]

Other than track and my first purchase at a local hobby shop (The Polar Express), all 30 cars, 3 engines, and 4 operating accessories were purchased on ebay. I would say i was disappointed with one accessory - the lumbermill required a new motor, easily purchased. No other problems. I have noticed higher prices on some items now compared to summer. And yes, things can get pretty hectic during the final seconds of a sale. You either need a high speed connection or set a firm price and don't cry if it is beaten.
- Terry

[ChiefEagles]

Don't like EBay. The experts will drive a good engine or car up at the last amen second. [V]

[jakeoregano]

I have made several purchases, and have spent more money than I care to admit - on Ebay. If you are well informed, do your research on an item you are interested in, and don't get caught up in a bidding war, you can lessen your chances of getting burned.
I've had really good success with my purchases and overall I'm very satisfied with all my purchases from Ebay.

I agree with the other posters that you should use feedback as a gauge on a seller as well. Sellers tend to be very, ahem, a little generous about the condition of their items, and it's been my experience that some are just plain wishful as to the value of their items. Having said that an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

If there were one piece of advise I would give though, it's be patient. If you don't get the item you want this week, it will almost surely be listed next week.

Good luck,
Dwayne

[luther_stanton]

I have had decent experiences - never got badly burned (paid with nothing ever received). A few points I follow:

1. Make sure that what you are looking at is either 2 rail or 3 rail (which ever you are looking for)- I have gotten stuck once on a 2 rail with bad pics and failure to clarify. Luckily I was only out $12.00

2. When I have bought "lightly run" or "no box" I have been disappointed - I now stick to new in box.

3. There are reputable dealers that I have been introduced to through Ebay - TrainBuddies and Norm's O Scale are two. I now deal with them direct outside of Ebay, but my first purchase with them was via Ebay.

4. ALWAYS check feedback. If they are not 100 or more, I usually stay away.

Bidding is pretty fickle - I have seen some things run up out of control and others I am the only bidder and got what I considered to be a good deal- it all depends upon the day of the week, ending time, etc. I have also seen a few items bid up at the last minute.

- Luther

[pbjwilson]

My e-bay experiences have been great. Even surprised on a few occasions with getting things that look nicer than in the photo in the listing. I usually decide how much I'm willing to pay and stick to it. Also seem to do better with auctions that end at odd times of the day. I recently picked up MTH Commodore Vanderbilt and a UP Forty-Niner engines practicaly new in the box at very low prices. They run great and I am very pleased.

[Anonymous]

Over the past 7 years, I've made almost 600 eBay transactions, and have only been burnt once, for a $15. loss. Generally, I don't bid on anything that is supposed to "work", so that, in itself, cuts out a lot of potential dissapointments. I buy very few train items on eBay...the most recent, a 1945-46 Lionel metal caboose that I could not find in excellent condition at any train show, including York. The final price was near "book", and the seller showed many close-up photos of it. I'm happy!
Other things I collect are mainly only found on eBay, and I go to many flea markets and antique places. So, eBay, for me, is a place to find things I'm looking for...NOT a place to find things "super cheap". I'm ammused at people who complain that eBay is "no good" because they didn't get an item they bid low on. If you bid the most that YOU are willing to pay, and someone else is willing to pay more...whats to complain about?

[tbwilson4]

After 50+ purchases on EBAY, I was only burned once, and that was buying computer memory. Company took my mail order, & vanished! All the good feedback meant nothing. Was only out $20. I have never had a problem with any railroad related purchases, and these were some big ticket items. I now use Pay Pal whenever I can.

[darianj]

I generally have good experience on Ebay (both buying and selling). The vast majority of the sellers are honest. Just be sure to check their feedback and do your homework on the item.

I haven't bought any trains; but I've bought accessories with no problem. I also always try to watch the bidding at the last minute to make sure I'm not beat out by something like $1.

[tadowler]

I have had great luck both selling and buying rolling stock off of eBay. When you are buying, always check the feedback of the seller. Also, check the shipping amount because some sellers really overcharge for shipping.

Many people wait until the last minute to bid because some folks do not bid the amount they are willing to pay, they simply bid a little higher than the current bid. By bidding at the last second this denies the other bidders a chance to rethink how much they are willing to spend and rebid.

