Updated Result: Need help: What to offer for this PW lot?

Paul, no picture.

I think only half the picture is showing.

From what I can see, I'd offer $150.00. I really want a postwar trolley, so that may be clouding my judgement somewhat. Would need better pictures to really give a value.

History dictates that other's on this forum will really lowball this lot. It's not as easy to come up with good postwar out here in the midwest, so I tend to value on the high side compared to most.

Try the attachment tool for the picture.

Thanks Don, I added two other pictures that hopefully shows the entire lot now.

Paul

In my opinion,I think $150-200 range would be a fair price to pay.Nice find.

They look to be in decent shape from here.

I think at $200 you might make about 30% up to doubling your money, piecing them out at a train show around here.

  Id expect to pay near $300 to find what I see, if I didn't shop or haggle super hard.

More if original &/or real nice. I always assume photos look better than life.

At $150 I'd be quite happy to own it all.

At $200 I'd giggle some.

$250 I'd smile contently.

and $300 would get a nod of satisfaction.

More than that and I would want to research each piece a little better, and see close ups.

The main concern would be if the trolley and the two locos run OK. I not then the price comes down quite a bit. If thy are runners,I  would say $300

Do a search on eBay to get the SOLD prices for the 2 that you want. The others are "free". Sold prices can be gotten via "advanced search" (upper right corner), then check "sold", then "search".

You could easily pay $150 for just the Army switcher and trolley ( and that's  probably a low ball)

Add at least $25 for each of the O27 passenger cars. $40 for the piggy-back car and same for the track cleaning car....and $50 for the Auto-Loader......I say $250-300 is very fair.

Peter

$250/300 would be on the high side here in the Detroit area. However many don't have the luxury of several shops to buy from. Actually almost everything I buy comes from just one train store. You now have some price ideas.

Offer the price you are comfortable with.

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions.  I'm hoping to hook up with the gentleman tomorrow or Monday.

Paul 

Hello,keep in mind that 99.9 percent of postwar engines WILL run again once given a little attention and a tune up,which you can do yourself.You can always take a transformer with you,and touch one wire to the roller pickup,and touch the other wire to the engine frame and the wheels should start spinning.However,this might make the guys asking price go up if he sees them running again,but fair is fair.And you will know if they need work or not.

Paul, I think Adriatic is right on with his assessment.

Please post the results of your meeting with us.

Azgary

I always like to have the seller name the price first.  

Paul:

I sent you an email offline.

For reasons that I'll leave to everyone else's imagination, my sense is that this seller's expectations are possibly unrealistic.  I would:

• Find out his "order of magnitude" by email or telephone.  If he has a number like $750 in his mind, you aren't going to bargain him down to $150 or $200 or even $500.  Save your time and gasoline by making an exploratory call.
• As someone said, do a search on eBay of completed auctions for the various items in the photo.  This will give you a good sense of the prices that you'll be able to turn them around for.  These days, prices at a show will be slightly higher than what you see on eBay.
• You could easily turn around the trolley, the switcher, the track cleaner, and the 2400 passenger cars at a single train meet and use the profits to pay for anything else in the photo that strikes your fancy (e.g., the Auto-Loader).

FWIW, I bought a nice, unboxed 3927 track cleaner at the last NETCA show for $35.  I own all the others in the photo except for the passenger cars and the maroon LV hopper, so I'm completely unfamiliar with prices.

Good luck with it.  Please post back here to let us know how it comes out.

Steven J. Serenska

Pricing trains is tough. Ideally I agre with above comment, get the seller to give price if possible. I will be open with owner if I am buying to keep I will offer more, if I am going to sell I offer less and tell them that. Current price guide and show them the price and state explanation. Unboxed PW running grade has taken a huge hit in value of late. If you have to fix or if owner is not offering that they run--that is a bargaining chip as well. I also tell the owner that the price I offer is it, I won't keep bumping up and I try to make a fair offer from get go. Too many people have pie in the sky pricing. Don't let the desire to own at influence your purchase-I have watched people at auction way over pay for items because of the "hunt". Good luck. P.S. $275-$300 is more than fair for an offer

Thank you to everyone who replied to Paul's question.  I am new to buying and selling postwar myself.  Lots of good advice!

