Need info/help please

This pricing guide can certainly be a helpful reference tool depending on how old the trains are:

http://www.amazon.com/Lionel-P...6/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Not necessarily the be-all-end-all but a great place to start getting value parameters.

What is the vintage of the trains?  Do you have a list?  I am martyfitz44@aol.com.

Both BHalfway & Marty, have both made very good suggestions.  The driving question is "how extensive" is the collection, and what time period are the trains from.  Another key factor is CONDITION, which is a prime factor to establish a reasonable price.  You are going to have to get a complete list of what he wants to sell.  

I do do not know Marty Fitzhenry, but from the numerous posts he has made, I would suggest you contact him, and he can probably give you some guidance.  You will have to do some research.  Good luck.

People who sell collections for friends or relatives of friends say they charge 20% of the amount they sell to cover time and setting up and schlepping the trains to train shows. If you are only going to sell on the OGR Forum then 10-15% sounds reasonable. Be aware that you will have to carefully pack, ship and insure the sold items. Inquire as to whether or not there are original boxes for the pieces. (Makes shipping a whole bunch easier) You will get to know your FedEX, UPS and USPS carriers on a first name basis. The price guides are way over inflated as to what pieces are worth. I would use the selling prices on EBay as a guide. Figure 50-60% of MSRP as a starting point. If you have a local train store ask them for advice on pricing. 

If it is a substantial amount of trains you might invest in some of the large Greenberg books that have the color pictures and descriptions.

For price, I tend to look at the completed sales on ebay and the sold category on the "Live Auctioneers" site for a good idea of what price items are really selling for. 

I agree with you on not wanting to do ebay but there is also good there lets look at the good side then we will look at some of the negative.

1 you can start at say a medium price and let the bidders go 

2 you are protected as the seller suggested so he can't complain of ending price.

3 the money is there thru paypal

4 you have millions seeing your items

very good reasons 

Okay the not so great 

if not established with them they may have PayPal hold all funds until buyer receive and leave feedback or up to 3 weeks meaning you can be liable to pay shipping up front ( I know going thru this now as quit and rejoined)

A buyer can return for full refund including shipping both ways should they say you didn't describe it correctly ( had this happen)

With all this said thou Ebay has been for most part a good experience. 

But if you can find enough buyers on here I would at least suggest here first make a list so we know what you have and some of us may make offers or give you what we think you should be asking also condition is very important also so before I would buy I would want to see the item unless it was a very good price period or as one did the mystery box.

Good luck thou Think you have a good way to go also you said you have a flea market you may think of taking some there and see how they do you might do good there but I would price at upper end as you know people will try to get you down some there. 

Depends on the size of the collection and the time frame. If there are prewar and postwar trains the easy thing to do is find a good auction house that specializes in trains.

As you know there is a lot of work in selling a large collection of trains.

Some dealers will only give you .20 on the dollar so be careful.

I will certainly vouch for Marty.  In addition to being a Navy veteran he is a retired Boston Police Detective and "salt of the earth" individual.  He will not steer you wrong and will give you honest advice regardless of the route you choose to take.

--Greg

An auction site I like to use is; www.choochooauctions.com It costs you a little(25 cents to one dollar) to list an item, but no percentage of the sale price is paid to them, you can also post a photo to the website for each item. The owner even has contact information in case you want to sell directly to him.

Lee Fritz

he now charges 5% at the end of the auction along with the .25 to list but still a lot less than ebay but also lot less exposure than you get on ebay also I use both myself and he also uses Ebay as traincity. 

What worked for you three years ago should still apply.  The market appears flooded be preoaired to spend more time trying  to move the collection.