|
|
 Posted - January 12 2012 : 5:59:22 PM
|
I met up with a lady at lunch today, one I'd just bought some Mantua steam engines and cars from last weekend for $80 at an antique show, anyway, she said she had 5 boxes of trains, turns our more like 10! I was enthusiastic, and went thru all the boxes, and there was quite a bit of HO, also quite a bit of Lionel / O gauge stuff. Nothing spectacular, just old, had Varney, Revell, Hobbyline, Penn Line, etc. Anyway, got to the negotiating, and hit a snag - she wasn't negotiating! I tried in vain to get her to give me a price for all of it, what it finally turned out she wanted was for me to say I'll take it all, and she'd go research it, make up a price for everything, then "give" me 50 percent off. Huh? So, you want me to give you a BLANK CHECK, and just trust your judgement? Some things she had prices on, for example :
Varney A-B F7 diesel pair, $45. Not bad, really
3 Mantua metal flat cars, $16 ( apiece!? I don't THINK so ), other Mantua cars she had priced at $14, 15, 16 each. NOT.
Most stuff she had no prices on. Had LOTS of old buildings, Plasticville, Life Like, etc. Lots of stuff I'd never use, some cardboard buildings from the '40's?, Life Like Lichen and grass. Old cardboard tie HO track. So even after I picked out the HO stuff I was interested in, she didn't want to just take an offer, she wants to research it first, give me a price, and use that. Hmm. Finally I just said to price the stuff I was interested in, and she said she'd bring it to the next show to sell, and I could see it there. I don't know if any of you have dealt with Antique vendors before, but she didn't even know she had Lionel O gauge stuff in with the HO, I was separating it out for her by scale/gauge. Sheesh. Like I"m going to trust HER judgement to spend MY money? Oh well, so this "deal" fizzled, I don't expect much to come of it now, obviously she wasn't willing to deal, she wanted to get a "fair" price, whatever she decided it was. Nope, not playing that game, as she didn't know what anything was worth, thought brass track was worth money. Hmp.   Oh well, next antique show is in 2 months, I'll go and see what she brings, maybe something I'll want enough to negotiate individually for like the last plat of Mantua items. But if you're going to meet up to sell something, don't you think you ought to be willing or ABLE to deal right then and there? I guess she thought I was a rube or something , just sign a check and let her fill it in.  Not likely. Oh well, I'll save my money for other opportunities.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 12 2012 : 6:07:45 PM
|
Tell me about it! Had one guy trying to sell a box of Lionel track ( not much track ) common pier supports set and a rusted and busted Marx tender for $100! Same guy had a yellow box era Athearn caboose and wanted $16 for it! Had no truck or coupler. Body wasn't bad. Then had a BB era F-7 shell all beat up wanting $10! They think becuase its old or a model train, its worth something no matter what!
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3147 ~
Member Since: May 07 2007 ~
Last Visit: March 02 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 12 2012 : 6:11:32 PM
|
When I go to swap meets and I find something that is ridiculously priced I make an offer. Usually I will get countered or the vendor will stay firm, and when he does that I will look at my phone check the bay or some other site and then ask "you here to sell or see who you can rip off?" (Not always like that) if ur still keeps it outragious I'll move along sometimes with some dissapointment in my parting....sometimes works sometimes doesn't
Just my .02
just me Ray... and just because I have Tyco doesn't mean I am not a model railroader
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 506 ~
Member Since: April 03 2011 ~
Last Visit: November 29 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 12 2012 : 6:28:47 PM
|
Got point Ray, the only time I overpay is if its rare or super mint and clean as it can get.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3147 ~
Member Since: May 07 2007 ~
Last Visit: March 02 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 12 2012 : 7:29:42 PM
|
When I see Tyco/trains at an antique dealer or shop. I simply walk away. Haven't these people ever heard of Ebay? These so called "antiques" are quite common but they appearently don't know that yet.
I'm not going to waste my time talking to some idiot who has something marked 4 times what it's worth, then offers me the item for half price!??
These people's day job must be Kroger Stores, who play the same numbers games..
Walt
Luck, usually comes dressed in work clothes...
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 6279 ~
Member Since: February 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: March 04 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 12 2012 : 9:39:47 PM
|
| Let's just say that they don't like me...I come especially equipped with a bubble buster attachment apparently.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 13 2012 : 12:48:08 PM
|
quote:.... I tried in vain to get her to give me a price for all of it, what it finally turned out she wanted was for me to say I'll take it all, and she'd go research it, make up a price for everything, then "give" me 50 percent off. Huh? So, you want me to give you a BLANK CHECK, and just trust your judgement? ...
