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Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Terry on July 06, 2020, 11:15:49 PM

Title: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on July 06, 2020, 11:15:49 PM
I use a computer with a big monitor to search ebay for new trains for the collection.

I am curious about what devices you use. I get questions about my listings that must be coming from phone users.  Today on the phone I was told I needed to check my listings on my phone to see what my gallery images look like.

Here's my listing for a Santa Fe F3 in ebay's phone app.

 


My listing is the $150 one in the middle. The app forces shoppers to scroll down past 4 sponsored ads for lionel related crap and click to read past the first paragraph break in the description. 

I also checked with the google chrome browser, and it appears about the same.

People actually drop hundreds of dollars on trains using their phones?

My other question is how do you search? I have bookmarked searches set up for what I collect that I check for new listings a few times during the day with the hope I'll find great deals on buy it now items. I get something just often enough to keep doing it.

Those searches also bring up all the O gauge listings on eBay I want to look at. I also look at all the "lionel" listings in the standard gauge category ending in the next 11 days once a week. I can't search for the cars or 5,6, and 7 steam locos because there are too many results. Right now there are 2615 results for the search "Lionel 16"

I don't think anyone sits like we did 20 years ago and looks at everything in the categories.  How do you do it?
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: starfire700 on July 07, 2020, 05:58:45 AM
I just searched Lionel 16 and got 1056 results, most not what I am looking for
I searched Lionel 16 ballast car and got 2 results, plus similar results
I searched Lionel 16 dump car and got 13 results, most not what I am looking for
I use a desk top computer almost exclusively, for searching, but admittedly I am not searching for much these days. I click on Advanced then find items. Worst option would be Best Match, as that is what Ebay wants you to see. Best Match is ebays method of hiding listings and promoting the ones they want to. It doesn't seem like a good business model to me to hide some of your vendor's merchandise!!!!
I never search on phone as it only displays incomplete info. I think our age group uses desktops and laptops mostly, but we do find more are using their phone. We get a lot of dumb questions such as what gauge is your O gauge tender......seriously. Maybe new users that are just stupid, or because of incomplete info on the phone app. I could go on, but won't.
Debby found a website that features trains of all makes.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/model-trains/overview/auctions click on this, save as a favorite. You can select the train brand you are looking for. Not sure how they choose items to feature.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on July 07, 2020, 01:11:47 PM
One of my freinds told me yesterday that eBay shows different results for the same searches. I know my searches find interesting things, and I have enough that missing a few items won't bother me too much.

I'm doing the switch over to managed payments this week. eBay is offering me $150 to switch over by Friday midnight. Turbolister won't work then, so I need a new program, and that requires a new computer.

Last week I bought a train and when I paid, the payment failed. Ebay said to try again. After 4 trys I gave up. Turns out I'd paid four times. Actually 5 because paypal reversed the first 4 payments and I paid again on Monday.

When they dumped the category structure 3 years ago my listings suffered. I think this change will be just as bad.

I just want to see if I can change something else to cut down on problems.

I'm going to take it slow for the next few weeks. Spend time learning the new system.

I bought some great stuff on eBay last week, and even if there were train meets every weekend I could never do  the sales I do on eBay. I just don't like change.


Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: starfire700 on July 08, 2020, 08:24:54 AM
Ebay does make a lot of changes, sometimes just for the sake of change, always for the benefit of ebay. In the early 2000's we were platinum power sellers. Since the new Casini system, may have it spelled wrong, but it changed searches and brought "Best Match" which is always the ebay default, our sales have declined. We are working harder and have more listings, but have steadily declined through gold, then silver, then bronze, now I don't think we are even that. Still better than selling at a show, but not as good as it used to be.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on July 08, 2020, 02:44:25 PM
I used to write a weekly article about eBay and doubt anything can compete with them. I know people are selling trains on Facebook. I don't mind the dog pictures, but I can't handle the politics and personalities.

There's a discussion board for old VWs. It's segmented based on types of VW and has classifieds for all kinds of parts and even whole cars.

It would be nice to grow this board like that, but the VW people average about 40 years old.  Based on the last LA show I attended, train people average about 75.

