Crazy bidders on eBay

[West Coast S]

I just aquired a Ambroid Russell wedge plow kit on Ebay. The bidding activity was dead at forty five dollars, since I was due on TDY and thus unavilable to baby sit this item, I proxied it and won for just under a hundred bucks. In my case this a much sought after, long out of production S scale kit that I have been on the hunt for.

What was crazy was a Kinsman passenger car set which went for $230.00, I fell sorry for the purchaser, as all Kinsman kits require a massive effort to assemble for meger end results. AF has semi-scale models that can be converted easily and cheaply. As usual don't get caught up in the heat of the moment.

Dave

[AntonioFP45]

One thing to remember though.

If it's a very "hard to find" model with potential, then prices tend to wind up considerably higher. A friend of mine taught me that if I am looking for a model that's out of production, to not jump the gun. I did with an Athearn Santa Fe Warbonnet FP45 and paid much for it. Afterwards I saw countless units show up on ebay in the $20 to $30 range.

In the case of the HO DDA40x, the Bachmann unit has a great deal of potential as no one else made it ( Yeah, the paint is too orange!). To those of you not aware about Athearn's version of the DD40: It never existed! Only on blueprints. So for HO plastic, the Bachmann unit is it! (I'm in the same situation regarding Metroliners. I look for used HO Bachmann Amtrak Metroliners, strip them and "sweeten them up" into the Penn Central scheme. Hope to finish soon!)

With a complete repainting, re-motoring, lighting effects, DCC, and detailing a modeler could wind up with an award winning DDA40x Centennial, though likely spending $100 to $200 depending how far he or she wants to go. For a dedicated Union Pacific modeler with a long mainline, gentle curves or access to a club, this may be a worth while project which is why some are willing to pay $30 and up for one.

While the $35 is higher than average, it's not ridiculous. Especially after having seen Tyco locomotives going for this price (yipes!). If I were modeling UP, I honestly feel that if I couldn't find one of these units for $5 or $20 at a flea market or trains show, $35 to $40 would not be too unreasonable.

The trick would be to keep an eye for these units on Ebay and see how much the average is on one. Ebayers simply have to do their research and homework. [:D][8D][C):-)][tup]

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: You want crazy? Watch pre-Micro Trains Kadee N scale boxcars on Ebay. They regularly go for $1000 and up!

Are you serious Ray? I'll have to check through my car box. I know I have several old Kadee N scale cars from about 25 years ago. That could finance a whole new wardrobe of Atlas cars.


Regards

Ed

[alstom]

I recently purchased an Athearn "DD40" for only $15.00 at an Antique Mall. They're nuts!

[jfugate]

With over 100 million bidders on ebay, you can expect a few of them to be irrational.

It's the irrational bidders that blow the proxy bidding model out of the water on ebay. That's why its best NOT to bid on an item until the last possible moment. Otherwise you run the risk of irrational bidders seeing your interest, and then repeatedly incremental bidding on the item, driving the price up to unreasonable levels.

If you snipe bid (as last minute bidding is affectionately called by seasoned ebayers) then you run the best chance of getting the item at a more reasonable price, in the price range you were willing to pay. http://auctionsniper.com enables you to snipe bid automatically so you don't have to physically babysit the item to place your last minute bid.

[onetrack64]

The only thing I can think of to explain this...the bidder may have had one as a child, and would like to have one again. I know I have paid dearly for a few items. When it comes to things of sentimental value, the replacement cost is not even an issue most of the time. But I agree, even I could find a Bachmann DD40 for alot less.

Don

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

You want crazy? Watch pre-Micro Trains Kadee N scale boxcars on Ebay. They regularly go for $1000 and up!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAweird. That's like a Tyco GM&O GP20 going for $100 to $300. And then when people get the boxcars, they think, "WHAT HAVE I DONE!? I JUST WASTED $1,000 ON A WORTHLESS BOXCAR!!".

[Train 284]

Thats insane!

[orsonroy]

You want crazy? Watch pre-Micro Trains Kadee N scale boxcars on Ebay. They regularly go for $1000 and up!

[Darth Santa Fe]

Here's another auction for a Bachmann DD40X, but it has it's box and handrails.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5988666155&category=19132&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1
It's cheaper too and only has 1 day left.

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409

That's nuts, I got mine for $20 at a show, same exact model.

I got mine at a train show for $5. It was priced at $15, but the guy felt because he thought it didn't work, so he let me have it for $5. It worked with a little cleaning. It came with most of it's railings and dummy couplers, unlike the one on eBay.[:D]

[TrainFreak409]

That's nuts, I got mine for $20 at a show, same exact model.

[Darth Santa Fe]

I found an auction on eBay for a used Bachmann DD40X (not Spectrum) with 7 days left going for $35. Starting price was around $12. Here's a link to it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989330887&category=19132&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1
It looks like it's missing a lot of parts.[%-)]