Marketplace to buy and sell model equipment

General
1

We’re considering launching a buy and sell marketplace right here on the forum for members to trade personal train equipment. Before we go ahead and build it, we’d appreciate your feedback to make sure it’s something you’d want to use.

Here’s what we’d love to know:

  1. Would you use this marketplace?
  • Do you buy or sell equipment often? Would having a dedicated space for that on the forum be helpful?
  1. Posting Fees
  • If we added a fee for listing items (to keep things running smoothly), what would feel fair to you?
  1. What items would you like to buy or sell?
  • What kind of train parts or equipment would you be interested in trading on this marketplace?
  • Do you see yourself selling items like tools, components, or larger train-related gear?
2 Likes
2

@Nick,
I would use a marketplace on this forum. I am currently in the process of liquidating my father’s extensive train collection. I have been doing this on eBay but that brings its own set of challenges.
As far as a posting fee, I’m not sure what would be fair. At first thought, a percentage of the selling price but that could be a lot of work for you to track. Perhaps a “membership” fee of $10 or $20 to be allowed to post items for sale. Just a thought.
I have all sorts of items to sell. From Z scale to G scale trains, buildings and other models. I also have a multitude of parts and semi completed projects to sell.
Al

3

I might use it to buy, not sell, if there was something I really wanted.

As far as fees, it should be FREE FOR MAGAZINE AND TRAINS.COM SUBSCRIBERS.

1 Like
4

There is already a free site, so charging a fee would probably limit participation. Just allowing items to be listed for sale would not cost the forum owners anything. Limiting it to subscribers might make sense.
Mark Vinski

5

Anyone want a lime green jacket, now more of a black-green jacket with authentic EMD lube oil and a broken zipper?

Look and smell the part at your next operating session!

6

For the same reason that I have been disinclined to sell via eBay lately, I would probably be much less likely to use a forum marketplace if I had to worry much about expenses related to listing/selling items. I’d probably be more likely to use it if it was free or very inexpensive.

I am primarily a resident of the Classic Toy Trains side of the forums, as toy trains are what I mainly work with. I would probably initially stick to selling odd items that I have decided I no longer need. I have sometimes contemplated selling used equipment that I have refurbished, but it’s hard to find anything I can buy cheaply enough to turn a profit on so I don’t really do this sort of thing very often.

I am a member of another train forum that hosts a marketplace. It’s a somewhat casual thing, anyone who’s posted x number of posts can make a post saying they want an item or have one to sell, and state a price. Aside from needing to watch out for people who are just aiming to take your money and run with it (if you know what to look for, they’re usually easy to recognize), I think it works ok. But the forum traffic is limited enough that it can be hard to sell anything, or it can take a while to do so.

I think it would make sense if the proposed marketplace was limited to people who regularly participate in the forum- the idea being that this would help reduce the number of scammers. If a seller actually has some sort of investment in the forum community, they’re more liable to make good on any sales or trades they have on offer. Versus someone who only joins to say “hi I have this item, I want $300 for it” and then never says another word.

I do like the idea of a sanctioned avenue for forum people to be able to sell or swap items, I don’t know if it logistically makes sense or not.

-El

7

I’m a member of another model railroading forum, and two chainsaw related forums, each of those have a “Classified” forum.

The number one “Rule” on all three is that the Forum provides the classified forum as a COURTESY, and none of them get involved with disputes between buyers and sellers.

“Regular “ members get to know, and Trust each other, it can be a little hard to earn that trust when one is New to build that credibility.

All three have various “Classified Sections” by Scale, Gauge, Locomotives/Rolling Stock/Tools, etc. The saw forums, would also be classified by section as well, Saws, Parts,Tools, but also larger items like Trucks, Trailers, chippers, portable saw mills, and often “Off Topic “ items, which could be fishing gear or many other items not related to the Subject of the Forum.

I have bought and sold, Locomotives, Rolling Stock, Electronics etc on the train forum, and Saws and parts on the other forums.

None of them charged any fees, just the work things out between yourselves policy. I have bought and/or sold many thousands of dollars, over the years, and have personally never had any trouble with the sales through the forums, and have heard of very few issues from others.

