Has anybody looked at that group in Facebook?
Is it just me or are most of the prices way out of whack? Old Athearn Blue Box rolling stock at $10 a pop (some not in good shape)? used two year old locos at above sticker price (still available from mfg).
Am I just way out of step with current prices?
I agree Mark. I follow it to some extent but the prices mostly seem high to outrageous. The big thing for me is the number of slime balls ripping people off in various ways. Some of the other FB sites I visit are replete with horror stories from that site.
Of course, most of the vendors are good above board fellow MRRs but there are too many stories for me to bite on that site.
I don’t know because I don’t generally look for used hobby stuff…it’s a thing I have. Probably my loss, too. But, I wonder if the current state over there, and everywhere if you count the scarcity suddenly of bicycles, guitars ?), motorcycles, heck you name the pastime materials, is setting the tone for pricing. If a quite a few people are suddenly heavily into nostalgia, which I believe they are in times of trouble and stress, and they’re buying emotionally, that will tend to cause inflation.
This is just a SWAG, but I can’t come up with a better answer.
I do not do Facebook, but I looked at it with my wife. She does Facebook.
I was not impressed.
-Kevin
There are quite a few of those groups on FB. I have used them for both selling stuff (and I do have more stuff I need to put on there) and buying them. Most of the stuff on there seems to be a fair price. Lately, I will admit I havven’t seen much I want to purchase.
For those of us who don’t have any way to get to a swap meet (even before COVID) that is about the only way to sell stuff if one isn’t an eBay seller.
Yes to both. The prices asked on those kind of model railroad exchange sites have always been far higher than what you could get on ebay.
You said it how I remember it. A 15 year old used loco would still have an asking price of original MSRP, as if these things are rare and appreciating items.
However, I don’t know if its the shut-in stimulus driven pandemic economy, or the fact that ebay selling changes have shut out some individual sellers, but prices on ebay have gone up too.
I don’t have a FB account but my wife uses it. Now and then she will show me listings of trains and most of the time I am unimpressed.
Stick with eBay. Even HOswap is a joke.
Rich
HO Yard sale is a holdover from Yahoo groups. Group rules were kinda backwards, so I didnt stay a long time. Other groups are better. You need to know who to deal with and who to avoid. I have noticed most expect bartering, so I barter most of time.
Not in my experience over the past 8 or 9 years. I’ve been using HOSwap to sell, and occasionally buy. Worked quite well so far.
Mostly from a sellers standpoint I’ve generally found HOswap to be a positive experience, but that was pre-pandemic. Seems that nowadays that good ol’ discount spirit is waning. Regards, Peter
It’s like a real yard sale – to be approached with knowledge and caution.
I am reminded that a buddy of mine (who works for Walthers) that attended one of the first “real live” train shows in our area, up in Green Bay WI, reported that someone was selling Walthers’ trucks that used to be Boley at above the prices that Walthers is currently charging - the items are still in stock, not discontinued rarities.
Caveat emptor is always good advice.
Dave Nelson
I have found HOSwap at IO Groups to be a pretty good place to buy and sell. I’ve found some good prices and some awful prices but that isn’t something you can blame on the site.The folks posting set the price and, as we all know, some folks think their stuff is priceless. Sure beats the hassles feebay is imposing on sellers now.
oldline1
I do Facebook but I don’t know the players selling, the prices do seem high.
Facebook does not show posts chronologically. You can see a post, click on some other link in facebook the hit the back arrow in your browser and the post of interest is no where to be found. It could even be your own post and it cannot be found for days.
A way I use to solve that problem is this: If there is something I have an interest in, save it. Click on the three dots on the upper right and it will give you the option. That way you have it for as long as you need it and as long as it stays posted.
Sorry you found the swap site awful. I’ve had pretty good luck buying N&W cars. Many that I get are quite cheap and well-maintained. You def need to know fair-market value prices and be specific about what purchasing. For instance, I tell folks that I’m looking for X,Y,Z.
HOswap on io.groups is OK, though prices have risen lately. It’s not a good place to look for the more recent high-quality kits, or structure kits from smaller makers. There is their 'WLW," Wish List Wednesday, where you can post a request for whatever model railroad item you’re seeking. Some of the sellers seem willing to negotiate prices if you’re buying multiple items.
I’m in Canada and close to the US border. I used to take advantage of the Facebook sales groups in both countries. Now, with the border closed to me, I only look at the Canadian ones. The prices here have really gone up since the pandemic. Model Railroading is a popular hobby now!
As for eBay, their shipping prices to Canada are way out to lunch. So, I’m not buying much these days. There are no train shows either! There is one local guy selling the occaisional item. I just bought an older Proto 2000 FA1 and FB1 both powered for $100 CAD. That’s about $80 in US dollars. That’s what I call a decenet used price for older equipment. I see the same kind of thing going for much more normally on any of the sale groups.
The pandemic has caused a lot of prices to rise here in Canada. For instance, a piece of Atlas flex is about $9… that’s $7.50 USD.
It’s like anything else. Pay attention.
I’ve gotten some real bargains, and there are several sellers I know I can trust. Just be patient.
I’ve had okay luck with some of the Facebook groups and hoswap on groups.io. I stopped using HO Yard Sale years ago and don’t miss it. I’m getting tired of feeBay though do appreciate the buyer protections in place that are non-existant on Facebook or groups.io. Unless you know how to pay properly, I.E PayPal, and not friends or family, or a credit card which can allow you to dispute charges. It is nice to avoid fees but in my experience I’ve gotten better prices for items I sell and actually move the items more efficiently using the certain auction site. Although one time I’d listed things on eBay and those weren’t touched, but I’d list on a group, for what I listed on the high fees site, and I moved right away. I’m waiting on a brass model from a guy in one Facebook group, so I’m hoping that will be a positive experience. I don’t sell models often and do not want too, but did have me thinking that what I like from sellers should be what I try to emulate. And that is, good photos, today’s cell phone pics are fine if you use plenty of light and show things close up without being blurry. Practice it. Also offer descriptions with plenty of detail, but again photos can show a lot. Does it have an original box? Any desirable after-market modifications, like better couplers and wheels? Something some people would scoff at as those aren’t original, but others would swap out anyway. Weathered? How so? Also catalog number, and road number.
Alvie