Messages

76

General Discussion / Re: The ebay rant.

« on: March 12, 2022, 04:15:03 AM »

Deb does our listings, used to like turbolister as it was not internet based. She has gotten used to the new program and we list 5 to 10 listings with it per day, slow and steady. Our utilities are unreliable, even more so since the December tornado, so we got a hot-spot back-up for the internet and a Generac whole-house system for the power. Hopefully now we are relatively Bullitt-proof.
Ebay makes too many changes for no reason, or maybe for those who list on their I phones, seems to be their preference. Some things are broke and they don't care to fix. For months when I go to My Ebay, I have to sign-in and it gives a RED message "oops that is not a match". However one more click and it goes through, so just a glitch.
Also when relisting unsold items, it often shows NOTHING in the list selected, or if it is there, just the title with no details. I used to edit prices from that page. Irritating that we always have to find work-arounds to deal with their "improvements". Glitch-bay

77

General Discussion / Re: The ebay rant.

« on: March 11, 2022, 04:12:57 AM »

Sometimes we call Ebay "Glitch-bay" among many other names. They are always making changes to things that don't need fixing, because the 18-year olds that work there have to have something to do.
How do you like the new listing program???

78

General Discussion / Re: The ebay rant.

« on: March 09, 2022, 04:26:49 AM »

Bottom line is there are too many deadbeats and scammers out there.

We might have better luck trying to win the lottery than sell on ebay.

79

Layouts / Re: Terry's 1950s Marklin Layout

« on: March 07, 2022, 02:12:38 PM »

wow, you do have a lot of room.

80

Layouts / Re: Terry's 1950s Marklin Layout

« on: March 07, 2022, 04:08:43 AM »

How did you find room for a third layout?

81

General Discussion / Re: The ebay rant.

« on: March 07, 2022, 04:07:15 AM »

Sounds familiar, I had a similar demand when I sold a Lionel 217 caboose a while back. The guy said the light did not work and he could not do the repair himself, but he had a friend () who could make the repair for between $75 and $100, which is what he demanded. He was either a liar, Idiot, or needs to find better friends.
We tell such buyers that the only options are return for refund or keep it and be happy.
The internet is faceless, so has encouraged certain buyers to run their scams and get whatever they can from sellers. After all, it is obvious that the stuff we sell just fell out of a tree, not like we had to pay anything for it, right???

We have had dismal sales for a few weeks, few sales and average sale $20.
Last week I sold a Min-I-Scale Hudson for $460, and BINGO, we suddenly had 12 or 13 other items sell overnight, including some old numbers............
You can't tell me that Ebay does not hide listings, punish sellers etc, then when something does miraculously sell, suddenly they show all your listings and you have sales. But it doesn't last. The next day they close the door on your store again and turn off the lights.  The "Ebay way".

Also, sellers used to be able to contact non-paying bidders, and our experience was that at least 50% would pay after given a reminder. Now Ebay has changed it, so you can not contact them to remind them to pay, you can only cancel the sale......result 0% of non-pays will pay. Is that a good business model??? That's my rant.

82

Collector Corner / Re: 6044-1x nestles boxcar

« on: March 04, 2022, 04:43:33 AM »

Wix is the other tuffy of the small boxcars. I never collected these, but they do go for some big $$.

83

Collector Corner / Re: 6044-1x nestles boxcar

« on: February 22, 2022, 03:19:37 AM »

I haven't seen one sell for about 5 years, but sure it still has some value.

84

Collector Corner / Re: 6044-1x nestles boxcar

« on: February 21, 2022, 04:18:01 AM »

You might check to see if the seller was ever in the Chicago area, as I also believe the McCalls car was locally available.
When Chris' wife sold some of his collection, she got well over $1000 for the car, EX with an overstamped 6044-1X box. At one time choice examples went for more. I think the price cooled-down because the cars were being faked with copies of the label glued on.
I am relatively sure that Chris got his in 1961 through the McCall's Nestle offer, so he knew the real history.

85

General Discussion / Re: Market report - shows, sales, and people.

« on: February 20, 2022, 04:21:41 AM »

Good to know that there is still some life in train shows.
Not sure if I will ever get to one again, but hope it does continue as shows are the social side of this hobby. The internet has taken that away.

86

How To and Technical Information / Re: Prewar paint finish

« on: February 16, 2022, 04:50:26 AM »

Agreed, Terry has a post explaining his local situation.

87

General Discussion / Re: Market report - shows, sales, and people.

« on: February 16, 2022, 04:27:53 AM »

Wow, I had no idea it had gotten that bad. Ebay was already hurting shows, then covid seems to dealt the death blow. I don't think I have been to a show since my last trip to York about 2011.
It does seem that the small Saturday shows that you are hosting is one positive point.
You are right about the downward cycle of big shows, but maybe the smaller ones san save the Train Show.

88

How To and Technical Information / Re: Prewar paint finish

« on: February 15, 2022, 04:27:56 AM »

Things do seem to be re-hashed here, but at least it keeps some discussion going. We need to see more participation on subjects of rarity, variations, sets, layouts, train shows, etc.

I am in an isolated area where there are no local shows. We used to be in the Chicago area where there was a toy or train show locally every weekend. Culture shock for me!

I would like to hear if anyone has been to a show lately, where and what it was like.

Terry has done some posts on shows and local finds. It would be nice to hear more from other members.

Terry may want to move this to a new thread, maybe it already exists and I just missed it. I always try to check new posts daily.

89

General Discussion / Re: Missing in delivery

« on: February 15, 2022, 04:19:58 AM »

Shipping is a confusing mess, both sides of our boarder. We don't use Global shipping for Ebay, because I don't like that they repack fragile items that I have already carefully packed. Customs and duties and taxes make it cost-prohibitive for us to ship international any more.
Our local USPS carriers have to drive their own vehicles also. They have to sit on the RH side of their cars and minivans that are LH drive. When they leave the PO they are so packed full with packages even on the dashboard, it is a wonder they can see, let alone drive from the wrong side.
Amazon and other internet sellers have overloaded the USPS system. An organized company like Amazon should take over package delivery.

90

How To and Technical Information / Re: Prewar paint finish

« on: February 14, 2022, 05:15:42 AM »

Chances are you would have a hard time duplicating the drips of dip-painting or orange-peel patina of later prewar, it is hard enough just matching the colors. I have found with certain finishes, such as black on locomotives, a decent finish can be achieved that will not "scream" restoration. If I paint a boiler in a dull or satin finish, allow to thoroughly dry then polish carefully to produce a gloss, mainly in the wear areas, it will look satisfactory......just a suggestion. It is easier to take a finish that you apply from dull to gloss, than it is from gloss to dull.