Ever get more than expected from a ebay auction???

Looks like a nice engine,
Some times you get lucky and the seller is honest enough to adjust the shipping cost without asking.
Also had a seller on a 158 Lionel prewar loco stated that the brush plate was missing, I bought it and when I received the item it had the brush plate and ran. This was a nice restore.
I too like buying basket cases that no one would buy.
I stick with prewar as they are fun to rebuild and parts hunting is fun.
Here is a before and after on a 253 loco that I got. It had so much paint on it that the shell and chaais were glued to gether with paint.

One of the guys I bought stuff from I got extra track paint and modeling supplies some cars for nothing. He was reducing his collection which is how I got the majority of my modern O. Worked out good for both of us cause he was only 50 miles away and he didn't have to deal with packaging and shipping the loose stuff.

Not too change the subject but does the engine in the top pic (engine number 767) have a broken windshield on the engineers side?

I've bought a lot of stuff on ebay and never had anything extra show up in the box.  I'm pretty happy when just the right stuff shows up and there is nothing wrong with it.  Sometimes even a blind dog finds a bone.  Enjoy!! 

Rick

RICKC posted:

Not too change the subject but does the engine in the top pic (engine number 767) have a broken windshield on the engineers side?

I've bought a lot of stuff on ebay and never had anything extra show up in the box.  I'm pretty happy when just the right stuff shows up and there is nothing wrong with it.  Sometimes even a blind dog finds a bone.  Enjoy!! 

Rick

These locos are from the film 'Unstoppable'  and in the film are involved in a few accidents......so the window may be broken or made to look like it is. Here is 777 from the film after a accident. 

I bought a postwar Lionel Southern freight set and the Ebay photos and description did not mention any boxes which was fine with me.

When I received the set it came with all the original boxes, definitely more than I expected.

One motor in the engine was frozen but I was able to get them running just fine.

franktrain

RonH posted:

Looks like a nice engine,
Some times you get lucky and the seller is honest enough to adjust the shipping cost without asking.
Also had a seller on a 158 Lionel prewar loco stated that the brush plate was missing, I bought it and when I received the item it had the brush plate and ran. This was a nice restore.
I too like buying basket cases that no one would buy.
I stick with prewar as they are fun to rebuild and parts hunting is fun.
Here is a before and after on a 253 loco that I got. It had so much paint on it that the shell and chaais were glued to gether with paint.

That 253 is truly a masterpiece.

I have a shelf of golden era O gauge electrics awaiting a helping hand.  Currently in process is a light orange/maroon 252.  I found that there is an automotive color called school bus yellow that closely resembles light orange.  All of the decorations have been cleaned in lacquer thinner.  Believe it or not Lionel did clear coat some parts.  I learned from former TCA president Al Ruocchio how to tumble and polish these parts.  Two days with washers, two days with walnut shells, and then two days with 1/2" square pieces of suede leather.  Remove with gloves and clear coat them.  Hope that's useful to you in future.

Regards,

Lou N

Estate engine E Bay ..i knew i was taking a chance ,MTH premier PS2/3v  3-2-3 trucks CSX...arrived as new .2 chrono ,0 miles...runs exc.

franktrain posted:

I bought a postwar Lionel Southern freight set and the Ebay photos and description did not mention any boxes which was fine with me.

When I received the set it came with all the original boxes, definitely more than I expected.

One motor in the engine was frozen but I was able to get them running just fine.

franktrain

Nice! My kinda set

A couple of years ago I was looking for repro Pyro trucks for my Lionel Marines flat cars.  I bought 2 Weaver flats with tanks and trucks and to my surprise when I opened the box there were two more Weaver flats (both had broken trucks) with more Pyro trucks!  There was also a note from the seller stating he thought maybe I could use/repair the flats and he had no use for the Pyro trucks.  I was very pleased by this to say the least!

Rolland

willygee posted:

Estate engine E Bay ..i knew i was taking a chance ,MTH premier PS2/3v  3-2-3 trucks CSX...arrived as new .2 chrono ,0 miles...runs exc.

