I would like suggestions as to where to shop online for nice Lionel Postwar items. I am not interested in buying off of Ebay or other auction sites.
Are there any of our advertisers here, who have an good listing of Postwar Lionel for sale? I can not seem to find any listings as I browse their websites.
If none of our sponsors have listings, are their any other online hobby shops I should check out for a good listing of Postwar for sale?
Thanks,
Jeff
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Train World use to but that was many years ago. They stopped from what I understand because what you would grade as a 8 and what they graded as 8 may not be the same for some reason ( basically had buyers expect a 8 be like NIB) so they got tired of having that problem and I would bet that is the case with a lot of them. Now Grzboski's may as I do see older sets and engines say from the 90's but I think most will sell in there store but not on line.
Depends what you want. Big Lionel transformers are good but heavy to ship. But a nice LW isn't bad. Check the buy & sell. do you have any good hobby stores or antique stores in your area ??
You will pay more buying Postwar trains from hobby shops. Have you tried websites like the TCA or LCCA exchanges? Not sure why you would be averse to buying on eBay unless you experience difficulty identifying reputable sellers who know their merchandise. Best places to buy quality Postwar trains, in terms of prices and reliable descriptions, with absentee bids are auction houses like Stout and AmbroseBauer.
What, me worry?
I didn't look up Denton but are you close to a city that would have a train show ?? Where I live I have picked up some decent Lionel trains at antique stores. In fact I bought a 2065 in great shape today at an antique store. Shop around.
What are you looking for?
Mike
The Dallas area has pretty much lost all of it's good hobby shops. However, I don't remember more that one or two of those old shops that specialized in o gauge, or Lionel in general.
We have 3 train shows here during the year, but 2 are in late Sept./early Oct., and one is in Jan., so the rest of the year, you are out of luck for show shopping.
With the arrival of a new grandson 4 years ago, the trains came out of the closet, and I renewed my interest in Postwar Lionel. I just get the bug now and then for one of the older Lionel items, and there is nowhere to shop, except Ebay, so it seems. I have bought off Ebay. A lot items, even from highly rated sellers, are just not quite as advertised, and have some nagging issue when they arrive. ( I really am not all that picky either).
I just thought I might be missing some dealer with a website full of postwar for sale and an up to date listing of it.
Jeff
Check the forum "Buy & Sell" section. things pop up al the time. I just got anice loco the other day. What are you looking for ?? Engines ? Cars? Accessories ??
Jim beat me to it, the OGR buy/sell is where I look for many of my finds.
??? I think you are dead wrong about the dealing in PW Lionel items. There is a lot out there of all degrees of quality. Antiques in general are slow moving according to my dealer friends. No easy money today, at least legally. Pus it is fun. Why are people on the forum always try to convert members away from O gauge and the pre war and post war items. Let them enjoy what they are doing and can the advice. Please.
jim pastorius posted:??? I think you are dead wrong about the dealing in PW Lionel items. There is a lot out there of all degrees of quality. Antiques in general are slow moving according to my dealer friends. No easy money today, at least legally. Pus it is fun. Why are people on the forum always try to convert members away from O gauge and the pre war and post war items. Let them enjoy what they are doing and can the advice. Please.
Well said Jim.
Jeff, I've had good luck with eBay over the years. Off season (non Christmas season) can find some good deals. I don't buy much too much lately, but I've bought a good amount of prewar and some postwar. Sounds like your local train shows should be starting up again, so maybe that can help you.
Tom
I agree with everyone on the list who wants to know what you hope to find. I've had several buying and selling successes with the Forum. And if you are looking for Lionel PW F-3s let me know.
lewrail
While I have never purchased any used product from them, The Train Station lists postwar.
I have purchased new product from them.
Have you looked at older Modern Era trains? They made a lot of nice stuff that was constructed very closely to postwar Lionel, without any electronics. Much of it can be had at bargain prices.
Train Station is very over-priced for postwar, in my opinion. Charles Ro will send emails with postwar items from time to time. They appear to be in excellent condition and for realistic prices.
