Here's a direct link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ULTIMATE-UNBELIEVABLE-HO-SCALE-TRAIN-ESTATE-SALE-HUGE_W0QQitemZ290139524417QQihZ019QQcategoryZ484QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Egads, that should motivate me to be less of a collector and more of a player/operator of the trains. Pretty sad about him and his son.
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
stokesda wrote:Kind of sad, if you ask me. I really feel sorry for the guy. Seems like he had some serious issues.
Same here.
I admit that trains for me is almost an obsession. But looking at that its freaking creepy.
Though I would be well stocked for many years LOL
James
P.S. I have kept looking at it for a while now. Giving me goose bumps. This guy is freaking insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder the son wanted nothing to do with him. The listing says there are well over 1000 cars. But I noticed he has alot of copies of the same car. I have 600 cars. But at least all my cars at least have different road numbers.
P.S.S. The more I look at this listing, the more creeped out I get. The more creeped out I get. the more I want to go thin out my roster. My dad going into the Hospital made my Creppy-Stuff-O-Meter hit 12. This is ticking a 14. the scale is from 1-10
This makes me sad.
No way ever is that going to happen at my place.
In fact, I think and agree that this is probably the most creepy and expensive waste of resources ever.
I am a little bit of a pack rat myself, 12 boxes neatly packed, stored and counting but NOT. LIKE. THAT. Ugh!
Cox 47 wrote:Wow....What a bunch of train stuff..I don't think I would call it a collection....Did he have a layout?....Cox 47
The description stated that he has some track to run trains on but eventually all tracks were covered in stuff and the whole thing buried to the point of cutting into the walls and basement.
Im still on that page looking over the imagery of the stuff... WHAT a HUGE mess!
The bidding between my first post stood at 23 bids and 99 dollars became 130 dollars and 33 bids and counting.
I think this is going to be a ching ching sale and a monstor for all parties involved.
OMG... 150 and climbing faster than I can refresh the page.
Hey Sweety (as I call out to my wife) want me to bid on some HO scale trains for you?....I'll need YOUR credit card. Seriously though, OMG, what a mess. If you did win, not sure if going through it all would be more like Christmas or Halloween.
Rob
Aside from what might be a few Athearn engines, there doesn't seem to be anything in the whole collection of any quality whatsoever. And while it's disturbing, it could have been a lot worse if he collected cats and dogs instead... those stories are always upsetting and tragic.
Besides, it looks like the inside of my apartment right now.
GEEZ, why did I say that?
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
All I can think is
HUUuuu ... uuuGe Shipping Cost!
No thank you
But as said before what a shame to see all that stuff piled so high and not properly protected, regardless of quality.
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
This is eBay.
I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.
They might be trying to elicit sympathy bids. I had that I have to be this cynical, but this story seems a little wierd.
As Zeke has taught us, not all words on a computer screen are truth.
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
44 bids, $425.00, Reserve Not Met, not even a 1/10th of the way there! Where are all the "collectors" of these "Rare, Vintage Trains"? Who else wants to bite off more than they can chew(sell)?
Will
SteamFreak wrote: Aside from what might be a few Athearn engines, there doesn't seem to be anything in the whole collection of any quality whatsoever. And while it's disturbing, it could have been a lot worse if he collected cats and dogs instead... those stories are always upsetting and tragic.Besides, it looks like the inside of my apartment right now. GEEZ, why did I say that?
I agree. It looks like cheap stuff that an 8 year old would play with. Not serious model railroaders like ourselves
My father in law is similar in that he collects and builds model airplanes. He has a small house and EVERY room has airplane junk in it.(When I say junk, its not nice looking stuff, but mediocre). Living room, dinette, bedrooms, basement. You have to follow a path to get around the house. His wifes just as bad with her stuff too. They are both EXTREME packrats. He's got a sink in the kitchen still sitting out on their front porch he was supposed to install 30 years ago. Thats typical for him though. Ignoring the kids/wife and only concentrating on his obsession, I mean hobby. Needless to say he does not have a close relationship with any of his kids. We see them on holidays about twice a year and only live 20 minutes away.
So there are lots of these hobby hermits out there; you only read about a few. I however will not succumb to such a life. Family is much more important than a hobby.
HUGE TYCO SALE!!!
I'm with DaveV! Haven't we all learned that you can't beleive sad sob stories on the internet?
SteamFreak-So how much did you bid on it?
It'd be worth a few hundo. Break it down into more managable lots and make some money on it. There's a lot of duplicates but you need that for coal drags and such.
loathar wrote: HUGE TYCO SALE!!!I'm with DaveV! Haven't we all learned that you can't beleive sad sob stories on the internet?SteamFreak-So how much did you bid on it?It'd be worth a few hundo. Break it down into more managable lots and make some money on it. There's a lot of duplicates but you need that for coal drags and such.
LOL Now you're gonna make all those "Tyco" boys mad.
They really think that stuff is good! LOL
They also believe that the USS Enterprise E is actually orbiting the earth as we speak.
Hmmmm well maybe it is, but thats besides the point.
Fergmiester wrote: All I can think is HUUuuu ... uuuGe Shipping Cost!No thank youBut as said before what a shame to see all that stuff piled so high and not properly protected, regardless of quality.Fergie
The description stated the Demo Crew was 3 days hence, and they only had so much time to get the stuff out of there. Apparently what they didnt get went to the landfill.
HMMMM....I've got kin in the Grand Rapids area......they might go pick it up for me and then they can bring it to me when they come visit!
Seriously though.....that is a huge lot of stuff.....even if I was inclined to bid I don't have that much room to store it....my basement is already half filled with my layout and I need more cabinets for my current roster of goodies. Someone is gonna have an early Christmas!...I think a dealer will most likely buy it and then sell it off piece by piece....on EBAY probably....so we will likely see that stuff again.
I know people like the former owner of that mass of trains....they neglect family for the go fast old cars they tinker with every evening and weekend.....or they spend tons of money buying sports ball game shows on pay-per-view and then sit and waste time watching them.......sad that people don't understand they're missing special time with the family.
loathar wrote:HUGE TYCO SALE!!!I'm with DaveV! Haven't we all learned that you can't beleive sad sob stories on the internet?SteamFreak-So how much did you bid on it?
You guys are just heartless cynics! Don't you know those bids are going to help out some poor dead guy?
By the way, my back is acting up today, and I gave myself a hangnail yesterday. Does anyone have anything they want to donate to the cause?
Well, they way I see it, the man lived alone in a small house. Sounds like collecting his trains was the only thing he had. I do feel bad for him and it is sad..
