You could just change the word 'beanie baby' to Lionel and the article would still mostly be accurate (less the Princess Diana Lionel train set). Funny thing was the ex was into collecting BB's and probably still has a box somewhere filled with them. She also collected 'collector' plates for awhile too. There used to be stores that only sold collector plates. I remember that Sacramento had two or three stores (and it really isn't that big of a city). One day the stores were there, and seemingly the next day they were all gone. Lets see: she also collected Swarovski crystal and Lladro figurines...I don't believe either are worth that much as well. If it was 'collectible', it seemed like she collected it. Back on topic...as the article points out, it is the impression that something is valuable and 'rare' that drives this. While there are SOME Lionel engines that are valuable...but they are usually VERY OLD, and only in if they are in mint UNPLAYED WITH condition, and in the mint original box, most are not worth much if anything. But the perception is Lionel is valuable, therefore ALL model trains are valuable, regardless of the sale, and older is better. The only N scale that I ever considered 'collectible' is Micro Trains. Limited runs and if they do a road/paint scheme a second time, it has a different road number. But even THAT bubble burst in the 2008 housing bubble. I had bought the GN 'circus' boxcars because I was buying everything printed for a west coast road. When I sold them (because of the prices they were going for on EBay) I think I averaged about $100 a car (retail was $9-$15 each). I have, in the last year or so, bought almost all of the cars again for under $15 each. Still, sellers will try and sell MT cars at 'pre-bubble' prices (where cars could be valued at hundreds and even thousands of dollars) and not understand why they don't sell. I learned long ago, not to buy things because I thought they were 'collectible', but because I liked them. I never thought that I would retire with the profits from selling my N scale rolling stock, and, personally, it's worth more to me as rolling stock than as an investment.
There was a person in my town, who opened a Beanie Babies shop right on Main Street, just about a month before the bottom fell out. Wow, did they lose their shirt! Took a huge loss, sold every thing for pennies on the dollar and disappeared.
And yet I see another eBay store with considerably jacked up aftermarket prices on N Scale freight cars. (Not giving any free press via links, but an example is $50 for Intermountain Covered Hoppers... plus shipping, plus tax, plus tax on the shipping.) As Aerosmith once sang, "Dream On"...
I'm of the same mind as you. Back in the 80s, an M-T retailer had a club that with payment, assured members would receive three of every M-T release. One to keep, one to run and one to sell for a profit. Even back then, it must have cost a princely sum to join with a half-dozen or so releases each month.
I can probably guess which retailer that was but it would be in the "woo woo woo" category given TB rules
All- Understand this one is not ebay however it's possibly worth an honorable mention here. The gentleman with this posting is asking $35, at the moment I think any FLOQUIL PAINT,- polly s- etc are worth Their Weight In GOLD! these days. Tom
All- Minitrix N Scale Minitrix Locomotive #908 | eBay < This sold for $41.00 with 11 bids , I hope the purchaser understands that his purchase It is Not Actually made By MINITRIX.. but KITBASHED with the Help of This ATRTICLE ! See First photo and Second Photo It mentions FITTING a ATLAS / MEHANO, LL -LIFELIKE / MEHANO etc SD45 SHELL to the MINITRIX U28C CHASSIS . Tom PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2
All- Here is a New one ! N Scale 2 Locomotive Set w/ Knuckle Couplers & Weathering **Great Condition** | eBay Condition: Seller refurbished < Have to Love this one. Tom
I remember when Jim built his "Cotton Brute". Back in the early N-Trak days. Quite the memory jog there!
I Have to like how ebay sellers Try to pass off another Manufacturer Locomotive shell. > N Scale Lima #7325 #510 Pennsylvania Diesel Locomotive Italy bodies Parts | eBay Please see photos . I clearly see a MINITRIX F9A in PRR road No. 510. I am Laughing at the $ on this one >BACHMANN SCALE: F Diesel Locomotive HONG KONG VINTAGE. FOR REPAIR! | eBay!< Tom
BACHMANN SCALE: F Diesel Locomotive: "does not run when powered" because it is a dummy--it never ran.