If you don't want to use the auction sites, the best place to go is York. You will find plenty of postwar in the member halls. The other resource is TCA exchange. HTH.
York is a long way from Texas !! Join the TCA and use the OGR forum. Maybe Craig's list.
Craigs list scares me. I have read/seen on news to many things bad about those meetings. Maybe it's this area but also theres a lot of con's on there too. wanting you to take a money order ( it's fake ) for more than you want but want you to give them the cash for the difference.
I sell on ebay under the name collectabiles and if you ever see anything I'm selling on Ebay let me know, as if it doesn't have any bids on it I can pull it and we can do a deal here.
With that said Ebay now has the buyers back more than the seller's. something comes in not as described all you have to do is complain to them that it isn't as described and the seller will end up having to pay return shipping and refund all your money including original shipping cost to you. So as a buyer if you know the rules it isn't that bad anymore.
Train Station is very over-priced for postwar, in my opinion. Charles Ro will send emails with postwar items from time to time. They appear to be in excellent condition and for realistic prices.
I've purchased current production items from Charlie Ro. And I've purchased postwar from him at the Big E show. The postwar prices listed in his emails don't seem any better than the Train Station's to me.
Honestly, based on their advertised prices, I would not buy postwar from either. But Jeff asked.
I've purchased through the OGRR swap board, EBay, and through the swap sheets of the TCA, LCCA, and TTOS. Over the years I have encountered a few problems, but nothing serious enough to quit buying. With EBay, sometimes it was a matter of not examining the photos closely enough.
I always ask myself, do I want that item enough to risk whatever it cost should there be a problem.
Also, if I were not able to do all my own repairs, I wouldn't purchase anything through the mail or internet.
The Okla City train show in early dec is not bad although the postwar varies from year to year. However if you are looking for collectable postwar- not so much. I usually pick up a piece or two every year.
mowingman posted:[CLIPPED]. I have bought off Ebay. A lot items, even from highly rated sellers, are just not quite as advertised, and have some nagging issue when they arrive. ( I really am not all that picky either).
Jeff
Mmm, I suspect you don't have much experience in buying postwar trains online, either from eBay or anywhere else. Because, frankly, you are no more likely to have fewer issues with nonauction online dealers. Sorry to say, that is true of OGR listings, too. Postwar items are used items. You will typically have "nagging" issues, unless an item is marked as fully restored -- in which case, it will be reflected in the price.
I have purchased postwar items on eBay, from local shops and at York for the price that I wanted. In the case of locomotives, I have had to service each to varying extents. I always consider the return policy of the dealer before buying. Only once did I have to return an item -- an MPC-era model, not postwar -- due to faulty information.
I find eBay to offer the best variety, and it allows me to shop for the price and condition I want for whatever I am looking for, train-related or not.
What ever works for you !! There are various options out there.
There are a lot of good comments here. I think I am too hooked on the past, (like 30 years back), when you could look at a magazine ad from a major hobby shop, and find a half page listing for postwar items. When you ordered one, it might take 2 weeks to get to you, but it was always in nice operating condition when it arrived. I am going to try some of the sources mentioned here, and I do keep an eye on the sale section of this forum. Ebay will continue as an option now and then, (I will check out "collectabiles items), but I really like to support those who advertise on this forum, when possible.
Times change, so my shopping techniques need to change also I guess.
Jeff
Others above have mentions the LCCA. If you join the LCCA, members get a small magazine 3 or 4 times a year containing nothing but used train items that people are trying to sell or looking to buy. Lots of stuff in there, but is't not all postwar. It includes all brands and items from all years from old to new.
I think it may possibly be on their website as well, but I don't know if non-members can access it there? Wouldn't hurt to check and see.
The three clubs I mentioned: TCA, TTOS and LCCA, all put out swap sheets when I was a member. These days I only belong to the TCA. They still have a printed swap sheet, and an online swap board too. You must be a member to use it.
