Looking for advice On large HO collection

[pldlnr]

Hello, all. I am a new member. I have joined the forum in search of advice and wisdom regarding how to handle a large HO collection that belonged to my wife's grandfather who recently passed away. My wife's grandmother is struggling financially and has asked me to assist her in dealing with the collection.

There are probably 200 HO scale engines ranging from Athearn Hi-F drive Diesel Electrics, Riva Rossi steam/Diesel Electric, to vintage brass steam engines. There are approximately 60 brass steam engines by United, Tenshodo, Samhongsa, etc. Most of the brass engines appear new in the original boxes. There are also numerous brass cabooses new in the box.

In addition, there are approximately 1000 cars of all types and manufacturers ranging from the 1950s to 2012.

I am a little overwhelmed and have been doing research on what some of this stuff might be worth as well as how to sell it. Ebay has changed so much over the years that I am a bit apprehensive to sell there. Sellers have very little in the way of rights these days. I do have an active ebay account with 126 transactions and 100% positive feedback.

I am looking for some discussion, advice, and maybe some suggestions on the best way to handle this situation. Thanks in advance. I am happy to take some pictures of stuff if specifics are needed. Thanks,

Paul

Here is one example:

 

[Mattchu60]

Sounds like you have a lot of Brass engines there. You could try contacting Dan at Brasstrains.com or any other large brass dealers and see if they ever buy collections, or look at what they have listed for a ballpart on prices.

Any C&NW (Chicago Northwestern) class H or H-1 engines in your collection?

 

[timlange3]

I had a large Lionel collection I sold years ago. I did it with a local hobby retailer that was quite knowledgeable about the collection. He sold it on consignment. For 95% of it I knew how much I would get before it sold. We sat down with a book and went over the prices listed in a collectors book and assigned a value to every item. He got 10% of the sale price. A few items he got more than what we valued the items, some rusty track went for a lot less. I suggest you talk to some local hobby retailers and see what advice they have. Anyone that offers you a lump sum for all of it would be questionable unless you know the value of what you have. This may take significant effort on your part, but is necessary to get fair value. Ebay may be viable, but the costs and shipping may be more than you are willing to deal with.

 

[Cjcrescent]

I wouldn't go with the folks that buy collections for one lump sum. Often they only pay a fraction of what its worth.

Since you're nervous about E-bay, there are several options, like joining one of the Yahoo groups that are for selling your trains.

Or you could list them here in our own section here on the forums called the Interchange Track, where you can list each item along with a price.

 

[Alcomotive]

local hobby shops are ok but talk to local modelrailroad clubs and their members particularly the "officer members" they can guide you pretty well. It comes down to finding the person or buyer for the collection. You may do better in selling of by peices too instead of as a whole for profit/value of return. Most of the brass should bring a good price if they all look like what you are showing here. Buyers love brass but they will try to lowball just like any other hobby. Dont be hasty talk to more than one person. Do you know if everything is Great Northern Railroad? like you have shown or a variety? Anyways try not to be overwelmed. There are a lot of guys here on this forum that are knowledgable and willing to help. I can say I model UP but thats a kk I look for. Anyways good luck and take your time do not rush your sale on brass models those do have significant value especially ones that are not in production or are not made any more. Some can range from a few hundreds dollars to thousand depending what you have.

 

[Alcomotive]

I wouldn't go with the folks that buy collections for one lump sum. Often they only pay a fraction of what its worth.

Since you're nervous about E-bay, there are several options, like joining one of the Yahoo groups that are for selling your trains.

Or you could list them here in our own section here on the forums called the Interchange Track, where you can list each item along with a price.

I agree try if time is on your side. Sell in pieces.

If you list here we can help guide or even some members may mak you offers as well. Keep in mind if you have a "unit" or locomotive or car. Its in the box and all info is there you can run test search for prices on google or ebay etc that may help you get started on ball park. You can even go to some of the websites of distibutors of brass and do price checks their too.

 

[bradyracing]

What is wrong with Ebay?

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I wouldn't be so concerned about selling on ebay. Do a good write up on each item so there are no hidden issues and you'll be ok. Take good pictures with a good background so the buyer knows as much about the model as possible. You are allowed 10 pictures with each listing. When you ship, be sure to have them sign for it.

 

[CbarM]

FeeBay has become horrid for sellers. They charge out the @$$ to sell anything there these days and if the buyer gives less than a 5 star feedback then FeeBay will increase their prices. There are alot of shady buyers out there to ruin it quite easily just from something as simple as not reading the shipping cost and then leaving bad feedback on the shipping cost...or even a shipping delay that is beyond control of the seller. I have sold lots on ebay but not no more...now I just buy when I see a smokin deal come along!

