Sold Anything Recently?

Arnold, I have sold numerous trains over the years, both engines and cars.  I have sold HO and N scale trains mostly on e-mail groups in the days before good forums like this were in use or that I knew about.  I have sold a number of engines and cars right here on this forum.  They have been items, that didn't fit my changing interests and ones that I sold to buy something better.  I like places like this where you know a lot of the folks, and are treated honestly since no one wants to risk being black balled.

As far as a good time to sell, I'm not good at judging that.  It is true new engines and cars are pulling hefty prices in some instances, so the used market which seems to have inflated may gain a few dollars.

I have been thinking of selling my MTH Premier PS2 Western Maryland Shay for quite a while.  I bought it used, so I know what it can go for used, and that helps determine the price.  I have very little that I bought brand new, so this method is what I usually use to determine price.  I also have several Atlas O 2-bay hoppers in Western Maryland oxide red, that I am gong to sell as soon as my back gets a little better so I can dig the boxes out of the closet.  The detail on them is superb, but being diecast, they are very heavy.  It isn't a problem normally, but with 4% grades, I need my double header and pusher to push a train of them and a few plastic cars.  Now that I increased the number of MTH and Lionel cars that are almost as detailed, I am willing to part with the heavy cars; in fact that was the plan all along when I had the opportunity to purchase several more of the plastic cars.

I'll be intersted in seeing what some others have to say as well.

I've sold a few items over the years. I probably have more that I could get rid of too.

I've used both ebay and the forum. Ebay now requires you to give too much personal financial info to be a seller IMHO. My wife was selling a lot of household items until they changed the rules. Too bad because the house was getting cleaned out.

Any future sales will be listed here. As to timing? I don't think it will make a huge difference in $$$$.

Bob

Sell?  Hum a few bars.  I don't think I know that tune!

Seems like a great market to sell in now, judging from the prices I’ve seen while looking for a few items. However, like you Arnold, I’ve never sold anything and have done a pretty good job of restricting purchases to the few road names that I allow myself.  I do have a number of rolling stock/engines that were given to me or purchased before imposing such restrictions and I may try selling them in the future as my collection keeps growing, but for now they remain on my display shelves as wonderful pieces of art.  Better yet, now that we’re empty nesters, I have three more rooms that can be filled with either more train shelves or my new retirement layout (to be started next year), so why even bother!

I've sold 100's of items on ebay, and here on the forum.  I'm done with that.  Too much work.  My next sale will be for everything I have and done by one of the auction houses.  I'm pretty impressed with the way the Cabin Fever auctions are run, and I'm leaving instructions for my survivors to contact them when I meet my demise.

As usual Arnold, a very thought producing question. Thank you.

With my time limited between family and work with o.t.? I find it difficult to sell on my own. So recently i dropped off a pallet of stuff to cabin fever auctions. They claim to have a 6 month backlog but may fill in auctions with some of my items sooner. Auctions seem to be doing well these days.

Not sure how many of you are on Facebook, but they have various marketplaces that can sell on. There is also a Lionel collectors group that people sell on too. There is probably a group for everything.

You can sell and meet in a public place or through the mail.

Train shows and flea markets might be a good outlet too depending on how much you have to sell.

EBay is no fun anymore but you can still reach the largest audience.

Of course, shipping costs are another topic.

The trash barrel gets some these days

I have bought and sold a lot of trains over the last 20 years as I moved from post-war Lionel > modern traditional (mostly MTH Railking) > semi-scale > scale 3R.  As I rightsized my collection about 3 years ago, I sold all the extra stuff before Covid.

When I first started selling stuff, I sold a lot on e-bay and a decent amount here on the For Sale sub forum.

For the average Joe, I think shipping has gotten prohibitively expensive.  When I had my last selling binge, 3 years ago, I ended up selling a bunch of stuff on Craigslist and a couple of the local phone Apps.  I actually preferred selling this way as I no longer had to pack stuff for shipping and pay shipping costs.  The other benefit was that buyers could see the products.  These days I think I would still sell locally, if possible, probably adding Facebook Marketplace to the mix.

On the other hand, as a buyer, I'm looking forward to this October's York.  It's fun to walk around and try to fill a few small holes in my collection.

Jim

@Sean007 posted:

Not sure how many of you are on Facebook, but they have various marketplaces that can sell on. There is also a Lionel collectors group that people sell on too. There is probably a group for everything.

Of course, shipping costs are another topic.

