Have you taken part in insider trading of model trains?

I really don't see how insider trading applies to model trains.  You couldn't have known that Lionel was actually going to make a scale model J or that the price of the semi-scale J would fall.  Many new trains have been announced but never made.  Some older trains hold their value or appreciate even though a manufacturer makes a newer or better product.

Insider trading usually happens when a person knows for sure that an event that is going to affect the value of something is going to happen.  An example is that you know that the city is going to select a certain area for the freeway off-ramp.  This knowledge allows you to buy all the land adjacent to the off-ramp's location before other buyers know of the decision.  NH Joe

So.............you are the guy.

My task force has been looking for you for years.

And...now you come clean on your own. You just saved the taxpayers of this great country millions of dollars.

Thanks. We will be visiting Roanoke shortly.

Donald

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

juniata guy posted:

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

LOL!

That hits WAY too close to my home!

I thought it was only me.

Andre

juniata guy posted:

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

That's not my strategy, but it just seems to work out that way most of the time!

This is sort of on the same idea.............just before I joined TCA Eastern Division, I was buying trains on (you know the 'web Auction site)! 

Well, some particular cars were going up....up...and up in price.  Seemed kinda weird that any other bidders were throwing an extra $30.00 and then some here and there, to jack up the price!

 At my first York, a savvy TCA member listened to my woes, and commented, "don't you realize that at ANY bidding, the seller could have "shills" competitively bidding so that you'll end up paying more$$$  ? And if the "schill" (friend of the seller) ends up the winner......no money changes hands, and at a later point in time, the seller relists and the whole game starts all over!

No, Scott, just count yourself as being at the right place at the right time.  Nobody forced anyone to buy your engine!

About the cars I wanted, but just quit bidding on on the Auction site?  Again at that first York, Literally minutes later ( after talking to the sage TCA guy at York)....I was in the Black Hall and two brothers were selling THREE N.I.B. for only $75.00 EACH! 

I heard “they” were issuing another Legacy Big Boy!    I think all you current Legacy Big Boy owners should put ‘em on the market!    

laming posted:

juniata guy posted:

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

LOL!

That hits WAY too close to my home!

I thought it was only me.

Andre

There is a vast super secret group we belong to Andre. Your decoder ring was just lost in the mail 

A reliable source once told me to sell all my proto 1 engines....just before proto 2 was announced. I guess you could call him a rat.

ratpak

I confess to to being a counterparty to insider trading,

What, me worry?

juniata guy posted:

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

I'm one of those buying the stuff people are selling, at least locomotives. I've gotten some incredible deals this past year on MIB or lightly used pieces. All because everyone wants the latest models with all the features. 

Trains are like cars: a diminishing asset, not an investment. No matter what the seller says 😉.

juniata guy posted:

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

Curt, could I interest you in some extremely rare trains in fantastic condition all piled in a box?  Sorry, no original boxes, they fell apart in the flood.  If not trains then I have some great swampland which is rare in Las Vegas.

Chris S. 

Hold on Chris.  My wife hid the checkbook.  😉

Curt

Curt, I take PayPal!  I counted, all the rivets are there, none are missing, they are just loose in the bottom of the box.

I love people with a sense of humor.

Chris S.

Similar to, but not despicable like, outsider trading, which is the practice of listing  for sale on eBay an old version (e.g. TMCC) of a locomotive at a timing coinciding in time and price with a newly issued version (e.g. Legacy) of the same locomotive in the hopes of tricking an outsider of the hobby. 😁

juniata guy posted:

Never.  My strategy whether talking trains or investments has always been to buy high and sell low.  😏

Curt

So your saying you need a breathalyzer on your phone so you can't dial a hobby shop or broker irresponsibly? 🤔

I got to try Windows beta but was shy $15 dollars on 2 MS opening shares because of a groggy morning, a full tank of gas, and a soda vs a quick $5. I even let the soda get warm.   Top that

Gramp's knew someone that had access to returns who would find him one offs, and also had access to"the closet" where proto-things were occasionally grabbed from to fill sets returned that needing something that broke, etc. for the set to be complete and resold, usually discounted too.  Especially just before bankruptcy/mpc , they would've sold the doorknob to the closet too if you asked for it.