 

[bradyracing]

FeeBay has become horrid for sellers. They charge out the @$$ to sell anything there these days and if the buyer gives less than a 5 star feedback then FeeBay will increase their prices. There are alot of shady buyers out there to ruin it quite easily just from something as simple as not reading the shipping cost and then leaving bad feedback on the shipping cost...or even a shipping delay that is beyond control of the seller. I have sold lots on ebay but not no more...now I just buy when I see a smokin deal come along!

You were one of the people I was thinking about when I was talking about people calling it Feebay or Fleabay or whatever.
You can find way more hard to find items on ebay then you can craigslist(which is just scarey) or the want ads in your local paper.
Buyers have the potential to get screwed over way more than the sellers.

 

[otiscnj]

FWIW, all of these comments are valid. Having been an Executor, let me ask a few practical questions:

Do you have an inventory of all the items? That would be the first thing I might do.

How much time can/will you commit to research? Selling/posting/etc?

How desperate are 'people' for results(ie the money)?

Depending on the answers to these questions, it may drive which option is right for you. Like any other activity, there are trade offs involved with whichever course of action you might take.

Selling it as a collection will get you cash fast, but you probably won't get top price for every piece.

Selling it by the piece may get you the greatest money, in the long run, but how much effort will it take, and when will you be finished?

Although there are some brass pieces, their value could be all over the place, depending on what models you have-whether they run well, or at all; are painted vs unpainted, vs weathered, etc... Not all brass models were created equal, and between modern plastic steam engines, and DCC, the market may or maynot be softer, or stronger than just what's one person's opinion. Same goes for the brass cabooses...

Some of the older, plastic, or non-brass locomotives, and cars, may be obsolete except to 'collectors,' who want an example of a particular car or engine. Athearn's Hi-F drive, for instance has been surpassed as a form of model propulsion/drive train, since perhaps the 1960's or 70's. Probably the only reason that someone would want it is to 'complete their collection.' I'm not saying its unsaleable; it just takes a knowledgeable buyer to be interested-not someone just starting out in the hobby.

People often think they've hit the jackpot when they find old model trains, which is not always the case. There used to be a reference book put out by Bob's Trains, or Balls of Brass, I can't remember the exact name, or the Brown Book, which was similar to Kelly's Blue book, only for brass models. I don't know if it still exists, or if its been updated in the last 10 years. It was at least one measuring stick, prior to ebay, which gave you at least one or two data points in terms of a model's potential value. A a guide for Lionel that I read years ago, said in its preference; 'what it comes down to is 'what you can get for a given item, on the day you go to sell it.' Just because some reference says you should get '$x' for it, doesn't mean you always will.

Good luck with your quest! Condolences to your family.

 

[CbarM]

You were one of the people I was thinking about when I was talking about people calling it Feebay or Fleabay or whatever.
You can find way more hard to find items on ebay then you can craigslist(which is just scarey) or the want ads in your local paper.
Buyers have the potential to get screwed over way more than the sellers.

So I assume you dont have the experience of selling on FeeBay to know what its really like for sellers?? If someone is really hard up for something hard to find then Ebay isnt the only site out there....how bout google...that'd be a good start...

 

[bradyracing]

Yes I've sold on ebay. What are you so bitter about? You are not one of those people on the forums that talk about how all the buyers are scum are you?
If you type in something hard to find on Google it will bring up an Ebay auction that ended two months ago. You know that. I'm tired of spending hard earned money to have some used to be seller on ebay telling us how stupid we are and how much their fees were.

 

[bradyracing]

You know I'm not in charge of anything except my opinion. Keep looking for those hard to find items on craigs list or the thrifty nickle.

 

[bradyracing]

You said ebay wasn't the way to go based on your opinion so I guess its about you. Oh, I see what you are saying, you don't have to look for hard to find items because you are a plastic GEVO buyer, got it. Everybody has their deal so carry on.

 

[CbarM]

LOL....funny guy...just dont know when to quit. When ya get yer big boy pants on then maybe you can come back in here and have a civil conversation. Im not gonna argue with immaturity like this...

 

[bradyracing]

Well this guy wants to sell a bunch of stuff and to not use ebay just doesn't make any sense.

 

[bradyracing]

LOL....funny guy...just dont know when to quit. When ya get yer big boy pants on then maybe you can come back in here and have a civil conversation. Im not gonna argue with immaturity like this...

What do you mean, I'm still here with big boy pants in place. At least look on ebay to see what stuff is worth. CbarM is acting immature because evidently he has been screwed over by ebay which is not the norm hence millions of users.

 

[bradyracing]

If CbarM had a GF6C and posted it on craigs list or his local trade winds/thrifty nickle, what ever they call it there, for one, I never would see it. On ebay I would drop a grand on it to start bidding off. So, to be anti ebay because of a fee you can pass on to the buyer and not want to talk about it makes you the D*******g.

 

[bradyracing]

Anyway, to the OP, get any information off of boxes or the underside of the locomotive and list it on a auction somewhere. I would use ebay but CbarM would probably want you to list it in his local paper to limit fees. Whatever works for you.