It is amazing that so many are so concerned with how others spend their money.
Did we not just do this a week ago over a Proto GP9?
Some even called that poor guy all sorts of names?
There are likely lots of things I would spend a lot more on than many of you - and many of you would likely, and have likely spent lots of money on stuff I would not give a plug nickel for.
If you want something, and you can't make it your self, and supplies are limited, you simply decide if you are willing to pay more than the "established value" - if you can aford to do so.
I will make the same point I made before, if a new Athearn RTR car is worth what Athearn is charging, than four hoppers in perfect condition, with Kadee couplers and coal loads, in the roadname YOU WANT, for $25 each, is not an unreasonable price at all.
Maybe the buyer does not want to paint and decal cheaper cars - look how many of you are not buying kits at all let alone using an airbrush or decals?
I recenty wanted a special part for my GRAVELY lawn tractor - a part GRAVELY has not made in 10 years. A NOS (new old stock) piece came up on Ebay - I paid about twice what the part sold for new, about three to four times what beat up used ones regularly sell for - WHY - Because I could, and because I wanted it.
Since then few if any of those parts have surfaced, new or used, in the GRAVELY "world" - but I have mine.
Go ahead, call me names, I have broad shoulders, leave that poor guy on Ebay alone to enjoy his trains. Come to think of it, he is likely in his train room enjoying his new hoppers - not one bit concerned with your opinion of him.
Sheldon
PS - I'm watching a Proto GP7 on Ebay for $70 I may just decide I "need" to ad to the six I already have.
This HO item by Classic Metal works is becoming a rarity, however there are alternatives available. I would not spend this much for it, I would opt for one of the many resin kits and finish it myself.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230822687576&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:CA:1123
Mind you this Woody is getting there too
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Classic-Metal-Works-MiniMetals-1948-Ford-woody-blue-/330760936247?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4d02e35b37
Green I am going to pat myself on the back a bit...
I am going to pat myself on the back a bit...
Deservedly so. Nice going.
Rich
Alton Junction
I am going to pat myself on the back a bit... a few years ago I purchased a pair of Atlas Trainman NYC cabooses on ebay for 12.00 each. At that time I thought it was a bit high, but figured they were a bit hard to find. About four months ago I decided to sell them. I wanted to sell some items that I had shelved in hopes of purchasing a few fast track items that were out of my budget. The first caboose sold for 50.00 the second for just under 40.00. I was shocked. In all honesty I was just hoping to recoup my losses. And not to mention the timing, considering Atlas recently announced a rerun of that specific caboose. In all honesty the profit made up for losses on other items I sold, so in the end it was a push.
Ken,
You are right.
But, also note that the car has not sold on eBay for the higher price.
Rich, you can all so get it here for $27.39.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Kadee-HO-7036-50-T-AAR-SD-2-Bay-Offset-Open-Hopper-p/380-7036.htm
Glad I have all the coal cars I need.
Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken You folks think 4 of them for $100.00 is high? http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Scale-Monon-50-Ton-AAR-Offset-Hopper-w-coal-load-By-Kadee-/251044491743?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3a736af1df There where quite a few in the $15.00 range. Cuda Ken
You folks think 4 of them for $100.00 is high?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Scale-Monon-50-Ton-AAR-Offset-Hopper-w-coal-load-By-Kadee-/251044491743?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3a736af1df
There where quite a few in the $15.00 range.
Cuda Ken
That car retails at Walthers for $41, so the eBay price is not that much higher.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-7016
If you need the car, and if it is hard to find, then that eBay Buy It Now is not such a bad deal. Plus, it is free shipping.
tstage richhotrain: rrinker: "Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost. Randy, once again with all due respect, I diasgree with both you and mobilman44. I say that those final two bidders wanted that item and wanted it badly. That is why they bid as high as they did and there was no bidding war or frenzy involved here. Rich, I think you and Randy are basically saying the same thing; you just have different definitions of "frenzy". For me - if two or more individuals are vying for the same item(s) and the final bid is 20% or more above fair market value - that would be a "frenzy."; whether done throughout the auction...or in the last 12 seconds. Tom
richhotrain: rrinker: "Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost. Randy, once again with all due respect, I diasgree with both you and mobilman44. I say that those final two bidders wanted that item and wanted it badly. That is why they bid as high as they did and there was no bidding war or frenzy involved here.
rrinker: "Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost.
"Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost.
Randy, once again with all due respect, I diasgree with both you and mobilman44.
I say that those final two bidders wanted that item and wanted it badly. That is why they bid as high as they did and there was no bidding war or frenzy involved here.
Rich,
I think you and Randy are basically saying the same thing; you just have different definitions of "frenzy". For me - if two or more individuals are vying for the same item(s) and the final bid is 20% or more above fair market value - that would be a "frenzy."; whether done throughout the auction...or in the last 12 seconds.
Tom
Tom,
I see your point.
But, I would say this. Call it what you will, auction frenzy, bidding war, silent maximum, I refuse to believe that these actions are more about winning than actually wanting the particular item.
It all starts with an interest in the item. Otherwise, the bidder wouldn't be watching a particular auction in the first place. If a bidder decides that he wants the item bad enough, he will do whatever he needs to do to win the auction.
I have done that myself. The most recent example was a desire to purchase the long retired Walthers Bascule Bridge. It really didn't matter to me what the oriignal purchase price was for the item. It was now retired and hard to find. I "had to have it" for my layout, so I was determined that no one would beat me.
What does happen is that buyers sometimes pay more than they want to pay but never more than they are willing to pay.
richhotrain rrinker: "Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost. Randy, once again with all due respect, I diasgree with both you and mobilman44. I say that those final two bidders wanted that item and wanted it badly. That is why they bid as high as they did and there was no bidding war or frenzy involved here.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tom, I couldn't agree more. eBay's loaded with too many fools just begging to be separated from their money.
Milepost 266.2 maxman: What's a track can? Track lighting fixtures?
maxman: What's a track can?
What's a track can?
Track lighting fixtures?
Oh . LOL I was thinking something that went on the layout, not above.
maxman rrebell: I needed a lot of track cans for my layout room and was able to buy them cheap because they were sold under a different name, What's a track can?
rrebell: I needed a lot of track cans for my layout room and was able to buy them cheap because they were sold under a different name,
I needed a lot of track cans for my layout room and was able to buy them cheap because they were sold under a different name,
rrebell I needed a lot of track cans for my layout room and was able to buy them cheap because they were sold under a different name,
Before this tread gets locked for no reason other than boring or a rehash (interesting to me and there are those that have not seen this discussion before). I have seen both sides of the coin and you have to relize that there are many types of people on e-bay, the very rich to the very poor and the people in both categories that will only buy a real bargain (me) and those willing to pay more. I have seen people pay more than retail for an available retail item, they may have not known (a lot of people are surprised to find out most of the mass produced stuff is still available but from another manufacturer (anyone ever hear of Varney). I needed a lot of track cans for my layout room and was able to buy them cheap because they were sold under a different name, now with model stuff it can be the opposite with people paying a premium because they don't relise they can get the same product only under a different name.
rrinker "Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost.
I have been on both sides of the eBay process, as seller and buyer, and I have experienced this very situation in both positions.
As seller, I have witnessed bids being made where it became obvious that it was a "must have" item. And, in a few instances, the eventual winner told me just that.
As buyer, I have won auctions on items, including model railroading items, where I had to get the item "at any price". Sometimes I paid more than I wanted to pay but never more than I was willing to pay.
I imagine that ego takes over in some cases, but it didn't happen here.
