I was just wondering how many of you are JUNKIES on eBay. I myself just got into it, making my firt purchase last week (A pair of 022 switches).
Grayson,
It is very addictive, just ask my check book.[:D] I always look on ebay 4-5 times daily. I still like swap meets better though.
I look alot more than I buy, but I will admit to having to really practice self-restraint and think about long term financial goals when I am on ebay. I don’t have room for a layout right now. I rent an apartment with 4 other guys, my expenses are low and I am recently out of college and work full-time so I am relishing the new-found financial freedom. I am a bit on the cheap side but man I droll over alot of stuff on that site. I will admit to purchasing some really nice MPC era Canadian National Lionel Alco FA’s but that is all.
I like the meets better too, but I’ve done Ok on the bay. nothing rare, just some nice projects and parts.
Yeah…it is addictive. There is no doubt about it. I am guilty myself. I prefer eBay over a swap meet anyday. The swap meets from N to S and E to W by me have nothing and I truly mean nothing but unboxed operator’s junk. I can’t stand it anymore and generally found that the collector qaulity stuff is on eBay.
I usually bid on items from AmbroseBauer trains. Collector quality stuff. There is also some great stuff from private sellers as well.
Some of these guys at the shows are just idiots too…nothing like the privacy of your own home.
Guilty!!
Everyday 30 minutes or so to go through all my saved searches!
If it wasn’t for eBay, the research on my book would not have been possible. My father and I purchased LOTS of the uncataloged sets (promotional outfits) that appear in our book (Authoritative Guide to Lionel’s Promotional Outfits 1960 - 1969) on eBay. It’s pretty cool because most of them came out of houses and were never “messed” with. Awesome for research.
I actually weened myself off it for a couple of months after the book came out, but like any addiction, I succumed and am back…help!
John Schmid
Author - Authoritative Guide to Lionel’s Promotional Outfits 1960 - 1969
I confess! The only piece of advice I can offer is to be aware of what items are worth or cost new. Do homework before you bid as the prices can exceed what new items can be bought from the manufacturer or vendors. I’ve never seen an online seller offer a warranty though one did send a replacement scale once.
Don’t expect a bargain and figure in the shipping and “handling” cost that are often unclear.
Neil
Why oh why are so many people on eBay paying WAY over list price, PLUS shipping for new Fastrack?
Rob
Perhaps the high prices for fastrak on ebay are an indication that there are many novices using fastrak and going to ebay to pick up a few more pieces. Obviously they do not read the adds in CTT. All in all a good sign for the hobby (lots of new folks) but not necessarily for CTT and OGR (they are not reaching these new folks).
Jim H
Rob,
The good news is that you know it’s overpriced.
Kurt
I’ve been a member for 8 years and only have 20 transactions on eBay. But I do have several searches for certain items bookmarked. Although I thought my toy train wish list had run out, A fellow named Jim Trumpie started posting his eBay 2500 series passenger cars on this forum, and got me wanting a set. So I have each car’s search, along with a search of 2344s bookmarked.
Ebay is nice in that almost anything Lionel you desire can usually be found there. Not so with local meets. And I also think that eBay is responsible to some extent for price stabilization of post war merchandise. That’s a great thing in my book.
Count me in. It is a good source for seeing what trains are available and gives an idea of what is ‘hot’ and what is ‘not’.
I wouldn’t say I’m a junkie but I look every now and then. I have gotten good deals (736 berk for 140 bucks) and burnt. Now I just look for parts or junkers that I’m going to use in projects that don’t have to look good or run. But there are alot of things that go way overpriced and everything is “RARE” eventhou at meets every table has one or two of those “RARE” items on them. So my advise is Buyer beware and don’t get your expectations up on your purchase. I defenitly like swap meets or shows way better. I like to have the hands on feeling. You can examin the merchandise better.
Toss me into the “junkie” pile. I spend about 1.5 hours a day on the Bay, but try to be selective in what I buy. I have specific items needed to complete several collections I am working on, plus any high-rail SP items that catch my eye for my layout. Plus its a great education about the hobby and the people in it.
Since I am pretty much confined to my apartment due to physical problems, eBay takes the place of swap meets, shows and such that I seldom get to, maybe once a year or so, if that. A member since January 2005, I have bought about 100 items, and only 2-3 were “over priced” had-to-have items. I am very selective from whom I buy, with most of my bids going to Trainz.
Historically, even with eBay’s recent profit issues, it has been one of the ‘stickiest’ sites on the Web - meaning its visitors spent a long time there. I’ve been a member for five years or so and have only a few purchases. I enjoy browsing it though.
I’ve had over 700 transactions since 1999…only about 5 of them were toy train related. I shy away from products that are supposed to “work”. I tend to buy “vintage” items that are very hard to find elsewhere. Joe
Joe - I have a “rare”, “vintage” can of polka dot paint you might be interested in!
“Unboxed operator’s junk” sounds great to me!! I love looking through the boxes of junk at train shows and finding inexpensive items that I can fix up and bring back to life. I also purchase a fair amount of stuff on eBay and it’s fun to try and get a good deal, but nothing compares to a good box of junk.
One advantage of eBay is that you can quickly become educated on what items are available and the current prices, especially if you are into pre or postwar.
Guilty as charged…I enjoy eBay; maybe a little too much !! eBay offers me allot of opportunity to find the items I am looking for; at a price I am willing to pay…
I admit it… Im obsessed I looks a ton more then I buy though bought alot of nice Postwar rolling stock though.