The LA club I belong to should be running a notice in this month's newsletter. I drive 875 miles round trip to go to their shows and hang out with them. They'll be a great addition here.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: starfire700 on July 10, 2020, 04:35:14 AM
I believe that age and computer literacy are the reasons that those that I have tried to get interested in this board have not responded.
It is disappointing when items / comments are posted and there are no replies. It seems that only an influx of members can change that. 
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on July 10, 2020, 11:50:28 AM
I have used my desktop computer and my phone to both search and purchase items off eBay. Some items I find on my phone I put in my watch list to get a better look at on my desktop. Yeah, searches are screwy on eBay so you have to search for the same items different ways. They don't seem to have anyone with a collector mentality making decisions on how to search or what to include in searches. As far as posting to comments on this board, not everyone has the same interests or the same type of experiences as others so there is nothing to comment on. Not everyone is building layouts, mass selling on eBay, collects Standard Gauge and so on. I believe we all have our own niche and comment when we can.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on July 11, 2020, 04:17:36 PM
We had our first Russian member yesterday. His first post was something about sex with androids so you he's no longer a member, but we are seeing some traffic.

I posted about my searches and the next day, the browser updated and no longer supports that function.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on September 03, 2020, 04:15:57 PM
Sometimes when searching on eBay you have to use unconventional or time consuming search titles. Occasionally they do lead to an item of interest. Also make sure you search "all categories" instead of the ones eBay provides.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on September 03, 2020, 05:20:52 PM
I'm not seeing anything interesting on eBay lately. I haven't added anything to my watch lists or set up a snipe for about 3 weeks. 

Some of what's happening with eBay is cool stuff comes from the train shows. People who know the trains, buy them and then list them on eBay. Also sometimes collectors upgrade and sell the duplicates on ebay. Without the shows, those sellers don't have anything to sell.

I run ads in local papers and then buy trains. Most of what I get is just common stuff, but sometimes I get good trains. People aren't comfortable with me coming to look at their trains because of the flu fears, so I've pulled my ads. I've bought two sets of trains since March. In a normal time, I'd be averaging 5-10 purchases a week. Other eBay sellers are having the same problem or worse.

That might be why there is so much garbage on eBay right now. I've been cleaning out my garage for the past few months. I spend the day Friday just bringing boxes in and listing some things on ebay and throwing the rest out.

I did see something in a LiveAuction earlier this week, and Bertoia looks to have a nice selection coming up in November. 
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on September 03, 2020, 05:31:58 PM
Nope, not much out there. Have to rely on the auction houses. Early stuff doesn't show up as much so there's a scramble when it does.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on September 04, 2020, 11:11:51 PM
I looked at every listing ending in the next ten days in the standard gauge catagory earlier today.

I bookmarked a 116 dump car that might have the number rubber stamped in a different place, and I saw a late 35 pullman with metal air tanks, latch couplers in pockets, and soldiered on steps. The other late cars I have with metal air tanks have brass steps in four slots.

Neither car is exciting. Neither car is worth buying when you factor in the shipping costs. 

I'll keep looking. 

Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on September 06, 2020, 03:51:07 PM
It turned out the 116 dump car I mentioned had the lettering backwards. The Weight is normally on the right.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/143710490300 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/143710490300)

That variation is listed in the old Greenberg book as being reported by Jim. I didn't have it, so I bid, but came in second.

The hunt goes on.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on October 03, 2020, 03:25:52 PM
I've noticed that early Lionel Standard Gauge shows up more that early Lionel O Gauge on eBay AND at the auction houses. When was the last time you saw an original 700, 701, 703, or 706? How about an original clipped corner 800 or 801 or a Wabash or brown or a maroon roof O gauge boxcar? I know a number of us are looking and competing against each other for these but where are they? Do we already own the majority of them? I don't mean to draw attention to them but where are they?
Mike
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on October 03, 2020, 05:26:44 PM
I think standard gauge trains are seem more common because the ones from 1913ish to 1917/18 weren't different. No big changes means a 35 pullman from 1913 and 1916 look the same. They might have produced a thousand a year, but over four years that's 4000 pieces.

The trains you mentioned were produced in small runs as they figured out what to make. So for the 800 boxcar maybe they made 500 in 1915, but there are what 5 or 6 variations. So even if you figure a clean distribution that means there are only a 100 of each variation.

Another factor may be the age. In the mid 1990s, most of the tinplate trains I bought from the original owners were made in the 1950s.  If that means trains pass from the original owners into the hands of collectors at about 40 years old, the majority of the trains from the teens were sold in the 1950s.

