$95 plus $26 shipping for an old Athearn GP9 and bad custom paint? Ouch! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Blu...748267?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item416d7c792b
That's not even old blue box. Motor held in with the rubber mount, no screws, later trucks. What's with the unpainted shell in one photo? Odd. Five bucks for parts.
Exaclty. I picked up 5 old rubber band drive GP9's in decent B&O paint six months ago for $20 bucks the whole lot just to gut them for detailing and painting practice for use as "yard fillers". They obviously don't have a clue what they are selling: "... This looks to me like it is all intact. I don’t notice any missing railings or windows or lights...."
The first thing that gave it away for me was that it was an 8-wheeled GP9, I don't believe there are many GP9's with a different number of wheels
I like the random picture thrown in of the top of a totally different loco. As if he hadn't gone overboard on the redundant amount of pictures taken already.
Maybe we shouldn't be picking on him, but I can't resist posting this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Blu...405881?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3f1e300fb9 Aside from the crazy price, it's listed as "undecorated". As in painted black over Santa Fe. The Santa Fe lettering is still visible on the sides if you look close enough. You think he just doesn't know better?
After seeing those pricings in the N scale topic, I can only wonder if these are just wild stabs and nothing more. The problem is we have are people out there who will buy such items.
And there's the additional problem that a lot of people think that if something is old, it's worth a lot, regardless of condition or rarity (or lack thereof...).
I'd say your right, most of what I say are stabs in the dark and mistakes that went unnoticed like $800.00 International shipping from Canada for a Shinohara switch. http://www.ebay.com/itm/WALTHERS-SH...888785?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item43b73abcd1
I see that the seller I've been picking on sells about 100% of his items by "best offer accepted". So maybe you could pick up that GP-9 for $5, but the shipping would still kill the deal.
USPS Priority Flat Rate should be a cheaper option. I tried the listing shipping calculator and to get into my hands would be just shy of $20.00.
We had one on another forum in 2-rail 0 gauge. Guy on evilbait selling a "Vintage Lobaugh " steamer....except it wasn't. Wanted about $150 MORE than Lobaughs are currently going for, and the boiler anyway is ScaleCraft with what appears to be a homemade drive and possibly frame. Worth about $50 for parts. Dave
Referring back to the 1st post, I think his trading name tells you whether or not he knows what he's about. And if you think $26 postage is exhorbitant, you want to see what's on my computer, how about $234.15!!!!!!!!!?? Seems the further you are away the betteer a "mark" you must be.
As for overpriced eBay items, I do like the other end of the spectrum too. People that sell treasures for nothing...like the Lotus that sold for $50.00
I usually don't have THAT much luck. I have yet to run across a Bachmann EM-1 w/ DCC & Sound for $19.95
Never underestimate the gullibility of the shopping public. Seems to be the philosophy of some of these sellers.