Ironic, I have been buying / selling on this forum and eBay UK for some time
Looking at my two Blue / Grey ScotRail push-pull sets last night, and they just don't fit in
The best laid plans, and all that!
47709 in BR Blue
Sound Decoder fitted
Mercig Studios detailing (No 1 end, coupling at No 2 end)
47712 in Large Logo Blue
Sound Decoder fitted
Mercig Studios detailing (No 2 end, coupling at No 1 end)
Each rake comprises :
Four x Dapol Mark 3 TSO
One x Dapol Mark 3 FO
One x Farish DBSO, using Electra Vinyls
I have several options
Sell all the items separately
Sell each rake complete
Swap the locomotive bodies to new chassis (useful for anyone that does not want Sound / DCC)
If I sell the locomotives separately they will probably sell with ease, but anyone that wants the rake has the risk of not winning the coaches
If I sell the rakes complete they will probably take longer to sell
Hmmm...
Really depends on whether you are in a rush to sell your stuff. Also, depends on whether you are out to maximise your monetary return from the sales. Personally, I find packaging stuff up for the post a pain in the neck so I try to sell things in large lumps if I can even if the total return might be a bit less than items sold individually.
Another approach would be to sell the locos individually with the stated proviso that you intend selling the accompanying coach set at a later time. If the prospective buyer shows interest then you can negotiate a deal with them for the sale of the coach set which needn't be through EBay.
Webbo
Why wouldn't you just sell on eBay as normal? The market is smaller for higher value stuff (theoretically), but that's about it.
For those things I'd sell everything individually separately - the market for the locos is bigger than people modelling Scotland. I'd perhaps sell the mk3s in bundles of 4 (you don't say if they're the C&M Scotrail booksets, in which case definitely sell as a bunch), but I'd do the DBSOs separately - again, more people likely to just want a DBSO than an entire rake.
I would probably list them on here first of all for the price you would (realistically) like to get for them. You may be lucky and they are just the thing someone else is looking for in which case everyone is happy and you don't have to pay any fees.
If after a month or so, there has been no interest, you can always put them on eBay and you have not lost anything except the waiting time.
Quote from: Webbo on September 26, 2017, 09:20:36 AM
Really depends on whether you are in a rush to sell your stuff
Also, depends on whether you are out to maximise your monetary return from the sales
There is no hurry, probably make the ideal Christmas present for someone
I would quite happily make a small loss (about 10%), but on eBay I would have to sell at full price to cover costs
Packaging is not a problem as it is between 2 and 12 parcels
Quote from: njee20 on September 26, 2017, 09:32:12 AMI'd perhaps sell the mk3s in bundles of 4 (you don't say if they're the C&M Scotrail booksets, in which case definitely sell as a bunch)
No, they are just ordinary Dapol Mark 3 Blue / Grey coaches (the only difference between them and the C&M version are the coach numbers)
Quote from: Karhedron on September 26, 2017, 10:03:29 AM
I would probably list them on here first of all for the price you would (realistically) like to get for them
If after a month or so, there has been no interest, you can always put them on eBay and you have not lost anything except the waiting time.
Sounds like a plan, and that is what I have done in the past for the items that are likely to be of more interest to members here (like my Millfield Models repaints)
The only problem is the items are listed and do not accept queries first
I would rather list them without accepting offers, and then after 28 days activate
Quote from: MJKERR on September 26, 2017, 12:44:18 PM
Quote from: njee20 on September 26, 2017, 09:32:12 AMI'd perhaps sell the mk3s in bundles of 4 (you don't say if they're the C&M Scotrail booksets, in which case definitely sell as a bunch)
No, they are just ordinary Dapol Mark 3 Blue / Grey coaches (the only difference between them and the C&M version are the coach numbers)
I was thinking of the actual Scotrail liveried mk3s, these (http://www.hattons.co.uk/162937/Dapol_CM001_LN_Scotrail_Mk3_Coach_4_pack_C_M_Special_Pre_owned_Like_new/StockDetail.aspx) ones.
As Karhedron says, you lose nothing listing things, you could even list in multiple places concurrently - stick them here for x price, and eBay for x+10%.
I would still definitely sell as loco/mk3s/DBSO as three discrete items.
Quote from: njee20 on September 26, 2017, 12:51:58 PM
I was thinking of the actual Scotrail liveried mk3s,
As above, the Blue / Grey ScotRail sets, with the BR Blue and Large Logo Blue Class 47/7
Agreed, I did not actually put :
Dapol Mark 3 Blue / Grey TSO / FO
I have no plans to sell any of the ScotRail livery items
Quote from: njee20 on September 26, 2017, 12:51:58 PM
As Karhedron says, you lose nothing listing things, you could even list in multiple places concurrently - stick them here for x price, and eBay for x+10%.
I do not believe that is permitted on this website
Equally, it is a breach of the eBay Terms and Conditions, and in the past have closed some sellers accounts where they relist items after having listings deleted and being warned again
Quote from: MJKERR on September 26, 2017, 03:25:30 PM
Quote from: njee20 on September 26, 2017, 12:51:58 PM
As Karhedron says, you lose nothing listing things, you could even list in multiple places concurrently - stick them here for x price, and eBay for x+10%.
I do not believe that is permitted on this website
Equally, it is a breach of the eBay Terms and Conditions, and in the past have closed some sellers accounts where they relist items after having listings deleted and being warned again
Correct as far as the N'Porium goes.
