is it just me being weird?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

was at train show yesterday. several people were selling old athearn blue box. one guy had them at 12-20$ each. just the old blue box stuff… then right next to him, a guy was selling these neat yardmaster and blue print car for 8 and 11$ respectively… now im not knocking athearn cause i love the blue box, but isnt it just weird that something of superior qualty goes for less? is this a case of high demands vs low quantity? or are people really that desperate for the blue box?

i did get 2 athean passenger car for 3$ apiece and 2 old blue boc for 5$ ( need some repair work) but that guy with the 20$ blue box kinda made me wonder

2

Train show prices have always facinated me. I guess something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it of sell it for. Unless you are in business, I guess you don’t have to sell anything. I have found a few good deals and lots of laughs. I helped a friend sell her son’s estate trains at a train show and was amused at the variety of attitudes over her stuff.

3

Something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. The swap meet I was at yesterday had Red Caboose and Yardmasters for $4. I wanted to buy them all, just no cash!!! My only problem with the latter two brands is that sometimes they mold the plastic in the base color and just paint on the lettering. I just looks umm wrong.

If he is selling them at that price why not.

4

Sadly there is a common belief that Athearn no longer makes BB car kits.That its self is sad.Sadder still is the LHS owners that pushes the RTR sales and adds fuel to the rumored demised of the BB kits.

Now add the less then honest(sadly there are such) train show dealers that jacks up the prices for these kits.I won’t even get started on E-Rip off.

Then the misinformed and gullible buys these cars at inflated prices.The same holds true for limited run locomotives that is readily available in some road names.

Now all anybody has to do is check First Hobbies,First Place Hobbies and Toy Train Heaven ad in MR and RMC to see these cars are readily available.

So,again its let the buyer be informed as well as aware.

Now on another matter is the older Athearn/Bev-Bel cars that is hard to find…Some of these cars will fetch $30-35.00…Add special run cars to that list as well as the Custom Line/Athearn cars.

5

He can ask what he likes but the question is: was he selling any of them?

6

It’s basically what the market will bear. Although there are those who are unfamiliar with the price or product (in this case the Athern Blue Boxes) there are those who will pay outrageous prices if they think the product is rare or a so-called “collector’s item.” Train shows are strictly caveat emptor.

I live in an area where some people pay over $3 for a cup of yuppie coffee or a bottle of water. Some have the distorted idea that if it costs a lot, it has to be better.

7

You mean like people bidding an HO Lionel flat car up to $117 on E-Scam?[D)]Doh!

8

You didn’t mention if these were still in kit form or assembled. At train shows I’ve seen assembled Athearn Blue Box cars, many with Kadee couplers and metal wheels and even custom numbered going for $15 to $20. That still may be a bit high, but yet…

9

Some years ago I was at a show where two dealers were selling the same “close-out” McKean 65’ center beam flats. One was getting $8 and the other $14! The amazing part of this is that they were on opposite sides of the same aisle about 10’ apart!![:o)]

10

The last train show I was at the BB’s assembled, with KD’s were going for $5, some less. Makes them worth buying just for the KD’s sometimes [8D]

11

This whole pricing thing is part of what has me procrastinating on selling a couple dozen Athearn, Bev Bel, and other brands kits…no idea what to ask for them. I don’t want to rip anyone off…and I don’t want to relatively give them away if they are worth considerably more.

12

That is what ebay is for. Whether or not e-bay is used as the vehicle to sell them. Look up similar items that have already sold and see what they went for. That should give a general idea of what the market looks like.

If you mark them too expensive then no one will buy them, so you can’t be guilty of ripping anyone off. Buyers on the other hand will have no problem taking advantage if you mark them to low. So mark them higher and if they don’t sell mark them down the next time.

13

I did some looking around the other day on ebay, and didn’t find much…but I was searching for Wabash stuff. I guess I’ll have to take the more generic route and search by kit brand name. My other issue is shipping costs I guess I’d have to pre-box the stuff up and take it to a shipper to get a figure to put in the ebay ad

14

I agree with BRAKIE. One of my LHS still has a bunch of old BB kits, along with new ones. I like them and roundhouse kits.