Chances are, his collection will be bought by some one who hits the train show circuts or sells on Ebay. Looks like there is more than enough to keep someone busy.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
***Big John, ever figured out how many feet of track is on your layout? Do you run AC in the summer in there? Kiva is neat RR name...I take it a fictional one? Kiva was also the name of the elementary school I went to in Scottsdale. Ever run into a fella with a huge O scale collection with the last name Mays? (or was it Meyers?) Better drink a second cup of coffee and rev up the ol' brain. Anyway, nice layout you have going there.
Dave Vollmer wrote: This is eBay.I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.
Dave Vollmer wrote:This is eBay.I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.They might be trying to elicit sympathy bids. I had that I have to be this cynical, but this story seems a little wierd.As Zeke has taught us, not all words on a computer screen are truth.
Sympathy for whom? For the dealer having to remove and store all of that dust-laden crap? By their account the old guy is gone now, and his family has nothing to do with the disposition of his worldly possessions, so it just comes down to an explanation of how the dealer acquired such a huge collection of schmutz. If they're trying to elicit sympathies with that story, they'd better go back to the word processor.
csmith9474 wrote:Looks like a lot of "low end" stuff (Tyco, Bachmann, and the likes).
Gandy Dancer wrote: csmith9474 wrote:Looks like a lot of "low end" stuff (Tyco, Bachmann, and the likes). I think I see a single LGB C&S box car in there....
There are a couple of gems in there, but it looks like a huge pile of junk more than anything. I would hate to see how many stirrups and other details were broken off in the hasty packing job. As hinted to before, it is better to see someone that hoarded model trains rather than animals.
From what I can see in the pictures none of it looks like anything special - mostly TYCO type stuff. You have to wonder what kind of shape any of it is in - it is all just stuffed into boxes with no packing. If I was in HO I'd still pass on it.
Enjoy
Paul
Midnight Railroader wrote: Dave Vollmer wrote: This is eBay.I don't know that you can trust the "backstory" that goes with the auctions.I certainly don't.
I don't believe that sob story either...I doubt if a train show junk dealer would buy that mess.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
$1225 as of 2100 EST....and reserve not met? thats already about $700 more than a sane person would even THINK of bidding!!! I foresee this thing getting out of hand towards the end, with rampant ''auction fever'' infecting all those involved.
The only bidder that could possibly want all that stuff and be willing to pay that much is a dealer.
Good deal for the seller, maybe not such a good deal for the buyer.
I spent all my money on Tyco and Mantua and the rest I just wasted.
If yer front porch collapses 'cause there's to much train stuff on it,it could mean your a model train nut.
If yer dog sleeps in a house made to look like a caboose,it could mean yer a train nut.
If yer boy says "Dad I wanna go to bed now" and you say "shut up and program the consist" it could mean yer a train nut.
If yer bed frame is held up by stacks of MR mags . It could mean yer a.......................
Yikes! It just jumped to $2,596.99, and the reserve still hasn't been met!
Maybe the sympathy angle is working its magic?
SteamFreak wrote:Yikes! It just jumped to $2,596.99, and the reserve still hasn't been met!Maybe the sympathy angle is working its magic?
JON168 wrote:sad that people don't understand they're missing special time with the family.
sad that people don't understand they're missing special time with the family.
marknewton wrote: JON168 wrote:sad that people don't understand they're missing special time with the family.Ever considered the possibility that some families aren't worth spending time with? Everyone on this thread seems to assume that the putative dead Tyco collector was the one with "issues"...
Except in the case of a parent. The parent establishes the tenor and quality of the relationship with the child, popular notions and horror stories like "The Excorcist" and "The Omen" notwithstanding. Children aren't born evil, and no child sacrifices a relationship with their father if he is a loving and attentive dad. It takes something traumatic and abusive to sever that instinctive bond.
SteamFreak wrote: marknewton wrote: JON168 wrote:sad that people don't understand they're missing special time with the family.Ever considered the possibility that some families aren't worth spending time with? Everyone on this thread seems to assume that the putative dead Tyco collector was the one with "issues"...Except in the case of a parent. The parent establishes the tenor and quality of the relationship with the child, popular notions and horror stories like "The Excorcist" and "The Omen" notwithstanding. Children aren't born evil, and no child sacrifices a relationship with their father if he is a loving and attentive dad. It takes something traumatic and abusive to sever that instinctive bond.
snagletooth wrote: $3691. WOW! These must be the same guys that were bidding up that Tyco trainset.
There is something wrong with this.
I feel revulsion and disgust that such junk can pull a wallet out of pockets... and STILL no reserve met?
I think someone is being greedy.
I agree there is a lot of stuff of base quality. There is also a lot of Tyco items. Now, if they were just in museum quality clear plastic cases..... The "Tyco Collectors" would be all over this one.
Tilden
Safety Valve wrote: snagletooth wrote: $3691. WOW! These must be the same guys that were bidding up that Tyco trainset.There is something wrong with this.I feel revulsion and disgust that such junk can pull a wallet out of pockets... and STILL no reserve met?I think someone is being greedy.
I hate to be such a cynic, but I personally never bid on auctions where the user ID is kept private. Shill bidding is a huge problem on eBay (one of many), and I just don't trust auctions like this. I have seen many of these large lots bid up with zero IDs that are years old, or a lot of golden boys.
Tilden wrote: I agree there is a lot of stuff of base quality. There is also a lot of Tyco items. Now, if they were just in museum quality clear plastic cases..... The "Tyco Collectors" would be all over this one.Tilden
You guys are forgetting something. There were no "Tyco Collectors" that bid on that Choo Choo set in the acylic case. There were zero bids on it. Tyco stuff NEVER even comes close what an empty Lionel box fetches. Which would an 8 rear old kid rather see under the tree on Xmas? A running Tyco train or an empty "Collectors" box?
The more I look at the photos, there's a lot of non-Tyco stuff in there. Somebody gonna make some $$$ off this provided the reserve isn't $10k.
I'm at a disadvantage as I cannot access evilbay from where I'm at but if this collection is as enormous as it sounds it could still be a small gold mine depending on how you approach it.
The thing is that if you have the patience to sift thru all this and seperate the wheat from the chaff, you can still make alot more than you spent for it by selling it off the crap in lots of say 10 cars each, and selling the better items off individually.
Its been my experience even if you think the buyer bought a basement full of junk, when one parcels it out and sells it, even on the cheap on e-bay, they usually still come out ahead as they can sell the smaller lots for alot more relative than they could a large mass lot like this. People are more willing to bid higher on a smaller lots than they would relative to a single large lot.
