|
Post by ptc2 on Apr 26, 2023 16:54:14 GMT
Hardly a day does not go by that I am not on eBay. Not so much to buy, but to see what the market is doing for products of interest to me. By going through this exercise, I have gained a tremendous knowledge of current values. When I want to bid on an item, I go into the bid process very informed. For me, this is a wonderful resource as when it comes to make a purchase, I am very informed in terms of what my limit is.
How about you? Do you use eBay for referencing?
|
|
|
Post by phil55 on Apr 26, 2023 17:57:08 GMT
I do. It's a good way to see what an item you're selling is worth as well as seeing what an item you're interested in buying might be worth.
|
|
|
Post by atsda on Apr 26, 2023 20:17:15 GMT
Yes, I do use eBay as a reference for getting an idea of prices. I have not purchased through eBay for over 15 years. When I can, I do in-person shopping and check on eBay to get a view of availability and prices. I also look at independent web vendors. Alfred
|
|
|
Post by curtis on Apr 26, 2023 20:24:38 GMT
I have occasionally looked and actually purchased a MTH Turbine from EBay for my boss. I personally am not an EBay fan.
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Apr 26, 2023 20:54:17 GMT
I agree Brian, ebay is a great way to see how prices are looking and, occasionally, I even buy something. Got a new Brooklin Model on the way and will share photos when it arrives.
|
|
|
Post by firewood on Apr 26, 2023 23:16:02 GMT
I am merely an Ebay window-shopper, but yes - I and others I know use it for reference. When catalogs have artwork and not actual item photos, Ebay is a good reference. For values I’m unsure - their fee on top of fee structure inflates the asks so much. I would guess around 50% of Ebay value might be a fair guess.😉
Dave
|
|
|
Post by rtraincollector on Apr 26, 2023 23:35:03 GMT
I like looking also, but have to wonder what some people are taking. Like a 103 bridge. ( ramp-bridge-ramp) most I have seen sell, is about $50 +/- there is this one hopeful out there, been relisting it for about 3 months now for $300.00 Sometimes I try to help these out most time I just go they will sooner or later figure out how wrong they are, or find a real sucker. 442 Diner is another but there is more than one in that group.
But as a whole you can get an idea of what the market will bare. Sometimes I find a good deal, like the 402, 418, 419, & 490 plus a bunch of track for about what the 402 should of sold for. Yes they need repainting, but once done I've seen them listed for anywhere from double what I paid to triple what I paid ( notice I said listed not sold ) actually sell, probably close but not quite double if I would want to sell. ( which I don't) So right now I have both versions of the cars and two of the versions of the engine, with two of them being the first version of the engine.
|
|
|
Post by Country Joe on Apr 26, 2023 23:35:57 GMT
I rarely go on eBay. When I do I’m shocked by the prices.
I have neither bought nor sold on eBay in many years. It could go the way of the dinosaur and I wouldn’t care.
|
|
|
Post by harborbelt70 on Apr 27, 2023 12:23:13 GMT
For years I have not got anything from eBay except the occasional detailing part - most recently plastic bags of scale "ice" blocks to put in a couple of reefers I have. However, in the past I set up standing searches when I was looking for something I could not source from any hobby shop and with some patience this has worked. The most conspicuous examples are a couple of B unit diesel components - an MTH Premier body shell and a Lionel powered unit that I needed to complete a treasured Santa Fe A-B-B-A set.
If I am looking for something I generally review/compare prices but these can be all over the place from obvious overpricing/greed to something more like the original catalog price - bargains in the model train sphere don't happen in online sales! I can't get worked up about this because I am not a collector. I have found things that have some nostalgia value for me that I simply would not have found elsewhere and in that respect I accept that eBay works.
|
|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Apr 27, 2023 13:45:03 GMT
I rarely go on eBay. When I do I’m shocked by the prices. ... I always get a kick out of eBay prices. And 9 times out of 10... when I see prices in the stratosphere, I don't need more than one or two guesses wondering who the seller is. Those clowns are so predictable.
|
|
|
Post by Sir James on Apr 27, 2023 13:52:39 GMT
I used to browse and buy, but prices are so silly I rarely bother. From what others have said, being a seller there is risky and expensive.
|
|
|
Post by ptc2 on Apr 27, 2023 21:54:16 GMT
E-bay is a wonderful resource for me. Yes, I occasionally buy when I discover an outstanding item that I can use on the layout. But having knowledge of what is available and at what price is outstanding.
No other place provides me with such valuable information.
|
|
|
Post by RickyTanner on Apr 27, 2023 22:05:50 GMT
I still buy on eBay when I have time to carefully go through 160,000 Lionel listings. I usually narrow that down to a few thousand listings to view. There are still some good deals to be had from time to time. There are a lot of crooks passing off reproduction pieces as original. I no longer sell on eBay much due to the high fees and shipping hassles.
|
|
|
Post by ptc2 on Apr 27, 2023 22:20:45 GMT
You can quickly weed out the bums.
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Apr 27, 2023 22:52:46 GMT
|
|