Ebay Activity is Through the Roof!

[riogrande5761]

It's not just eBay; according to news, online purchases in general are up, reportedly because people are bored at home and buying stuff.

I'm still purchasing items on ebay and am finding good bargains, in spite of the increased activity! Just takes patience. 

The older run Walthers passenger cars are, generally, still selling for what they were 2 to 3 years ago.

That's pretty much same for me and what I'm observing.

[SeeYou190]

dknelson

I know my wife has done some sorting and cleaning and re arranging and we have boxes of stuff for Goodwill.

When Goodwill opened up last week, the line of cars dropping off donations went around the building.

I have 6 boxes of stuff my wife put together to give to them.

-Kevin

[dknelson]

Heh - It's been sort of a two month version of what I tend to do during blizzards in winter when I feel antsy and house-bound.  I suspect the confinement/safer at home situation resulted in a fair number of us rummaging through boxes and shelves of model railroad stuff taking stock of what we have while looking for projects.  That always results in "discoveries" that are either swap meet or Ebay (for those who do Ebay, I don't) material.  Or trash can material.  

I can see that several of my neighbors must have taken the opportunity to clean out garages or attics based on the junk I see set out for the garbage/recycling people.

I know my wife has done some sorting and cleaning and re arranging and we have boxes of stuff for Goodwill.  But her sock drawer and cookbook collection are now both totally organized.  And I now have all of my 2-56 screws together in one container.  

The advent of nicer weather outdoors will slow this phenomenon down a bit.  I am spending less time at the workbench not just because it is finally nice outside and there is garlic mustard to pull, but our basement this time of year is the coolest/coldest/dampest part of the house and I almost need a sweater down there while I am in shorts and T shirts upstairs.  But I do need to get down there and finish the last two cars of my "cushion underframe extended coupler pocket" project before I forget all the little techniques I learned for using the aftermarket parts.  Plus I need to prepare for the clinics I have agreed to give this fall.

Dave Nelson

 

[AntonioFP45]

Hello guys!

Regarding the strain on the USPS: Considering the thousands of hardworking people that lost their jobs, due to the pandemic, imho many post office workers are likely grateful for the additional mail and packages!  I hope that they all remain employed. 

On another note, I'm still purchasing items on ebay and am finding good bargains, in spite of the increased activity! Just takes patience. 

The older run Walthers passenger cars are, generally, still selling for what they were 2 to 3 years ago. Since I'm paint stripping them anyway (for metalizing), I target the least popular road names, which often works out well  (Yes, one of my shopping strategies but I'm always glad to help fellow modelers). But of course, if you're looking for specific, factory painted units then you'll find that some of the more popular road names might start at higher bidding prices. 

For some Santa Fe modelers, you may find good deals since ebay is saturated with HO Santa Fe equipment.  This may contribute to the prices being reasonable since sellers, with identical equipment, are competing against each other. 

Overall, for passenger rail modelers, this seems to be a good time for finding wanted, out of production models.

 

[BRAKIE]

I usually sell my unwanted models in bulk to a freind or train show dealer I know.. I find its easier that way.. 

 

[SeeYou190]

I have noticed that prices for many items I have interest in have gone up.

Now is the time to start auctions for $1.00 and let it ride. The active bidders are out there and running up the prices.

I have not scored many bargains since the quarantine became a thing, and some items I have seen relisted every week for months have been sold.

-Kevin

[rrinker]

 Does not surprise me, since the LHS are mostly closed, so it's the few that are open for mail order, or eBay. And many people have more time on their hands for hobby activities. Unfortunately I long ago thinned my herd so I have little or anything to sell off right now - usually Summer is a hard time to move model railroad equipment.

 Reminds me, I need to order some roadbed, I'm almost to the point where I can put some track down. Only available on eBay.

                                     --Randy

 

[Trainman440]

I relisted some items that didn't get sold for months during last summer break. Literally within a few hours, 5 items were puchased by buyers!

I'v also purchased more than usual, there's been lots more deals on "restoration required" engines these days... 

Seems like many people now have free time to sell off some stuff, and others finally have time to enjoy the hobby. Have you felt the increased activity?

Although its putting a strain on USPS and others, if you were planning to one day sell something, I recommend selling it now...there's lots more buyers now than before. 

Charles

PS I do apologize if this should go under the coronavirus post, but I think this relates to the hobby enough to have its own forum.