What are the original Lionel UP Heritage engines worth? I see many on a certain auction site listed for way more than MSRP when new for used engines. I realize something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Sorry for the rant...but as the BTO prices for new engines have increased it seems like the auction prices for used items has also increased. I just wonder how many of these items are actually selling?
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Eric E posted:What are the original Lionel UP Heritage engines worth? I see many on a certain auction site listed for way more than MSRP when new for used engines. I realize something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Sorry for the rant...but as the BTO prices for new engines have increased it seems like the auction prices for used items has also increased. I just wonder how many of these items are actually selling?
Its all about supply and demand. Contrary to a fading but stubborn belief here in Lionelville, collector interest in most modern era Lionel has pretty much faded into oblivion. What you see in these engines is no different then so many other popular mass produced items from Lionel & MTH. Call it just another short lived availability issue.
Bottom line and words to the wise.. Whats priced high today could very well be available tomorrow at 1/3 or more less.
Joe
My experience with the Lionel SD70ACe units has not been very good with a significant failure rate so I am not sure how the second hand market will view them in the future. I ended up getting all of the ones that I owned repaired and sold before they could fail again and even at that I could get no more that about $250 a unit after paying for shipping. The availability seems to go in waves where a new color scheme comes out and then is gone after an over supply. BTO might stop that but then if you did not order good luck in finding one. I had ordered the Santa Fe cigar logo unit one several years ago from a dealer. It arrived and my wife stashed it away for several months and on Christmas day I opened it and it was a dummy unit with a powered unit shell and powered unit box. I was again disappointed and even the dealer did not believe me at first. From then on I want to see everything out, unpacked, and test run.....
Be careful of J-tripp3, better known as Grabowski trains. He list things on fleebay at ridiculous prices that do not reflect the true value of the item's being sold. Other sellers do the same thing. Its better to wait and bid on a item that you can get for less down the road. But some people have to have it and will pay those prices. Usually on a weekend night after a few.
I am not talking from experience. 
Not an answer to your question, but Santa had brought my twin sons each an MTH rtr set, with each set having an Imperial SD70Ace locomotive. Over 17" long, a ton of detail, very nice sound and just great locomotives. Both sets together, which included 3 husky double stack cars in each set with very realistic end of train flashing devices (!), cost less than one new Lionel Heritage SD70Ace locomotive. From experience I much prefer the reliability of Legacy and Lionel steamers but I've found the MTH diesels are a great value and good runners. And I agree with MDUPPY regarding Gryboski - I pre-ordered the Vision UP Railsounds cars and when they came in the son decided he could sell for more on-line and, therefore, conveniently forgot my preorder, despite months of phone calls for status updates.
You pay what you feel its worth. Same as if you sell it.. I saw the B&O ac6000s sell for 1500 on ebay .I own one.. If i thought they where worth 1500 i sell mine.. No offence but if someone offered you 1500 for a engine you paid 400 for wouldnt you? As for mth look at history .Lionel may cost more but lionel does have more value as they get older..
Hmm?!!!
I thought, I was the only fool who had unfortunate dealings with some of; "The Great Train Shops!!!!!!!!!!!" Which, in my opinion were: "The Great Train Robberies," against ME!!!!!!
Ralph
Eric
Its all about supply and demand.
As far as the Lionel Heritage SD70ACe engines . I have 6 and really like them .
Larry
Eric E posted:What are the original Lionel UP Heritage engines worth? I see many on a certain auction site listed for way more than MSRP when new for used engines. I realize something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Sorry for the rant...but as the BTO prices for new engines have increased it seems like the auction prices for used items has also increased. I just wonder how many of these items are actually selling?
One way to look if these items are actually selling is to do a quick eBay search for SOLD listings, where the sale price is listed for Buy-it-Now and Auction purchases. I don't think it's listed for "Make An Offer" purchases though.
In any event, I don't recall these locomotives as ones that have trended above MSRP. These are very nice locomotives... I have several. They're not the type of locomotive that is worth more than MSRP, however. But sellers on eBay nowadays are gonna ask all kinds of prices hoping to grab unsuspecting buyers. The craziest listing I've seen in awhile has Lionel's Legacy Polar Express Tender, 6-11151, with an asking price of $899. 
Locomotive not included. 
Buyer beware.
I also agree that Lionel's latest BTO prices are leaving sellers of existing trains thinking, "Hey, why can't I get in on that game too?". 
Unfortunately, it doesn't represent the finer side of our hobby.
David
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