I have noticed that some bidders get caught up with bidding and forget that they can buy the same item from a different seller using Buy It Now or from an online retailer at a lower price.

I think that the biggest mistake people make is thinking that the item they are bidding on will never be available again. If you are collecting a particular item, it is easy to research how many times it has been offered on eBay and what the average selling price has been. By doing this you will know what a fair price is when another seller puts the item up for auction.

Lastly, please do not overlook the buy and sell boards like they have at OGR. I have had great luck buying items this way and this saves the seller the fees that eBay charges.

- Todd

[Roger Bielen]

I've done ok with eBay. Most of my purchases have been rolling stock, maybe two engines, that are not current and I needed for my collection. Usually, I buy local if possible, and I try to stay with dealers having a 99+ rating unless its something I really want, then I check what the complaints were. For engines, I'll enquire as to whether they are a TCA member, that gives a bit more assurance.

My biggest risk was purchaing a scanner. Saved a good penny on it. It was new in the box and fully warrentied. Maybe I've been lucky.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by darianj
[
I also always try to watch the bidding at the last minute to make sure I'm not beat out by something like $1.

Not sure I understand this one. If you are "high bidder" at $27., and someone, at the last second bids $50., he gets it for $28...so you are outbid by a dollar. I assume you mean that you will think about increasing your "maximum bid"? Usually I just bid my "maximum" on the last day, and forget about it. I'm at a real disadvantage with the "last minute" stuff since I go to bed at 9:30pm. Joe

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Don't like EBay. The experts will drive a good engine or car up at the last amen second. [V]

Ya gotta know what it really is worth, so like the Chief says, you don't get burnt. For example, when you can buy brand new mint engine from a local dealer for only 5% more and you get to test run the engine before you take it home with a full warrenty, I'm not sure EBAY is the best deal.

As for cars, I have purchased Pacemaker boxcars, tankcars and piggybacks from EBAY with no problem, but again I knew what they were approximately worth.

As to the sellers, I have never had a bad one. In fact, some of them have been fantastic, especially the gentleman from whom I purchased the G Scale Circus Train. He delivered the train to me and refunded me the shipping !!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I had no problems with Ebay transactions. I never had to ask to return something.
The way I go about it is look up an item you want watch what the final price is for a couple of auctions for the same thing to get idea of what it seling for on ebay. Now this easy for some trains not all but in time another will appear. stick with your comfort level for max bidding no matter what.
the only thing that scares me is buying locos with electronics and will it work when I get it. Most don't say anything.

[Anonymous]

I have seen new Williams J class 746 remake sell for more than what Williams dealers are selling them new and they are available

[Anonymous]

No trouble with buying model trains through ebay at all - most sellers seem to be fellow enthusiasts thinning their collections/changing scale/etc.

[Bob Keller]

I've made about 200 purchases on eBay - mostly non-train related. I've had three transactions that left me, well, mildly irritated but none were train related. Was I ever ripped off, probably not. Were a couple of the ads less than candid, yup.

I can also say that I've made quite a few international purchases - books, militaria, and OO trains from the UK; advertising from France, OO trains and militaria from Australia; and even a CD from New Zealand, and have had a great experience all around. The secret there is pay for airmail or you're waiting a month for that container to get here from Liverpool!

DO look at seller feedback.

[lynbrookyankee]

I agree with most of the above comments - check feedback, shipping charges, carefully read description. I have not had a bad experience with buying (once the post office misplaced a package for 2 weeks but that was not the seller's fault). Do your research and decide what you are willing to pay (including shipping) and enter your high bid. If someone beats me out at the last minute good for them - they were willing to spend more than me & I will simply wait for another seller with the same item. If you bid wisely you can get good deals & pick up some quality items.

[jimhaleyscomet]

tadowler said

"If you are collecting a particular item, it is easy to research how many times it has been offered on eBay and what the average selling price has been. "

How do you see how many times an item has been offered and the aveerage selling price?

The only time I have been ripped off on Ebay was when I bid too much, did not check shipping, ordered the wrong thing, or did not check the description carefully. As with any marketplace it is VERY easy to overpay and difficult to get something below market value.

Jim H

[Bob Keller]

Do a search for the item, tick "Completed items only" and I believe this shows 90 days worth of transactions.