Ebay is dead right now. I did my weekly look at every Standard gauge listings ending in the next ten days search last night and only opened a few listings, and added NONE of them to my watch list.

I'm not listing anything good on eBay.  For the month of Sept. my sales in dollars on ebay dropped 40% when looking at weekly figures. The volume is the same, I'm just selling cheaper items because I'm not willing to sell any more  $180-200 locos for $60-80 each.  I'll sell a $6-8 car for $4, but I'm holding the locos.

Here's an easier explanation. . . I do auctions. I list N gauge cars for $3 each and usually get $6-12 each for them. I do 30-50 cars a week. This week I sold almost all of them for only one bid. One bidder bought most of them. With the better HO freight cars new in the box I list at $8 each and get $12-20 each. This week I sold one for $48, and then the rest in the $8-9 range. Two bidders split them. I list the athearn and roundhouse kit cars at $3 or 4 each. They sell for $6-8 with surprises. This week none went for more than $4, and many got no bids at all.

Here we are in the 3rd year of the 2-week shut down to flatten the curve and I think people are tired.   

By the way, I only have the one orange roof wabash 800 with clipped corners. I'd like to get some more. Now that I know there are at least 2 of the 801 cabooses with the NYNHHRR script, I've added that to my list of most desired O gauge.
 
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on October 03, 2020, 06:01:34 PM
I have a NYNH&H caboose, had it for years. Looking for an clipped corner orange roof WABASH or PENN RR.
 
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on October 03, 2020, 07:21:29 PM
That makes three. Those are much more common that I thought!

I checked and I have 3 800 Wabash with clipped corners. One orange roof with No. 800 on right, LL on left on both ends. One brown roof and one maroon with LL on right, No. 800 on left on both ends.

I have a brown roof PENN RR with tall Penn rr, but it does not have clipped corners.

 

 


You want that one with the clipped corners?

In my inventory which is based on your listing in Greenberg book this car is the forth and the next car I have is the green one which does not have clipped corners.

So the tall Penn RR with brown roof is the car that comes with or without clipped corners?
 
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on October 03, 2020, 08:26:24 PM
Jim shows the Wabash car with orange roof and clipped corners with the type 2 end lettering with number on right in this post:

https://www.train99.com/forum/index.php?topic=27.msg280#msg280 (https://www.train99.com/forum/index.php?topic=27.msg280#msg280)
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on October 04, 2020, 09:05:57 AM
I don't know if I'd call the NYNH&H common. As far as I know the brown roof Tall PENN RR and the green 800 did not come with clipped corners. This is based on the ones that I have and the ones I have seen. I have found the orange roof clipped corner 800 to be aloof. The closest I came to one was at YORK a couple of years ago. As I walked up to a table with a number of 800 boxcars I spotted one. But as I was lifting my hand to grab it the guy next to me picked it up. A split second and it was gone.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: romiin on November 03, 2020, 06:40:30 PM
Try buying on ebay when your from Canada.  Not only do you lose about 30 cents on the dollar, then add 30 cents to the dollar of shipping. That's bad enough,  Then half the adds do not international ship. The field starts to get real slim. I search by laptop. It would be great if someone could post some of their search titles. Just to give some other ideas. I have been just searching lionel prewar, usually just under 1000 ads.  Loco
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: starfire700 on November 05, 2020, 03:56:24 AM
Being a seller, I feel your pain. It is shocking to us, as well as you, when we see the price of postage on items we sell. At least the items we send to Canada seem to get through. Lately, some items sent to Germany and Italy have been snagged-up in customs for at least a month, and sometimes come back to us as "undeliverable". The address was right and the buyer confirmed that delivery was never attempted, just sent back for no good reason.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on November 05, 2020, 11:26:22 AM
If you live close enough to the border, get a PO box on the US side. I don't ship internationally, but do have buyers in Canada and Mexico who have mailing addresses in the US. I also have a repeat buyer in South America who has a family member in Miami bring the trains down in suitcases.

I found out last week when I wrote an article on Managed Payments that I was paying eBay extra charges based on the buyers residence, even when I ship to US address.