Willygee, If I may ask, why did you think you were taking a chance? I buy a lot of items off of e-bay in the condition that you described, basically "New", is there something I should be looking out for? I'm always open for suggestions, Thanks!

Nope.

I get what I have paid for and that's it, sometimes a nice note saying "Hope you enjoy it mate!" lots of  "Thank you!" notes but that's it.

Probably because of the shipping costs. Roo.

Willygee.

Yeh I wondered that to...... taking a chance?

I have bought at least 12 locomotives off ebay in the last 9 months and they have all been as described, no worries.

Do you know something that we don't know?

Roo.

Most of my "more than expected" eBay finds were "unexpected finds" - items I had yearned over for years and never thought I'd find.  A perfect example is the K-line CNJ tank engine I found advertised here, on the Forum, that I happened upon while searching for tank engines of all varieties:

It is advertised as being sealed in it's original shipper and, therefore, it is brand new.  Generally, my experience with eBay has been very good.

ConrailFan posted:

willygee posted:

Estate engine E Bay ..i knew i was taking a chance ,MTH premier PS2/3v  3-2-3 trucks CSX...arrived as new .2 chrono ,0 miles...runs exc.

Willygee, If I may ask, why did you think you were taking a chance? I buy a lot of items off of e-bay in the condition that you described, basically "New", is there something I should be looking out for? I'm always open for suggestions, Thanks!

Arrived as new but was described as part of a collection and untested and no returns. The seller had no way of checking for hours or miles without DCS access. The price was low enough to take the chance.

As always, there are good seller and some bad. About 2 years ago, I picked up an Atlas SW switcher for a very reasonable price. When it arrived, the sound was shot. The seller refunded 1/2 the total costs, which allowed me to replace the guts with Electric Railroad Cruise and Sound. Works great now! I did not expect that from him as it was marked "as is".

For me, I always look at the sellers rating and the number of hits. With high hits, the seller should have a rating of 99.4% or better. If there are any questions, I always ask well enough in advance and I am very specific as to my questions regarding condition. If the seller does not answer, no matter how good the deal is, I stay away from it. Not worth the hassle.

Like anything, you have to research to be sure you know what you are getting.

RAY

willygee posted:

ConrailFan posted:

willygee posted:

Estate engine E Bay ..i knew i was taking a chance ,MTH premier PS2/3v  3-2-3 trucks CSX...arrived as new .2 chrono ,0 miles...runs exc.

Willygee, If I may ask, why did you think you were taking a chance? I buy a lot of items off of e-bay in the condition that you described, basically "New", is there something I should be looking out for? I'm always open for suggestions, Thanks!

Arrived as new but was described as part of a collection and untested and no returns. The seller had no way of checking for hours or miles without DCS access. The price was low enough to take the chance.

Okay, gotcha! Thanks!

Best surprise I got on E-bay was when I thought I was buying a x2458 Pennsylvania box car.  In the pictures the doors open on it so the number was obscured.  It had the footsteps on the corners so I assumed it was an earlier x2458, maybe even early enough to have the flying shoe trucks.  Either way, for $15 it was a decent deal.  When I opened the package I couldn't believe my eyes, it was a x2758 with flying shoe trucks and whirly wheels and came in the original box (missing a flap, but still cool).  No mention of the box in the listing either.

Andy

Bought a MTH Docksider set that came with docksider, cars, transformer, controller, and track with an extra 0-72 full circle of track.  Very good to use under the Christmas tree and all that for and amazing price of $86.00 and $25.00 to ship it.

OK, here is my 2nd favorite e-bay surprise....last one I promise.  I saw a lot of track, some O22 switches and some miscellaneous odds and ends, probably the stuff that ends up at the bottom of a box when all of the 'good stuff' gets sold.  On the table at the back of the item photo I could just make out a light brown colored shape that looked like a #160 bin.  I think I paid around $20 for the lot with shipping, as most of the track was tarnished no one was really interested in it.  When I got the package in the mail it contained a light brown colored bin full of pink and orange speckles.  I've never seen one with those colors before.   I even cleaned up the extra track and switches and put them to use on my kids train layout. 

Andy

 "Generally, my experience with eBay has been very good."

Yes. For sure.