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â January 12 2012Â :Â 5:59:22 PM
|
That's a borderline scam, if not very strange.
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 825 ~
Member Since: December 22 2008 ~
Last Visit: March 16 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 13 2012 : 1:36:40 PM
|
Antique dealers, by and large, are the type to overprice any model train. Oftentimes, they don't know what they have, and it's all "vintage" or "rare" so therefore it's top dollar. I've seen items less than ten years old claimed to be from the 50's and priced at double MSRP - one that comes to mind is a $150 Atlas-Kato C424 (you know, a loco that wasn't introduced until the mid-60s, so how it can be 50's vintage is beyond me).
It's best just to steer clear unless they're willing to talk. Even then, since many sell furniture, they don't adhere to the bird-in-the-hand philosophy. I always tell them that it's better to sell the item to me now at my offering price than it is to cart the item home and try selling it again at the inflated price, and possibly hang on to it for years.
Kris Carver-Seaboyer
Modelling the Grafton Terminal Railway, set in New Brunswick, Canada in the 1978-1984 time frame
|
Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 166 ~
Member Since: October 28 2009 ~
Last Visit: February 25 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 13 2012 : 3:05:28 PM
|
I have a acqutance who runs a antique store. I help him to steer clear of the less valuable modern Lionel stuff and so on. He told me of an auction with a decent lot of trains. I told him what I'm willing to pay and he said if he buys what I wanted, he'd sell 'em to me fer the prices I gave him. Lucky day for me I hope.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3147 ~
Member Since: May 07 2007 ~
Last Visit: March 02 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 14 2012 : 5:48:20 PM
|
AMC, it sounds like your vendor lady was gaming for a free appraisal and didn't take too kindly to your refusal to "cooperate". Not that I blame you!
On the whole I don't find antique dealers to be any better or worse than garage sales, flea marketers, ebayers, or even hobbyists in general. Yeah, there's some rampant stupidity and lofty dreamers out there. But there are just as many giveaways too, as well as the fair and sensible deals. Trouble is, we hobbyists may know all the ins/outs of trains, but to most people it's a casual acquaintance, but everyone has heard the legend "old trains = $$$$" from the old Lionel days. So I usually give someone the benefit of doubt and a reasonable offer, tendering references and comparable items on my behalf. Many times people appreciate the "education" for future reference and are happy to deal. Others choose to be insulted or worse. No skin off my back either way as my money is just as good elsewhere.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2798 ~
Member Since: September 17 2010 ~
Last Visit: July 22 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 15 2012 : 2:57:43 PM
|
you're absolutely right, guys I do hate overpriced trains BUT sometimes you get a deal that you are like  
I prefer going to garage/yard sales or 2nd hand stores but even those places you gotta watch out They can be overly priced This includes toy shows & train shows hehe
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 15000 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: March 01 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 18 2012 : 7:49:05 PM
|
I guess she thought I was a rube or something????
Are you..... -LOL-
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 668 ~
Member Since: April 28 2010 ~
Last Visit: February 14 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 18 2012 : 7:51:24 PM
|
quote:I guess she thought I was a rube or something????
Are you..... -LOL-
Originally posted by AF Kid - January 18 2012 : 7:49:05 PM
|
No blank checks were harmed in the evaluation of this lot of trains.  .
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 18 2012 : 9:01:56 PM
|
| As a father of 5,my two oldest daughters at the train shows look under the tables for the bargain trains or go through boxes and find something that I or they are interested in. Last show we were at we got 5 locos for $9.00. But as for the antique stores-its gotta be something I really want and cant find it anywhere else before I would pay an outragious price.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 457 ~
Member Since: February 20 2010 ~
Last Visit: April 24 2020
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 25 2012 : 8:47:12 PM
|
I actually LIKE people who don't know what they're selling. Mantua-Tyco GP20, original box (the original box looked like it'd gone through a compactor, though), $5. It took three hours to get to move, but it will work. Athearn Conrail GP9, free caboose, $5. No box, no handrails, but easily outperforms my $100 and $200 steamers. Three 50' boxcars, with kadees, metal wheels, detail parts, weighted to NMRA specs, $2 apiece (that guy was a bit of a nut though, I also got a nearly-new Bachmann SD45 from him for $10). Just always check to make sure it works, though.
--CRC
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 930 ~
Member Since: January 25 2012 ~
Last Visit: August 23 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
