I got my first Lionel train when I was 5 or 6. Dad bought it used from a local appliance store and the track and accessories were already mounted on a plywood board. Dad and I bought lots more trains (all were new because there was no ebay or OGR forum in the late 50s) until I was 13 and we decided to take the layout apart and store it. I sold everything to a Lionel dealer after I got married because I needed some money. Then when grandchildren came along I began to buy again....but 90% of it is used. There's a ton of good used trains available and since they seem to last forever I see little reason to buy new. I don't know a GP7 from a GP9 or a Prairie from a Berkshire, but my two grandchildren enjoy my trains and think they are something special to play with when at my house.
I buy used cars, used furniture, used computers and sometimes used clothing. I'm just thrifty. And, yes, the desk chair and window ac in this picture were bought used, too.
