Have you guys seen the stuff going at Stout Auctions this Saturday?

• Internet buyers premium is 19%. Buyers premium is 16% if paying by check or cash.
  Stout Auctions website absentee bidders buyers premium is 19%. Buyers premium is 16% if paying by check or cash.
  Phone bidders buyers premium is 19%. Buyers premium is 16% if paying by check or cash.
  In house, attending bidders buyers premium is 13%. Buyers premium is 10% if paying by check or cash.
  

Nice stuff... but no thank you.    Too many other channels out there today to acquire trains w/o paying those buyer premiums.

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

 

Nice stuff... but no thank you.    Too many other channels out there today to acquire trains w/o paying those buyer premiums.

For stuff that regularly comes up for sale, I'd agree with you.

I've not done a lot, but did one last fall for an odd item I wanted.  I may try again for a Friday event (but I'm not saying which piece! ).

I look at it like shipping.  Just divide what you are truly comfortable with by 1.16/1.19 (subtract estimated shipping first) to figure your max bid.

Rocky Mountaineer, sooooo, are you saying that if I pay by cash or check my buyers premium is only 16%?

Rick

I've bought a few things from them in the past and very happy with what I bought and paid for them. Just need to know what you are willing to pay  including extra charges and stick to that amount. 

Yes, we are not all hoarders.  A nice piece for a fair price, including overhead, is all a man can ask for.  There are a few nice pieces in that lot, that's for sure.  Who knows?  Maybe the rest of the world will making a bologna sandwich all at the same time and you can sneak a good deal.  Probably not, but it could be interesting to watch.  While fixing trains...

Stout Auctions had my auctions two years ago (7 in total ) mostly post -war.. a semi load.. Don't even ask me how bad it went. Many things just  vanished ,as to say..

I don't know, the more I look at the avenues of purchasing, the more I realize I am tapped out!

I have bid on several auctions in the past but was hoodwinked twice. I actually had the highest bids on both items, but the items were sold to someone physically at the auction house who was willing to match my bid. They were not Stout Auctions, but through Proxibid. Left a very bad taste in my mouth, but I can see the auctioneers saving themselves the hassle of shipping and online payment. Still doesn't make it right and was listed nowhere in their auction terms.

RICKC posted:

Rocky Mountaineer, sooooo, are you saying that if I pay by cash or check my buyers premium is only 16%?

Rick

That is correct.  It's listed in the details of the auction terms.  They list 19% in the header info and include it in the text probably assuming most will want to use electronic payment (they don't do PayPal).  I mailed them a check and it was 16%.

I'm not suggesting it was all Sunshine and Lollipops, I did have an issue with their invoice system. 

I never received their original email (no automatic spam filter here, so I should have seen it), and I was wondering if I had been a victim of a situation similar to the scenario Jim O'C suggests. 

I did ultimately receive my item allowing for normal check clearing and shipping (which was reasonable IMO) once that was straightened out, however.

-Dave

Never had an issue with Stout's.  Understood their policies prior to bidding.

Have bid online and at the auction house-auctioner was fair and never offered a 'match' bid against online bidders. 

Customer service was outstanding and the items were better than described, IMO.

Will use them again in the future.  Great folks.

Sometimes having what you want isn't about cost...

86TA355SR posted:

Never had an issue with Stout's.  Understood their policies prior to bidding.

 

... 

That's the key.  Many folks get caught up in the bidding, then need to shell out more $$$ in a buyer's premium.  On eBay, sellers pretty much absorb that cost -- as it should be.  

I like them, 1. they have quality stuff. 2. To me, their customer service has been awesome. Once they get to know you, they ship before your check even gets to them or clears. Sometimes you have to step up and get the better stuff. If you can swing it; remember this: You quickly forget the extra money, but you ALWAYS remember what you didn't get.

Well, whatever it is, that is quite a batch of really nice pieces and sets.  I'm guessing that is all from one collection.  I'm not sure how it works, if you even see what the selling price is if you are not a bidder etc., but I'm curious as to what they do sell for if that is available.  Nice stuff...

It's like watching a fishing show.  If you want to catch a buzz, every time the say 'nice fish', do a shot.  Works every time.  If you watch this auction and do a shot every time you think 'nice stuff', you'll be smashed before you can make a ham salad sandwich for lunch.  As always, Cheers!

William 1 posted:

..............  I'm not sure how it works, if you even see what the selling price is if you are not a bidder etc., but I'm curious as to what they do sell for if that is available.  Nice stuff...

It doesn't cost you anything to sign up to be eligible to bid (though you do need to provide a CC #).  I think that signing up for any item may be the key to see what is going on for all the items.

I was watching many of the other items as they went by for the auction where I got an item.  I did not make any bids on other items, but I could watch it live (I don't recall if I could go back and look at the results for other items after the fact).

