Might be time to sell them while they're hot
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Someone with more money than brains. Probably thinks that the 990 bc it is going out of production is gonna be this incredible collectors item people will be dying to buy *shrug*. If they are buying it to operate a train layout, bless them, but I doubt it, I think this is someone who thinks they are found the elusive 'next big thing'.
This has already been discussed. Likely shill bidders and the winner will end up not paying.
The good news is. This will be relisted in a few days so folks have another chance.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...x-990-control-system
Over the last few days the cheapest one ended at $475 and the most expensive at $640. Trains has a used one listed buy it now for $399
Someone just bought one for less than $200 because the remote was broken. A quick free trip to Lionel and that's all fixed! That was the one to jump on. 
Money laundering
Just for jollies, I calculated the average sales price for 990 command sets on the big auction site since December 1. I excluded the sale for $2,600 because, to say the least, it's an outlier.
From Dec. 1 through Jan. 17, there were 18 sales of 990 sets where the sales price was knowable, i.e., not best offer accepted. The average sales price was $675.00. That's a 69% premium on the most recent retail price of $400. Given the discontinuation of the 990 set, do you think that's reasonable--or not?
Question. If a shill bidder, as suspected, don't they owe the auction firm the percentage of sale+shipping fee? That would be hundreds of dollars, no? How do these folks, if ethically challenged, get away without penalty if shill bidding is going on, leading to a sale?
@Landsteiner posted:Question. If a shill bidder, as suspected, don't they owe the auction firm the percentage of sale+shipping fee? That would be hundreds of dollars, no? How do these folks, if ethically challenged, get away without penalty if shill bidding is going on, leading to a sale?
The "winning" bidder cancels the sale, and the "seller" agrees. I've had several people cancel one of my sales, it's really pointless to dispute it in most cases. In this case, since they were obviously in collusion, there was no dispute involved, they'll just relist it and try a new scam.
@Keith L posted:From Dec. 1 through Jan. 17, there were 18 sales of 990 sets where the sales price was knowable, i.e., not best offer accepted. The average sales price was $675.00. That's a 69% premium on the most recent retail price of $400. Given the discontinuation of the 990 set, do you think that's reasonable--or not?
If the buyers thought it was unreasonable, they wouldn't have paid for them. 