Assuming 1000 crap cars; at 100 boxes of 10 cars at $30 each box ($3 a car?) = $3000
Now add 100 crap engines at $10 each = another $1000
Now add just 10 good engines at $50 each = $500
Total $4500
Anyone care to guess how much 'stuff' there really is here?
PS I would also be worried about shill bidding as well, its a real problem on Evilbay
Have fun with your trains
TYCO my Precious!
GET OUT OF MY BASEMENT!!! AWAY FROM MY PRECIOUS TYCOS!!
vsmith wrote: I'm at a disadvantage as I cannot access evilbay from where I'm at but if this collection is as enormous as it sounds it could still be a small gold mine depending on how you approach it.The thing is that if you have the patience to sift thru all this and seperate the wheat from the chaff, you can still make alot more than you spent for it by selling it off the crap in lots of say 10 cars each, and selling the better items off individually. Its been my experience even if you think the buyer bought a basement full of junk, when one parcels it out and sells it, even on the cheap on e-bay, they usually still come out ahead as they can sell the smaller lots for alot more relative than they could a large mass lot like this. People are more willing to bid higher on a smaller lots than they would relative to a single large lot. Assuming 1000 crap cars; at 100 boxes of 10 cars at $30 each box ($3 a car?) = $3000 Now add 100 crap engines at $10 each = another $1000Now add just 10 good engines at $50 each = $500Total $4500Anyone care to guess how much 'stuff' there really is here? PS I would also be worried about shill bidding as well, its a real problem on Evilbay
You are on the right track here vsmith! I put in a bid for it, and I based my bid pretty much on the very same figures you provided.
I took into consideration that whether I went and picked it up, or had them deliver it, it was going to cost about 600 - 700 dollars either way for delivery. I considered that as part of my bid.
Then I asked myself if I could reasonably expect to double my money, which is better than I can do with new items.
So I put in my bid and it was apparently not close to the reserve price, but I can guarantee that it was not a shill bid.
This is not a bad deal for a train shop or train show dealer IF they were willing to put the time in to make the items presentable...I believe "coatings of dust" was mentioned several times...and IF the price was right...
But at over 3600 dollars and still the reserve has not been met...they are now way out of the range where a re-seller could realistically expect to make any money off of this...especially now that I read the updated information.
Glad I got outbid immediately...but a trip to Michigan might have been enjoyable!
loathar wrote: TYCO my Precious!GET OUT OF MY BASEMENT!!! AWAY FROM MY PRECIOUS TYCOS!!
I have a feeling that isn't to far from the truth. However that is just priceless LMAO
Yeah pretty sad family not want.
I showed my wife this e bay page, she drop! and read the story on e bay, pretty sad she said..
that would have happen to her father's train set!! Mother did not want nothing to do with it so. other sons did not want any too. AND told ME!! IF I dont want any it's going all out in TRASH!! Haaaaaa!!
so I took all and box it all up. yeah it's still in box no place to set to look at yet till we have our own house. am trying to remember what's there Ummm it's going be like chirstmas again.
steve
you need help bns it could be an early christmas. To get back to the topic I didn't see any engines except the one box that had decels. You would think if its that big it wouldn't fit in a small u-hall trailer ,beings it was a three day salvage, and not all taken out.It looks to be only one car garage to.Yes it would be nice to see it on person. and be able to talk the wife out of the mc for the trip. still got several days left to bid . will be watching and wishing .
slow trin Ed
Whoever wins the auction is going to have a LOT of work to do in order to dispose the stuff. They'll have to check the condition of all models, making sure everything is included, not broken, cleaned, and in running order. Selling the stuff on eBay could be a major project, even if models were offered in groups of ten or more. Not something I'd be interested in spending several months to do!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
The seller makes mention of the $18,000 insurance rider a couple times. Based on that fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised the seller has the reserve set somewhere between 7,000 and 9,000 !!! I know, I know, it's not worth anywhere near that to us .... I just got a feeling.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Look at it this way, If some Insane Billionaire, such as my hypothetical self, were to
try to Model the Entire USA railsystem and Rolling stock, well, this would give you a
two percent Start give or take a few percent. Let see at HO scale that would mean
A space of 36 miles x 20 miles or so. I hear Land in Nevada is still cheap.
But hey, that Stuff for sale is not DCC convertible so BOLLOCKS on that.
Mailman wrote: He who dies with the most toys, wins !
Corey's right. He who dies with the most toys...still dies!
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage wrote: Mailman wrote: He who dies with the most toys, wins !He who dies with the most toys...still dies!
He who dies with the most toys...still dies!
"Also, I stated there were about 25 transformers, I was waaayyyy off. There are "72" of them. Plus, a box of extra parts to make more.. There are 33 tycos, 6 bachmann, 1 model power, 5 life-like, 1 atlas, 9 lionel, 7 no name that I can find, 6 ahm, 1 kf, and 3 aurora.<"
The quote listed above is from the auction.
OOOOooooo 33 tyco's and 6 bachmann engines and some really cool AHM"S! I can't wait to bid $10,000 for those premium engines!
And extra parts to make MORE Transformers! What dork would waste their time doing that LOL.
Crap
Mark R. wrote:The seller makes mention of the $18,000 insurance rider a couple times. Based on that fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised the seller has the reserve set somewhere between 7,000 and 9,000 !!! I know, I know, it's not worth anywhere near that to us .... I just got a feeling.
Ok - I'll admit I was off. Reserve has been set at $3700.00 !!!
tatans wrote:I also get a kick of some responses on the mental state of this individual who would collect 3000 cars, there comment is "I only have 800 cars" what could anyone possibly do with 800 cars ! ! is there a contest somewhere?? ----800?
Only 3000 cars! what a rank amature hoarder he must have been!
I can't belive how high the bid has gotten. $3691 at this point. Maybe if these were all at least Athearn blue box level..... You know this means that he really had no one he shared this with. Seems extremely lonely to me.
tatans wrote:I also get a kick of some responses on the mental state of this individual who would collect 3000 cars, there comment is "I only have 800 cars" what could anyone possibly do with 800 cars ! ! is there a contest somewhere?? ----800 ? ? a 100 cars would be excess.
I would tend to take your numbers with a bit of salt. For the average modeler that has a spare bedroom layout, 100 is probably an adaquate supply. Given two conditions. A. He does not rotate cars off the layout. And B. His ambitions stay relativly constant. The First prize winner of the track plan contest that was recently held in Model Railroader was a 9X11 foot (I think) model railroad that was crammed full of big city switching. The car estimate for that railroad was 200 cars. More if you fiddled cars off the layout at the two interchanges.
