It's probably due to that darn TV show and the fact much of the country is covered by snow.

I'd just wait until York and search dealers with a good online presence in the meantime.

-Greg

Johnny, I feel your pain.

 

Similar thing happened to me bidding on a santa fe warbonnet box car, the bidding went through the stratosphere. Of course, it was my usual timing!!! too late to the party.

To take out a Sniper, you've got to be a Sniper. In the last minute, the remaining time is usually displayed. Wait until the last 10-15 seconds before you confirm your best highest bid. You'll get it, or not but you're not giving other bidders time to react.

 

I have had much better success with items with really odd ending times and with weird, misspelled, or incomplete descriptions.

 

Gilly

When I was managing my shop Alaska RR items were very popular. I had two customers that would order one each of every Alaska RR item in the new catalogs.

 

To avoid a biding war on e-bay, first determine  the highest price your willing to pay. Then place your bid (snipe) in the last 10 seconds. If you lose the item, its because it sold for more than your willing to pay, and if you win its likely less than your maximum bid.

I never really did anything on EBay before I discovered standard gauge and made a list.  I discovered that if you enter a max bid, you automatically outbid someone else by a couple bucks only, when they try to outbid you.  You often get stuff below your max, but don't lose out.  It worked for me, but the bidding may not have been as heavy.  Just throwing it in.

I have a great many Alaska RR items (mostly locomotives). Will be "thinning the herd" a bit at some point in the near future. Send me an e-mail and let me know what you're looking for.

Jerry,

You just have to remember that ebay gives folks access to items they won't ever see locally or are geographically too far to drive and purchase something. They are willing to pay the prices that we aren't. I feel your pain on the ARR items. Most ARR items were limited runs as they are generally not as big a seller a UP or PRR and such. So, there is a scarce factor also. When someone like Allan decides to sell an ARR piece from their collection, pay their price or wait some more.

 

I am still waiting on items. Others, I paid up. Only a few were good buys.

Been looking for a set of K-line aluminum 15" Alaska passenger cars that won't cost an arm and a leg. 

 

There is a set on ebay but the price is too high for me. 

I just sent you an email where to get them now techman 

Sent you a email too.

I just sold a duplicate K-line Alaska Mckinley route pretty cheap. I have a lot of Alaska items, mainly because I was raised there as a kid when it still was a territory, and I also worked there for 5 years in recent times.  I may be thining out some of my freight cars.  What are you looking for?

Sent you an email John

 

Jerry

Jerry,

 

This is a good thread.  I have been looking for Alaska RR equipment myself, but it is very hard to find.  The McKinley route was my Grandparents favorite train ride.  When they went to Alaska, one of their greatest experiences that they talked about was the train ride, and the scenery they saw.  They brought home some McKinley Dome cars for my budding HO train that I was accumulating pieces for throughout my youth.  I have always wanted to run an Alaska train with those dome cars, but um, HO doesn't exactly run on O gauge track. :-)

 

It is comforting to know that there are others that would like to acquire Alaska RR product, and are also having a difficult time finding said product. I saw the thread for the F3 ABBBA.  They are beautiful.  Wouldn't mind acquiring both some F3's and some newer SD70 motive power.

 

The Railroad Alaska TV show has definitely brought more attention to the Alaska RR, which could be a good thing in general.  Maybe the various builders/ manufactures will capitalize on the popularity and start building more product, so we're not struggling to find said product.

The Alaska RR items are very appealing.  So far I have held off, but if Lionel reissues the superliners and F-units...I'm in .

RMT has ALASKA BEEF A-A + B units in stock and on sale.

 

 

 

 ALASKA Streamline Passenger Car sets.

Also coal hoppers, ore cars and covered hoppers too.

 

Order online now at www.readymadetoys.com

 

Thanks.

 

Walter/RMT

 

www.readymadetoys.com

Jerry,

Maybe not unlucky. You just went up against someone using their,"Sniper"software.

Walter, I have the 2 versions of the hoppers and the ARR bang and could be enticed to get the passenger cars if there an observation and a combine to be had, I know not all RRs had them but for my passenger consists that's my OCD.

Alan, I will be in touch with you.

 

Jerry

There's another side to this as well in bidding land:

 

There is never a reason to feel bad or sad about getting sniped.

 

If you feel you got sniped, then you didn't bid as high as you were willing to go for an item.

 

If I see something I really want, I decide what my highest price is before walking away, and place that bid.   Then I don't worry about it until it's all done.