From the eBay site:

Quote
"This fee is calculated as 1.65% of the total amount of the sale and is automatically deducted from your sales” when “the buyer's registered address is outside the US (regardless of the delivery address for the item)”

Only game in town.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: romiin on November 05, 2020, 07:38:50 PM
Appreciate that some ship to Canada,  Ya that shipping is what puts it over the top, I find the price for cars are not that unreasonable, at least the ones I'm after.  I realize some sellers probably had a few bad experiences shipping internationally,  so only ship US.  I could get a mailbox in Orville Washington, Its about 1hr and 45 minutes from my place .  Loco
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: starfire700 on November 08, 2020, 05:16:42 AM
The US mail box would save you a lot on future purchases.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on November 10, 2020, 10:09:09 PM
I just had a first on eBay.

Last night I had 40 auctions end. None - NOT ONE - got a single bid. I've never had that happen before.  Depending on what I list I usually sell 75-100 percent of my listings.

Wednesday night my other eBy account has 47 auctions ending with 18 having bids.

I've never seen it like this. Buyers must be terrified.

I went to the local Fry's Electronics store last Tuesday. Fry's is the size of 4 BIG grocery stores. HUGE. They only had ONE PERSON working the whole sales floor. Which was fine because it was only me and a pair of old men shopping.  They had two cash register attendants and a manager at the front of the store.

This store has 26 cash registers and usually it takes 15-20 minutes of waiting to get to an open register.  The whole back off the store was computers and big screen tvs. Now it's just empty.

Customer service was great! I did get the connectors I need to put the relays under the layout so I'm OK. $10 plus 8% tax for a hundred. Amazon was $8 plus tax and 6 shipping and delivery not expected until December 10th.

Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: early0electric on November 17, 2020, 03:33:23 PM
I also sell on eBay, not to the extent that you and Jim do, but it runs hot and cold. Also, with the current conditions, there are 2 ways to look at things. Either people are keeping their money close due to economic considerations or they are looking for some comfort in making a purchase.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: starfire700 on November 20, 2020, 04:44:11 AM
You would think that stay-at-home mandates would make for great sales, but no so much for individual ebay sellers. Hard to know exactly when ebay hides listings, but sometimes it seems like a roulette wheel. We joke when we have a sudden string of sales, that someone at ebay accidently left our store lights on and the door open.
Title: State of the train marketplace.
Post by: Terry on December 04, 2020, 09:59:07 PM
I looked at all the ebay listings in the standard gauge category tonight. I do this once a week.

I bookmarked one item I might bid on but probably won't.

That's it.

I grabbed another early Lionel O gauge loco this week in a buy-it-now listing because I have poor impulse control.

There is nothing there.

Last week was nothing at all.

I watched about an hour of a Bertoia train auction last month. I was after a Lionel 1910 loco, but didn't get it. The trains seemed to be going cheap, but I'm not familiar with early European trains. Lots of them did not reach low estimates and sold for less. Only the American Miniature RR trains consistently met and blew past estimates.

Based on what I'm seeing the bottom has dropped out of the common just good trains to play with, but not all buyers know this so some sellers are still getting the prices from 6 months ago.

Earlier this week I scrolled through the 50 most recently ended Lionel Standard Gauge listings. Only 11 had ended with buyers. That is a 22 percent sell through rate.

Just now - Friday night - I saw 26 of 50 sold for a 52 percent rate. That might be high as someone sold a catalog collection one at a time with low opening bids.

Here's a link so you can count for yourself:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=lionel&_sacat=180508&_sop=1&rt=nc&LH_Complete=1&_ipg=50 (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=lionel&_sacat=180508&_sop=1&rt=nc&LH_Complete=1&_ipg=50)

Based on what I see, that is  a good range. 20-50 percent. Probably usually closer to 20 percent.

This week I have been selling Postwar transformers on eBay. I put cords on them and spritz them with Lemon Pledge and away they go. The Christmas trains I held all year mostly brought good money. Any G gauge track sells, but I can't give away Lionel tubular track. I just listed more tonight for a dollar a section.

I threw out all the Marklin HO track, and all the 027 track. If you put it in the big garbage can at the bottom, it cleans out the can when the truck comes by and dumps it. I never know if I should put it in the recycle can so I alternate.

Here's a transformer I sold this week. First broken train this year:

 


It's common to say that's the temp. workers, but it could just be a worker having a bad day. I'll refund the buyer's money and then file an insurance claim. Then I'll sell him another one!

