Skip to main content

Question,     EBAY these days seems as though prices are rising every time I blink whether I am a seller or buyer.  Now as a buyer taxes have to be paid.    I think between EBAY and PAYPAL if I sell a train for $1000 18% is consumed by them, then the poor buyer has to pay taxes on $1000 (here in Alabama that's another 10%).      Also Auction houses have increased their pricing like Stout and Trainz and are getting less attractive unless it's that one item you have to have.  .     Are there other avenues available that allows affordable transactions?     Yes I do realize you can sell on this site and I try to utilize it as much as possible......  

Last edited by Alabama Joe
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

This is just an observation. No condemnation or negative thoughts at all. But when I think back on my "other" hobby and realize that most of the 50 some Cadillacs that I've owned over the last fifty years were well under $1,000 to purchase, it blows my mind that there are Lionel (et al) engines that cost well over that, and that you  guys can eagerly seek them out to add to your stable of rolling stock. (I realize that you are also hampered by not having available 1'=1' items to run like I have in my garage.) My main point is that I think that the good ol' USA is still in pretty good shape with a flourishing hobby like this. Keep 'em rolling!

"Poor buyer"??? Please...if you can afford to buy an engine you can afford the tax.  If you can't afford the former, the latter doesn't matter.

Now as for corporate greed which sets the prices, takes that 18% and the government which imposes those taxes - these are completely different topics. 

To answer your question -

  • Craigslist
  • Bonanza
  • EBid
  • Newegg
  • TradeMe
  • Onlineauction.com

-Greg

 

The Lionel Collectors Club of America has The Interchange Track that has a For Sale/Trades/Wants section and a Miscellaneous section.  Sections are broken down by Pre-War, Post-War and Modern for each manufacturer. The Internet version is available around the clock and each member may post up to two hundred items. This publication is aimed at the O scale/gauge market.  Each individual listing includes the member's contact information.  The hard copy is published at least four times each calendar year and each member may post up to thirty-five items.  This benefit alone is worth the annual membership fee. The annual convention as well as special events are icing on the cake.  John in Lansing, ILL

Last edited by rattler21
rattler21 posted:

The Lionel Collectors Club of America has The Interchange Track that has a For Sale/Trades/Wants section and a Miscellaneous section.  Sections are broken down by Pre-War, Post-War and Modern for each manufacturer. The Internet version is available around the clock and each member may post up to two hundred items. This publication is aimed at the O scale/gauge market.  Each individual listing includes the member's contact information.  The hard copy is published at least four times each calendar year and each member may post up to thirty-five items.  This benefit alone is worth the annual membership fee. The annual convention as well as special events are icing on the cake.  John in Lansing, ILL

TCA has a similar thing (functionality, and similar structure of breaking down by era as described above), "Interchange Point" is (I'm pretty sure) what it's called.

Members with email addresses must submit items electronically now, but those members who do not have an email on file can still use the old paper method, I believe.

It exists on-line, and is also printed in the Headquarters News.

-Dave

Not going to argue about prices on ebay, when I see things going on there for more than I can buy it from a retailer, it isn't what it used to be, that is for sure. The advantage for a seller (but not a buyer) on ebay is you are reaching a lot of people, and given that (at least in my opinion) prices are higher  there, you may offset the ebay fees, pay pal fees (if you use that) and the sales tax (these days, a lot of internet sites are collecting sales taxes, I am pretty sure all will eventually have to do that, with the internet getting to be the largest swath of sales these days). It sucks for the buyers and sellers both, the buyer has to pay sales taxes and increased shipping, the seller the various fees with ebay and /or paypal. 

Really depends on where you are coming from, if you sell on a site like craigslist or other forms of online sites to list items for sale, or the LCCA or TCA for sale sites, it will come down to will you get more money, as a seller, on one of those sites vs ebay-fees in terms of selling price, if that is your prime motivation. One thing to consider is convenience. If you put it on Craigslist and similar sites, you will have to deal with scammers and people trying to get stuff dirt cheap bugging you until it sells (and you might have to put an ad up again if it scrolls down over time). If you post it on places like TCA or LCCA or other 'insider' for sale places, you might have to deal (if what I have heard is true) with people who are nit pickers with condition and such, often in trying to get  something that is in condition 8 for a 5 price (again, what I have heard, not personal experience). Ebay IME is so big, that it may be easier to sell it at the price you want to sell it for and do it in one place.

Selling to vendors like Trainz you are not going to get anywhere near 'full market value', and auctions might not give you your price or will give you less than  it in fees. 

Not trying to tell you where to sell it, just pointing out the strengths and downsides of different ways of selling something in this market. 

 

I've had great luck with Craigslist and you can't beat the eBay for the largest possible audience.  Their fees are only going up so I try to build that into my sale price since I almost always offer free shipping, which to me is a big deal.  As stated elsewhere this forum and LCCA have free listing services.

Doug N posted:
romiller49 posted:

How about the OGR buy/sell forum. Seems like a good deal to me. It’s free.

I agree

Alabama Joe included this in his original post;

"Yes I do realize you can sell on this site and I try to utilize it as much as possible...... "

So it appears he is aware of the OGR Buy/Sell forum.

I agree with BIGKID’s assessment of eBay. Whereas I used to see items all the time on eBay that to me were good deals (I usually didn’t purchase said item due to various different reasons) but now seeing an item that I say to myself that is a good deal has become very rare. I now think the best place to find an older item for a good price is either here on (OGR) or at a train meet. 

I usually try all avenues when selling an item before going to eBay due to the fees. 

 

Further to BIGKID's comments about TRAINZ, everyone's situation is different but for those that may have amassed a large collection of trains, TRAINZ may be the way to go when 'our' time comes and our Executor has to deal with this issue - particularly if no immediate family members are interested in pursuing this hobby. I know I wouldn't want to have to deal with disposing of a large collection if the shoe was on the other foot. Just a thought...

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×