I haven't in a while, but when I started N scale a couple years ago, I lucked out big time. One of the sellers, a married couple, lived locally, just a 20-minute drive away, and we met at an outside location where I bought some of what I bid on (a bunch of rolling stock). Later, I was interested in some other items they had, so they just invited me to their home and let me have a pick of what they were selling, which included an Atlas loco and some more rolling stock. I got to know them as friends and run into them at the local model train swap meets. They told me anytime I wanted to buy some of their items, I was welcome to.
EBay and the feeling of winning Hi, I think the person who created EBay is a very smart person. A lot of people like to win and for them it is like gambling. They raise the bit until they win and by that they would pay much more if they buy the item locally. I have noticed a lot of stuff on EBay that cost more than the local store in town. Some people have their own business on EBay and the shipping charge is a tool to add more gain. Some time, very rare and because of its timing you can find something really with a good price. Mo
I play their game, but only bid on things that I want or can use and attempt to only pay up to a discounted price that includes shipping unless it is something that is out of production that I just have to have. I have picked up 3 brass diesel locos at an average price of about $70.00 each and several other locos as well as numerous freight, passenger cars and a few building kits.
I buy and sell on ebay, and I have had 99.5% good luck with it. As far as shipping costs go, they are usually lower than the taxes I would have to pay from a local hobby shop (we pay around 10% sales tax here in the Chicago area, depending on the county you live in). If I am bidding on something that is new and relatively easy to find then I have an ebay discount factor I put into my bidding to allow for the uncertainty of dealing with a non-traditional seller. If its something that is out of production or rare and I want it, I just try to have some willpower. Biggest problem I have with Ebayzon is all the idiotic rules they keep coming up with that it harder for part-time sellers like me to keep selling my excess stuff. It seems like all they want to do is become another "e-commerce" site like Amazon.
Good assessment, traintodd. Certainly it is good in my view as a former part-time seller. I decided not to continue to wade through all the mire. Welcome to TrainBoard! :thumbs_up:
I have finally made the move to prepare to sell a lot of my HO scale stuff. I will NOT be doing it on eBay. I'm going to try to sell it through my Facebook page. Since FB is becoming such a powerful way to reach thousands of friends, I'm thinking to myself...why not give it a try. Unlike eBay, it doesn't cost anything to put pictures of what I have to sell in my photo album there. True, it doesn't have the search functions like eBay and I won't have the exposure; however, I can leave my items posted for as long as I want to. If and when someone comes along that is interested, they can submit an offer via email and I can take it or leave it. I'm hoping that I can even run it like a silent auction. Tell me what you think. I've posted a few items for sale, and I think you should be able to look at them by clicking on the Facebook link in my signature. If not, I just wasted a lot of time and effort; but I'm not out any money!
I have experimented with listing some items in the TrainStore. Listing is cost effective there, but navigating through the items just isn't "user friendly" enough to suit me. It's a good idea, but I couldn't get comfortable with the format. I was wanting an auction format and there isn't one for anything but N scale.
I've bought a few items off ebay, one Atlas GP-40 & some Roundhouse cars. Seems quite often the price can be much higher that sometimes a new item can be from your LHS or other supplier.
There have been umpteen discussion on here about eBay and what is perceived by some to be outrageous shipping shipping charges. Here are the facts about eBay. 1. If you are a buyer on eBay, you may have noticed that there is no longer an option to purchase insurance for an item. That is because eBay has instituted a policy now that treats every seller like any other online vendor in the world and it is the seller's responsibility to make sure the buyer receives the item that they purchased in one piece. In order to do that, the seller has to decide whether to accept the risk of not buying insurance and sending it or buying insurance for everything that they sell. Also, just to prove that the buyer received the item, the seller has to buy (or get for free if they print the postage) Delivery Confirmation. For items with a value over $200, you have to have a signature from the buyer upon delivery. 2. As others have chimed in, a a seller, I could offer First Class as a shipping option, but I have to buy or find a box (I sell a lot more than I buy so I can't 'recycle' very many boxes). To buy a small box at Wal-mart is $1.38 plus the hassle of actually going to buy them. Add to that is that no First Class mail can weigh more than 13 ounces or else it defaults to Priority mail.By the time I add up the cost of First Class mail and a box, it is nearly equal to Priority Mail. I can order 100's of Priority mail boxes for free and they bring them to my doorstep. 3. Priority mail is no longer a flat rate, even under 1 lb. If it is going to a zone far from me, the price goes up. Right now, it is anywhere from $4.95 to $5.35. Add in a minimum of $50 insurance for $1.75 and Delivery Confirmation for $.70. If you add up the above numbers, even at the minimum Priority mail charge, it is $7.40 to mail something under 1lb. I charge $6.95 shipping for any auction that I think will be under 1 lb. Is shipping still outrageous and how much profit am I making??? 4. When you get over 1lb., then the shipping is off the board. I live in Central Nebraska and to ship an item that is 1lb. and 6oz. closeby, it costs $5.00 for Priority Mail. If I ship that same package to California, it costs $8.10. So, as a seller, how do I know what to put in the auction for shipping? Since the majority of population lives on either coast, I put in the worst case scenario so I don't lose my shorts in shipping. Just like any other online retailer, I am not selling these things to lose money. 5. I have been a buyer and seller on ebay for over 12 years and a a buyer, I have had 2 problems that didn't get resolved quickly (out of probably 500 purchases). As a seller, it has become much more difficult to sell because ebay has empowered the buyers to screw the seller any number of ways. The buyer holds all of the leverage. The seller can't even leave Neutral or Negative feedback anymore. The fees have now become a total of 13% of the sale for ebay and Paypal. The bottom line is that eBay is still the best option as a seller because the audience is so much bigger than anything else, period. I personally like the Trainboard Trainstore and the N-Scale Yard Sale as a buyer, but as a seller wanting to get maximum price, eBay is still my best bet strictly because of the audience size. I still believe that eBay is a good place to buy, especially older stuff that won't ever show up anyplace else. if you check feedback and use common sense, you shouldn't have many problems; not to mention that as a buyer, you are in total control of the transaction in ebay's eyes. These are my opinions and experiences and nothing else.