The old V&O Afton Division is I think everyone will agree was the definitive of what we expect a big home basement layout. In the Jan 2004 Issiue of Model Railroader where he talks about his new V&O plan, he reveald to keep the Afton Division fluid required a supply of close to 1500 cars.
So while cars in the thousands seem like a lot. When viewed in relation to the guys modeling objectives, The case for large supply of cars makes sense. However in this guys case, it seems like he just kept buying and buying without any regard a cohiesive model railroad. That is when you have a problem.
I admit that I have a lot of trains. Over 600 cars and around 125 engines total. But I am building the initial sections of what will eventially a Grand multi deck layout in my future basement. I have gone for the Woodland Scenics Modules due to their light weight, relative compactness. and recognition of the fact that my living accomodations while somewhat long term, are not permananent. So I have decided to start things off with a branch line of my future model rairlaod to keep me going stir crazy. What I will probably do is go through a rationalization. Sell a train I have that doesn't fit my needs, and then buy one that does with the proceeds.
There are more notes added to the description, including:
"Finally, there are about 8 or so 50' tank car kits NIB Santa Fe's, marked 7.25 each, there are some engines with brass wheels, there are rock island engines with half of the wheels brass and half just like the others. One of them even has silver like wheels, says made in yugoslavia"
Wow, engines with BRASS wheels! And one made in Yogoslavia! The mind boggles!
Probably a whole lot of horn-hook couplers too!
Railphotog wrote:There are more notes added to the description, including:"Finally, there are about 8 or so 50' tank car kits NIB Santa Fe's, marked 7.25 each, there are some engines with brass wheels, there are rock island engines with half of the wheels brass and half just like the others. One of them even has silver like wheels, says made in yugoslavia"Wow, engines with BRASS wheels! And one made in Yogoslavia! The mind boggles!Probably a whole lot of horn-hook couplers too!
tstage wrote: Mailman wrote: He who dies with the most toys, wins !Corey's right. He who dies with the most toys...still dies!
That's why it's important to get a LOT of toys, before it's too late
If I were to aquire this I would pick and choose what works for my layout then sell off the Reeeessssstt..
looks like the kind of stuff I find at train shows, some goodies, the usual and the toyish stuff.
Snagletooth wrote:''Yoo-Hoo! Throw in some cheap traction tires and a rubber band drive and I'm back in the bidding!''
I'm right there with ya!! and if you add some of those quality plastic wheelsets...I'm in for 20k!
I'm sure now that it's going to be a dealer that buys all that mess, and I'm also sure a lot of it will show up back on EBAY in the coming months. Even if the bidding goes to $5000+ I think the buyer will make back a good portion of the money he spent.......has anyone seen the prices for that old stuff when it sells piece by piece? and the shipping???
As for 3000+ cars and locos being ''excessive''? depends on how you look at it.....I consider people who have 3,4 or more cars to be ''excessive'', and fishermen? [of which I am one] hundreds of lures and 30 poles? yep, thats ''excessive'', how about folks with more than one house? very ''excessive''. I have 40+ locos[powered] and 30 or so unpowered and 200 or so cars.......sure I can't run them all at the same time.....but I grab deals when I can...and it adds up.
This auction is certainly entertaining, I would like to know who wins, too bad it's private.
Cederstrand wrote:James, thank you for admitting your own numbers. I was affraid if 100 cars makes one a hoarder, I'm in big trouble. I still don't have a layout, but it does look promising to finally start one by the end of this year. And I did sell off most of my diesels when I decided the future layout would be steam era. Then again, I have sinse bought a few new diesels because I could justify them on a "transition era" layout. Rob ps: 125 engines...it is safe to say I will NEVER have that many.LOL
No problem. I always feel that if you are going to make claims, that you should be willing to back them up with facts. My grandmother does think I have a problem. But then again. When your modeling a Railroad thats going to go from Wyoming to Oregon, and be on at least two, probably 3 decks, 125 engines, and 600 cars is no where near eneugh. The V&O was just one deck, and it had 1500 cars. The theme for my freelance Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon &Pacific railroad is a fiscially conservative Railraod that dieselised late, Only recieving sets of FTs During WWII, after which they were equipped for Passenger service for the Chicago-Denver-Portland "Oregon Trail Zypher" which was joint run with the CB&Q. This arragement being a compromise measure figureing that the Q would want to project a modern image all along the route, and the WIOP managment not wanting to invest in expensive new passenger power.
This I figure would let me enjoy a Modern Steam Railroad with the only hint of the pending Diseaselization (Yes I itnentionaly spelled it that way) being the FTs on the Modern Zypher. THe cars for which to are a fiscially responsable measure, being rebuilt from heavyweights into "Streamliners" with fluted sides. the only new cars being purchased being Domes.
As for what to do with my more modern vintage items, I am not sure. Everyone in my family tells me not to sell them but at the same time, they aren't going to see very much use. Perhaps if my railroad lasts long eneugh that the model steamers completely wear out I can move the era foward wth my diesles.
By the way, My new layout I am building is going to be 9X12 feet out of woodland scenics modules, with a staging yard made from recycled components of my current layout in the 2.5X8 foot closet and will depict a branch of the WIOP running north from Casper to Midwest WY to service the oilfields in the area around the famous "Teapot Dome."
From the auction....."The next bidder hits the reserve and takes the whole lot. It was only set at 3700.00. I wasn't kidding when I said the reserve was no where near the 18,000 insurance paper. So if interested, it can be yours on the next bid. Thanks, Bonnie"
Looks like shill bids, if you ask me.
PFS wrote: From the auction....."The next bidder hits the reserve and takes the whole lot. It was only set at 3700.00. I wasn't kidding when I said the reserve was no where near the 18,000 insurance paper. So if interested, it can be yours on the next bid. Thanks, Bonnie" Looks like shill bids, if you ask me.
That is what I was saying before. At least I ain't the only one with this "train of thought". Like I said before, if you could see the "bidder's" IDs, there would be a lot of zero IDs that were created years ago and just as many golden boys. If you look at that other large lot up right now, you can see just what I am talking about.
Edit: After looking at the auction again, there definately is something "fishy" going on here. The reserve, and now winning bid will be at $3,700 and all the aggressive and fast bidding mysteriously stops at $3691. Hmmmmmmm................