Fun fact. Why in breach of terms here?
eBay obviously do it because they don't make money if you do that. I must admit I'd never looked at eBay T&Cs, just something you often see on certain items (admittedly not railway stuff).
From the N'Porium FAQs
Can I advertise an item for sale if it's for sale elsewhere?
I'm afraid not! To avoid disappointment to future buyers we don't allow you to advertise elsewhere at the same time that they are advertised on the N'porium.
Rules is rules
Is that any different to "someone else bought it before you"? :hmmm:
Fair enough, obviously ignore my terrible advice then!
Once again the Nporium has been a valuable asset to both buyer and seller
Much to my surprise the two Mercig Studios models have sold with ease
I was expecting to have to wait several weeks, then just start an under valued auction on eBay UK, and take a massive loss on them
Yes, there were some requests to sell at silly prices (and without mentioning usernames!)...
"Will you accept £300 for both locomotives"
I then replied, "You do realise that both models are fitted with Sound Decoders, which cost £90 each, and then sent to Mercig Studios for repainting and detailing, which costs £250 each"
"Sorry, didn't realise they had Sound Decoders"
Sadly one person was adamant for a discount (of £200) as it was two locomotives
They have now sold for their full value, less the postage costs I have incurred
Had they not have sold I would have started them on eBay UK at £750 each, which would have covered all my costs
I always keep descriptions brief and simple, the buyer can then ask questions if necessary
How does that maths work?
£120 loco
£90 decoder
£250 repaint
That's £460. Did you pay £290 postage...? Even assuming a bit to fit the decoder, plus a speaker I'm really struggling with how those are £750, or even the £600 you listed then at. Why wouldn't you just buy CJM ones?!
Quote from: njee20 on October 05, 2017, 07:04:03 AM
How does that maths work?
£120 loco
£90 decoder
£250 repaint
£90 Farish model, £5 postage
£90 decoder, £5 postage
£110 Decoder fitting and postage
£300 Mercig Studios repaint and detailing and postage
The actual costs vary slightly from than that, and are included in a spreadsheet
Here are the summary of costs on the locomotive profile, which excludes any postage costs :
https://glasgow-queen-street-n-gauge.co.uk/rolling-stock-47709.html
Well you're nothing if not thorough.
Quote from: njee20 on October 05, 2017, 08:10:53 AM
Well you're nothing if not thorough.
It's part of my job, and the research for the models shows this
They aren't perfect, but they are as close as you can get
I used to have hundreds of photos from between 1984 and 1994, this included locomotives, DMUs, EMUs, and coaches but I disposed of them
The layout is part of your job, or the website, or cataloguing stuff?
Quote from: njee20 on October 05, 2017, 10:34:08 AM
cataloguing stuff
My job involves making sure things for "space-opera related Lucasfilm" films (and we are just about to finish the fourth and start on the fifth) are made available in time, transported, then returned for future films (if required) or destroyed and certified
Quote from: MJKERR on October 05, 2017, 11:10:13 AM
Quote from: njee20 on October 05, 2017, 10:34:08 AM
cataloguing stuff
My job involves making sure things for "space-opera related Lucasfilm" films (and we are just about to finish the fourth and start on the fifth) are made available in time, transported, then returned for future films (if required) or destroyed and certified
Not that it's the business of anyone else. Don't feel pressured to respond to such questions.
@MJKERR (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=208)
Yes, sorry, not interrogating, mere intrigue. Glad you sold your locos for what you wanted.
As you were.
I have sold many things in my life via various methods, and I have never been asked to, nor never would, justify my asking prices. If they sell I'm happy, if I have to modify my pricing to suit the market, them again I'm happy. I just try to ensure I have listed at a fair price (based upon my own criteria), and not give away things for a song, particularly as some folks will buy just to sell on at a higher price.
So thank you NPN for your last comment.
@MJKERR (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=208) - I find your candour refreshing, and glad to hear that you have achieved some of the sales you were looking for. How much detail is given in an 'advert' is always difficult to determine, but the fact that you have detailed info to hand if it is called for is admirable. Good luck with future sales.
I've no problem with blatant profiteering - if Marcus could sell the locos for £1000 then best of luck to him, it was just because he was providing the broken down justification I was genuinely intrigued by how he was getting to the figures, he provided that information. I am sated. It wasn't a request to justify himself, so I apologise if it came across like that.
It's a sellers' market, there's a long wait for those models, some people will pay a premium for that. I'd capitalise on that were I selling! One of the things I really like about model railways is that stuff often increases in value in a very short space of time, I'd go as far as to say a lot of stock is a reasonable investment!
Quote from: njee20 on October 05, 2017, 02:59:44 PMthere's a long wait for those models, some people will pay a premium for that
It's more of a compromise
If you order from Mercig Studios, then you get EXACTLY what you want (and wait about 3 months)
If you find a second hand Mercig Studios model, then you are getting what someone else specified, so it may not include all the options
As an example I have seen several locomotives which are detailed at both ends
Great for a layout based on a depot, but not much good for trains with coaches / wagons
I could have asked £750 per locomotive, but that would basically make me a reseller of Marks Trains / Mercig Studios, and I would not do that (and they would probably not perform any future conversions for me!)
Equally, I have been transparent about the costs (they appear on the locomotive profiles) so that anyone else considering a similar conversion (sound / Mercig Studios / both) can see what it is
Yep, I certainly found that insightful, people seem to think there was malice in my posts. Perhaps my usual bristly tone :D