"Auction frenzy" is more like it. Rather than look for a similar item elsewhere, the bidder becomes fixated on winning at all cost. Bet dollars to donuts I can look at eBay over the coming week and find AThearn Monon hoppers, maybe not a set of 4 in one auction, but certainly less than was paid for those. Heck I might even be able to find unbuilt kits of them! The loads are always available from Motrak and others, $5 for 2 cars. 4 pairs of Kadees - $6 or less. And those still have the Athearn plastic wheels.
I've benefited in the past - I got nearly $80 for a $2 AHM/Pocher car that wasn;t particularly rare or anything.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
simon1966 richhotrain: mobilman44: Trust me, a lot of times "bidding wars" are more about winning, then actually wanting the particular item. I respectfully disagree. The winner and the second place finisher both "wanted" the item. Maybe they didn't expect to pay as much as they did, but they were willing to pay as much as they did, because they both placed those silent maximum bids. I say that they both wanted the item bad enough to engage in a "bidding war". Of course, in this case, there was no bidding war since they each only made one last minute bid. It was more a case of sniping that a bidding war. Trust me, this was all about wanting that particular item. Rich Rich, that is exactly what I wrote! Why tell me I don't understand eBay and then point out that these were last minute bids as well. Neither of these two bidders had participated in the auction until the last 12 seconds. If you "know ebay", then it is clear that the bidder that placed the $40 bid had acually placed this as a secondary incremental bid. They were winning the auction at $32, their first bid, until the first of the high bids came in at $99.99 with 12 seconds to go. This blew past the $40 increment bid and would have been holding the winning bid at $41 for 6 seconds until the final bid came in. All we know about the final bid is that it was $1 more than the $99.99, it could have been a million$ for all we know.
richhotrain: mobilman44: Trust me, a lot of times "bidding wars" are more about winning, then actually wanting the particular item. I respectfully disagree. The winner and the second place finisher both "wanted" the item. Maybe they didn't expect to pay as much as they did, but they were willing to pay as much as they did, because they both placed those silent maximum bids. I say that they both wanted the item bad enough to engage in a "bidding war". Of course, in this case, there was no bidding war since they each only made one last minute bid. It was more a case of sniping that a bidding war. Trust me, this was all about wanting that particular item. Rich
mobilman44: Trust me, a lot of times "bidding wars" are more about winning, then actually wanting the particular item.
Trust me, a lot of times "bidding wars" are more about winning, then actually wanting the particular item.
I respectfully disagree. The winner and the second place finisher both "wanted" the item. Maybe they didn't expect to pay as much as they did, but they were willing to pay as much as they did, because they both placed those silent maximum bids. I say that they both wanted the item bad enough to engage in a "bidding war". Of course, in this case, there was no bidding war since they each only made one last minute bid. It was more a case of sniping that a bidding war. Trust me, this was all about wanting that particular item.
Rich, that is exactly what I wrote! Why tell me I don't understand eBay and then point out that these were last minute bids as well. Neither of these two bidders had participated in the auction until the last 12 seconds.
If you "know ebay", then it is clear that the bidder that placed the $40 bid had acually placed this as a secondary incremental bid. They were winning the auction at $32, their first bid, until the first of the high bids came in at $99.99 with 12 seconds to go. This blew past the $40 increment bid and would have been holding the winning bid at $41 for 6 seconds until the final bid came in. All we know about the final bid is that it was $1 more than the $99.99, it could have been a million$ for all we know.
Simon, that is the trouble with the written word. It can be misinterpreted. I did not mean you personally. When I used the word "you", I was referring to no one in particular and anyone in general.
Sorry, I did not mean to offend you or challenge your knowledge of the eBay process.
This particular eBay auction was interesting though in the sense that the upward bids are usually more gradual. It is interesting to note, as you did, that the $40 bid was actually higher than even that bidder had hoped to make, but the process forced him to do so since the preceding bidder had obviously set a higher silent maximum.