Shifting gears. . .

I looked at a collection a while back, and I am scared to put out the money. This collection has two stucco 184 bungalows that I'll keep. That's it. I can buy them on eBay anytime I want for $30-50 each. More than the money, I don't want to store the trains and then have them be worth less when I go to sell them.

There will not be any shows until at least April. Denver and LA are both saying they want 60% vaccination rates before they allow large gatherings, and even then, they'll require masks and distancing.

Based on the outdoor show we had here last month, lots of people knew about it, but did not go because they were afraid to get sick.

My friends and I are going to start a monthly Parking lot swap meet in Jan. But that's more fellowship than sales.

eBay is done.

I can't rely on eBay going forward. . . The payments system is a mess, the help staff is ignorant and just doesn't care. I'm tired of it.

I call to order a pizza and the place knows who I am and what kind of pizza I buy. I think they have their phone caller ID connected to a database. I have eBay call me repeatedly about me not getting my money since November 3rd, and every time it's a new person and I have to start all over.

"Let me put you on hold so I can look into this. . . "

It's too aggravating.

That's the smaller eBay account so I just gave up and told them to mail me a check. I'm done.

Instead of listing on eBay twice a week, I'll list once a week and do something else.  I keep driving past the golf course and thinking I should play a round. I haven't played in years.

But the good news is I'm having fun with my layout. I'm going to wire the middle loop this weekend so I can run two trains with relays. I'm also going to start painting the wood for the standard gauge layout this weekend.

I think one of the important things in life is  having something to look forward to. I'm really looking forward to running the state set past the 921 scenic park.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: pjdog350 on December 05, 2020, 05:26:33 AM
Interesting post Terry.

Trains are not money to me they are Therapy. It's how I deal with life. Running, fixing & restoring old trains helps me deal with life.

2020 been a B**ch!
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: romiin on June 24, 2021, 04:55:52 PM
   I know this is an old post, but nothing has changed on ebay. I search it every day and never seen it so dried up. I usually have at least a dozen items of interest in my watch list. Some I want and some I'm just interested to see what they sell for.  But I only have one item in my watch list right now and it ends tonight.  I bid on a couple items, but the price started to get a little rich for me, so dropped out. Like I said in an earlier post, I have to consider dollar exchange rate on the item and shipping.  I hope the covid restrictions ease up soon so some train sellers can get back out to buy stock to put on ebay. Geees. Loco
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: Terry on June 24, 2021, 05:11:32 PM
This is why people start buying other items. Finding and buying is the reward.

I'm seeing some nice stuff on Liveauctions and Invauable but eBay is iffy.

I want the other Lionel Mountain that's coming up this weekend, but it's going into a high range. 

I did grab an 801 caboose with clipped corners a few days ago. 
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: romiin on June 24, 2021, 07:43:22 PM
   Glad you scored something Terry.  I thought after I had my big 800 series train complete,  I would quit.  But I think I'm addicted.  I'm looking for a 250 or 252 engine with the 529/530 passenger cars in terra cotta.  I might have to buy the engine separate from the cars see what comes along.  My wife is giving me the stink eye, it does add up. The older I get the more I just want to be a kid again. Like pjdog350 said (they are therapy) .It is a great hobby to get lost in.  I see other auctions, but I quess I just feel safe on ebay.  I have had great experiences with all my transactions and shipping too. Loco
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: pjdog350 on June 25, 2021, 03:11:11 AM
I decided to make a military train. Paid over 30 dollars for plastic 1/48 scale Sherman tanks. Just a few years ago they where 5 bucks? What happened. I got 8 0r 9 flat cars from terry and I want tanks for them. At 80 years old paying that for plastic models is stupid. But as Loco just said I treat this as therapy. These are hard times. Age and cv-19 and the government I need something to take the edge off of life.
Title: Re: Searching for trains on eBay
Post by: romiin on June 25, 2021, 07:38:15 AM
   Hope you post a couple picture when you get it all together.  Your right with all the s### going on in the world today you do need a good distraction. I smile every time I look at the trains. I just have mine as display only at the moment, but who knows I might take a notion and build a layout one day. This place is about an hour from me I have to go check it out http://www.osoyoosrailroad.com/ .  Big indoor layout.  Who doesn't want to be a kid again.  :D Loco