-Dave

I signed up, actually before I posted.  I will watch it.  It's winter in Chicagoland and ice fishing isn't my thing so I'll goof around with hobbies.  Should be interesting.

Heck would I like the buyer's premium to be lower; you bet. Shouldn't be more than 10 percent... ever.

In answer to those who mused whether they could go back after an auction ends to check the results, the reply is yes, you can.

Simply check the archives of the auctioneer (usually posted shortly after the auctions end), sign in and put a description of the item and date sold that you are checking.  Available on proxibid and liveauctioneer sites as well, if the auctioneer used these services to receive bids, which most of them do, to increase the bid base.

If any of you are going to bid, get ready for a wild ride, because prices on the premium stuff, especially postwar, usually hit the stratosphere!

I think this w/e will beat all price highs. There are some really rare items that will bring in the heavy hitters. The mint un-run Cattle Car is already over a grand. Usually what happens is the lower echelon ordinary c6 and c7 stuff gets the attention of too many bidders that lost out, and they then feel that they need a door prize. I'm thinking the price of even the lower stuff will be on the high end. We'll see.

Stout = best auction house I've dealt with on the internet. I tend to have better luck with their Indiana auctions over their Penn auction. Into prewar, always well described. Leave an absentee bid based now hat I want t pay and see what happens. That's it.

Tim

Dreyfuss Hudson posted:

I think this w/e will beat all price highs. There are some really rare items that will bring in the heavy hitters. The mint un-run Cattle Car is already over a grand. Usually what happens is the lower echelon ordinary c6 and c7 stuff gets the attention of too many bidders that lost out, and they then feel that they need a door prize. I'm thinking the price of even the lower stuff will be on the high end. We'll see.

 

I guess this is a realm of the toy train world I've never traveled.   

I recall viewing some DVD's when I first ventured into the Standard Gauge world a couple of years ago, and a few folks featured in the videos built tremendous collections where I'm sure five-figure purchases were quite commonplace.  Too rich for my blood.

So I'm just glad MTH is re-issuing so many nice Standard Gauge items nowadays, because I would never be interested in getting into bidding wars for the original stuff.  No interest whatsoever.  

But I guess participating in these auctions should be quite the thrill for those who enjoy the art of the chase.  Who said "collecting" was history???   

Enjoy!!!

David

I like all kinds of trains, original, repro... but one thing is for sure; the mint or nr mint orig stuff are certainly little miracles. They've cheated time and physics. I think there will always be a market for original Std gauge. I am just very thankful that I am building a small layout!

Nobody like to shell out money, but consider this when you think about buyers' premiums:  how much would it cost you to travel out of state to browse and then *maybe* pick the item up?

Good point, just the tolls alone for me to go to PA this weekend would eat up a lot of money. (Insane state fees especially in NY and NJ). Never mind gas and an overnight.

Well, I for one don't think any of you should spend any more money on trains. Please don't bid on anything this weekend.   (Especially the stuff I'm after). :-0

I have been purchasing from Staout lately- not the prewar and postwar stuff either so y'all are safe from me. I must say the packing and shipping and quality of the items purchased are great. for the amount I have been getting the premiums don't bother me becasue my top bid is decreased by shipping and buyers premium... unless it's some rare or hard to find item that I must have.

You quickly forget the extra money, but you ALWAYS remember what you didn't get.

So true! I hate your reality smack in da face!

Holy crap; the unrun 213 Cattle Car is at 2500, before the auction. 

https://stout.infinitebidding....3F4842B52&seq=14

That is amazing.  I find it almost hard to believe that people put that much value in a simple toy train car.  There are fifty bids on it also.  Holy crap is right.  My 400e is still at ten bucks.  I'm sure I'll be in the running for the first six seconds of bidding.

I had a call from an old time TCA guy that said that that car would go real high. Rare colors in never before seen condition. I think it'll hit 3K.

That is amazing.  I find it almost hard to believe that people put that much value in a simple toy train car.

People either understand collecting or they don't.
Some folks don't understand how anybody could pay over a thousand dollars for a newly made toy train.
As for me, I don't care how another person spends his or her money.

Never had a problem with Stout 

Very professional --- condition as described, etc

Really impressed with how quickly things have been shipped

Joe S

Well, I was mixing up their 2 events earlier in the thread, but I guess the principles remain similar.

I lucked out (I think ) and was the high bidder on the modern item I was looking for in yesterday's event.

Good luck to any of you guys looking for the pre/post war pieces today!

-Dave

Dreyfuss Hudson posted:

Holy crap; the unrun 213 Cattle Car is at 2500, before the auction.   ...

We see snippets of this behavior here in the operators segment of the hobby on occasion.  Generally speaking, folks pay those kind of dollars for one reason -- and one reason alone:  because they feel enough folks are out there who might pay what they did (or even more) if they ever needed to sell it.  They're enthralled with the idea of owning what they perceive other folks want to own too.  It's all part of the aura and mystique of building a collection of "rare" items.  Not just trains... Collecting in general.