All of a sudden nobody is going to bid the extra few bucks to win the auction and take it all home.
csmith9474 wrote: PFS wrote: From the auction....."The next bidder hits the reserve and takes the whole lot. It was only set at 3700.00. I wasn't kidding when I said the reserve was no where near the 18,000 insurance paper. So if interested, it can be yours on the next bid. Thanks, Bonnie" Looks like shill bids, if you ask me.That is what I was saying before. At least I ain't the only one with this "train of thought". Like I said before, if you could see the "bidder's" IDs, there would be a lot of zero IDs that were created years ago and just as many golden boys. If you look at that other large lot up right now, you can see just what I am talking about.Edit: After looking at the auction again, there definately is something "fishy" going on here. The reserve, and now winning bid will be at $3,700 and all the aggressive and fast bidding mysteriously stops at $3691. Hmmmmmmm................ All of a sudden nobody is going to bid the extra few bucks to win the auction and take it all home.
Yes, magically all the feverish bidding stops just shy of the reserve and no bids for a day.....hrm
Those locos with brass wheels on one side and the ones with silver wheels that were made in Yugoslavia are probably responsible for the bidding-frenzy thus far.
This auction looks like a bigger scam with every hour that ticks by without another bid. Why did she suddenly feel the need to tell everyone the reserve price? They know the bulk of this collection should be scooped up with a front-end loader and dropped into one of those oversize dumpsters. The only items that look to be of any quality are those 3 Atlas/Roco yellow & blue Santa Fe diesels, and that ain't saying much.
If this pile of low end trains, tossed in boxes sells (to a real buyer); then I need to scour the local thrift stores for some stuff to sell on ebay.
Here's an pertinent article, even it's a bit out-of-date.
Forbes.com: Sleaze Bay
SteamFreak wrote: Here's an pertinent article, even it's a bit out-of-date.
Sorry, by definition in Internet business an article over 6 years old is not pertinent. EBay isn't perfect, but there are a number of safeguards that have been added since November of 2000.
In any case, I don't see how it applies to this situation. I guess you're suggesting that there is shill bidding going on. More than likely it's just delusional greed by buyers who think they will make a killing reselling this mess.
So much for the feverish bidding.
This whole auction suddenly extrudes an oder not unlike that of a rotting fish in humid and hot weather.
alco_fan wrote: SteamFreak wrote: Here's an pertinent article, even it's a bit out-of-date.Sorry, by definition in Internet business an article over 6 years old is not pertinent. EBay isn't perfect, but there are a number of safeguards that have been added since November of 2000.In any case, I don't see how it applies to this situation. I guess you're suggesting that there is shill bidding going on. More than likely it's just delusional greed by buyers who think they will make a killing reselling this mess.
If these bidders are so greedy and want this mess so bad, why don't they cough up the $8 and change needed to win the auction?
I , too, am suspicious of the sudden stall in bidding, just short of the ''reserve price''. The fact that the bidders ID's are private is a red flag for me on an auction of this type , why conceal the names? If you're running an honest auction theres no need for a private bidders list......only thing i can see that you'd need it for is a bunch of shill bids.
I stopped by my LHS today and in the course of the BS'ing and tall tales, the subject of this very auction came up, the concensus was that the current price was about $3k too much! I said if I had $500 or $600 to blow I might spend it on a lot like that, the owner of the shop said ''come here a second and look at this''....in his back room he had several boxes of TYCO and old Athearn stuff......in pieces, in chunks,in sandwich bags......he said ''I'll bet you 90% of that stuff will look like this when he buyer picks it up''. He has a good point.....the pics are lousy, the fact that it came from ''a cluttered basement'', and the obvious lack of knowledge or care demonstrated by the seller makes me wonder what the buyer is going to be paying for....usuable railroad equipment or piles of styrene and metal.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Brunton wrote:Why this morbid fascination with what shows up on ebay? Most of the posts in any thread about an ebay auction are pretty negative. If most folks don't like what's on ebay, why waste so much effort on it?
Becuase some of us are morbidly fascinated by it. You posted on this thread. Why did you waste your time with it?
I am actually very pro ebay and auctions in general. I was employed in the industry and am 'not afraid' of the process etc. eBay and other sites are a great place to buy and sell. But as the saying goes 'let the buyer beware'.
I do agree that most folks on RR fourms seem to be 'scared'/negative of on-line auctions, which is fine. There is risk to any purchase on-line or otherwise, it is best for most to stay within their comfort zone, as well as something to be said when buying something you havent seen 'with your own eyes'.
There are people that operate in a 'non-truthful'/unscruplus manner via auctions, this thread is perhaps now about one of them. Bringing things to light, talking about the process may help others.....along with feeding our morbid fasciniation(s) ;)
</2cents>
Well we 'hit' the reserve, interesting.
PFS wrote:Well we 'hit' the reserve, interesting.
Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies. The fact that everything mentioned in a seven year-old article is still germane today only provides further evidence that eBay can't or won't reign in such behavior.
SteamFreak wrote: alco_fan wrote: SteamFreak wrote: Here's an pertinent article, even it's a bit out-of-date.Sorry, by definition in Internet business an article over 6 years old is not pertinent. EBay isn't perfect, but there are a number of safeguards that have been added since November of 2000.In any case, I don't see how it applies to this situation. I guess you're suggesting that there is shill bidding going on. More than likely it's just delusional greed by buyers who think they will make a killing reselling this mess.Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies.
Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies.
Shady? Unless you have proof that this is the case, I'd advise that you re-qualify that statement as a matter of your opinion. If you do have proof, perhaps you should notify eBay instead of ranting on about it here?
The fact that everything mentioned in a seven year-old article is still germane today only provides further evidence that eBay can't or won't reign in such behavior.
You are making a slanderous generalization without any proof. How has eBay demonstrated that it is not working to ‘reign in such behavior'? And how does a hopelessly out of date article ‘provide further evidence' of this?
If you don't like eBay, fine. If you think the bidding on this auction is out of control, fine. I can respect that. What I can't respect are ridiculous statements like this that cross the line.
SteamFreak wrote: Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies.
And you know this is a "shady auction" because of your powers of ESP?
Dang! You should be making a killing in the stock market instead of wasting time on train boards.
MAbruce wrote: SteamFreak wrote: alco_fan wrote: SteamFreak wrote: Here's an pertinent article, even it's a bit out-of-date.Sorry, by definition in Internet business an article over 6 years old is not pertinent. EBay isn't perfect, but there are a number of safeguards that have been added since November of 2000.In any case, I don't see how it applies to this situation. I guess you're suggesting that there is shill bidding going on. More than likely it's just delusional greed by buyers who think they will make a killing reselling this mess.Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies. Shady? Unless you have proof that this is the case, I'd advise that you re-qualify that statement as a matter of your opinion. If you do have proof, perhaps you should notify eBay instead of ranting on about it here? The fact that everything mentioned in a seven year-old article is still germane today only provides further evidence that eBay can't or won't reign in such behavior. You are making a slanderous generalization without any proof. How has eBay demonstrated that it is not working to ‘reign in such behavior'? And how does a hopelessly out of date article ‘provide further evidence' of this? If you don't like eBay, fine. If you think the bidding on this auction is out of control, fine. I can respect that. What I can't respect are ridiculous statements like this that cross the line.
