Whats the best deal you have come across?

quote:

Originally posted by aaron87:
I have managed to come across several good deals but I think the best deal I have ever made was my brand new weaver cincinnatian for $190 from lloyd ralston gallery. The guy had it advertised as a williams but anyone who knows the difference can spot a weaver a mile away. It's number 66 of 400.

Just out of curiosity did you correct them on the error?

Mine would probably be when I had a retail hobby shop back near New Orleans in 1990 and a fella dropped off a chest of Lionel stuff for me to look at. I was new and didn't know one from another but he had a nice pair pf silver Alcos, a couple of 6464 box cars, a small steamer, a crane, and other similar items. I called him several times to ask what he wanted for it and he said he would try to come by and settle up with me but if he didn't, that I could have them!
He never showed up and evidently moved away...

There were a couple more interesting finds back then too. One was when a young man came by with two boxes of O gauge Lionels that his family found literally on the dirt floor of an old outbuilding where they lived. This was rural Louisiana and the humidity is high. Included was a 2356 Southern ABA, a 1656 0-4-0 bell-ringing switcher, and a lot of high end rolling stock - two boxes full! Much had to be discarded but we were able to fully restore the F3s and the 0-4-0 and recover a couple of the cars.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hokkanen:
Just out of curiosity did you correct them on the error?

I wondered how long it would take someone to ask that. I did and the response I got was that they go off what the person bringing it in tells them it is. This engine did not come with a box so it wasn't that obvious. As far as they are concerned why should they doubt the person selling it? Heres my question to you, Do you think it was wrong of me to pay too little for that engine or were you the person bidding against me? If the auction house doesn't care than neither do I.

If you aren't familiar with lloyd ralston they have online auctions.
If the thousands of people that saw that engine and didn't bid on it but one comes up on ebay and sells for $700+ why wouldn't I buy it. I didn't buy it to sell, it's still and always will be in my collection.

Nice! Those are the stories I love to hear.

quote:

Originally posted by c.sam:
Mine would probably be when I had a retail hobby shop back near New Orleans in 1990 and a fella dropped off a chest of Lionel stuff for me to look at. I was new and didn't know one from another but he had a nice pair pf silver Alcos, a couple of 6464 box cars, a small steamer, a crane, and other similar items. I called him several times to ask what he wanted for it and he said he would try to come by and settle up with me but if he didn't, that I could have them!
He never showed up and evidently moved away...

There were a couple more interesting finds back then too. One was when a young man came by with two boxes of O gauge Lionels that his family found literally on the dirt floor of an old outbuilding where they lived. This was rural Louisiana and the humidity is high. Included was a 2356 Southern ABA, a 1656 0-4-0 bell-ringing switcher, and a lot of high end rolling stock - two boxes full! Much had to be discarded but we were able to fully restore the F3s and the 0-4-0 and recover a couple of the cars.

quote:

Originally posted by aaron87:
I have managed to come across several good deals but I think the best deal I have ever made was my brand new weaver cincinnatian for $190 from lloyd ralston gallery. The guy had it advertised as a williams but anyone who knows the difference can spot a weaver a mile away. It's number 66 of 400.

I think what you did was fine. The entire auction house business, especially specialty sales like antiques, bric a brac, art and collectibles is built on the hope you might spot a hidden treasure and pay peanuts. Second hand dealers etc make their living that way.

Uh-oh, get out the boots!

MTH RK NYC Empire State Express Hudson for $150 new in box. I like hunting deals...and may have gotten others for a better price....but this is my favorite!

LOL I hope it's not that deep. I am just trying to hear some good deals people have come across over the years. It's not my fault nobody wanted it lol.

quote:

Originally posted by Tinplate Art:
Uh-oh, get out the boots!

The Lionel EM-1 I picked off the B/S board here recently for $700 was a pretty darn good deal I feel. My other trophy is from Ebay - A complete set of 8 Lionel MPC era Daylight cars + an extra car for $500. Supposedly the full set is worth double or triple that nowadays.

This seems like it should be a fun thread. Lets liven it up.

I bought some remaining trains from an estate. The folks liquidating the estate called me back and said we found more train stuff. Its yours if you want it but you will need a truck. WTF, I say to myself and go to check it out. It was a nice big coffee table with a complete n scale train layout. I said, I'd be back with a truck. I came back with a truck and buddy. Load up the table. They say, thanks, we were just going to have it hauled to the dump. They say, there's more in the garage More layouts for smaller gauge trains. These are yours too or they go to the dump. Some of those sat in my carport for years until I could find them a better home. Kept a couple but the coffee table gets more use then any other train item I have. Everyone is blown away when they see it. The original packing slip found in the drawer says it cost $700 just to ship and was insured for $3500. Dunno what the real value is and doesn't matter cause I am not selling. Glad I get to enjoy it and saved it from the landfill.

