My brother is ready to get rid of his Spirit of 76 loco and 8 or 10 cars and caboose. We got these sets when we were kids his was O scale mine HO. He tells me the loco still runs and he has boxes for some of it. I’ve looked at Ebay but can’t tell from that because prices are all over the place.
Any help would be appreciated.
John
One or two of the cars, towards the end or the series, were made in reduced numbers, are more difficult to find, and therefore tend to go for more money than the others. I have the entire set, loco, thirteen cars, plus caboose, all mint, purchased as they came out. So I will be interested to see how people respond.
John, one of the most frequesnt questions posted by newcomers here is typically one like yours. These questions of “value” are not cut and dry and very dependent on condition of the items (are they clean and like new with no scratches or dents, do you still have boxes that are like new, does the engine still function like new, etc.). All these variables will determine how much somthing is worth. Even the printed book price guides state this clearly in the introductions (which I think a lot of people tend to ignore or skip over).
One of the more common prevailing thoughts on value today is to check out eBay as you have done. That really gives you the most accurate idea of what folks are willing to spend on an item. It is important to not just look at the clsoing prices, but look at the condition of the trains too. And engine that needs a motor overhaul is obviously going to command lower money that one that is practically like new.
And one final note that eBay is an auction, and like it or not, sometimes not fair. It’s not impossible for junk conditon items to go for more money that better condition new items. And there are other factors that can alter the final selling prices on eBay or how much bidding activity an item sees, such as types of payment accepted, minimum shipping charges, blurry or clear photos and seller feedback.
In other words, a seller who has great photos, clear accurate descriptions, takes several types of payments and has great feedback can potentially get higher prices that what any price guide lists… I’ve seen that one happen. It’s not just the item anymore, but the seller too.
If you are thinking of buying your brother’s, just offer him what it is worth to you. He’ll either sell it to you for that or not. If your thinking of a third party, the info you’ve received about ebay is pretty good. Some times you can get a really good deal and sometimes not.
Good luck.
wyomingscout