I also think this auction wreaks of foul play, or "shadiness" in steamfreaks words.
It makes me wonder what, if any personal motives you have regarding this auction.
alco_fan wrote: SteamFreak wrote: Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies. Dang! You should be making a killing in the stock market instead of wasting time on train boards.
Like YOUR post?
Driline wrote: MAbruce wrote: SteamFreak wrote: alco_fan wrote: SteamFreak wrote: Here's an pertinent article, even it's a bit out-of-date.Sorry, by definition in Internet business an article over 6 years old is not pertinent. EBay isn't perfect, but there are a number of safeguards that have been added since November of 2000.In any case, I don't see how it applies to this situation. I guess you're suggesting that there is shill bidding going on. More than likely it's just delusional greed by buyers who think they will make a killing reselling this mess.Yes, business and technology change, but human nature is a constant, as this shady auction testifies. Shady? Unless you have proof that this is the case, I'd advise that you re-qualify that statement as a matter of your opinion. If you do have proof, perhaps you should notify eBay instead of ranting on about it here? The fact that everything mentioned in a seven year-old article is still germane today only provides further evidence that eBay can't or won't reign in such behavior. You are making a slanderous generalization without any proof. How has eBay demonstrated that it is not working to ‘reign in such behavior'? And how does a hopelessly out of date article ‘provide further evidence' of this? If you don't like eBay, fine. If you think the bidding on this auction is out of control, fine. I can respect that. What I can't respect are ridiculous statements like this that cross the line.I also think this auction wreaks of foul play, or "shadiness" in steamfreaks words. It makes me wonder what, if any personal motives you have regarding this auction.
Yes, there is a sudden and curious defense of this auction, despite the fact that I've said nothing new. Clearly my statements are my opinion, and that opinion is apparently shared by many here who have been making similar assertions of dishonesty and shill bidding in this auction since this thread began, yet you single me out. I had no idea my opinions carried such weight, but thanks for the compliment.
Driline wrote:I also think this auction wreaks of foul play, or "shadiness" in steamfreaks words. It makes me wonder what, if any personal motives you have regarding this auction.
As an N-scale modeler?
I personally think the auction is a risky venture mainly from the standpoint that there is not enough documentation (other than the pictures and a general description) of exactly what is up for auction. The seller has a good feedback rating, and has been up front about not being about to offer an inventory, so I really don't think there is much evidence of a ‘shady' auction going on.
However, the "eBay is evil" mantra is getting old. People don't have to like it, but I think making absurd unsupported generalizations about it is out of line.
rrebell wrote:Anyone notice that alot of the boxs were filled with train mags, we all know how valuable they are :)
That occurred to me as well. They may also account for the majority of the weight.
Yep, you caught us. Me and MABruce and Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa and Dick Cheney. We're all manipulating this auction as part of the Trilateral Commission's plan for world domination through bogus eBay auctions.
alco_fan wrote: Yep, you caught us. Me and MABruce and Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa and Dick Cheney. We're all manipulating this auction as part of the Trilateral Commission's plan for world domination through bogus eBay auctions.
Hmmm......Tyco-gate?
IMHO, the article wasn't out of date or inaccurate. There are still a lot of unethical and/or fraudulent auctions, sellers, and buyers on eBay. You hear or read about them every day - and those are just the ones that get caught. And I have personally seen the abuse of the feedback system - sellers requiring positive feedback from me as a buyer first or they will give me negative feedback. I suspect shill bidding has been used against me when I used the eBay proxy/maximum bid system. Funny how they will run up the bidding early to test my maximum, but then drop out of the auction. Buyers are often forced into sniping as a defense, even though that requires a time commitment I am often unwilling to make.
The good news is that fraud and unethical practices appear to be far less prevalent in the model railroad auctions than in other areas of eBay. And because eBay is one of the easier ways for me to purchase out-of-production train items, and sell no longer wanted train items, I continue to be an eBay user. I can't say I particularly enjoy the experience, though.
just my thoughts and opinions, yours may vary
Fred W
alco_fan wrote:Yep, you caught us. Me and MABruce and Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa and Dick Cheney. We're all manipulating this auction as part of the Trilateral Commission's plan for world domination through bogus eBay auctions.
Ahhhhh, so that's what all the secret meetings in the VP's office were all about. I think we need a Congressional investigation!
IRONROOSTER wrote: Ahhhhh, so that's what all the secret meetings in the VP's office were all about.
Ahhhhh, so that's what all the secret meetings in the VP's office were all about.
Yeah, it's cool when we meet there, but Elvis always hogs all the snack cakes ... and then his fingers are all sticky when he uses the Veep's secure computer to enter the shill bids.
alco_fan wrote: IRONROOSTER wrote: Ahhhhh, so that's what all the secret meetings in the VP's office were all about. Yeah, it's cool when we meet there, but Elvis always hogs all the snack cakes ... and then his fingers are all sticky when he uses the Veep's secure computer to enter the shill bids.
Yeah, and Elvis always took all the good ones! I liked it better when we used to meet at the Enron CEO offices. The appetizers were better and we ended up with more because Elvis didn't like them much.
Great, now that we're exposed I'll have to be on the look out for Michael Moore and his camera crew!
I think sometimes buying or selling items on Ebay leaves one with a feeling of having dirt that needs to be washed off. Too many problems associated with these kinds of sales.
Im convinced that this particular auction is loaded with seller controlled bid accounts from multipule computers like at a library or something and that the seller is PLAYING US... the buyer with a illusion of a feverish bidding activity. The appearence of big money really pulls on the sucker who thinks that if collectors are willing to pay that much for trash, why, they ought to get in on it.
But getting close to the reserve bid and stopping just short in hopes of catching that one sucker bidder onto the fishhook is pretty smooth.
I think Ebay charges a fee on final winning bid. There is a certain percentage that a seller needs to pay based on that amount in addition to the orginal listing fees. I dont know what such a fee would be at 3700 dollars but I bet it's more than what the seller is willing to pay; especially once a reserve is seen to be met and the auction becomes part of ebay's billing system.
