Lionel Train Collection

David,

 

I don't think any dealer will make an on-site visit without some idea of what is to be viewed.  Probably the best thing you can do for your friend is help him prepare an inventory of what's going to be available with some mention of condition (rusted, used, good, new in box, etc.) and whether or not any accompanying boxes are still available.  You might also consider including pictures.  Then, search the forum for mentions of auction sites, and those posts should give you some idea of who are the big players / resellers.

 

Chuck

There are many ways to sell a collection.The last tack I would use would be a dealer.  Some dealers are fair but many are wheeler dealers.  Most will offer you 20 to 25% of current fair retail price.  I would consider an auction house before a dealer.  There is a good one in Indiana, Stout Auctions.

 

Also you could list the items here on OGR but you would need to have each item priced.  Maybe there are some collectors in your area who would help you determine realistic prices.  Or you could have one price for the entire lot.

 

Then there is eBay.  A lot of work but many, many potential buyers.

 

In any case as Chuck said above, you need an inventory listing the condition of each item and even better an inventory listing the prices your friend would like to get for each item.

 

Selling a complete collection, if it is of some size, can be a long drawn out process if you want to maximize the financial return.

 

Jim

 

 

Selling an entire collection as a single lot will reduce the number of interested buyers, and SERIOUSLY REDUCE THE SELLING PRICE. If you want to sell an entire collection in one transaction, EXPECT to get 15-25% of actual value AT BEST.

 

 Every so often we see someone trying to sell an entire collection at once, often worth thousands, sometimes TENS of thousands of dollars, often the Widow or Children of a long-time collector. Often they look at ASKING prices on ebay, NOT SELLING prices and get Greatly Inflated ideas of the value of what they don't want.

 

 A BIG problem with selling it all at once is that, what was a Logical or Desirable collection to the original collector, will have only a couple pieces that another is looking for/doesn't already have.

 

 Another problem selling a collection intact is the large price tag. Few will have thousands available to spend at one time, EVEN IF there are many pieces in the collection that they would be interested in. It is doubtful if the original collector bought it all at once, and the few that would be likely to buy the entire collection will likely be resellers who ARE going to break up the collection and sell it piece-meal, and they will EXPECT to make a PROFIT by doing it and are not likely to pay much if any over the 25% of value price.

 

 If the main goal is to move the collection QUICKLY with little regard to selling price, then there are several Auction houses, as mentioned, but AFAIK, they usually expect the seller to pack and ship the collection to them. There may be some dealers that would be willing to either purchase, or sell on consignment, but again AFAIK, most will want the collection BROUGHT TO THEM, very few house-calls going this route. I know in my area (Portland, OR) there are buyers advertising on Craigslist, that they will buy collections, these buyers will often come to you to view the collection(Be CAREFUL, who you let in your home, if you get a BAD FEELING about them tell them NEVER MIND and DON'T let them IN your home)  These in home collection buyers are typically in the 15-25% of value price range resellers, and may often just "Cherry Pick" the best pieces, and not buy the entire collection.

 

 For better selling prices, try listing here on the OGR Sell/Trade forum, if there is an upcoming swap meet in your area, that can be a good way to sell, you will have lots of people specifically looking for train items in one place. ebay, gives you a HUGE customer base, but does have it's fees and need to pack/ship multiple packages. If selling through the OGR Sell/Trade forum, ebay or any other online venue make sure you GIVE ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS, DON'T call something "MINT" or "RARE, if it is NOT, be realistic about condition and price expected, and include CLEAR pictures from multiple angles, taking them from the "Worst" looking side.

 

Bottom line, the More you put INTO selling the collection, the more you will GET out of it. The less effort put in the less money you will get out of it. No doubt about it, to get the best selling prices from a collection takes a LOT OF WORK.

 

Doug

You may want to group the items into "lots" of similar type of items, and take alot of pictures but most of all a very detailed description is most important ie condition, variation etc.

There is an advertiser in OGR that says he'll travel to price/buy a collection.

I buy collections and I am interested. What ERA of Lionel?

David...

 

'Up here' in Flint...  We maybe can be of help....been helping folks in this situation for over 10 years.  As others have said, it helps to have a list, perhaps some photos, an idea of what compensation you're seeking, etc. in order to have a long-distance discussion.

 

You may contact us through my email in my profile (I did not find an email address in your profile, or I would've made that initiation already.)

 

KD

 

 

Dear David, I suggest you read my post "Selling your Memories" for starters, but I vote ditto to what DKDRD said. Mike Maurice

I'm not sure of the age of your friend, but there is the large show in Saline

every year... If he can get it packed up and over there I'm sure he'd sell a lot of it.

 

Unfortunately this is one of the sadder things I see in the hobby. You'll see a guy

who for what ever reason selling his lifetime collection at a show. Usually a son or daughter is there with them helping to sell.  Sad that the kids don't want anything to do with it.... I guess we'll all get there sooner or later

 

 

KD, you may want to double-check your OGR extended profile.  Doesn't appear to be showing your email either!  

 

David

Well, ain't that a kick in the caboose?!?

 

I remember filling in that blank many moons ago, but you're right....it wasn't in the profile.  It pops up when I click on my own avatar, but of course that may not be of any help to someone else.

 

It is, now, though.

 

Thanks for bringing it my attention!

 

KD