I have always been a little surprised at this forum’s hesitancy to offer the option.

Maybe a bit repetitious, but the Key with the other forums, was that they were Clear, that it was a COURTESY, and they didn’t moderate disputes, it has worked Very Well on the other forums, and is a much appreciated feature

Doug

5 Likes
8

Policing it could prove problematic.

9

Don’t Police it.

Terms of Use to Clearly State, that it is a COURTESY Feature, and is NOT moderated by Firecrown.

I am a member of Three other forums that offer that option, they make the TOU’s Clear, it hasn’t been a problem, it’s a Very Nice feature, and if you’re worried about being taken advantage of, Don’t use it. Many members on other forums I am/have been on, have benefited from the feature, myself included

I see it as a potentially Great Benefit to the forum members

Doug

1 Like
10

Not worried about the people buying and selling but rather the security of any electronic financial transactions and transfers that could be hacked by outside third parties. If those aren’t monitored Firecrown could be liable for activities conducted on their site.

11

I didn’t get the impression that Firecrown would handle transactions. I would think it’s basically just classified ads.

1 Like
12

I never sell any of my trains.

I buy very little, since after 50+ years in the hobby I have plenty of trains. But I would look over any listings for a good deal for something that appeals to me.

Paul

13

I think it should be free for Trains.com and any Magazine subscribers.
Financial transactions should be on the seller (get a square account) and buyer
Instructions for posting, or fields to fill in might be helpful to some
A way to message the seller would be nice
Easy posting of photos would be a requirement
My thoughts…dan

14

I would use such a marketplace. I have some equipment I’d like to sell, and my son has some, too. Getting to shows is very difficult for us, and selling via eBay has become more complicated than it needs to be.

I would prefer free, but I also understand the realities of increased traffic and hassles. Still, any fees should be very low, perhaps even rolled into subscription to one or more of the mags or a membership fee for a few bucks/year. As others have noted, it should simply be classified listings: any payment arrangements should be strictly and only a matter between the two parties. And that means no limiting the ways the two parties can communicate. Don’t charge per ad, and, for heaven’s sake! don’t charge fess based on the increasingly outrageous shipping costs. Agree also on the Courtesy bit: all Firecrown would be doing is offering a place to post a classified ad online like the bulletin board at a grocery store. The only policing should be to keep the ads hobby-related and inline with the forum policies (with a bit of room to fudge for such things as scale campaign posters and perhaps sunbathing figures and so forth).

I would be open to buying any trains or parts that I want or need. I would also be open to railroadianna, books, VCR/DVD and other types of recordings, and boxes. I have, as I said, some trains to sell, mostly O.

1 Like
15

Another thing to consider: make it exempt from the Forum Points & Rewards Program. I can see people finessing/playing the system to gain points.

16

Does anybody really care that much about the points?

1 Like
17

I would use the service for buying or selling when needed. A small listing fee seams reasonable if not expected IMO.

18

Without charging any fees, it was seen as a Courtesy Feature, that was a Benefit of being a Member. If a fee was charged, it would be expected that there would be some form of “Policing, or Dispute Moderation, was my experience on other forums.

My understanding of how a forum generates revenue, is through Advertising, the More Members, and the Greater Activities of the members, the more they can charge for advertising.

Having the benefit of the classified service, can bring in more members, and increases forum activity. It seems that on the other forums that I have been on, management felt that the indirect revenue generated by the classifieds, was potentially greater, than the direct revenue generated by charging fees for the classified services, and avoided the Policing and Dispute Moderation issues

That has been My Experience with forums, that I have been a member of, and on those sites, the classified services were well used, and very trouble free.

Doug

1 Like
19

In my other hobby, my 30 year old GRAVELY garden tractor, most of the online groups allow open buying and selling among members and it work just fine. Everyone works out their own terms by private message, There are vitually never any issues.

I think it would be great.

Sheldon

1 Like
20

If classifieds are offered, it needs to be in a different format that the forum. Anyone can post, edit, delete, or close their listing, but comments cannot be allowed. All discussion around the listing must be handled privately.

1 Like