[lionelsoni]

One way to get an occasional bargain is to search for misspelled listings. This very forum can suggest some of them, like "trussel" and "mar".

[Anonymous]

Always check shipping, I once saw an accessory that sold for 26.00 and the shipping was $82.00...I hope the person didn't pay that, but you need to watch....

[Anonymous]

One thing I should mention...when bidding, be careful not to put a comma instead of a period. I once entered a bid of $5,99 for a 1950's "Little Lulu" comic book and failed to pay attention to what I did, until it was too late. I could have retracted the bid, but it would have been sort of a "black mark" on my feedback record. Lucky for me, no OTHER maniac was bidding[:P] Joe

[tgovebaker]

I've never had a problem, and found that eBay is a great place to find things that are hard to find, like Golden West Service rolling stock. Like everyone has said, you can take precautions, such as looking at feedback ratings and payment arrangements.

Of course, traditional risk-reward calculus applies here. Buying something from a reputable seller with great feedback and ample photos of the stuff is safest, but it is also likely to be the most expensive. Buying from someone with little feedback and no photos could be a huge mistake -- or a great deal.

Last year I saw a pair of Lionel Rio Grande SD50s listed. I was so excited that I bid on them immediately, before I realized that there were no photos and the seller had no feedback. I won the auction and received an invoice. Under the terms of the contract, I was obligated to pay. No word from the seller. After a week I began to panic, and even contacted eBay to being the process of a dispute. While I was doing this, the shipment arrived. Both engines worked fine.

Because of the zero feedback/no photos issue, I wound up paying about $250 for both engines combined. Great deal.

Each of us has our own level of risk aversion. Only those who risk going too far will ever know how far they can go...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lionelsoni

On way to get an occasional bargain is to search for misspelled listings. This very forum can suggest some of them, like "trussel" and "mar".

Good point. Also for train items listed under "collectables" or "antiques", etc. Many list the 1945-6 Lionel metal caboose by the number on the side, not the actual item number. One of my "best buys" was a very valuable antique Christmas postcard that spelled the publisher name wrong...a $40. card for $1.25 (there are so many cards listed that most serious collectors search by artist or publisher). Joe

[Anonymous]

I have won two train items on E-Bay and Iam very happy with them.

[Dave Farquhar]

Usually when you're buying common stuff on Ebay you end up paying book value or more, due to people who don't know what it's worth bidding it up. Lately I've taken a liking to some obscure stuff and over the course of a couple of months bidding on Ebay I've built up a collection that would have taken me years to accumulate going to shows and whatnot.

Super, super-common stuff, like, say, a Lionel 2037, can be had for bargain prices just because there are always at least a couple listed. It's much easier of course to get a bargain on a locomotive than on a plastic gondola.

The key really seems to be to not get too attached to any particular auction. Make a bid for what you're willing to pay, then walk away. If you don't get it, there'll be another one next week. If you're after bargains, it could take you a couple of months to get it. But you very well could.

[Brutus]

Another thing - people will start bidding up the item you are bidding on - do a search and see if there is another one or two of the same item and add them to your watch item list. Then, you have an idea of the most you are willing to bid. Always add in the cost of shipping. More than once, I've seen two folks bid something I wanted up really high while I switch to bid on another seller and got it for a lot less! People lock in just on that one item and don't think to look around any more. One time I was bidding on a department 56 item and I think it was at $45 plus $10 s/h. Another guy had it for Buy it now for 49.95 + $8 shipping and handling. As soon as somebody bid the other one up to $49, I just bought it now from the other guy. I kept getting emails on the first sale, since I had been a bidder, and it ended up going for like $65 plus $10 = $75!

[Anonymous]

I have been very happy with all my e-bay deals. Its important to check out the sellers feedback, see if they sell alot of the same items or is this a one time deal. look at pics, if you dont see what you want email the seller and ask them to send you pics. If you have other questions ask the seller, but dont give them the answer you are looking for, did lionel make this car ?? ask them who made this car, and let them answer. look at shipping, you can buy a ho set for .99 but a 30.00 shipping on the item, humm, somethings wrong with that one. know what you will pay for the item dont get in over your head, or pocket book. most of all have fun. thanks.