Buying preowned "stuff" on line

Hi All.    You pays your money and you makes your choice? Some of my purchases on line? Have been disappointingto say the least ? i.e. I sent for some preowned Hornby carriages online from a reputable source(four to be exact) and to my surprise I had a train of four passenger brakes. But I don't think whoever packed them knew what they were doing? So to save a fuss I kept them. But I have read a strange story, now that so many collectors/ investors are buying preowned , there is a demand for "The original boxes" and there are/ is a Company/ or Companies that can meet this demand. Whether or not that includes Hornby or not I don't know, but it does include diecast cars.
All the best. Kevin

I would steer clear of second hand from unknown sources.  A lot of it dates from the 70s and 80s and is pure dross.  Get a good picture and make sure you understand the provenance of the thing. 

John

Hi John.   Thank you for your reply. As I said "Model Numbers on the Boxes" don't mean a thing? and if you are going to run em? who needs boxes. But refer th the catalogues, at least , or consult with YMRC band of experts.All the best. Kevin

''Buyer beware'' or ''Caveat emptor'' if you get to court. The risk however is always on the buyer and complaining is fruitless.


Online auction descriptions nowadays seem to often include a phrase like,' please study the photographs, which form part of the description'. This phrase rings warning bells with me for a possible seller who doesn't know the items they are selling and don't want to take full responsibility for their listings. Solution: avoid!   


I never buy used stock now, unless I can personally inspect it.


Bill  

I'm selling my 4mm collection but try very hard to make the potential customer understand what he's getting.  I take pictures and even repair/refurbish stock that isn't quite up to snuff.  Then again my prices aren't going to break the bank, I understand what prices the 2nd hand market will bear.

John

Hi Kevin,

90% of what I buy (locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, turnouts) is used. I've had a few "lemons" over the years, nearly all of them from the UK (I had  to threaten one seller with a solicitor's letter and a dunning action a few years ago when he thought that being 3000 miles way made him immune from returning my money), I've also  had quite a few gems (nearly all from Canada/US). Buying at shows or swap meets normally allows you  to test it, and always take along a fresh 9v battery, the terminals are  pretty much HO/OO gauge. If it won't run or run smoothly with 9v, chances are  it will be same on the track. Reputable sellers at shows will allow you to test it on he test track, money back if it doesn't work properly. And always get a receipt.

Ask questions and get it in writing (or the electronic equivalent). And on ebay always check the seller's feedback to see what other punters say. If the seller doesn't answer your questions or professes not to know, don't buy. And keep away from "I don't know anything about model trains" and "I am unable to test it" or even worse "estate sale, untested" statements. That and "from my personal collection" when the seller is listed as having several thousand sales. If you are selling a locomotive you should test it. Like London buses, there will be another one sooner or later.

Our favorite online auction house has got a lot better regarding description requirements. In the model train category it's incumbent on the seller to grade the item. And describe any issues that could affect the value. Sellers ignore this at their peril. That, not the photographs, rules. If the seller doesn't show in focus photographs of everything and list the issues they are responsible. When I sell on ebay I list the issues if known, photograph them, and give an appropriate grading. I also give a no questions asked return policy, and offer to fix unknown problems at my cost including postage.

I recently had a purchase where the seller described a "smudge" on the roof. Fuzzy photo, but a good price, so I knew what I could be getting into. That smudge was some serious paintwork damage with gouges. Bit worse than I was expecting. The chassis and DCC decoder alone are worth twice what I paid, so a bad body shell that is repairable is not so bad. Now I have a system that seems to work. I sent the seller a message pointing out the inadequacy of the description. As expected, the response was "well, what do you expect at that price" (the other is usually "sorry about that, how about a $5/$10 refund?). What I (and ebay) actually expect is honesty. So the seller got what he deserved, which is a negative rating (and a complaint to ebay and Paypal). That hurts in the long run, as selling fees go up and buyers do look at the ratings. ebay has a good complaint service, and in most cases you can get the cost of the goods and the postage back. Check whether the sale is insured by ebay/Paypal.

It pays to research what you are looking for and know what the issues are. One example that you and I have discussed are older Proto2000 diesel locomotives, which all suffer from split axles. Easily repairable, and one of the questions that should be asked, as it immediately knocks off $20.00 from the selling price if not done (it's a question of not if but when they will fail). This problem is also endemic with older Bachmann GWR Manor's, and that one is definitely not repairable. Knowing about the potential issues allows you to ask the right questions.

The issue of boxes is simple. Unless the box is in original condition along with the model it's worthless. That's for the hoarders, collectors and investors. That said, if it's not stated, ask if it has the original box. Personally I don't care whether it's in it's original box or a cornflakes box. As long as it's well packed for shipping and works properly.

