More eBay Humor - HO Scale

GP30 Jan 3, 2013

  1. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    If you mean selling by ebay - yes, they will send you an email notification at the end of the auction.
     
  2. LegomanBill

    LegomanBill TrainBoard Member

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    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 14, 2014
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  4. LegomanBill

    LegomanBill TrainBoard Member

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    True, the price is pretty reasonable, considering some of the items you are getting.
     
  5. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    Except, right below that, "Reserve not met".
    $23.70 shipping.
    "There are 4 engines. 12 pieces plus a tech ii controller" Twelve pieces of what?
    Not one photo shows ends...are there any couplers at all?
    NO handrails or stanchions....most of that stuff is pretty much unobtainium.
    "Im selling everything as is because I have not tried to run it."
    Good CYA statement. Nothing works, smoke pours out, but if I say I haven't tried, some moron will actually pay me for this carp.
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Seems to be the mantra of too many who use that site these days.
     
  7. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm going to put a bid on that
    First of all, what do you mean 12 pieces of what? He said 12 Pieces and a Tech 2 and then shows 12 pictures each a different item. Pretty straight forward.

    Secondly, No, none of that is lionel. But all of it is either Athearn, MDC/Roundhouse or Walthers. 3 SD40-2s and a GP50? GP60? Not sure on that, because the dynamics are messed up. All of them have been weathered, based on the trucks, all of them are powered They are beat up and missing parts, but I would be glad to have any of them at the right price.

    The cars are all shake the box, but with the exception of the tank car, they're interesting to me. Again, all weathered. perhaps inexpertly, but weathered still.

    Given the weight of those 4 engines, the Shipping cost is reasonable.


    If you were at a swap meet or train show dealing with an individual unloading his collection. I would expect each of those engines to be between $10 and $15 in that condition aka may not run. A more "professional" seller would probably charge $20. New Old stock for any of those is going to be between $35 and $50. So lets call it $15. That's $60. The Box cars, Tank car and caboose are going to run you between $5 and $7. Lets say 5 to make it easy. The Bulkhead flat and Coal gon are going to be $10 and that Autorack is $15 minimum.

    So add that up. You've got $60 in engines. $25 in cheaper shake the box. $35 in nicer cars. and then a Tech II which I have no idea how to value. Let's say $10. So you're looking at $130 at a train show for that. Maybe less if you're a good haggler.

    So, I'd say, depending on what his reserve is, That could be a stellar deal. I actually think I'll put a max bid of $25 on it and see where it goes. Working on those engines is easy peasy. Most of the cars are of interest to me and $130 in value for $50 ain't bad.

    The fact that he mislabeled it as Lionel works to my advantage.


    Also, handrails and stanchions for Athearn Blue Box diesels are unobtanium? What universe are you living in? Those are these easiest thing in the model railroading world to obtain. Most hobby shops that have existed for any length of time have boxes of them to say nothing of after market detail parts.


    Also also, Lionel does or did make HO stuff. Mostly imported from the usual cheap suspects. None of that is lionel, but HO Lionel does exist.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 14, 2014
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Really an unnecessary comment.

    So?

    Specifically, WHAT MAKER for each? That does make a BIG difference. Please put your expertise to good use, and tell us.

    We know that. I even had some as a boy, long before you were born. The humor is such a wild swing at it, applying that name in order to sell.
     
  9. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah, I edited my post before you responded. It was inappropriate and I apologize.

    If that's why he stated Lionel, then the seller is not very smart, because he'd get better money by stating that it's Athearn MDC and Walthers. The posted items are actually of value as LegomanBill and I said.

    I just assumed he didn't know and thought they were lionel.

    I agree it would be nice if he stated, but anybody dealing in this kind of thing knows by the photos who made each of those items. Or they should. It's pretty clear. Tons of each of those were made over the years. So, it's more funny to me, because he's going to get less than he could have.

    My main gripe was with the notion that what was in the auction was junk. It most assuredly is not.
     
  10. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, his reserve is above $22.75 which was what it got bid up to when I put in $25 as max. His loss.
     