So far, my best deal was at first no deal. It was a Buy it now for a couple of MTH freight cars. MSRP was $33 each. They wanted $100....I offered $60. They declined. Item went unsold. Two weeks later, the same two cars were listed again - this time for auction. I picked 'em up for $44. Received cars - and they were still shrink wrapped, brand new.

quote:

Originally posted by AMCDave:
MTH RK NYC Empire State Express Hudson for $150 new in box. I like hunting deals...and may have gotten others for a better price....but this is my favorite!

Funny one of my best deals was a K-Lionel ESE with TMCC also at $150 last year after X mas from a place in NYC that only does trains at Holiday.
A few years back I got some high end but worn British pre war from someone who did not know what they were. I don't feel bad because they like I am sure most people on this forum don't know what they are or care....really.
I did get a TMCC starter set with the C&O berk jr for $150 once from a dealer and he surely continued getting my business after that deal.

Congrats, Rat - that's better than flushing your kidneys with old grape juice.

For me it was a non-prototypical NS black with silver roof Bay Window Caboose (20-91071). At the time it came out, one of my local train shops would not even stock it since non-prototypical. The other did but did give it a second thought since non-prototypical.

But that all changed after I got the MTH DAP NS OCS F-units. Had an eBay search going for almost a year with absolutely NO hits. So had an eye out at all the shows I setup in. Finally after setting up at one show touring the tables I saw one. It was missing the packaging clear plastic insert but did not care. Now since I am in the position of wanting very little to complete wish list, had set a max price of $100.00 to get this item. The box was displayed window front and center with price $54.95 which was MSRP. So I was happy. Reached for wallet with left hand and with right hand took box from display setting it end up on table. Low and behold there was a yellow sticker with printing "PRICE." Hand written on sticker "$40.00." Pulled two twenties from wallet and handed them over.

Now if I can only find the MTH RK green M&M tank car.

In their low end clockwork line, Marx made a wagon top tender with blue litho rivets and lettering on the black tender. Very rare piece. One showed up on E-bay a few years ago so I was watching it, expecting it to go for over a hundred bucks. No movement on it the whole week, I finally realized anyone who had a clue what it was, was at York. Got it for under $10.00 with shipping.

Steve

My best "deals" almost always turn out costing me more money than I would have paid if I bought the piece through regular channels. Invariably my "best deals" were for something I didn't realize I was getting, or it was represented in a different light than I had understood.

For me, the best deals are when I can look the seller right in the eye and come to a mutual agreement. By far, most of these deals were at York of at a local TCA show in the Cleveland area.

Paul Fischer

I found this Lionel 132 station for 3 bucks at a garage sale.Near mint!

One of my best deals was when Justrains was selling the lionel railroader TMCC cranes with the RS tender for $275.

I picked up a K-Line semi scale hudson pictured in this thread for 70 bucks at York. It was marked "as is, doesn't run". When I got it home I found the E unit was missing. I installed a Williams E Unit that was taken out for a TMCC upgrade and it now runs like a champ.

Pete

I think the OGR forums are the best deal going. It's an invaluable resource which provides endless hours of enjoyment all for the low low price of $0.00.


Thanks OGR for the forum.
John.

I'm enjoying this thread.

My best deal was a pickup load of late 40's old store stock in Bishop CA.

Holy smokes thats some nice looking stuff!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by zhyachts:
I'm enjoying this thread.

My best deal was a pickup load of late 40's old store stock in Bishop CA.

I got a good deal on my em-1. I bought it off ebay buy it now for $495 free shipping. It didn't have a box but patricks trains came through with a box. I still think the cincinnatian was the best deal I have ever made.

I guess my best deal was at York last fall. I bought an MTH Premier AEM7 fpr $299 new, from Justrains. It's a lovely electric, and a great memento of York.
The fact that I spent several thousand dollars to go to York doesn't count.

My top 3:

#1 MTH Rail King RS27 Powered & Dummy for $153.
#2 CNW AGEIR Box Cab new-in-box for $286 including shipping
#3 MTH Rail King GP9 Proto-2 for $138

I got a 2144w set in nice shape with boxes for $75.00. If you want to check out the whole story and set the pics here is a link.

http://ctt.trains.com/en/Colle...Greatest%20Find.aspx

Working as the west coast sales rep for MTH. The economy took that away in the fall of '08, but at least I have the memories. My thanks to the dealers; it was a pleasure working with you.

BBBob

The BEST deal you will ever get???

WHY...

ANY deal on the OGR For Sale forum that I list for sale! Guaranteed deal!

Sheesh. You really should have known!