And, a few years ago, I won (not an expensive transaction) a couple of interesting old 2-rail freight cars for 3-railing, an the guy threw in a heavy, complete (no motor or valve gear; just the other mechanicals - drivers, pilot, front truck, cylinders, etc.) 2-rail cast brass (US made) steam loco chassis - a 2-8-0 of some kind - saying that he had no need for it and maybe I did. It's only eye-candy, but nice old brass eye-candy. If I had room for a loco back shop, I'd paint it and put it on the shop implying a really major "Class 1" repair. 

Great stories!

Peter

Dave,

If those are the ones with the hand rails removed, I bid on those too. I set a limit and didn't go over that amount. I just wanted them for the parts. I needed some pilots and truck sides. Hope they turn out good

Ebay is the thrill of the hunt.

Recently purchased a williams scale diecast  hudson for 150-ish...used, but like new and barely run, all running good.

Previous week saw two different auctions sell the identical engine for north of $400.

Shop...shop...shop.

The REAL bargains, however, are not found on ebay.

MarkLX200 posted:

Dave,

If those are the ones with the hand rails removed, I bid on those too. I set a limit and didn't go over that amount. I just wanted them for the parts. I needed some pilots and truck sides. Hope they turn out good

It is.....and maybe a bigger project than I thought......but the units have nice working ditch lights and lots of other upgrades....so it will be fun!! thx

I recently redid a williams southern pacific into a csx and added ditch lights for a future DCS upgrade. Your work kind of inspired me to try it. Out of curiosity, how will you attach the new stanchions to the frame?

MarkLX200 posted:

 Out of curiosity, how will you attach the new stanchions to the frame?

I have not gotten there yet......but may solder them to a thin brass strip and epoxy the assembly to frame.....or epoxy them to frame....I need to look into it before I do anything. thx

I've been using ebay since 97. Back then I sold most of my train collection. While ebay was in it's infancy, it was a sellers market. Not much in model trains, if you put, say for example Lionel 2055 engine, did a search, you were lucky if two showed up. Before paypal, selling or buying was a lengthy payment process. If you had a complaint, you were pretty much on your own. As time went on and everyone started using ebay, it slowly became a buyers market. Today if you put a Lionel 2055 engine in the search, there'll be about 10 or more showing up. No matter what your into, everything that was once hard to find, it's now at your finger tips (my opinion, this is one of the main reasons why the model RR market is low). W/paypal buying or selling is quick and easy. If you have a legitimate complaint, ebay will be fair stand behind you.

About 3 yrs ago I sold one of my old Harleys and decided to get back into model RR. Almost everything I bought was from ebay and got unbelievable buys. Postwar engines w/tenders very nice condition, mostly all needed armature cleaning, oiled and greased. Some modern era nos and some test run. One of my deals was both sets of nos CN budd cars, shipped for the price of what one set would sell for.  

I got this little engine from the Bay over two years ago. It was started as a scratch project back in the fifties. I am afraid this is too big for me to finish alone. The main problems are locating the right drive rods and steam/sand domes. 

Bought a Lionel Silver Spike passenger set on ebay, and the powered A unit was damaged from the shipper.    The seller filed a claim with the shipper, and then she refunded me a full refund and said to keep the set!  Later I was able to fix the broken wheel and axle on the power unit.

Here's the video:

Amtrak Silver Spike

Drummer3 posted:

Bought a Lionel Silver Spike passenger set on ebay, and the powered A unit was damaged from the shipper.    The seller filed a claim with the shipper, and then she refunded me a full refund and said to keep the set!  Later I was able to fix the broken wheel and axle on the power unit.

Here's the video:

Amtrak Silver Spike

 

Looks great! Nice set.

This January I won an auction for a Lionel Alberta cylindrical hopper (6-27436) to add to my collection of Gov't of Canada cylindricals.  The picture was just of the car in the box and nothing else and it was a bad picture at that.  Nobody had bid on it so I waited until the last few seconds and took a chance on it.  When it arrived, I was blown away.  It had never been opened.  The original tape on the plastic insert was untouched and in place.  I paid $34.00. Total.  MSRP is $80.