Based on your pictures and prices in Atlanta, I would say $150-200 would be fair is my estimate.

Like some of you said here, I would offer $150.00 No more. He can take it or leave it. I have been buying trains out of homes for the past 38 years. When you buy trains out of homes, You don't know what could be wrong with them, and usually there is something wrong (broken) with some of them.

 I would tend to agree to get the lowest price possible, I might start there.

But the OP wanted to offer a fair price. I read that as fair for both parties.

At $150 that's $10 each for cars, $20 for the motorized stuff.

   It all looks decent, and I couldn't walk out of any show I've been to in many years, with prices that low, on those items, without them being bottom of the barrel quality. Even with a broken part on each and every one, I think the money could be recouped by re-sale to total well over $200 on a bad day. And I'm in Detroit too! We should have some of the lowest prices around, with all things considered.

I would go about $200 since nothing in the group was a must have for me. It is a nice grouping and probably worth more than $200.

    Bill T.

I would want to know if the powered pieces ran -not just he motor but the gears. If they  shot then the value drops a lot.  The cars are worth $20/ each.

Since nobody has mentioned it yet the silver paint on anything PW Lionel scratches and shows up easily. What do the roofs of those passenger cars look like close up?

As someone else said, do the motorized units run? That 41 switcher can have a stripped brass bull gear easily enough from some kid trying to pull too many PW cars with it. Also, window struts on the 41.

How does the roof of the trolley look? Any melt marks from the light bulb inside?

These are common flaws with these items that would drop the price considerably.

I don't know how folks are coming up with values. Cosmetic condition is everything. And I cannot tell the condition from those photoe

Are there any struts cracked on the trolley or switcher?

Are there screw hole cracks on the switcher?

What is on the side of the white automobile?

These are common problems and kill the value.

As has already been posted, almost any postwar Lionel motorized unit can be repaired. I would assume the pieces no not currently run.

Condition would be the deciding factor for me, and the photos don't show that clearly enough for me to give an estimate.  As for price, it depends a lot on where you live.  In my area, No one in their right mind would sell that group for the $150-$200 that so many here are quoting.  The trolley or USA switcher alone would cost that much.

As a lot offer is less than the individual because some items (for resale) will never sell, and others will sell quickily. For top dollar the seller would have to clean and service and transport to different shows or multiple auctions.

In addition, most of the prices quoted here are higher than what trains can be sold for at local train shows in my area.

ahhhh the best laid plans. I was set to offer him $200 for the lot but he decided da bay is the place for these items. I don't collect postwar but for some reason I wanted this little collection. The auto carrier is what had my interest. Oh well.

However I want to thank everyone for their input and suggestions - good advice for future opportunities.

Paul

Well he just called me and said if I would do $300 he can let it go, I decided it was above the limit I set on this group ($240). Maybe I should have pulled the trigger, but I wanted a bargain and today wasn't my day. Maybe tomorrow

Paul

Now that I can see the whole lot, $240.00 would have been a bargain. Around here, $300.00 would be about right, and could probably make a little profit if some of the items were re-sold.

"Maybe tomorrow"

There is always another day, Paul. 

It is al a dance.Thank him and leave your number if he changes his mind

Right you are Brian, I have no doubt he will get his price - and I have absolutely no regret (ok maybe a little) about having walked away.

We got to talking and he works the flea markets. He is just learning about O Gauge trains. We had a nice little chat before getting down to business and parted wishing each other well.

Paul

Paul

has it been used recently and can the seller confirm the motorized units run? If so the 125--150 is a fair offer. If not start at $75 especially if its not been run in a while.

Steve