GET HELP NOW!!! [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
I used to be a big ebay user.
Both of my Arkansas Hobby Shops have done a outstanding job this year and I havent touched Ebay (Yet)
It is also possible that I am moving towards construction type purchases instead of simple rolling stock purchases other than what has been on order forever and delayed forever.
When ebay was new I loved it I could get trains for less money than shipping charges those were the days. Now I look for deals and specific items like a couple of weeks ago I got some Monogram Exacts a 6 pack and 2 3-packs. for less than 3 cars by herpa of the same cars. Sometimes you get a raw deal like I got an American Locomotives Works SD40-2 still sitting in its box cause I heard they are junk.
I like to use eBay once in a while, but usually end up getting more than one thing once I start looking. Sometimes I can get really good deals on Accurail kits (like less than $10 including shipping) if nobody else is paying attention [:)]
here you are cuda ken but on eBay you are Wolfhounddaddy!!! wow…
Why do I buy on EBay? Last year I bought a Proto 2000 SD-9 from LHS for $99.95 then 2 weeks later the same loco was sold for $39.50 on EBay!! I could have gotten 2 on EBay for the price of one at the LHS. My budget makes me search for the best deals whereever I can find them.
I hear you loud and clear!!! My particular ebay poison is older brass locomotives,high line steam and diesel locomotives (Kato,Atlas, BLI/PCM),older out of production or hard to find (in my neck of the woods) . Unless the train car is priced ridiculously low or hard to find, it’s usually much cheaper to get it at the LHS due to exchange rates, import tariffs and shipping fee(s). Up here in the “Great White North” the availability and price of some of those “overpriced” items on ebay aren’t too bad compared to the local cost, if you can get it.
Now I know why I’m NOT going broke on eBay – you are the ones who keep outbidding me. [:D][;)]
I get lots of stuff on eBay. Books for my school, air-purifiers for work, parts for my car, and 19th century HO structures that are out of production. If I need something, I look on eBay first. I got a receiver for my work PA system–$20. Brand new DVD player for work–$24.
IT’s not just for trains anymore.
I closed my e bay account because it sit idle for months simply because of the .deals I can find on line…Sorry guys but, when a engine or car costs more then I can buy them for on line then thats no deal.
Also,several times I watch the bidding get completely of of control and go above full MSRP…[:0]
Don’t buy it then.
The way to get deals is to exercise self control and wait. I bid on about 20 stereos until I got the receiver I wanted at the price I wanted. Same goes for trains.
The best thing so far about it is that I save a lot on buying textbooks off eBay and not from bookstores… eg a ACCT 209 book that sells for $70 USED at a bookstore, while on eBay only $15!
I learned that spending $500 on textbooks for 4 classes is not fun when you can spend $150 online (not only ebay).
Chip,As I said I WATCHED the bidding get completely of of control and go above full MSRP and no where did I state I even bid on the item…I think such bidding wars is foolishness at its best…
When I first started on E bay there was deals aplenty for all such as Atlas GP7s for $40.00,P2K locomotives could be had for a $22.00 bid…Then I saw the prices of “buy it now” and bids climb to where the prices went above the average STREET PRICE…That’s when I decided e-bay lost its appeal for me.
As I often stated one must know his prices if he/she bids on e-bay or they may end up paying more then what they can buy it from a on line shop.
I was…but now I limit myself to the only spend about $20 a month on the hobby…I just hit eBay 2 weeks ago for the first time in 3 months!
One thing I have learned, if you don’t know about it, don’t bid on it. First Proto 2000 E-6 cost me $62.00, luckly local seller so I picked up. At that time I thought all Proto 2000’s where DCC ready and cost $150.00 plus. Well as you folks know that is not ture. I was lucky the other bidder back down, my high bid was $100.00.
Turns out I could get the same engine from K-10 trains for $67.00, would not have been a Santa Fe War Bonnet but same running gear.
I guess it sort of on line gambing, hum maybe the Feds should get invoiled. NOT! 
Yes here I am Cuda Ken, E-Bay Wolfhound Daddy.
LOL, LOL, LOL. Thanks for all the replies. I only buy what’s needed. But still, what don’t I need. For instance. I bought a BNSF DASH 9 (Athearn) and powered for a grand total of $31.00. I just got it today. Works like an Athearn should. I guess the reason why the seller sold it for $20 bucks is because there was no road numbers. Ha Ha. I got the Microscale Decal set on the table that I bought off of Ebay 2 months ago for $1.50. So you see. I do plan out what I need and what I know I’m going to get in the future. If I would got the decals from my LHS, He would of had to order it and it would of been way more than $1.50. So, what I named the title is a little over the top, but I named it that to get your attention. I’m not going broke from Ebay. Bills yes, but Ebay, Pissssssssss I’m just getting started. I may have bought something from some people on here. Do the name “Lydellmarcus” ring anyone bells…?