Sean, I have bought and sold on the FaceBook MTH Buy, Sell, Trade group with good success.  I know a number of people on there and know pretty much who to deal with.  One of the admins lives not far from me, and they do a good job of handling guys who cause trouble for honest buyers and sellers.  In fact, I just purchased a great looking Premier caboose for a young modeler with great credentials.  Also, there is a nice group of Admins from a number of O gauge FB groups who have their own group to pass along word on bad apples, then each group decides how to approach trouble makers.  I am on that since I am an Admin on Harry Henning's O Gauge Tips and Tricks Group, which BTW doesn't allow selling.

@jd-train posted:

For the average Joe, I think shipping has gotten prohibitively expensive.  When I had my last selling binge, 3 years ago, I ended up selling a bunch of stuff on Craigslist and a couple of the local phone Apps.  I actually preferred selling this way as I no longer had to pack stuff for shipping and pay shipping costs.  The other benefit was that buyers could see the products.  These days I think I would still sell locally, if possible, probably adding Facebook Marketplace to the mix.

Jim

Sean and Jim, yes shipping can be an issue these days.  When selling an engine, I have started running pricing scenarios with USPS, UPS, and FedEx this last year.  Craigslist hasn't been as beneficial here, away from a metropolitan area as it could be if you are in a larger metropolitan area.  Still, there are buyers out there, and I have tried it.  I may be trying it more in the future.

Like a lot of folks, I'm done selling on ebay.  I'd rather take less money than deal with it.  Craigslist has been a waste of time.  In my area, it seems like Craigslist is for bottom feeders who are looking for free ____.  I'm not on Facebook or I'd try Marketplace.  I was going to set up an idle FB account but if you try that, they throttle your account and you don't get access to Marketplace.  So OGR it is!

I sold some stuff here on OGR last fall.  I was happy with the results.  For me it's about getting rid of stuff.  I don't expect profit.  Just like most things in life, if you make money on the sale, it's because you bought it cheap!  I mostly determine sale price by checking the sold listings on eBay and then knock off a few bucks.  Sometimes I just know what things go for.

The mail was a disaster last year so I didn't use them.  The UPS Stores near me are a rip-off (UPS Stores are franchises).  FedEx has been my go-to shipper.  Since their stores are all owned by FedEx, their online shipping calculator is accurate to the penny.  In my OGR listings, I ask folks to send me their zip code.  I can quote the shipping to the buyer and be accurate.

It does seem like a strong market right now.  This fall (train season) I'm going to sell off a bunch of modern Standard Gauge.  That's going to be a bear to ship (840 Power Station! ).

I’m going to try a local train show. People will certainly get excellent items at a ridiculously low price. I just don’t need all this stuff laying around any longer.

Mike, thank you.  Now I know why the UPS store gave me different prices than the online calculator.  It was still better than USPS on sending a steam engine.  I’ll use FedEx next time!  I’m not looking for a profit either.  I figure I enjoyed it, and then I can send it to another forum member to enjoy.

I’ve sold on the Bay, here on OGR and at train shows. I’ve learned to be pessimistic about what I get for my stuff. I mark down my used stuff to move it: I KNOW I’m going to take a beating when I sell stuff.  Still, it seems that people think that I’m selling crap, even when I try to be as honest as I know how.

I have learned to hate the packing and shipping. The (censored) at the Bay’s web site make me list shipping costs at far less than it actually costs to pack and ship cars and locomotives cross-country.  I end up losing more money there, too.  I resent the xxxx out of that.

shipping is also a trial, even when I don’t use the Bay. I am convinced that whoever designs shipping size algorithms design them with malice aforthought.

some people might suggest that I ought to try train show flea markets.  Those same naifs should try selling their stuff where I live. I live in Texas, I am backdating my rolling stock from the late 50’s and the 1960’s to the 1930’s and early 1940’s and, since I have an interest in New England stuff, most of what I have gathers dust.

I did do surprisingly well at the 2021 National O scale convention. I bought a table at the last minute (which set me back far less than p&h for the stuff I sell through ads) and was surprised and pleased at how much stuff I sold, even though most of it was three-rail and not two.

it is tempting, so very tempting, when I get ready to get rid of stuff, to scribe and sandpaper the car and locomotive sides to destroy the collectibility value before giving the trains to charity or putting it in the trash.

Mister Lee, I'm puzzled -why in the name of all that is good would you intentionally damage a car that you would give to charity? Putting a good train in the trash is a whole nother question.

Paul - what am I missing - Licata

The Strasburg  PA 0 scale train show  at the Strasburg fire house in three weeks (08/07) has always been a good place to move 0 scale buildings and trains that can be converted to two rail.  

@Mister_Lee posted:

it is tempting, so very tempting, when I get ready to get rid of stuff, to scribe and sandpaper the car and locomotive sides to destroy the collectibility value before giving the trains to charity or putting it in the trash.

Please explain, on the surface this does not make any sense???

Mr. Lee is making a funny.