Large Scale Central

Need Values Advice

Modeling Motive Power
#1

I need some help from some of you fellows that have had experience purchasing or selling used locomotive inventories. I have a friend that has suffered health setbacks and is divesting his G scale rolling stock. I have searched around to get an idea for him of approximate values but have fallen short in getting any good information. I thought perhaps some of you might have experience/ideas on relative values of motive power. He has the following equipment that he will eventually sell. All the equipment is either mint or excellent+ condition. I estimate his equipment is between 10 and 12 years old. I even think he may have the original boxes, but not sure about that. Nothing has been stored outdoors, nor run very much perhaps with the exception of one or two items I will note below:

Bachmann K-27 with the shelter on the tender, rarely run

LGB F-7 Santa Fe ABA warbonnet set with sound, run some

USA F-3 Santa Fe ABA warbonnet set with sound rarely run

LGB Santa Fe Mogul, with sound (I think two) rarely or never run

A european locomotive (large) that I was not familiar with, run some

MTH large yard switcher (don’t recall the road name or model) he report a great runner

LGB Forney custom painted with passenger cars (3) his favorite and may not sell

In addition, he has a LGB streamliner set (Santa Fe)

6 or 8 AMS box/cattle cars and numerous other LGB rolling stock, I have not seen all of it.

Much more I haven’t had the opportunity to inventory yet. I apologize for not posting photos here. I’ve had no success to date doing so. Must be my thick head. Perhaps I can eventually figure it out. I’ve not taken any images yet, but will.

I know my descriptions are poor, but I am hoping some of you might have an idea of a range of values for the motive power. As I mentioned, all of his equipment is in near mint condition, even the equipment he has run some. He is a private person and did not want to post here himself, hence I offered to help in order to get him some ideas on values he might consider asking. I suspect he may eventually post here himself or perhaps with my help…his decision. Anyway, I would appreciate any advice you might offer in order to get him started. He is by the way not giving up railroading, but moving to HO narrow gauge in house. Already has acquired some Blackstone equipment and rolling stock (really neat stuff). He is an accomplished modeler. Thanks again for any help you can offer.

#2

Rich,

If you want to get the values there are auction house sites that deal in trains that you can review some previous sales for some pricing. Some of the reviews done on this forum will help you see a street value on some equipment.

Not to stir any flames, but you should begin this quest by lowering your appraisals of your friends equipment. If they have been run they are not ‘Mint’. If they don’t have the original packing they may reach ‘excellent’ but no farther. There are books that tell of how to rate them.

Hope this helps.(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#3

Thank you Dave. I have no intent of lowering my friends values. I simply thought I was providing as accurate an assessment as I could. Good advice to check the auction house sites. I will do that.

#4

Rich, no you do not want to undervalue his collection. But keep in mind, an item is only worth what someone wants to pay. I have seen LGB 2 bay hopper cars go at auction from anywhere form $30 each to $110 each. So a value assigned to an item is still just an educated guess, and the market may or may not agree at any given time.

#5

If you or he has the time and ambition to sell everything piecemeal you will likely net a great deal more than selling as a lot or several large lots. The lot is easier to sell to dealers and other re-sellers, but you will only get low ball wholesale. Selling a collection can be extremely time consuming. I sold a small HO collection of mine about 5 years ago on eBay; one piece at a time. It took me nearly three months working 3-4 hours a day.

#6

I have helped sell some collections and here is what I do:

  1. I test all electronics to be sure they operate correctly

  2. I clean units up

  3. I offer these to my friends/club members first, no elaborate packing of Ebay/Paypal/shippiong fees.

  4. After all this I now place items on Ebay, some sell quickly, some take a long time.

Note that when shipping items in original boxes I find it necessary to add packing in the boxes to further protect the goods, and if no original box then bubble wrap is great but remove fragile items and pack separately and place cardboard/styrofoam behind railings.

#7

Guys, thank you for your advice. I will follow it. There is no hurry on his part. I will pass your suggestions on and see about any original boxes he has and help him photograph his inventory. I don’t know how he feels about EBay, but as you point out there are other sources, especially here. Stay tuned. Thanks again.

#8

The Facebook G Scale Swap shop page has had good business. I bought a couple of things from there, using Paypal. So you avoid the Ebay commission, which runs about 15% but you do get wider coverage there and potentially better prices.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/437493469620109/

#9

Thanks Jerry. I’ll look at it.