I have three unique ways to search Ebay
Search using the word “estate” with the include description box checked. Most of the items are used and sometimes the prices are really good.
When I search for Amtrak, I sometimes use the misspelled version, Amtrack. You wouldn’t believe how many times it is mispelled.
I enter the word, “Ohio” and it finds B&O, C&O and sometimes Chessie with the C&O designation.
What are other unique ways that you use to search Ebay for trains?
I just type “best classic toy train” and American Flyer listings show up. [(-D]
Rich
Although it’s not a unique way to search for things, I frequently check the “other” section. I find lots of Marx stuff under this heading. Not sure why but if you like Marx stuff it bears checking.
i can’t say i haven’t learned a lot from eBay searches…
there are a lot of musicians out there named Lionel.
the Marx brothers are still funny.
Travis Hafner plays for the Cleveland Indians.
there appears to be a relationship between Ives and some guy named Currier.
cheers…gary
Yes, I can’t tell you how many Lional Passanger cars I’ve run accross over the years! [(-D]
Becky
You misspelled “misspelled” as mispelled. A very common misspelling.
Another search for Amtrak misspellings HERE.
An even better one for trains alone HERE.
I get it on O scale then just type in whats on my list of things I am looking for such as 4-8-4, or GP-20, or Railking passenger cars for example. Then click on auctions only.
LIONEL misspelled on eBay.
Specific to O gauge HERE.
And THESE FOLKS all misspelled “passenger” in O gauge.
LOL…Got it right the first time. Must be a typo. That happens when you just had surgery.
Wow!! You are right.
I usually would enter oscale followed by the name like “ebayoscaleohiocentral” or do the search with “ogauge”. I have stayed away from the bay for some time now though.
I save searches because I’m too lazy to type everything in every time. [swg] One is: Bing, Marklin, Maerklin, Dorfan, Fandor, european, Japanese, German in O gauge. Another is: passenger, passanger, pullman, diner, sleeper, sleeping, coach, observation in S gauge. I also have: C&O, B&O, Chessie, Chesapeake, Baltimore and several direct links to “O Scale” “Models and Kits” and other areas I visit often. Basically I save search criteria based on usage, sometimes just until I find what I was looking for, but most of the time I have at least 25 search shortcuts saved in MyEbay. Otherwise I just go to O gauge and surf using the generic categories provided.
One other tip is to look outside the “Model RR and Trains” category and look into vintage and antique toys. A generic search like Train, Locomotive there often turns up lots of neat stuff. I’d say hardly a day goes by where I don’t see something new to me just by poking around and seeing what turns up. Often all I’m looking for is the photos of the items so I can save them and build my own! [swg]
Becky
Some folks selling Marx don’t realize that the letters “MAR” are superimposed on the “X” and describe the brand as “Mar”.
Some think trestle is spelled “trussel”, or some variation on that.
“Crossing” and “crossover” are often interchanged.
Zinc metal is sometimes called “diecast”, as if that were the metal rather than the casting method. Cast zinc locomotives are sometimes described as “cast iron”.
Tenders are sometimes called “coal cars”.
Often times I just use the “word” search for the item I’m looking for instead of the actual number-
I also at times will just forget the filter and do a random search for the item I’m looking for, sometimes people mis-catagorize their item
The mis-spelling used to work a lot better before Ebay started to filter the searches,now they will throw the mis-spelled in with the correctly spelled.
I find my android phone is amazing for letting me know when a specific item I’m searching for “pops” on-using the Ebay app it allows me to select items I’m searching for and notifies me as soon as their listed
When a new item gets listed-it doesn’t hurt to simply ask the seller " Would you consider a buy it now"?- most are not offended and some will let you make an offer. I’ve made many purchases this way.