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Post by david1 on Dec 20, 2023 1:31:35 GMT
My nephew gave me a $100.00 Christmas present to buy some train cars that according to some that Trains are way too expensive including my nephew.
Now I do agree that new trains are very expensive and not everyone can afford those trains. But when my nephew told me when he looked for a new freight car he could not believe the prices. So he decided just to give me a gift card.
Well I have been looking for some two bay hoppers and beings I'm an pusher of the secondary market I'm here to say I think I did great.
A dealer I look for at York and online who has a immense variety of used trains and at reasonable prices I thought I would take a look at his online store and I found some items I have been looking for.
I found 4 scale two bay covered hoppers for a grand total of $91.00 all in like new condition and with boxes. All made between the late 90's and 2004.
If you are looking for reasonable priced items they are out there, you just have to look. At almost every York I can find items I want and at prices that I would like to pay.
Dave
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Post by firewood on Dec 20, 2023 2:24:35 GMT
My nephew gave me a $100.00 Christmas present to buy some train cars that according to some that Trains are way too expensive including my nephew. Now I do agree that new trains are very expensive and not everyone can afford those trains. But when my nephew told me when he looked for a new freight car he could not believe the prices. So he decided just to give me a gift card. Well I have been looking for some two bay hoppers and beings I'm an pusher of the secondary market I'm here to say I think I did great. A dealer I look for at York and online who has a immense variety of used trains and at reasonable prices I thought I would take a look at his online store and I found some items I have been looking for. I found 4 scale two bay covered hoppers for a grand total of $91.00 all in like new condition and with boxes. All made between the late 90's and 2004. If you are looking for reasonable priced items they are out there, you just have to look. At almost every York I can find items I want and at prices that I would like to pay. Dave I couldn't agree more, Dave. Last year I had a couple of relatives give me a gift card that went towards a new piece of rolling stock. I say "went towards" because not being train-type folks they couldn't believe the prices either. Of course I was very appreciative, but I'm firmly in the secondary market these days. Since I'm a conventional operation guy and getting more "tinplatish" as I age, it's probably a good idea.  Dave
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Post by Adam on Dec 20, 2023 12:35:55 GMT
For most items I also look for used. It just makes sense. My latest engine is a used PS2 Pennsylvania Decapod and it is fantastic. Works great and the price was right.
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Post by rtraincollector on Dec 20, 2023 13:13:41 GMT
I haven't bought anything new in at least 10 years. When I say new I mean new from a dealer at there retail price. I use the secondary market also. I just bought a like new ( it has minor signs of use) a reproduction Lionel standard Gauge train set made by MTH but with Lionel badging and packaging. I saved about $300 off of what it is selling for new in box, even though it was made around 1990.
I have the wood load for the flat car just didn't pull it out of the box.
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Post by josef on Dec 20, 2023 13:47:58 GMT
2nd market is were I go to also if I'm interested in needing to add something to my layout. So far been more lucky in something working and not broken compared to purchasing something new.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Dec 20, 2023 15:01:16 GMT
Yeah, I'll join the chorus.
First, as a Marx enthusiast, for me there *is* no such thing anymore as a *new* Marx train or accessory, so perforce any Marx item I add will have been a "secondary market" item -- if anyone is creating new Marx-compatible rolling stock, it has escaped my attention!
Second, one of my enduring enthusiasms has been to rescue "broken" toys -- restoring function, upgrading operation and customizing to suit my needs or desires. Something in me rebels against hacking away at brand new stuff, so focusing on used and/or broken stuff fills the bill without triggering the apprehension (and sticker shock!) that operating on brand new stuff might trigger! This includes the recent wave of "FrankenMarx" creativity being discussed and imaged on a Marx entusiast listserv (basically, taking Marx, Lionel and other more esoteric components and modifying them to create something entirely new and unique).
And finally, there is the pure economy and certainty of buying a well-known and vetted item, over the exorbitant costs and vast quality uncertainty of buying pre-order or sight-unseen new items. Oh, sure, you have to make sure the vendor and marketplace have a good reputation, and you need to ask questions, but there are pretty solid ways of doing so that by and large are as effective as those for new stuff, without the massive financial investment and risk.
So, yes, used stuff for me, too, at least for the rolling stock and most accessories -- while I sometimes dabble in making some of my own materials, most of the landscaping stuff I just buy new.
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Post by healey36 on Dec 20, 2023 15:31:04 GMT
That's a really nice set, rt. It would look great circling the Christmas tree.
I'm a big fan of the secondary market, especially for MTH product, as I've had so many problems with new stuff arriving dead-in-the-box. So now I try to find stuff that's done a few laps so that I know it has at least run. I stopped buying any of the Tinplate stuff with Protosound 1/2/3, going only with the traditional open frame motor. Even then, I've had issues. The last new MTH/Lionel Corp. set I bought was three years ago, a Flying Yankee in red, and thankfully that ran out of the box.
Until I get the mountainous project pile whittled down, I can't even think about buying new stuff.
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Post by rtraincollector on Dec 20, 2023 16:09:21 GMT
That's a really nice set, rt. It would look great circling the Christmas tree.
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Post by rtraincollector on Dec 21, 2023 12:00:08 GMT
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Post by healey36 on Dec 21, 2023 15:05:23 GMT
Fabulous!
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Post by ron045 on Dec 22, 2023 14:22:18 GMT
Since my newest passion is to make custom equipment with a scale like feel, I really love the secondary market. It's a lot easier to take an old used train car and dip it in alcohol to prepare for a new paint job than to take a brand-new car and destroy it. I typically always check Trainz first and always look for treasures at train shows. That is something I had to do recently do. I was looking for Atlas 33K tank cars on the secondary market and could not find any. But I did find these brand new NS First Responders cars at a very good price. I had to hold on to them for a while before I got the nerve to destroy this paint job. I even offered them up for a trade and did not get any takers. I purchased three of these...  And turned them into these...    |
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Post by david1 on Dec 22, 2023 16:44:04 GMT
Since my newest passion is to make custom equipment with a scale like feel, I really love the secondary market. It's a lot easier to take an old used train car and dip it in alcohol to prepare for a new paint job than to take a brand-new car and destroy it. I typically always check Trainz first and always look for treasures at train shows. That is something I had to do recently do. I was looking for Atlas 33K tank cars on the secondary market and could not find any. But I did find these brand new NS First Responders cars at a very good price. I had to hold on to them for a while before I got the nerve to destroy this paint job. I even offered them up for a trade and did not get any takers. I purchased three of these... And turned them into these... Nice job on the repaints, they look great and the weathering is excellent. Dave
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Post by josef on Dec 22, 2023 18:04:00 GMT
So far my wish list is short, very short. SF Freight colored (Blue, Yellow) F3 AA or AB and a Russian Decapod with dog house tender.
Finding also several engines I won't be running on layout so after Christmas may ask neighbor to EBay them so I can afford when I find my wants.
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