said I was looking for a Walthers O.L. King & Son coalyard. Only ones I saw on eBay were going for more than 2x the original MSRP.
Well…today I snagged one on eBay for under $12.
One thing off the checklist…
–Randy
Right now there are 205,372 train items listed under HO. For me, EBAY is the best source for finding NOS and used items.
Congrats on the pickup.
Jim:
That’s interesting that there are 200,000 plus HO items on the USA eBay site. Here in Canada there are only 140,000 or so HO listings. Kind of looks like 1/3 of the sellers are unwilling to do business internationally. Too bad. Oh well, their choice, our loss.
Dave
Yes, if you are patient. Like how I passed over about 5 Proto 2000 S-1 switchers, then snagged one for $25. Bidding frenzies start, I step back and wait for the same item to appear in another auction.
–Randy
Ebay is where I get a lot of my stuff from, model railroad and computer. Many times when i’m looking for a loco, freight car or comp part Ebay is the best place to find it. Many times the ONLY place. I don’t do Craig’s List.
Ditto here but,usually I watch the last three mintues of the auctions when bidding madness really kicks in.
Seen a Athearn BB GN green boxcar with the standing goat(Rocky) sell for almost $25.00…7 pages down a the same car was $7.99 BIN with $3.99 shipping.
While on Ebay, like everyone else, looking for specific items, or just in general, one of the reasons I tend to avoid Canadian deals, no matter how good they may seem, Dave, I usually can not get a shipping cost in time for the bid. Shipping cost seem to vary alot from Canadian sellers. When I try and use Ebay’s calculator, to US…WI…53120, I don’t get a rate, “Unable to calculate cost, contact seller”. Not that I don’t want to buy from sellers over our northern bourder, it seems hard to get a hard number for the shipping cost.
Mike.
Congrats Randy, I know the feelng. I do 90% of my HO buying and 100% selling on Ebay. I try to use my LHS as often as I can because I know they don’t compete with a lot of online sellers. Sometimes my LHS has a better deal or as good as ‘online’ dealers, so I always give them my business.
Speaking of good deals, just got a Like New BLI N&W J class for $145 with QSI/DCC. Great loco. Next best price I could find was $239.95. LHS was $319.00. Just have to wait it out.
-Bob
Try getting a descent shipping cost from Australia. Have the smelling salts ready. You’re gonna need 'em!
I know Jeff, I’ve seen lots of stuff from Australia I’ve wanted to buy or bid on, and never went there, because of getting shipping cost. Same with stuff from the UK. How come most of stuff from China, they list the price? I bought a forklift from China, being really skeptical about the whole deal, but it arrived about 1 1/2 weeks later, and I knew what I was paying for shipping ? Oh well, it is what it is !
I was talking to a couple of LHS owners, and another thing that is hurting sales, and being able to stock some items, is the “pre-order” thing from manufacturers.
Have gotten off topic ?? sorry! I’ll stop.
Mike.
Randy:
Good catch!
Mike:
I think it is wise for any seller, regardless of location, to state the shipping price clearly. I have had the same problem more than a few times with US sellers. However, most seem to be able to do it just fine although the new Global Shipping program cost can vary depending on how much the item finally sells for.
Dave
Some of the computer stuff I buy I get from Bulgaria. Why? Low shipping costs. It takes longer but it’s very reasonable.