Hi, I recently acquired these from a late family member. I am not a model train person and I am not sure what I have. If you could please look at these pictures and please let me know if they are worth anything or if they are still useable. Thanks in advance for your help.
They are worth something. How much, I cannot say. The market would need to determine that value. What I am seeing, some of those items must date from the early 1970's, and back into the 1960's. Possibly even somewhat earlier.
Some nice stuff in what looks like pretty good condition. I personally would hang on to a lot of it just out of nostalgia.
If you aren't going to be a model railroader, I'd put it on that auction web site bay thing. I'd start bidding at .99 cents and let the market determine the value. No reason to fill your house with junk, and that is just more junk if you aren't going to use it.
I agree and also let us know when these go on eBay as I'm sure at least a few of us may have some interest.
Blue box, even yellow box Athearn. I wonder if there are any HiF drives (rubber band)? Heavyweight Athearns still available ready-to-run, last I checked. Tyco, not much. Action structures....kitbash fodder. As said, something, but not much on mass produced plastic. Still, if you're not into them for much, you'll make something. Dave
Thanks for all your answers. I have no need for these and I am not planning on becoming a model railroader. I guess eBay will be the best bet for these. I need to figure out the shipping costs for all these since they were given to me in two big boxes. I will try to package them safely in one larger box and I will find out from FedEx how much they will charge for ground shipping. I will definitely post a link here or I will start a new thread with the eBay link. Thanks again. Take care.
You could acquire a nice chunk of change selling these items individually or in small batches. I find that large batches don't garner as much interest as small ones. For instance, I have seen a set of six cars go through 4 or 5 six day auctions without a bid, while I would have bid on one or two of them if they were listed individually. Of course there would be a lot more work involved listing them individually or in small batches. And one should always take into account that....one mans trash is another man's treasure!
As trainman-ho mentioned you will do better - I think - breaking it up into smaller or individual pieces. A bit more effort but I think it would pay off for you. There are lots of folks who will have interest in a few pieces, or maybe just one - and won't want to put forth dollars on items they don't want or need. Or you could even group them into smaller categories if you don't want to sell each piece by itself - anything to make the items more attractive to the buyer. Not saying you couldn't sell a large lot such as that on ebay, but I think you would be forfeiting $$$.
The down side to allowing "cherry picking", is you may end up with the stuff nobody wants at all. If you make decent money on the rest, pitch the leftovers.
Not necessarily. If the whole lot is offered as a whole, they will miss the greedy cherry pickers who tend to bid stuff out the roof. Those greedy little cherry pickers should make bring the whole value up - and what doesn't sell, pitch - or sell at a yard sale.
On further review.....yeah I guess you did! Great post (sorry I guess the day has got to me after all)
Where do you live. Maybe someone here could stear you to a club or resaler that may be interested. If your close I may have an interest but if your far the shipping could make a big difference.
Just repeating what has been said. I would split it into individual items. Some items may go for more money than others, but selling it all as one will reduce the price overall.
I think he or she (OP) just wants the stuff out of their house. One or two boxes is easier for them to get rid of stuff quickly.
Tossing it out with the trash would be the quickest way to get rid of it, but probably wouldn't pay as much.....I think he or she is looking for the best way to get rid of it...at least that's my read on it, although I've been wrong before..