Train City and Choo Choo auctions. Charles Siegel has been selling trains for a long time and his appraisals seem pretty close. I have not had any issues with them. A friend bought a TMCC engine that didn't work and they took it back.
Pete
I use www.choochooauctions.com or known as Train City. Charles Siegel does very well with his for sale items.
You don't pay any buyer's fee, maybe sales tax if you live in Florida and shipping costs. I use only Choo Choo Auctions now because of a couple bad deals on the forum on here.
Lee Fritz
Jeff,
I agree with Petrified, the OKC show in early December is always a great source for me and my wife. As for the on-line sources, the buy/sell forum here is good, I have acquired some nice engines for a good price. As for others, the very best I have ever used, no doubt, are two... Graham's Trains in Ohio and Dave's Train in Martinsville, New Jersey. They both have great selections of PW Lionel, as well as other eras, and prices very hard to match or beat. And the quality/condition of everything ever purchased from them is always as expected. I have never had any disappointment from either one, Graham's or Dave's trains. In fact, more than once with purchases the product received exceeded my needs and the price has always been the lowest in the searches made for a particular item. Check em out, they both have an ever changing quality selection, IMHO and satisfaction.
Jesse TCA 12-68275
pennytrains posted:
Is there any listing fees or buying fees with this company? Do they charge sales tax or anything else?
I have not heard of this outfit before, so I want to find out all the information I can before going there.
Lee Fritz
I wish I had known about Nick's Trains when I was in Raleigh in June. Next time.
pennytrains posted:
I finally registered on this site, but it gave me trouble! Finally able to sign in. But somebody mentioned there is an 18% buyers fee. So I am staying with www.choochooauctions.com
Choo Choo Auctions only charges the seller a listing fee of .25(25 cents, might be slightly higher by now like 50 cents) per item. The buyer only pays if he wins the auction item and for shipping or sales tax, plus they have very reasonable shipping rates. The buyer at Choo Choo Auctions never pays a buying fee!!
Lee Fritz
phillyreading posted:pennytrains posted:Is there any listing fees or buying fees with this company? Do they charge sales tax or anything else?
I have not heard of this outfit before, so I want to find out all the information I can before going there.
Lee Fritz
They charge a 18% buyers fee on top of the price of the item you won. + $0.50
rtraincollector posted:phillyreading posted:pennytrains posted:Is there any listing fees or buying fees with this company? Do they charge sales tax or anything else?
I have not heard of this outfit before, so I want to find out all the information I can before going there.
Lee Fritz
They charge a 18% buyers fee on top of the price of the item you won. + $0.50
Sounds like they are worse then some car dealers I have been to!! 18% of the item's winning price, too much for me!! Do they charge shipping as well?
Lee Fritz
The good deals on post war have melted away in the recovery from the Great Recession. Prices are up quite a bit since the 2009 through 2013 period. If you bought back in Obama's first term and are selling now you stand to make some money. If you bought later than that probably not so much as the average buyer's income hasn't seen as much recovery as the prices so a lot of people are sitting on the sidelines as current prices are out of balance with incomes and those who bought at recent prices can't afford to sell at what's being offered. A postwar Lionel bubble if you look at it, like all bubbles eventually the price asked isn't sustainable against the incomes of the potential buyers. When the cost of held inventory becomes too large for the holders to sustain the bubble will burst. The first ones out are usually the hobby shops as they survive or die on inventory turnover you see the guys with sufficient incomes aren't into postwar so much so the new gadget laden stuff is selling, the average postwar guy doesn't and can't reasonably play in that game or in the current postwar price bubble so the shops cut back. The shops like everybody else after-all have to pay the going rates and sell at the going rates which doesn't leave much if any margin. An exception, there is a very well known shop on the other side of Lake Washington from me (in the heart of Micro Soft country) that maintains a lot of postwar but their prices are pretty killer but the stuff is upper end in quality, their clientele can afford it. So like real estate it's location, location, location.
Bogie
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