There was a post about used train items on eBay, and the poster mentioned that he had not found a model train shop with a decent used section. One of the obvious reasons shops don’t have much used train stuff anymore is because a lot of it is now getting put on The Promised Land of eBay where all the big money is spent.
Another reason is that there is a theory in retailing that having “used junk” in your store tarnishes the image of the new items the store stocks.
There are several other reasons some stores don’t sell used items.
What I would like to know from the forum, do you or have you purchased used items at your LHS?
Do you think having used items in the store takes away from the new merchandise?
Would you be willing to pay a little more (not the MSRP of course) for used items in a store where you don’t have to mess with wondering if you are going to win the bid, how much is shipping going to be, and is the item going to be in pieces when it arrives?
I tried an experiment here a little while ago where a customer had several structures that he wanted to trade. I gave him far more than he expected in trade, because I believed the pre-built structures would sell well here. They did. Would you be more willing to sell or trade your items to the LHS if you knew you were going to get a pretty good deal in return, but also knowing that the selling price for used items in the store would also have to be higher? (not sure I explained this one right, hopefully it came out OK)
I know that’s a lot of questions, but a customer who has been in this hobby a very long time recently brought up the idea of used items and I just wondered if there was a general consensus about this.
I have a favorite LHS that I visit quite often. I know that if he had a used merchandise section it would be the first place I would go - love looking for a bargain. He has a small layout in his shop so it would be a cinch to check out the rolling stock. And, yes, I would be willing to pay a little extra for the assurance that something was in good working condition rather than taking a chance on eBay.
I have purchased many used items in the past years in the form of consignment brass. Other items such as built up structures, if done correctly are also on my list.
You mentioned you had a customer that wanted to trade structure for whatever. If you were able to sell them and made a profit, consider doing it again.
The used term is not always used for brass, but all consignments are normally used. They are usually mint or test run only but are indeed used. Some models like fine automobiles, many like the term previously run or previously tested.
I have been to many shops that consign plastic models also, but they have to be sold as is and can be a liability to a LHS if the buyer is not happy with the model.
Ebay is cetainly more popular for used trains and the Ebay charge is lower than the normal charge for consignments at a LHS.
Yes I have bought use engines,cars,structures and other miscellaneous items at several hobby shops.Some buy and trade while some shops sells them on consignment.
As far as tarnishing new items that’s ridiculous…After all folk trade in older quality locomotives for new in order to save some cash…
Well as far as fair use prices…Let’s say it cost $99.00 its worth $40.00- 50.00 use after all new $99.00 locomotives can be had at $60.00-64.00.Now take away from the use price for a bad paint job, bad decals,broken/missing parts, lots of wheel wear etc and that engine may not be worth $20.00.Now let’s look a little closer…A mint condition engine may be worth full price and above depending on rarity of the locomotive and road name.[:D]
I use to buy,sell and trade and I learn the ropes from older horse traders and that is what they taught me about a fair use price…[:D]
I have bought used rolling stock at LHS in several places, and at a couple of train shows as well.
As I see it, if I can see what I’m buying BEFORE money changes hands, take delivery instantly and not have to wonder if the paid-for item will ever show up, that is well worth a higher price. If I was modeling American prototype, the same would apply to pre-built structure kits.
In several cases, the LHS “preowned property” shelf held models that were either not in the shop’s new product inventory, were built from long-discontinued kits or were very nicely done scratchbuilt models that had never been offered by any manufacturer. I’m sure that people who were modeling the “hometown railroad” where that shop was located were happy to have them, since they disappeared literally overnight. I’m equally sure the shop’s proprietor was happy to have had them, because people who buy the “preowned” items also tend to pick up items from the regular inventory, all of which helps keep the rent paid and the lights on.
(No, I’m not a LHS owner, but I have worked in retail sales. ANYTHING which gets people through the doors is good!)
Chuck (who also buys pre-owned rolling stock to kitbash)
Yes, my LHS has a small section of used items. I think he got them in trade for someone who was changing from HO to N, or maybe swapping roads. I bought a P2K S1, nominally used but realistically it was new-in-the-box. I don’t think it had ever been run. Oh, and it was love at first sight.
