Hello,
I'm new to model trains, though my dad and I used to build them all of the time. I am looking to bid on a HO scale train auction and was wondering if its a legit site/if the trains posted are worth buying.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/269300_ararity-s-holiday-toy-and-ho-train-auction/
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
Zach
As far as I can tell, it is a legitimate auction site. Hard to say but the item I looked at seems to be more in the collectible category rather than for someone wanting to build a model railroad. The Marklin steam locomotive looks to be a vintage item. Just a guess but I'm betting once the auction gets going, you are going to pay more for collectibles than you would for items more suited to modeling. If you are looking for low cost used items, I would check ebay first. Also, some hobby shops have a section that sells used model railroading items (locos, rolling stock, structures, etc.).
John-NYBWI would check ebay first. Also, some hobby shops have a section that sells used model railroading items
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
Hi Zach
Some good advice you already have been given. The main thing I would recommend buying things on any internet site is using PayPal. Then you never have to worry about anything as far your own personal information or Lord forbid someone getting a hold of one of your card numbers. PayPal will never pay a site if they're not legit
Even well know sites like e-bay say they have a secure site and I'm sure that they do but I'm still not going to trust it. There's always some super hacker geek you hear about some security breach on the news.
With good credit PayPal only takes about 15 minutes to get an account set up and you can use it immediately after that. Then you never need to worry about a thing as all a seller can ever see on your purchases is PayPal.
TF
Welcome to the forums Zach.
You've gotten great advice so far.
To me, this site looks more suited to toy collectors, and not someone looking to get into model railroading.
Mike.
My You Tube
I responded earlier without clicking the link (I was nervous because I'd never heard of the site). I just clicked it and, looking past the monkey dolls etc. on the first page, I see that there are quite a few lots of HO rolling stock and locomotives by reputable manufacturers, many starting at $10.
I cannot say anything about how trustworthy this auction site is, but if they're not cheats and no one else bids against you on an item, you could pick up some really good equipment here for a sawbuck or so. I saw a set of Athearn shorty Milwaukee Road passenger cars -- ten bucks starting bid, and a handful of covered hoppers with knuckle couplers -- ten bucks starting bid. Many more.
I guess I would now answer more fully, "yes, worth looking at." You have to assess the risk and make your own call about a website like this, but if you set up Paypal as suggested above, and bid judiciously on an item and won it, and it was delivered to you without hassle and was what it was described to be, then you could go back for more. If it's a scam, you've only lost ten or twenty quid, but if it's legit, it looks like it could be a nice place to get started amassing your fleet.
And report back here, because we'd all want to know how you fared.
Good luck.
They seem to contain auctions that are actually running on other sites.
Lots of the auctions right now come from this site from an auction house in Indiana.
https://auctions.toystrainsandotheroldstuff.com
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190They seem to contain auctions that are actually running on other sites.
SeeYou190 They seem to contain auctions that are actually running on other sites.
Yes, but that's not a warning sign. The small auction houses use them as a way to get into the online game. They're definitely legit.
https://www.curbed.com/article/the-appeal-of-liveauctioneers.html is a decent article about it.
Invaluable works the same way and I've never had any issues with them. I've bought all sorts of railroadiana from Road and Rail (another small auction house in Indiana who lists on both LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable), ranging from a box of CB&Q bridge score books to a cast iron DC Transit bus stop sign.