Has anybody ever bought ‘used’ track off ebay for permanent use on your layout, and if so, what’s been your experience? I’m specifically interested in switches, but I’m worried about loose rails (not firmly attached to the ties), track out of gauge, and missing or broken ties. Alot of sellers don’t list these concerns, and only rarely can you see any defects in the pictures. I noticed while looking at some ‘new in box’ Atlas #6 switches from one seller, one of the switches clearly had tie and rail damage (the rails and throwbar were bent, and a few ties were broken on one end), and the plastic packaging looked like it had been crumpled or crushed at some point, yet he was selling them as ‘undamaged, new in box’. Ironically, he had gotten 0 bids the last time I looked.
What’s the general consensus on ‘used’ track? Am I better off buying all new track for my new layout?
Unless you can see it and hold it to check it over directly yourself buy new it might cost a little more but the headaches and hassles you save are a gold plated bargain in comparison!
Caveat emptor – I would never consider taking such a risk. In many cases, by the time you add in the shipping charges you’re paying as much as you would for new track, and are likely to have something you can’t use.
I myself have sold turnouts on ebay but I listed every thing that could have been wrong with them. I also had new turnouts that were still in the box. I did list the items at 5 or 6 dollars though, some people have different definitions for “new” as in I never ballasted the item I just set it on the plywood and ran a few trains over it. Anything on ebay is a crap shoot even those so caled ebay stores.
That’s kinda what I thought too. I didn’t know if I was the only skeptical person out there, or if maybe it was a gold mine waiting to be tapped. Thanks for the advice, New it is!
Provided you’re interested in HO scale only, for some of the best prices on track check Cherry Creek Hobbies in Torrington, Wyoming. That’s where I purchase all of my Peco track items. http://www.cchobbies.com
90% of the track I have on my layout I bought off of Ebay. It’s all NS Shinohara. The TURNOUTS - DOUBLE CROSSOVERS - DOUBLE SLIPS, work great. Only 1 Double Crossover had 2 loose ties on the end. The bigger turnouts #10 I had to order. I can say that 85% of it was used. Just ask questions and look closley.
Even the most honest seller may have a different appreciation of what is “slightly damaged” than I,so I only buy “new,never installed” track items,and even then there is a small risk.Maybe I’m lucky,I always received what I expected.
However,I may some time take a risk on a bundle of used items that may be of use but don’t raise too much hope on these.So far,I’ve always been outbid on these items.
jshrade,
If you want to risk track/switches on eBay look for seller with high number of sales and very high favorable ratings. Some of the model RR sellers do have feedback from purchasers of track/switches. I tend to favor the sellers who allow prospective buyers to view comments on all their transactions; this conveys that they have pride in their transactions and are open and transparent about same.
As noted by prior posters you are putting your money on the line for something sight unseen; so if you have any qualms it’s probably a purchase you shouldn’t make.
I’m not against buying used equipement, but I think most will agree that track work is the most important part of any layout for trouble free running. For myself, I wouldn’t think of buying used track, but thats just me. Ken
You might try picking up some used track at a train show you can sometimes find some real deals on used stuff and you can check it out before you buy…Cox 47
I have bought a ton of stuff off ebay!! Most of it locos and rolling stock. I have bought only a couple of used switches off ebay, why? I cant go wrong if they look good in the picture and I get them for 2 or 3 bucks a peice, but it’s always buyer beware if your buying from ebay most of the time you get a good deal and of course on occasion things aren’t what they seem. I have managed to buy some new in package atlas with switch machine for less than 10 bucks each!!!
Most of the track on my layout si/will be used, bought off eBay and other places. Perhaps such things are less critical in the larger scales, but well-cared for track is no less useful than new. It’s not different from buying used engines or power packs.
I have bought lots of track from Ebay…New and used. I wouldn’t have a problem with used, clean flextrack. I once paid over $200.00 for a bunch of it after grilling the seller about the condition. Worked out great and saved me a ton of money. Problem is that most used or new flextrack I see on Ebay is more expensive than what I can find new through the LHS or online dealers…
With turnouts, I almost always buy new stuff from ebay. My time to install and fine tune the trackwork is too precious to waste installing used turnouts that may fail immediately or more quickly than new stuff later on down the line. Also there are too many things that can be wrong with a turnout that are hard to see even with the turnout in your hands.
Buying only new turnouts on Ebay has worked very well for me. There are lots of deals out there as people unload extra stock. Over the years I have bought lots of nice, new turnouts very inexpensively…
I bought used track (switches) on e-bay, and I was happy with them.
Just make sure that the ‘price after all charges’ is still interesting enought even if you have to discard 1 or 2 out of them
If the difference is only a few dollars against new ones, the risk is higher than the potential profit…