Remind me to stay away from auctions with private bids. I want to see other bidders and how they are bidding please. It is no different than 400 dealers bidding on the same car at the auction house.
If the owner is dead, the house slated to be demoed and the stuff in it junk and no one cares for it.. It is all free to the seller aint it? I dont recall anywhere that the seller BOUGHT this stuff.
Well, looks like it stands to have the reserve price met and the cost is now over 3740 for the thing at 60 bids on the floor. Someone is going to end up buying this stuff.
What I would like to see is how the hell the buyer is going to physicly collect all that stuff ???
secondhandmodeler wrote:My only experiences with ebay were frustrating to say the least. The two times I found items I liked I put in a bid. Immediately after my bid there was another bid. I'm talking seconds later. I know that somebody could have been watching this item, but there were zero bids before my first bid. It happened with one item, then a second item. After that, I havn't bid again. Is there a way for people set their account up to automatically counter-bid?
The eBay software automatically outbid you with the proxy system. The bidder previous to you just had a higher max bid than the bid you put in.
csmith9474 wrote: secondhandmodeler wrote:My only experiences with ebay were frustrating to say the least. The two times I found items I liked I put in a bid. Immediately after my bid there was another bid. I'm talking seconds later. I know that somebody could have been watching this item, but there were zero bids before my first bid. It happened with one item, then a second item. After that, I havn't bid again. Is there a way for people set their account up to automatically counter-bid? The eBay software automatically outbid you with the proxy system. The bidder previous to you just had a higher max bid than the bid you put in.
Thanks for the point of clarification. I was wondering why that was happening. Maybe I'll try again some time.
secondhandmodeler wrote: csmith9474 wrote: secondhandmodeler wrote:My only experiences with ebay were frustrating to say the least. The two times I found items I liked I put in a bid. Immediately after my bid there was another bid. I'm talking seconds later. I know that somebody could have been watching this item, but there were zero bids before my first bid. It happened with one item, then a second item. After that, I havn't bid again. Is there a way for people set their account up to automatically counter-bid? The eBay software automatically outbid you with the proxy system. The bidder previous to you just had a higher max bid than the bid you put in.Thanks for the point of clarification. I was wondering why that was happening. Maybe I'll try again some time.
Any time I buy something I open a seperate browser window with the my absolute max bid price (Around MSRP or so minus shipping) and hit the submit button when the system clock reaches 1-2 seconds before end of auction. Sniping in this manner with a fast DSL I know that dailups cannot continue within 20 second from auction end and slower DSL's about 6-12 seconds. Sniping auto programs need 3 to reload data and resend the new bid.
IF I win great! If I dont, some one spent too much money. That fat lady is going to sing at the exact time the end of the auction and that is all it matters... the last few seconds. Everything else is just a run-up (Or foreplay if you please) to the main event.
What gets me is that both of my Hobby Shops have supplied me very well indeed these last few years.
Safety Valve wrote: secondhandmodeler wrote: csmith9474 wrote: secondhandmodeler wrote:My only experiences with ebay were frustrating to say the least. The two times I found items I liked I put in a bid. Immediately after my bid there was another bid. I'm talking seconds later. I know that somebody could have been watching this item, but there were zero bids before my first bid. It happened with one item, then a second item. After that, I havn't bid again. Is there a way for people set their account up to automatically counter-bid? The eBay software automatically outbid you with the proxy system. The bidder previous to you just had a higher max bid than the bid you put in.Thanks for the point of clarification. I was wondering why that was happening. Maybe I'll try again some time.Any time I buy something I open a seperate browser window with the my absolute max bid price (Around MSRP or so minus shipping) and hit the submit button when the system clock reaches 1-2 seconds before end of auction. Sniping in this manner with a fast DSL I know that dailups cannot continue within 20 second from auction end and slower DSL's about 6-12 seconds. Sniping auto programs need 3 to reload data and resend the new bid.IF I win great! If I dont, some one spent too much money. That fat lady is going to sing at the exact time the end of the auction and that is all it matters... the last few seconds. Everything else is just a run-up (Or foreplay if you please) to the main event.What gets me is that both of my Hobby Shops have supplied me very well indeed these last few years.
I am a satisfied repeat eBay buyer, and will continue to use it again and again. Mostly what I get on eBay is MR related, though, and I think most of the time I'm buying from commercial sellers and not individuals, so I think there's less shady practices going on in my own little eBay microcosm. I've had one or two not-so-great experiences, but overall it's been pretty positive for me.
When I first started using eBay, I greatly despised snipers. I never saw the point - just put in your max bid up front, then walk away. I never saw a benefit to sniping at all, until I read the Forbes article that somebody posted on this thread. I now understand that if you post your max bid early, you are more susceptible to getting bilked by the seller via shill bidding. Recently, I've been trying to bid as late as possible (within the last hour or so) to discourage people chipping away at my max bid over time, but now I have a good reason for it as late as possible.
So my eBay buying philosophy is: bid once, bid your max, and bid as late as possible.
I've always had good luck with EBAY, i've gotten excellent deals and made a few friends in the process.
I'm also a very cautious buyer.....I read feedback, I look at the ENTIRE description and I won't buy from anyone with lower than 97% positive feedback, and they must have at least 300 sales to go with that 97%, if they have 10 sales and 97%? NO WAY!!, I always check retail prices when bidding on new stuff and I look at the condition and estimated age of used stuff....I won't pay more than 75-80% of retail for new stuff,and the shipping has to be reasonable.....I've seen people[several lately as a matter of fact], buy stuff for 20-40% over retail w\o the shipping included!! thats just plain dumb! When buying used equipment.....it's all up to the buyer to decide if the asking price is worth it, I pass up used odds-n-ends all the time because the price is way too high or the shipping is outrageous.
Sure there are people out there waiting to rip you off.....it happens all the time.....should that turn you against EBAY? no.
I am one of those ''bad and mean'' snipers......if I can, I will wait till the last few seconds and try to slide in a bid for a few cents or a few dollars more than the high bid.....is this wrong? of course not!! thats how auctions work, same thing happens with real auctions....you know, going once, going twice....goin....oh wait I have another bid.....I know some people get mad when that happens, but thats the world of auctions.
I think something is up with this particular auction because I've been on EBAY for a while and I've seen some shady deals, the sudden stop in bidding right below the reserve price and the private bidders list are two red flags for me......even if i had the money I wouln't get into this auction....but it is fun to watch.
Elvis lives down my street. HA caught you in another lie! YES!
Mr. Evil is the only one I know working towards world domination. HA! Yet another lie!