My only point in making my initial reply was to note that the last minute bidders indeed wanted that item and were willing to pay $100, if necessary to get it. Neither one was going to get it for $41 since there was a shared interest at work there.
richhotrain mobilman44: Trust me, a lot of times "bidding wars" are more about winning, then actually wanting the particular item. I respectfully disagree. The winner and the second place finisher both "wanted" the item. Maybe they didn't expect to pay as much as they did, but they were willing to pay as much as they did, because they both placed those silent maximum bids. I say that they both wanted the item bad enough to engage in a "bidding war". Of course, in this case, there was no bidding war since they each only made one last minute bid. It was more a case of sniping that a bidding war. Trust me, this was all about wanting that particular item. Rich
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Sorry for the lack of references and clarity.............
I was not referring to this auction, but to "bidding wars" - of which I know what I speak.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
blownout cylinder Or summat from PC....for those PCholics....
Or summat from PC....for those PCholics....
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mobilman44 Trust me, a lot of times "bidding wars" are more about winning, then actually wanting the particular item.
simon1966 Look at the final 2 bids. Both were placed almost simultaneously, right at the end of the auction. 2 eBayers using classic last second raid bidding to win the item. The tactic is to hit it high and late to overwhelm the competition. If only one of them had done it they would have got the item for $41 but because 2 used the same risky tactic at the same time, one got burned. I suspect that neither really thinks the cars are worth $100 and probably did not expect to pay that amount. The seller must have a big smile on his face.
Look at the final 2 bids. Both were placed almost simultaneously, right at the end of the auction. 2 eBayers using classic last second raid bidding to win the item. The tactic is to hit it high and late to overwhelm the competition. If only one of them had done it they would have got the item for $41 but because 2 used the same risky tactic at the same time, one got burned. I suspect that neither really thinks the cars are worth $100 and probably did not expect to pay that amount. The seller must have a big smile on his face.
That's not at all what happened. If you review the bidding on that auction, and understand the eBay process, Bidder #1 was leading the bidding with a $40.00 bid. Then, along comes Bidder #2 who is determined to win by launching a bid of $99.99. Had Bidder #1 only bid $40.00, then Bidder #2 would take the lead with a $41.00 bid. But, in this case, Bidder #1 had a "silent maximum" of as much as $98.99, so it took $99.00 to beat that silent maximum bid. Then, along comes Bidder #3 who won the auction with a $100.99 bid but, for all we know, he could have placed a $500.00 silent maximum.
5 years ago I would have said the bidders where nut's. now I don't know. Lot of the current RTR cars are in the $18.00. Being a Monon fan my self I know there are not a lot of there rolling stock out there. Lot of folks do not know who easy it is to make a coal load so that may be a factor as well. So if you really want Monon $25.00 a car may seem fair to them.
At least it was not an L&N coal car .....
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
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Hi!
That sale price may not be all that out of line. The buyer got 4 different number unusual road cars, with the KDs and the coal loads. Assuming they are as advertised, the seller likely put a good $15 each in them, plus the decaling installation. I suspect if sold separately they would have gone for about $15, but the fact that the buyer could get 4 at once made them more desireable.
I would assume the buyer has a soft spot for the Monon, and of course nobody wants just one hopper for a particular road.
As an aside, over the last 12 years I first bought - and more recently sold - literally hundreds of cars on Ebay. The cars I sold were either still in kit form, or built with KDs, DullCote, and original packaging. Many of these were very old Athearn stock or special runs from Bev-Bel and the like.
On the sales end, it almost always is the lesser known (modeled) RR that got the bigger bucks. Some of these cars were just "plain janes" 40 foot boxcars or two bay hoppers, but they were more likely to get into bidding wars than the Santa Fe's, UPs, and the like.
While I am still surprised at what sells and what doesn't, all it takes is two buyers with a stubborn streak wanting the same item..................
Notice ...Condition: Used Road #: all the same, 4038
Samuel A. Kelly
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