David

A couple of items I wanted went pretty reasonable:

https://stout.infinitebidding....37B41B2A2B&seq=1

I am into 2-rail so the cost of conversion must be figured into my cost equation.

Unfortunately, the tax refund is not in time for this one :^(

You've got to be kidding!

https://stout.infinitebidding....A0E496EA4E&seq=1

Is this O scale?!?

My random thoughts on the 'auction environment':

For your typical working class guy like me that does this hobby on a limited budget, the auction is the last place I'd ever want to be. I went to a live auction once. It seemed rediculous. I was bidding on what I wanted, some NIB MPC & LTI Lionel locos, passenger cars, & also a couple of plastic ship model kits. I went to the preview & did all the figuring first so I knew exactly what to pay or how much was too much. Then the bidding started & I realized it was a no win situation.  I was up against collectors with bottomless pockets & also hobby shop owners, & train show vendors. Items were going for way beyond what they were worth to me & I also had a strange feeling about certain people in the crowd being bid snipers. I saw guys standing in back, leaning against the wall, quietly talking on cell phones & then raising their paddles to raise bids, but never winning anything. The whole thing seemed odd & a little off - like being in a tank full of sharks. I can say for sure, it wasn't for me - I can't roll with the big dogs & I learned my lesson- I stay away from that sort of thing & I buy from people I know or a shop, or eBay.

arrsd90 posted:

Dave,  Log back into Stouts, and go over to My account, and bring down the Grey box, the sixth item,  Lots/won

will tell, you,  For sure, it is not a guessing format

Sorry, my poor attempt at humor.  Assuming the piece is in decent shape when received, I consider it an OK deal.

I definitely was the high bidder.  I was participating via the Live Auction interface on eBay.

-Dave

  I was up against collectors with bottomless pockets & also hobby shop owners, & train show vendors.

I generally don't bother with auctions either. Bidding against hobby ship owners and train show vendors never bothered me. Those folks know what trains are worth, and will only buy if they can make a decent profit.
I found the problem to be the uneducated antique dealers who had no idea what a train was worth, but figured it must be valuable if it says "lionel" or is made of metal. I'd chuckle to myself when they'd bid items over their full retail value.

I just looked at some of the prices already realized at today's Stout Auction. It certainly doesn't seem like collecting is dead to me.

Russell - Idaho USA posted:

You've got to be kidding!

https://stout.infinitebidding....A0E496EA4E&seq=1

Is this O scale?!?

Since you state you are into 2 rail above, I will say you would probably not consider it O-Scale.  It's O gauge, but compressed and with less details most likely than a Premier piece. 

Still a very good buy if someone wants an example of that engine and is on a budget.

A few things on the list caught my attention:

• There was an original 6-32998 Lionel Hobby shop that went for $400, right around the list price when it was issued back ~ 1998. 
• There was a set of 3 MAERSK cars (traditional, I think, I don't believe any were scale) that went for $275, so there must be a collectible situation there (was a maxi-stack and 2 flats, I don't know the details beyond that, numbers were 36935, 36091, and 36092)
• An old Milwaukee Road set of F-units (A-B) with TMCC (late 90's-early 00's, I think) still commanded $375.   A KCS similar offering (but A-A) went for $275.
• The previously sought after MUs from the early 90's had a set of the power and dummy pairs (PRR version) sell for $140!  Granted they are not TMCC, but they are decent cars.  I recall seeing these routinely for sale (though I can't say if any sold) for ~ $500-600 in the late 90's.  (the dummy units seemed to be the hard to find part at that time)
• The "semi scale" set from I think the early 90's had a few entries.  Cars seemed to go for ~$60-70 per piece,though some were sold as sets of 2 or 3.
• There looked to be a fair number of opportunities for anyone looking for late 90's early 2000's sets (boxed or engine/passenger car pairings) to  get ones they may have originally missed or passed on for whatever reason.

 That's my casual review. (none of the above include the 16/19% premium)

-Dave

Railroaded posted:

My random thoughts on the 'auction environment':

....  I was up against collectors with bottomless pockets & also hobby shop owners, & train show vendors. Items were going for way beyond what they were worth to me & I also had a strange feeling about certain people in the crowd being bid snipers. I saw guys standing in back, leaning against the wall, quietly talking on cell phones & then raising their paddles to raise bids, but never winning anything.  ...

i'm guessing you meant "shill" bidders.  those bidding with no intention of winning, just boosting the price.  "snipe" bidding cannot happen at a live auction.

if the auction was not online, which many aren't, phone bidding is the only way an absentee bidder can participate.  don't think the auction house doesn't have people watching the bidding.  they have their reputation to think about and i'm sure it's typically a higher standard than many eBay sellers.

it doesn't happen often, but i've also participated in quite a few auctions where i bid on items and wound up winning nothing.

cheers...gary