His used rolling stock moves faster. Good stuff, but the ones that I’ve seen have all been the wrong era for me.
The hobby shop MisterBeasly is talking about can have some really nice deals on it’s used selections. The LHS closer to me has a large used section (And recently has greatly expanded with many new consignments full of B&M and other New England equipment). Unfortunately, the prices can’t match the prices found at the other shop (Often, they are at, near, or even above full price.
One Track Mind in Mabelvale Arkansas had some useful “used” structures from time to time.
Several of structures I purchased will form the core industry area of Falls Valley, a town I have been planning for some time.
I dont visit as often as I would like due to gas but occasionally there are structures and other items on the “Used” table for a small price. I would like to see this continue as Ebay sometimes is very expensive when shipping is accounted for.
A hobby shop in Arizona City had a large collection of consignment items in stock and I purchased quite a few items from there because there was a good selection of items that have not been available for several years and the prices were very reasonable. Practically everything was unassembled Athearn or Model Die Casting kits from many years ago that had never been opened. It was basically a fire sale from an individual who was going through a divorce and was disposing of all of his train collection. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to find rare items.
Granddad’s Hobby Shop in Springfield VA. has fairly large used and consignment section. Only trouble is, on the more recent items, up to a few years old, he prices them the same as his retail, and his new stuff is pretty close to full retail. And there is a sticker on each used/consignment item stating “no return or refund”,.
So let’s see, used or pre-owned consignment item, almost full retail and once you bought it you own it, no wonder most of it just sits and sits and sits.
I don’t think GD’sHS’s normal business is affected by his consignment/used stuff.
I’d pay more for used in a LHS than on Ebay since I could inspect it first…
My LHS has a huge used section. A lot of Lionel stuff. I buy used HO every time I go in. They have a couple of great $1.00 bins that I usually find something usefull in.
I regularly buy used equipment and rolling stock (usually unmade or part made kits) from eBay, LHS and table dealers.
Here in the UK its very common for a LHS to have good selection of used items and there is a thriving market, most of this is British 4mm (OO) equipment, but there are some stores now selling US and European HO & N. There is also a thriving table dealer culture who attend the many model exhibitions over here, many exclusively sell used equipment.
If this experience is anything to go by selling “pre-owned” its is a draw not a draw back.
One could have a policy whereby if the item were placed on consignment,maybe he would get 60% of retail and if he wanted to sell to you outright the wholesale price would be say 50%. My daughter has a used bookstore where all her merchandise is used. She buys no books but gives the customer 25% credit toward new puchases.By the way yes I would buy used equipment. Look at all the stuff sold at the swap meets. If word got out that you had all that stuff at a reduced price I think it would increase your sales. My main train shop in Spokane buys up estate sales of train stuff and then, when there are local swap meets his stuff is offered up for sale at the swap meet… His store is also open the day of the sale and has a lot of regular merchandise at reduced prices plus a few dynamite deals on used locos and other more expensive items. I asked him about the wisdom of this strategy and he said it works out great, probably his biggest single sales days of the year. I know that when I go there during the swap meet days his shop is always crowded. The swap meets usually pull in guys from out of town.
Never call them used - some items are just ‘previously enjoyed’. I too hunt for the bargains at train specific flea markets. Some items just needed coupler conversions or a tidy up to join my roster. I have purchased items that have required the full ‘lube, oil and filter’ to get ressurected, but that’s more time I can spend with the hobby.
If it is something I really really ‘must have’ - I will.
I enjoy looking through lots of “stuff” and occasionally finding something useful. Hardly ever locomotives. But frequently cars-- “runners”, oldie moldies I can strip and make into what I want, especially when I can’t find it new anymore. Buildings for kitbashing material, though it would prefer unbuilt.
When I see a shop with a small used/consignment section, I think of it as a dealer who really cares about the hobby and the hobbyist, not just “turning over” the big ticket items as fast as possible.
I wanna see the used stuff as people like to move their stuff or change around a bit.
I bought some Walthers North Shore cars from my LHS and I was surprised he got them. I bought them off.
Hobby Recycling in Wyoming, Michigan (near Grand Rapids) is probably 75% used equipment. Half my garden railroad is used equipment purchased there and I’ve been perfectly happy.