The only problem with what you are saying is this... at a live auction, the bidding isn't closed IF there is a last-second bid. If after "going twice..." you enter a higher bid, the auctioneer will start the final process again.
It does appear that there is something unusual about this auction... I can't see that kind of value in the collection especially since so much of it appears to be just stacked in boxes. As someone pointed out, there will no doubt be a lot of broken stirrups, missing wheels, etc.
Having said that, I wonder how many AHM iron ore cars there are in there??!? : )
dlm
[I am one of those ''bad and mean'' snipers......if I can, I will wait till the last few seconds and try to slide in a bid for a few cents or a few dollars more than the high bid....]
***I call that "smart bidding". Sometimes I pray for someone to come along at the last second and outbid me because of "pre-buyers remorse".
MAbruce wrote: alco_fan wrote: IRONROOSTER wrote: Ahhhhh, so that's what all the secret meetings in the VP's office were all about. Yeah, it's cool when we meet there, but Elvis always hogs all the snack cakes ... and then his fingers are all sticky when he uses the Veep's secure computer to enter the shill bids.Yeah, and Elvis always took all the good ones! I liked it better when we used to meet at the Enron CEO offices. The appetizers were better and we ended up with more because Elvis didn't like them much.Great, now that we're exposed I'll have to be on the look out for Michael Moore and his camera crew!
Yep, the movie will be called Con Rail.
I've been sniped several times on ebay, do I mind? Yes and no.
Yes in that I would have liked to have won.
and No, when I put in my max bid, thats my MAX bid, and I wont bid a penny higher. Ive seen new items, that I could go online and purchase NIB, go for 20% 30% even 50% higher than retail! Why? because 2 idiots got into a bidding war. A fool and his money...
I alway price based on experience and a good understanding of what its real value is. i miss it, another will be offered soon enough, sometimes its the very same item!
vsmith wrote: Ive seen new items, that I could go online and purchase NIB, go for 20% 30% even 50% higher than retail! Why? because 2 idiots got into a bidding war. A fool and his money... I alway price based on experience and a good understanding of what its real value is. i miss it, another will be offered soon enough, sometimes its the very same item!
That, and I've got better things to do. I put in the bid. If I get it, Great! If not, Oh well!
_________________________________________________________________
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
The Lionel collectors paid $5100 dollars for a single cardboard box, so that makes this auction a bargain.
Sniping, isn't this how auctions work??? I'm surprised that most people who want something bad enough on ebay can't figure out how it works, if you see something you want, and it costs $100 new, don't bid 35 cents, you will not win, bid $50.00 and I guarantee you will get it, probably for $25.00 or less, meanwhile all the other cheapskate, skinflint buyers are still bidding another 10 cents, do they think they can really get a $500 or $1000 item for $2.00??? what are they smoking??????? I love the guy who bids $5.00 on a $1500.00 brass locomotive and is surprised he didn't win.
tatans wrote: .... bid $50.00 and I guarantee you will get it ....
.... bid $50.00 and I guarantee you will get it ....
Finally, some kind of guarantee !!! So, the next time I bid $50 on that $100 engine and DON'T get it, I should contact you for your guarantee ??? Would you please forward me a hard-copy of that in advance ???
Do you also cover shipping ???
Mark R. wrote: tatans wrote: .... bid $50.00 and I guarantee you will get it ....Finally, some kind of guarantee !!! So, the next time I bid $50 on that $100 engine and DON'T get it, I should contact you for your guarantee ??? Would you please forward me a hard-copy of that in advance ??? Do you also cover shipping ??? Mark.
Yes, sniping is perfectly legal, and is how auctions work. My point earlier was that I never saw a benefit to sniping until I read the article about shill bidding. Now I see that if you bid your max early, it gives someone time to slowly chip away at your max. If you wait as late as possible, they don't have time to do that, so you are more likely to win it for less than your max bid - not guaranteed to get it for less. Not even guaranteed to get it in the first place. Other people could be sniping the same auction and you can still lose because they bid more than you. But bidding later it increases your chances of getting a better price, because people don't have a chance to chip away at your max over time.
Just to get back on topic, I do find it interesting that there were something like 60 bids up to the point where it was just under the reserve price. Then nothing happened for a long time. Somebody finally broke the reserve a couple of hours before closing, but there were only 61 total bids at that point, IIRC. The winning bid is only #62. So I do suspect there may have been some shilling going on. Can't prove it, of course, but it just looks suspicious.
Just wait a week or two, you'll be able to bid on it again with a starting bid of $4000.
Or maybe you'll see them in 20-car sets, shipped in empty lionel boxes.
You HO guys are either going to see an endless parade of Tyco items up for auction on eBay, or someone's going to show up at a train show with several tables of stuff to try to sell.
And no, we at the 'Trilateral Commission Gang' didn't win this auction. Stupid Elvis was too busy looking for more snacks to attempt a snipe!
stokesda wrote: Just to get back on topic, I do find it interesting that there were something like 60 bids up to the point where it was just under the reserve price. Then nothing happened for a long time. Somebody finally broke the reserve a couple of hours before closing, but there were only 61 total bids at that point, IIRC. The winning bid is only #62. So I do suspect there may have been some shilling going on. Can't prove it, of course, but it just looks suspicious.
You don't recall correctly. The conspiracy theorists never give up. The reserve was broken 2 days before the closing (Jul-17-07 18:03:43 PDT, closing Jul-19-07 20:42:37 PDT). This happened after the seller announced what the reserve amount was, probably becasue bidding had cooled off after people had nibbled away for a while trying to determine where the reserve was set.
What nobody will know is that Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa were arguing over who was supposed to put in the last shill bid five minutes before closing, and while Dick Cheney was yelling at them to pipe down, Bigfoot tripped over and unplugged the Ethernet cable and we missed it. (They don't call him "Bigfoot" for nothing!) This will not look good when we have to make our report to the Trilateral Commission in the secret bunker under the UN.
Bigfoot tripped over and unplugged the Ethernet cable and we missed it. (They don't call him "Bigfoot" for nothing!) This will not look good when we have to make our report to the Trilateral Commission in the secret bunker under the UN.
***Bigfoot really isn't clumsy, he only caught that cord because a Chupacabra bit his ankle at the exact moment he was stepping over it. Oh, gotta go answer the wall, the Shadow People have arrived. Rob
I recall I won an item and I couldnt be present at bidding end to snipe. Some DID try to snipe off at the last second but my bid was still higher. The snipe might not always work. I think the sniper's efforts are to try to get the best price and still beat the other bidder (maybe another sniper) at bid end.