Andre

The best deal so far in O scale has been 8 N&W K-line all metal coal cars for 60 bucks.It was a live on line auction.There are certain times of the year that you have a better chance of getting a deal.You just have to know when they are
My lips are sealed.

David

I have picked up a number of very good deals on locomotives with TMCC or DCS from sellers who didn't understand them and couldn't make them work. I bought a Weaver diesel on eBay where the bid stayed low because the sound didn't work. Turned out the TMCC switch on the bottom was in the "signal sounds" position, which turns off everything but horn and bell. Another time I got an Atlas GP-9 with TMCC for under 200 bucks because the seller, a dealer specializing in HO, tried to test run it on an HO powerpack (i.e. direct current). Needless to say it didn't work too well for him. I fiddled with it for half an hour, did some resets, and now it runs fine.

Being the cheap guy that I am, most of my trains have been "deals"! One of my favorite phrases is "new old stock"

Focusing on just engine, the K-Line Collector Club items were great,

- scale size Pennsy A-5 (conventional) for $125

- scale size CSX SD70MAC with sound, speed control and smoke for $150

- scale size Lackawanna Trainmaster with horn and smoke for $125

although, I think an even better price might have been my K-Line scale Pennsy Mikado that I purchased, on blowout, from Trainworld for $219!

or, it could be the SGL Reading Heavy Pacific (all brass) that I bought from Trainz for about $325. This engine may have been test run, but it was originally a $1000 engine.

Jim

p.s. the guys that complain that model trains are an expensive hobby, aren't patient enough to wait for the deals!

quote:

Originally posted by aaron87:
I think the best deal I have ever made was my brand new weaver cincinnatian for $190 from lloyd ralston gallery.

Nice find but was that price before or after their shipping fee?

quote:

Originally posted by jd-train:
...the K-Line Collector Club items were great,

- scale size Pennsy A-5 (conventional) for $125

- scale size CSX SD70MAC with sound, speed control and smoke for $150

- scale size Lackawanna Trainmaster with horn and smoke for $125

although, I think an even better price might have been my K-Line scale Pennsy Mikado that I purchased, on blowout, from Trainworld for $219!

Jim

I agree that the K-Line club engines including the $100 or $125 GG-1 were great deals. IMHO K-Line could have raised their K-Line club engine prices $25 to $50 each and still sell them all.

I also benefited from the relatively low price blowout deals on the K-Line scale Mikado and scale K-4.

That was before but at that price does it matter? . The total price came to $240 with the premiums and shipping. Still a great deal IMO. I have never paid more than 50% of retail for any of my engines so I really think I have done good on all my stuff.

It was'nt my deal but my brother-in-law called me up one and told me he had bought some lionel trains off a lady he was installing carpet for. I told him to read what the box said He started to say Century club bershire and i stopped him and said how much did you pay. He said 20 dollars for the engine aslo a sealed coast guard set port of lionel set and a laser train set. All for 20 dollars. He was in shock when I told him what the berk alone cost


bob

Several years ago, I made my first & only purchase on ebay - some prewar Lionel items from a seller. The great part of this deal turned out to be the 4 cockroaches that ran out of the shipping box. The wife said NO to any ebay purchases after that, and I think I've saved alot of $$$ since then.
TomB

This probably isn't what was in mind, but I'll share anyway.

The best "bang for the buck" for me pretty much has to be when I (in the final moments) spent $15 on the Chinese Auction they held at the Toy Train Museum at April York.

After thinking for a brief moment about perhaps splitting my tickets across some of the lesser prizes (which of course had fewer tickets in the bowl, so a higher probablilty of winning), I went all in for the MTH Premier Empire State Express and Matching 5 car passenger set(which as the top prize, of course had more tickets in the bowl and less chance of winning). Lo and behold, I actually won!

That is by far one of my greatest memories of a good train day! I actually started the York meet with a pretty full trunk due to this win. (though I still made some other neat purchases, nothing could actually top that)

-Dave

Lionel Airplane for $200.

When K-line went out of business around 5 years ago, I went to my local hobby lobby stores and talked to the manager about buying all of the 031 super snap switches. I probably got a total of 23 or so for about $11 a piece. That was a great deal. Also, picked up a Silver Spike pass. set with A-A and 7 pass. cars for $100 at a hobby shop which has long since closed. These good deals don't come that often, but lots of fun when they do!

On Saturday I bought David Doyle's Lionel Prewar Guide (2007) for $3.99 plus tax.
Great little book! The Ollie's store in State College has about 24 more to sell.

In 1970 I made the best 'buy' of my life when I got something I still have after 41 years. A little older and definitely not new, but still works well and I have a great time enjoying our time together. The best wife one could hope for!