 

  If someone "snipes" me at the last moment, then so be it.

 

 

Au contraire my friend, what I'm willing to pay for an item is not based on what you are willing to pay for it. My criteria are 1. What is it really worth?, 2. What am I willing to pay?, 3. How badly do I want or need it? and 4. What can I afford? Outside of what is it worth your criteria and mine will be very different and lead us to bid differently.

 

Jerry

I'm with your, or maybe against you on the ARR availability / high prices!  I haven't bought in the last few days so I'm glad I'm not the one that sniped you   I definitely snipe and second the other recommendations to do so. Wait until the last 10 seconds and bid what you are willing to pay.  I recently acquired the F3 AA set for what I consider a great price. 

 

If you see a buy it now / make an offer for a ridiculous price many people are willing to take a reasonable offer - even to the tune of hundreds less.  I've scored some of my best deals by working with the seller, showing them end price listings in the last few months, etc. Also don't be afraid to contact sellers of items that have buy it now for a ridiculous price without the make an offer.  Many will relist the item reasonably with some convincing.

 

Never received the email.  Try again?

Sent again John.

I hate Yahoo...

 

Jerry

How many things about ebay are not what they appear to be?

 

 

Andrew

The only way to win is to bid in the final seconds.

 

Jeff Davis

The first rule of marketing is an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

The buyer has the final say an item's worth.

Terry, I know, just lost out on another 6027 Alaska caboose, $56. This is like the 10th one I've lost out on. I'm thinking I'll just go with the new MTH Alaska caboose, the red will be a nice contrast with all the blue and yellow. On the plus side I've got 3 Buy It Nows coming next week, so it's all good.

 

Jerry

Jerry,

You did receive the email that I sent to you on, February 9th?

I have received e-mail from a number of folks here inquiring about Alaska RR items I may be selling in the future.

 

I have not yet gotten around to compiling a list of items I may want to sell, but when I do get such a list together I will send it off to all who have inquired (and at the same time). I'm in no rush, so just be patient. You WILL hear from me.

Here is one for ya, Jerry

Lionel O gauge Alaska O-O27 STREAMLINER Set 6-29041 29041 MODEL RR TRAIN CARS Lionel O gauge Alaska O-O27 STREAMLINER Set 6-29041 29041 MODEL RR TRAIN CARS
Photos not available for this variation style="" clkAlaska-O-O27-STREAMLINER-Set-6-29041-29041-MODEL-RR-TRAIN-CARS
	Item condition: Used   “SEE MAIN”
	>
	Winning bid: US $255.00 [

 

Bought mine at Stout for 150.00 about 15  months ago.

Exactly, it is almost impossible not to want to model that RR after seeing the amazing scenery.

I gave up on yahoo with all its ads, dating, viagra etc. etc.

Been using inbox.com instead...no ads!

Train works, so funny you brought this up today, for quite some time I had watched many Lionel General type sets go for what I thought to be very reasonable prices(e-bay), and as I have always been drawn to them, a few weeks ago I started to bid on some.... it's like someone raised the flag, and all of a sudden things started to go crazy! Only from an unscientific point of view, it appears to me things go in cycles, if you get in on the ground floor, you might be "OK", if not, you have to pay the piper! So for now, I am looking, but on hold, if the right set/sets come up I'll buy, if not, I will just sit back and marvel at what some people will pay!  

Several post in this thread have mentioned sniping in a tone that seem to imply it is somehow reprehensible behaviour. Also that people are annoyed that they "lose" an auction by only a few dollars.

This AFAIAC is a misunderstanding of the entire ebay bidding process. I offer the following to those that might benefit from a pimer on ebay bidding. Those that already understand how it works will find it pedantic but I can't be the only ebayer who only came to a solid understanding of the proxy bid system and sniping after quite so time. And after "losing" auctions by what seemed like trifling sums, frequently at the last instant.

 

There is nothing "unsporting" about snipe bidding. It is simply a fact of life. Anyone understanding how the proxy bidding system works on ebay is very likely to conclude that sniping is really the ONLY sensible way to bid in a time-limited auction like ebay. There is no "going . . . going . . . gone!" on ebay.

 

And the second highest bidder will always, by very definition, lose to the highest bidder by the minimum increment.

 

A reduction ad absurdam hypothetical example just to make a point crystal clear.

 

The bidding for a widget is at $100.

John really wants it but figures it is only worth about $150 to him. He goes all out though and bids $200. He really doesn't want to pay that much though.

