I succumbed to Antique Toys.....

[Southerngooner]

Hi all

After all the vitriol and hot air about Antique Toys, and their eBay prices, over the years I have just bought, well rescued really, from them. I have noted before they have three of my 1990s kit builds for sale, a Shredded Jinty (£74.95) and a TPM Class 31 (with very warped body - £124.95) and a CJM Class 73 at £174.95. The latter was at one time on for around £250, which to me was bonkers.

However, looking at, and feeling the weight (or distinct lack of it) in my latest Dapol/Gaugemaster JA I did wonder if it might be nice to bring the CJM version back into the fold. If I bang my own drum a little I didn't too bad a job when building it, and it ran very reliably on Lynford Junction at many shows (on diesel power of course....). After a few attempts to engage in discussion with AT about a lower bid, with no response, I just bit the bullet and thought "how much would I pay for a CJM loco today?". I offered them £150, and the next minute there was an accepted offer note from eBay. Clearly I'd hit the sweet spot, but it would have been nice to know earlier what thye would accept. It arrived today and runs just as well as it did back then, and compared to the Dapol version it weights a ton!

Here they are for comparison. Colours are a bit different, but I rather like them both



I'm happy, which is the main thing, and tthis automatically becomes the oldest thing in my collection - no quite SPAM though.....

Dave

[martyn]

It's over 25 years since we started with Lynford, so it's pretty close to spam.

I remember the locos well.

Martyn

[ntpntpntp]

Brave of you perhaps, but you had the advantage of knowing the actual model

You get 3 offers, I'd have probably tried £100 first. The length of time AT have had some of those models going round and round on ebay you'd think they'd be keen to turn them over and get some money back if not the crazy starting prices.

[Southerngooner]

Believe me I tried to make an offer but their website doesn't seem to allow it. I sent messages offering lower sums but got no response, so decided what I felt it was worth and they accepted. I sold it for £80 in 2008, which would be worth about £140 now, so I feel happy about it.

Dave

[njee20]

The mechanism you used to make the £150 offer is the make an offer feature... you don't need to engage the seller, as Nick says you get 3 bites, so you can make a low offer to start and see what happens. Glad you're happy with it though.

[Southerngooner]

There was no "make an offer" feature, hence the messaging.

Dave

[njee20]

You said it was listed at £175 and you offered £150 which was auto accepted? I'm assuming through eBay's "best offer" feature...?

[ntpntpntp]

There was no "make an offer" feature, hence the messaging.

Dave

Ah so the button wasn't provided?  I know some sellers seem to turn that off. 

[njee20]

But then he did manage to have an offer auto accepted, so either they engaged, or there was a button? Most confusing thread in a while this, but glad you like the loco! Not sure I could stomach buying back my own model for double what I sold it for!

[Southerngooner]

Definitely no button or way to make an offer bar sending messages. Two didn't get a reply but when I offered £150 suddenly there was an Accept offer button.

I'm philosophical about paying that for it. I've got the money and little else needed for the layout bar a BoB when they appear, so i reasoned it would be a nice early 70th treat to myself! Sometimes money isn't everything.

Dave

[njee20]

Totally! If it's worth £1000 to you then that's awesome, hope you enjoy it (again)!