Never been on the site nor plan to. Also I don't use paypal. Maybe it's my age, but I don't deal with people that want to charge a fee for everything. Also I spend more time than I should on the web in the two forums that I am a member. I consider that membership more research than anything else. Just my 2 cents.
I've made well over 100 hassle free purchases on ebay. I don't know what I would have done without ebay. My LHS is a hassle. I visit the Trainboard shop but I am into logging railroad modeling and nothing ever turns up I can use. So count me in as an ebay groupie. Jim
I pretty much agree with Dave. As always, e-Bay is "buyer beware". If you are paying attention, you can't get burned on shipping charges. If they're too high, don't buy! If they're really exhorbitant, REPORT THEM! Dave's info on the post office isn't exactly correct. The post office is moving more and more towards flat-rate shipping. They offer free boxes and the rate is dependent on the size of box. If an item fits into one of their boxes, it will ship anywhere in the US for the same flat rate. International flat rates are also much cheaper now. The post office is also getting smarter. All of their boxes used to be printed on the outside with all the graphics. It was no difficult deal to cut the box open at the seam, reverse it and ship it any way you wanted. No longer true! Now the INSIDE of the box is printed with "priority mail" so you can't use them unless you over wrap them with craft paper. E-Bay is still the driving force in the marketplace. Even those who choose to sell elsewhere still rely on e-Bay for pricing research. Bad experiences on e-Bay? Sure, they exist. But if you do your research, you should be able to avoid the common problems. Check pricing, READ the seller's feedback, determine if shipping charges are fair and use a sniping program if you want to maximize your wins. That last comment should generate some responses. Seems a lot of folks think sniping is somehow "unfair". It's a TOOL, people. Use it or not, but don't try to prevent anyone else from using it. Just my opinions. Discussion is welcomed! Darrell, quiet...for now
I do, I have saved alot of money purchasing items there. If you have concerns about a sellers shipping methods, simply let them know before you bid, most are willing to box items up. Everyonce in a while you'll get the old envelope which is frustrating. Just communicate your requirements with the seller before you commit. I have only had a couple of bad experiences, but E-Bay is pretty good about standing behind the buyer in the event that something goes wrong. Otherwise, e-bay is fast shopping at your fingertips. fatalxsunrider43
I don't believe I have bought anything on eBay in over a year. I still look every week or so for a rare item I have been trying to get for 3 or 4 years. The lesser-rate items made by the same manufacturer often start at $75 and sell for $75 to $100, but the specific item I want -- and it is so darn plain....- only comes up maybe 2 times a year and then goes to 200% to 400% original price. But I keep looking. (I am not even going to say what the item is, for fear for increasing the competition. Maybe I just need to go ahead and scratchbuild my own.)
I still search EckBay. I would only purchase if the sellers accepted a Postal Money Order. I can wait for the item If I won it. I dont/wont ever use PayPal again...EVER...plain and simple. I have had more problems with PayPal then I have ever had with EckBay...JMO..thnxs .
I rarely purchase on ebay. I always ask before I buy and I have never had a vendor refuse a money order.
According to e-Bay rules, sellers MUST accept PayPal and they are not allowed to offer to accept cash, checks or money orders. Even on items that are to be picked up, e-Bay still wants you to pay through PayPal. HOWEVER, a buyer MAY request that a seller accept a money order. The seller doesn't HAVE to accept a money order, but most sellers, in my experience, will do so. I had a few problems with PayPal years ago and went to money orders for all my auction wins. Then e-Bay changed the rules for sellers (I sell occasionally, too) so had to keep my PayPal account active. Haven't had any problems for several years and don't expect to have any in the future. I have a separate bank account linked to PayPal and don't keep much money in the account. If anyone ever hacks into it, they're not going to get much! This account is also at a different bank than the one I use for my personal accounts. I just think it's really smart to keep your money separate! Darrell, quiet...for now
Good thread. I have a question: Suppose you contact the seller and they say that they will accept a money order. What happens to the listing? Does the seller take it off auction? Does ebay find out? Then what happens to the seller? Inquiring minds, Jim
