Train shows will be a major low cost place to buy and the purchase is between you and the seller. This gives you the opportunity to ask for a lower or his lowest price and barter. Just looking for any old car you also may get a real low price if you are at the show at closing time or the last day at closing time. This will work on local train shows. If you can attend some local train shows, put on by TCA etc., and get to know some sellers, you can often ask them if they have any trains for sale that the did not bring.
eBay is the opposite with one seller and hundreds of possible buyers. This means the buyer who has to have the train willing to pay more and you will have to out bid him. "Buy it Now" will offer a set price and may give you the chance to message him if he will accept a lower offer. This can happen but it is rare. On top of higher prices at eBay you have the cost of shipping and possibly being charged a higher sales tax rate you may have in your state to pay too. The selection is great on eBay though and Complete auctions can give the paid for price from a competitive action for reference
I have hundreds of trains and only have a few purchased on eBay. A few have come from garage sales and a given free by acquaintances looking for a good home for their unwanted trains.
While working overseas I looked in the newspaper for sale ad section and saw some ads for "trains wanted to buy". I called and asked a guy named Dave if he had some trains for sale. He did and bought trains, track, Marx switches, engines, cars, LW transformers, etc. from him on every trip home to my parents house in Pittsburgh. That is another way.
Charlie