Nigel

Hi Nigel. Thank you again. On the subject of test tracks, that is the thing that I liked about Warley, when I went.Buy a Loco and see it run, yippee? Or return it. And what you said about 3,000 miles, that is what I meant about
Prices on $'s , and why I only wish that I was into model railways, all the times I crossed the pond. Which was in truth probably my reason for giving up model railways 40 odd years ago.  All the best. Kevin

Hi John.     I hope you are well. Would it not be a "wrench to sell your collection?"Shipping to the UK would be expensive, if you put it on the YMRC forum? For sale. It is a nice idea though.
All the best. Kevin

Hi Kevin, you are right it is a bit of a wrench.  I did argue with myself, but asked whether I really wanted to do 0 gauge - answer yes.  You only get one go at life, so better make the most of it.  My sale has been going extremely well raising funds that can be used to buy 0 gauge stuff.  I'm just finalizing a big sale so won't have much left after this - yay!   :chicken

I did consider posting my list here, but, as you say, postage to the UK is pretty steep and may not be worth it for most people - a bit like coals to Newcastle.

John

Hi John.   I am always talking to myself? But I don't argue with myself, not too often anyhow??  Kevin

I always talk to myself, Kevin.

I often need an expert opinion.   

Hi Max.  When I need an opinion I always ask myself , but one should not have arguments???  Kevin

Rhetorical questions don't work with me, the advice is normally terrible (Go on son, you can do it! Easy peasy! How difficult can that be? Uh oh). Then again, no point in asking somebody else either…

The learning curve in this hobby can often times be a bitter cup, drunk frequently it seems.

Nigel

[user=1632]BCDR[/user] wrote:

Rhetorical questions don't work with me, the advice is normally terrible (Go on son, you can do it! Easy peasy! How difficult can that be? Uh oh). Then again, no point in asking somebody else either…

The learning curve in this hobby can often times be a bitter cup, drunk frequently it seems.

Nigel

Hi Nigel.   The term I am familiar with is " Go On My Son".     Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Not in Hogs Norton.

Nigel

Hi Nigel.   Fair Enough! How's your railway running ?  All the best. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Complete rationalization of projects and a rethink about where I want to go. Sold a lot of items (still ongoing). I decided to go almost 100% HO, one plank for the EM stock to play around with (5 feet plus 3 feet fiddles either end). Four modules 2 x 4 feet for the HO, plus a test track. Access to my Daughter's garage, so a lot more space.

Nigel

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

''Buyer beware'' or ''Caveat emptor'' if you get to court. The risk however is always on the buyer and complaining is fruitless.


Online auction descriptions nowadays seem to often include a phrase like,' please study the photographs, which form part of the description'. This phrase rings warning bells with me for a possible seller who doesn't know the items they are selling and don't want to take full responsibility for their listings. Solution: avoid!   


I never buy used stock now, unless I can personally inspect it.


Bill  

The converse to the seller not knowing exactly what they have in hand is that one can sometimes pick up some real gems. The photos can be of great assistance in these cases.

I don't mind buying damaged goods if they are correctly described and shown properly in the photos. I make my own assessments as to what is repairable, or, as someone else said, if there is greater value in the contents than just the damaged body. I have bought a good many bargain sound-equipped locos with a view to re-using the decoder and speaker elsewhere. In several cases, I have basically gained a £10 locomotive with a sound decoder at full price; in every case, the loco has been one I wanted for other purposes, so overall, I'm ahead.

Hi Nigel.   Thank you for your reply," Rationalisation " you say? does that include your Daughters car?It still seems that you must have a large stable, if you have got enough stock with eleven foot of plank including the fiddle yards and 16' x 2' of modules. I never gave even one fiddle yard a thought when I constructed either of my planks, but, they are meant to be "Portable" and " Train" or " Bus" friendy. As for the modules? I haven't even decided on a permanent design, while I'm "fiddling about with ideas they have become bench space". And that old subject of dirty track keeps raising its ugly head, I run the Locos on the Woodland Scenics wheel cleaner, and let them spin their wheels at slow speed at each end a couple of times, followed by "Lighter Fluid with Cotton Buds along the track" and still they stall on a "Straight Length of Track".  All the best. Kevin

Hi Jeff.  Thank you for your reply. My first mistake? was buying a "Pre owned" Hornby Schools Class "Repton" from Hattons, I  had not even heard of, let alone  know it was "Tender Drive", it does run on DC, but I haven't a clue about hard wiring or if it is possible to hard wire it for DCC. It is a strange loco, even though it is tender driven, the tender has to be coupled to the Loco before it will move. It could remain in the background , on a shed road, or chugging up and down on a separate line?     All the best. Kevin