All, Here's my situation: Got 6 DRGW quad hoppers through eBay. Offered the opportunity to purchase up to maybe 100 more cars, if I was interested. This will be done away from eBay, to avoid the outrageous costs! First and second runs, from sounds of it. May be several sets of multiple numbers. Up to 16 cars per set. Again, from sounds of it. I currently do NOT know any more. Hoping seller contacts me soon. Or, I'll recontact him about said cars. At this point, my concern is, what would be considered a decent, but fair price on these cars?? Any information is much appreciated!! Thanks.
First off, understand that you are technically violating eBay terms of service with such a transaction. Happens every day, and can't say I haven't possibly done something similar. Allegedly. But more importantly, you won't have the buyer protection if something goes awry. So that's all of a sudden a lot more money at stake with less CYA. (see above about "scam") Higher risk, but of course higher reward if the price is right. One thing, I would wait until you get the others first, and maybe pay for insurance/tracking. Then you have a "audit trail" so to speak. I would personally be very nervous with the type of dollars you're talking. So having said all of the disclaimers... I assume you're talking RTR Trainworx cars, and I've seen them go all over the map price-wise. Obviously, if someone is selling 100 of them they're probably "motivated sellers". And not many folks are gonna have a thousand bucks sitting around burning a hole in their pocket. These MSRP'd starting at $16 and now are pushing $25 for the latest UP run. If you averaged to $20.50 as your starting basis, then you can decide how much off MSRP you want to offer. You can figure deep discount is 30%, and probably anything more than 50% off would be moving into "lowballing" range, depending on the condition of course. So $10.25 is probably a number to look at sitting at 50% off MSRP. If they're weathered/no box you have a little more bargaining room. Looks like a recent auction went for about $12/car so they're obviously not fetching crazy high prices. Given the volume and the fact they probably are anxious to sell and avoid fees, I'd probably throw out $8 and see what happens. If you're really jonesing for 100 of these, then maybe adjust accordingly.
Which is one reason I'm waiting, as I want to find out more information first. Says he's also got a large collection of Santa Fe equipment as well. I don't plan on doing much more right now, until I find out more. Until then......I wait.
But, with the way ebay violates the rest of us........ Plus, seller I'm working with made the suggestion. And from I've seen/heard, I do NOT blame seller for trying to make an off site deal. It's MUCH cheaper!! And with the outrageous fees, that's why I have NOT sold anything for many years now!! I still buy on rare occasion, but only if I feel the need to add to my collection, or it's something that I do not have in my collection. Whether it be trains, or Rio Grande paperwork, forms etc..... Just gonna wait and see what happens, before I decide what to do, if anything.
I have made similar transactions with ebay sellers before. I always use PayPay even when doing it outside of ebay as it gives you a little bit of protection. Not as much as the ebay transaction will, but a lot more than if you send the guy a check! So far I've had good luck...knock on wood!
193 feedback. All positive, with 26 in last 30 days. Looks like several repeat buyers also. No negative/neutral. Will ask about extra photos, if/when I hear something. Lived in Santa Fe, now Ontario, Canada. Says he's changing focus on railroad. Promising, but going slow.
Looking at his feedback (completed auction list, two lots of three) he seems to be on the up and up. I don't know what your best offer was on those two auctions, but judging from other auctions and the quantity you are looking at, the $8 a piece price suggested would seem to be a good price.
Rod Von Bernuth (spelling?) here is from Grand Junction, and he always seems to have them in stock. I suggest contacting him, if this one falls thru. I always intended on buying amore TW quads, always seem to buy something else first. If they are RTR cars, new in box, I would pay not more than 15$/car. Kits used to go for around $10/kit, but you needed to add trucks/couplers. If they are RTR but used or modified like already stated, be very careful what is being offered.
Since the DRGW GP40 order that was sold from under me, by NSS, I've been getting most of my N Scale through Rod! Have several truck trailers waiting for me as it is. But, the DRGW flat cars I've got on order are delayed yet, for unknown reasons. That's gonna smart a bit once they arrive!! Need to check my car numbers again and make a list. See if there would be many duplicates in what I'm looking at. Not enough time or money!! The #$+%)&+* Dr bills get most of the money right now!
You only violate the eBay rules if you sell something off-eBay that was originally listed on eBay. Follow-up sales of different items never listed on eBay is something they have no say so in. People find a seller on eBay and sometimes ask via PM if they have any other items to sell, or if they ever find any, to contact them. Don't let eBay scare you with non-facts.
What he is doing...is violating eBay policy. Fact. That's not saying he's breaking the law or that eBay will go after him for damages. But, they don't have to let him play on their website anymore either. Are they going to spend the time to mess with it? Probably not unless he uses PayPal and it gets flagged. (so, legit eBay/PayPal transaction of $40 followed by PayPal transaction to same recipient for $1000 with no corresponding auction...probably throws a flag somewhere.)
Got an email, with a link to photos of the cars in question. Appear to be virtually new. Looks like some stock coal loads may have had real coal added. No weathering and equipped with MT trucks/couplers. Could be interesting.
A long time ago, I sold an Rc nitro truck on ebay. Shipped with confirmation, showed it delivered. The buyer contacted me and said a piece was broken in shipping. I refunded the shipping, just to be fair. Two days later the money he had paid to paypal was gone. He paid with a charge card, so he called the card company and told them he did not authorize the charges. I contacted ebay and paypal, with shipping info and the emails about damages, and the shipping refund. They did nothing to help me. Nothing whatsoever. $365.00 total cost to me. What have I learned? No charge cards when I sell big ticket items. When buying big ticket items pay with a card. (because they care more about your/their money) SO.......for extra insurance, just in case, pay with a charge card.
Keith, that sounds like a good opportunity to stock up on a Rio Grande staple freight car! Hope you can work a deal...that will be quite a sight so see all of those cars.
And with a serious fleet of GP30/35/40, SD40T2 and SD50's, I think I've got power covered!! If duplicate numbers, I've got a few choices available: 1. Sell the duplicates, if anyone interested. 2. Run "As Is". And hope anyone with a sharp eye, does NOT notice several cars with the same number! Like my 35 car Atlas train! 3. Find correct Micro Scale decals and renumber the duplicates. I know of one person that would do almost anything to get more of the TW cars! Out of maybe 80 Trainworx quads, I've got maybe 35 Rio Grande. The rest are a mix of Burlington Northern, Burlington, Missouri Pacific and Great Northern. Definitely gotta get more Rio Grande!! Waiting on a final count of how many cars I may have access to. And maybe what the asking price may be on said cars.
Keith, I am in the market for the following if the price is decent: (1 or 2) DRGW "Flying Rio Grande" (No Action Road/Action Railroad sublettering) (1) D&RGW "Flying with Reddy" (1 or 2) MoPac Eagle from the early run (1) C&EI Buzzsaw
