I know this is a opened ended question and is worth what someone will pay. I am half way thinking about selling mine, it is number 4022 and has a Loksound 3.5 decoder. Other than cob webs and a small nick on the cab roof it is in good shape.
I have looked on E Stupid and have not seen one for some time. I all so know after the lawsuit MTH won BLI will not be making any more.
Original list was around $720.00 and yes I know that was BS. That way you feel good about only paying $500.00 for it.
I all so know it seems everyone makes a Big Boy so that might make it not a collectable. Yet BLI / PCM will at this point never make one again.
I am guessing the only better detailed Big Boy would be a brass engine but again I am guessing and the reason I am asking.
So what do you folks think a fair prices might be if I where to sell it?
It is a lovely locomotive, Ken. If you have to part with it, you need the money, and so it should go at a decent price, a reasonable one. You must decide what that bottom line should be, and set it as the opening bid. Then wait to see what happens. This is just me speaking, but used locos that come from reputable dealers can go for surprising sums. If the loco is rarely offered for auction, it means there are few of them, or that those who have them treasure them and run them even to the point of scavenging for parts. Either way, they are popular for those looking for them. So don’t sell it for a song. I would start with upwards of $400 for the opening, but it depends on the item’s condition. Does it have lots of use? If it can be touched up with some TLC, but otherwise has fewer than 40 running hours, it should be good for $400.
This from someone who has never owned a Big Boy in any scale, and who hasn’t sold one. FWIW…
That is one of the neatest locos I have seen. It makes me wish I modeled Uncle Pete instead of the SF.
OK, I have 11 years Ebay experience, and have bought/sold a lot of train stuff. May I suggest:
Make sure you have the box and paperwork, and the loco is “lubed and tuned”, and clean.
If it were me (assuming I paid $500), I would start the bidding at $375 - $425. As mentioned, you need to figure out your minimum and open a bit higher.
I would list it (on Ebay) in either early December or the the 24th. It seems from Thanksgiving thru Christmas folks are shopping for others. But Christmas thru early January they are shopping for themselves.
If it doesn’t sell, wait a few days and relist (first relist is free). It has always amazed me how “timing” is so meaningful with auctions.
Back in the mid 80’s I sold one my Tenshodo examples for $1200, this particular example was not in operable conditon, needing a motor replacement., I suspect with the overabundunce of Big boys in recent years yours would sell for far less.
I was just looking at HO Interchange and there was a BLI Big Boy listed for $625. The electronics had been altered but it might give you an idea on price. I hope that things work out to where you don’t have to sell it. I don’t own one but I’ve seen them and they are beautiful engines.
In my limited opinon never having the need for one the PCM / BLI bigboys with the Loksound 3.5 decoders are superior to their MTH cousins…and head and shoulders above the Rivarossi or Athearn models.
And yes they are highly sought after,you could post yours on ebay at the minimum bid and i’ll just about guarntee
the bidding will get you a more than fair price.[:D]
Recently a BLI Blueline BB sold for over 300.00 that was in used condition. If this is C8 or C9, and have the original box and packaging I think you could get 500.00 for it. Listing is now pretty much free on ebay. You can list it at 500.00. If no one bids your not out anything.
You already know it comes down to what someone is willing to pay…but have you thought about what you want to get out of it? What did you pay, what did any upgrades cost and what do you think the new “devaluation” of the nick on the cab and the cobwebs is?
If you paid $500 try starting on E-stupid {I like that name BTW, Ken…I used to call it “E-Slay” as many went to slaughter and were slayed in battle over an item I felt}.at about $300 and see if you get nibbles…If they really wnat it and no one is making them now…they might just bid it up.
OR you COULD go into E-stupid at your original price of $500 and if yo get no nibbles, you can always relist it at a lower price!
One of the reason’s I was thinking of selling it, I seldom use it. It run’s well, but I just don’t use often?
Crandell, while it has seen no near the time of my Y6 b, it does have over 40 hours on it. [:-^] I still have the box and the extra parts it came with. I did remove the smoke generator but still have it.
