[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (spongebob @ 21 Oct 2006, 23:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Of course 00 is the defalut category for people who don't have a clue what they are selling as well.

You can usually spot these as they often describe a locomotive as a "train" & for HO european "continental style".

regards
Brian

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 16 Oct 2007, 11:25) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>also you have to remember that e-bay is no longer a novelty.

Peter

There is probably a lot of truth in that statement !

I had noticed a drop in items that I/we are interested in - usually, every week I do an eBay "trawl" - I have a list of items that I/we search for with the stuff I filter out - last year it took me, on average over an hour - now it takes me about 20 minutes - partly because I get quicker & partly because there is less to interest.

On eBay I wear two hats - Hat #1 is my traders hat - I will pay less to allow me a reasonable margin, I set a limit & that is it - no more.
Hat #2 is my modellers hat - I will pay far more for something I want myself & may go a bit higher, although all my bids go in during the last few seconds.

Another way I thing eBay is loosing it's momentum is the fact that is getting too fragmented - too many different ways to sell means less time to look which in turn means less "item exposure".

As far as model railways are concerned there are a few things that have changed which may very well be putting people off selling ;
The minimum reserve price is now £50.
Once a bid has been placed any "buy it now" is no longer available.
This results in higher starting prices & less initial interest for buyers.

Still always worth a look for buying & selling in my opinion & more conveinent that other auctions unless you live near one.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Gary @ 16 Oct 2007, 22:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Buy it now is a useful service as a lot of eBayers don't want to wait for an auction to finish and want it now! Spares for example are one area where buy it now is just perfect. If I want something I do check buy it now prices and if something is on offer at what appears to be a reasonable price I won't wait.
Happy modelling
Gary

(Taking deep breath) - I agree, having said that I have often bought items on "buy it now" that have just come on, many times getting the item(s) for a very good price.

We often sell redundant (but always in good serviceable condition) electrical equipment - I often put a "buy it now" for about half of its real value just to get rid of it quickly, after all they have not cost us anything. These items are usually from upgrading projects & IMHO a waste to throw away (which actually costs money in a commercial environment).

eBay is really a bit of a mixed bag, many of us do not really like it, but still use it - it's the same with anything that dominates the market - a bit like microsludge.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Dinwiddy @ 24 Oct 2007, 23:26) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>the current Royal Mail changes in charging structure mean that some items cost more to send out than they cost to purchase!
David Y.

Royal Mail continually increase the costs & reduce the quality of the service - they are gradually losing more & more business. We have a contract with DHL (part of the German Post Office) which gives us guaranteed 48hr delivery, tracked & signed for, insured &, of course they collect from us, up to 30kg for £7.50 !

Only, small items now go by Royal Snail - we use our local Sub-Post Office to try to keep them open, but by the time we have gone down the road & quewed up behind all the people buying one stamp & then discusssing whatever with the lady behind the counter..................................

& before anyone jumps in, this is based on our experience - I appreciate that some people manage to get excellent service from Royal Snail. Also, the local RM staff we deal with are excellent people who will tell you (& I believe them) that the problems are caused by continual restructuring & management.

 

[Brian Considine]

Hi Chris,

Very valid points regarding carriers. The problem we find with Royal Mail/Parcelfarce is not only the prices, but the long winded delay tactics employed to discourage claims for damaged/missing items. The new sizes for letter post they use seems to have been very, very carefully calculated to be in their favour.

We now only send small items via Snailmail (locomotives usually via Special Delivery). Often, it is cheaper to use DHL who charge us £7.50 for UK delivery up to 30kg for a 48hrs signed & fully tracked service - and they collect from us - no going to the local sub-post office & having to listen how Mrs Jones cat's lumbago is, or going to the main one & dodging the parking fascists !

It really is a great shame about the way things are going for Royal Mail - most of the people that we have contact with are great. It's the usual story of more management, less workers & constant fiddling with how to do things.

Regarding eBay, my experiences pretty well reflect yours. PayPal may appear a little greedy, but it is still often far cheaper & safer than other methods.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (bike2steam @ 9 Nov 2007, 16:41) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>When looking on E-Bay if I see an item I want, and the seller has added 'rare' to their ad, I avoid it as someone is trying hard to overcharge.

Why avoid it - you could still get a bargain, especially if everyone else avoids it because of the word "rare".

Except maybe to trap the unwary, using the word "rare" in a description is a waste of time, - those that really know, know if it's rare or not !

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Gary @ 10 Nov 2007, 13:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>using the word "rare" when appropriate i

That's the operative wording Gary - too often I have seen the word "rare" used on items that are just old.

An example is the old Marklin 0-6-0 tank loco with minimum valve gear, worth next to nothing but you often see very tatty ones described as "rare". Often, the word "rare" is used to describe something that is just not prolific.

The descriptions by Sotherby, Christies, Bonhams and Vectis are probably written by someone who actually knows the difference.