 

Little does he know that another bidder unbeknownst to him has ALREADY scheduled a snipe for $500! The snipe is scheduled to be entered electronically 5 seconds before the auction ends. The snipe bidder really has no intent whatsoever to actually pay $500! He accepts however that it COULD happen. But it likely won't. He REALLY wants the item badly!He is actually willing to pay more than "what the item is worth." It's worth more to him, for whatever reason.

 

So what happens next. John has entered his maximum bid . . . $200. The bidding instantly goes to $105, the minimum increment being $5 at that level. John is happy. He is top bidder at $105 even though he is actually expecting to have to pay a little more as other bidders enter the fray.

 

But there are no more bidders . . . except for that sniper. Right up to 5 seconds before the auction closes, John looks like the winner with his bid of $105. He is so happy! But, at 5 seconds, the roof falls in on him! The snipe bid activates. Instantaneously the bids escalate. Even John's maximium bid of $200 is exceeded in just an instant. The bid goes to $205. The snipe is for a maximum of $500!

There is no time left for John to respond, even if he were willing to go to the next increment which would be $210. (It would be futile anyway, but poor John doesn't KNOW that!)

The sniper, with the $500 bid wins the item at $205. John is now very unhappy as he feels he only "lost" by $5! He in unaware that, to win against the sniper, he would have had to bid MORE than $500 to win!

 

It's an extreme example. I don't suggest it wise to ever enter a snipe bid with a maximum amount higher than you are willing to pay. It could be disasterous to do so.

 

It's how ebay works. Has always worked. If they wanted to change it to make sniping pointless, they could readily do so. They never have. It seems unlikely they ever will. People have complained about it for years to no avail.

 

Sniping isn't "wrong." It's just the most effective way bid on ebay. It puts a serious brake on incremental bidding which slowly drives the final price up. And it costs nothing. Sniping software is readily available . . . and it's free.

 

I have eyed a few ARR items myself. I spent a few year up there . . . and their paint scheme is really nice!But, so far, I have not entered any snipes on ARR items. So don't blame me! At least not yet.

 

Terry

 

 

I don't have any issues with sniping per se, I just hate losing! My Bought It Nows did come in so I'm a bit happier this weekend...

 

I got a Williams ARR gondola, Lionel 2 dome tank car and a Lionel ARR reefer.

I'm currently trying to get another  Lionel car but the seller is being a bit of an idiot. He's listed the same item 4 times now, asking 2 or more times that the last 5 that I can find on Ebay went for. I asked him if he would take a check or money order, he says no "Against the rules" altho everything I've ever bought on Ebay, almost 100 purchases now, has been this way. I tell him OK , but if it doesn't sell I'll give you $5 more than you're asking plus shipping after the auction ends if it doesn't sell. Again he says Ebay won't let him sell outside of Ebay. Let me get this straight, if it doesn't sell Ebay makes you keep listing it until it does? You can't keep it, throw it away or giveit to a bum on the street? Business must be good if you can turn down a guaranteed sale!

Oh well, guess I'll keep looking, there's been 6 listed in the past year and a half so it should pop up again.

 

Jerry

Terry, if 2 snipers set high bids on the same item isn't there a chance one of them gets shafted on the sale?

 

Jerry

Hi Jerry:

 

". . . if 2 snipers set high bids on the same item isn't there a chance one of them gets shafted on the sale?"

 

Absolutely! It's more than "a chance." It WILL happen! The auction caveat ever applies: Never bid higher than you are willing to pay!

 

Again, a ridiculous example. Two snipers really want a $500 item. One sets his max bid at a million bucks. The other guy is more cautious and sets his max snipe at a mere $500,000!

 

When the dust settles, the million dollar bidder is called on to pay the increment higher than $500,000! Not sure what the increments are at that lofty level! Say $10,000.

 

Million dollar boy gets to pay $510,000 for his more-or-less $500 item!

 

So, it's fine to set your max bid higher than you hope you'll have to pay. But you have to be prepared to meet it!

Walter, what's the chance of something like this being made?

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry

Yep,  the intermountain, N scale gang have got one over us, with that , color

schematic

Jerry

 

I like Alaska RR as well. The $429 for a #825 box car seems like a lot, but who knows.

 

I'm not a "collector" (although I have a garage full of stuff I don't collect, ha), so a repop of it would be okay. Haven't started Alaska yet, as still not done not collecting other roads.

Jerry,

Yes, YOU TOO can beat a sniper 90% of the time. And I love doing it.