As some of you will recall, I recently posted a topic entitled - From N to HO. In the topic I explained that my eyesight has gotten bad in the last few years and I’m no longer able to work with the small details of N scale, and that I was considering selling all of my N scale stock and moving up to HO. Well, that day has arrived…
I have a buyer for the layout that has offered me a fair price, but I’m thinking of selling all of my locos and rolling stock on ebay. I have about twenty locos in both steam and diesel that range in makers from Kato, Atlas, Model Power to the high end Life Likes. I also have over one hundred pieces of rolling stock that range in makers from Atlas, MDC Roundhouse, Walthers, Con-Cor, Microtrains, etc. Most everything I have is in like new condition, and I have the original boxes for at least 90% that are also in like new condition.
Half of the stuff is modern era, and the other half is from the steam era.
My question is, by what you see here, do you think I should sale each piece individually or should I sale the whole collection as a lot, and how much do you think I might get for it all ?.
Individually. More people will find a certain piece they want and buy that instead of paying lots of money for all kinds of stuff they might not even want. Although you might want to divide the rolling stock into lots of 5-10.
Do you want your money quickly, over the long stretch, or somewhere in between?
As mentioned above you can sell your trains in batches instead of individually. Since you have a mixture of manufacturers, for example, put one or two quality locomotives with a group of 10 to 15 quality cars. Consider these your “higher end” trains and ask for a higher starting bid.
For your middle of the road equipment, do the same with locos and cars.
I monitor Ebay everyday, and quite a few batches or lots can be found regularly.
You could always group together Railroads. Say you have 5 CN box cars, put them on Ebay as a group. Personally I would sell the higher end stuff by themselves and the lower end stuff as a package. I hope you get what you think they are worth.
It really will have to be a combination. In theory, individual sales would bring a higher return. However, keeping track will be difficult, and people are less likely to bid on a single car versus a collection.
Batches of cars / locos all sharing 1 or more trait (i.e.railroad, brand/quality, era, etc) will yield more bids, but the starting price might have to be proportionatly lower.
What i’m saying is that a combination of the two will be best, such as selling the real stand-outs individually and the more “run of the mill” items in groups.
I highly disrecommend selling them all together. With the equipment you desrcibed, your starting price will be the type that a person really sleps over before bidding, which will consequently lead to fewer bids.
You need to sell them individualy. You will get more money for them as sold individualy. What I hear about your locomotives you should bring quite the amount of money in. I think it’s great your moving to HO. You can get much more detail on the models.
Hope you have lots of time on your hands selling each item individually, I helped a fellow dispose of H O “stuff” on ebay , what a job ! ! we never stopped for 2 weeks and busy and running to the PO and phoning and e maililing and contacting messengers, and wrapping and boxing stuff, it’s a full time job and really wasn’t worth the hassle( some things sold for $1.00)
Do both. List the high end and rare things individually, you might even list all the rolling stock individually. Group the track into bundles, left switches, right switches, and straight. After one or two listing periods start grouping what is left into large bundles to attract the bargain hunters like me that like the challenge of turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Anything you can’t sell in a month you can mail to me. I will even pay the postage. Good luck on the change. I am still resisting my deteriorating eyes.
Sell individually to start. (like a hobby shop) You’l get to a point where your stuck with the stuff nobody wants. Then do that as a “lot” sale on Ebay or something. You should get more money that way.
yes Dave that is what I would do like you have 2 UP locos you sell them along with other Up stuff. TL-I am sorry to see you go to Ho but I hope you enjoy it[V][8D] Tim
Thanks trainfreek92, but it’s not because I really want to, but because I have to. A hobby is no fun when a person can no longer see what they’re doing…
Too, best of all worlds might be breaking it up into 4 or 5 batches and selling it that way. Still batch selling, but any losses spread over 4 sets, rather than eating a big loss on one batch.
Set aside the better stuff and try ebay or consignment at a LHS. Rest in 4-6 batches.