  11. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm admittedly out of sync with the on going discussion here. What I'm picking up on is: There are many sellers that have no idea what they are selling. I've noted that more then once on E-Pay. Many times way over priced and at other times marked very competitively. It's all about buyers and what they will pay for a specific item. And yeah, they do raise the price when it doesn't sell the first time out and I'll be dammed if it doesn't sell when re-listed. What?
     
  12. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    I really want to know what his reserve is. As I said, I could see that whole lot going for over $100 easily at a train show. Even in non-working condition.

    It's a really interesting auction honestly. Despite being mislabeled.
     
  13. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    Odd. You mixed me in with someone else. I asked twelve pieces of what...when he says four locos.
    "There are 4 engines. 12 pieces plus a tech ii controller."
    Whatever else is with this batch must be worth a lot of money. I can't see a description or photo of anything but badly abused locos with cabs awry and missing all the handrails.
    What I really want to know is what kind of a train show would bring a hundred bucks for these four locos in the condition shown?
    I see them for five bucks apiece, not tested, no guarantee to run, dirty, missing all the add on bits.
    Dave
     
  14. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    Ah...I may have figured it out. Before he laid the shells and cabs back on the chassis, there were probably 12 pieces.....
     
  15. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you can find a trainshow where narrow hood Athearn powered commands that little, then you are in a much more accommodating area than I. Someone who is just trying to unload at all costs might sell for $5. but anyone else? Not so much.

    I would buy those for parts for $10 a piece and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the cars.

    Looking at the engines. I see a few missing bits off one of the shells. He cut off the part that holds the shell on which is dumb, because that's a piece of body that should be there, but is minor. The cabs and dynamics are misaligned, but look to be in good shape. Everything is whethered. Not well, but weathered and nothing looks too deformed. Again, the metal handrails are all missing, but that's not a big deal.

    There's some gaffers tape or something on a couple of the frames. Not sure what that's about. Probably just a poor attempt at strengthening the engine mount or something. It's removable.

    Again, I think you would not see that entire set for less than what I stated. Those Athearn locos are not the wide body rubber band drive 70s stuff. That's flat can motor with fly wheels and prototype width on all of it. If nothing else it's all solid kitbash fodder.

    I would not pay over $100 online, because I can't physically handle it before paying, but I believe my guesses at Train show pricing to be accurate and if I were able to examine them in person and met some basic satisfaction. (all truck components there. Motors there even if non-functional. no damage I cannot see.) I would buy the lot. And I'd probably be willing to get up near $100 to do it.

    In particular I stand by my pricing for those cars. It is spot on in my opinion. Those Walters Autoracks are big models. It is near impossible to find an Athearn loco in any condition for less than $10 and powered? I truly think it could be a solid deal....depending on his reserve.

    I took his description to be 4 locos 12 pieces in total. So the 4 locos are part of the 12 total. There are 4 locos and 8 cars there.
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    No. I was replying to (Yoho) John.
     
  17. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    To be clear. The 4 locos are all Athearn narrow hood blue box with flat cans and fly wheels. No older than the early 80s. The GP in particular is from at least the late 80s as that's when that model was introduced. More likely the 90s. The box cars I believe are all Athearn Blue box, but the ATSF might be MDC. Again, likely from the 80s or 90s. The Auto Rack is a Walthers. Likely the kit version from the 90s possibly the RTR version. The Bulkhead flat is for sure an MDC and they go for no less than $10 at any train show. They are relatively rare. The Caboose and Tank car I believe to also be BB. Nothing special about them, but again, they are BB.
     
  18. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    I raised my max bid to $30 and the reserve has still not been met. I HATE people who use reserve pricing. Set your minimum bid to your reserve price so we all know.

    That's a perfect collection to start at $0.99 and see where it goes. It's got value to the right person.
     
  19. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Have at it, I generally stay far away from locomotives in that condition. Just never know what you are going to end up with, might have taped a motor in there that doesn't fit because its junk.... or no motor at all. Might do $50 max just to part out and flip for a few extra bucks, but I don't have the time to deal with it with a workbench full of unbuilt kits as it is.

    Looks like how I "modeled" when I was 12. Sure am glad I got past that... yeeeesshhh!
     
  20. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Eh, fixing up BB kits is easy peasy and I can always use more SD40-2s.

    Pull the gears and run em as dummies if nothing else.
     

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