Part of the price problem is the currency exchange rate and the high cost of shipping items around the world.

The other thing is that the new models coming out, for me, are much more interesting than the old analogue trains. The video doors train is one example and mfx+ is another example..

As more and more people converted their old analog layout into digital, therefore the population of analog layout become less and less. Since analog locomotives can not run on digital layout without being converted, thus the demand for analog locomotives at secondary market is declining. Only few models will still be able to command high price from collectors who purchase them to sit inside display cabinet, instead of running on the layout.
This trend was further accentuated in the last couple of years by the advance of technology; new tooling produce better quality (more details and closer to prototypical appearance), modern digital electronics giving good sound, smooth running and other features. Further depressing the value of older analog locomotives and encouraging more people to convert their analog layout into digital, resulting in sharp downtrend of resale price of non-digital rolling stocks.

Hi!
Why not? Newer models are better.
I'm looking for a model with big C-Sine and yellow LEDs. List price was around €240 and recently I saw some of them going for less than €90.

It's a matter of demand and supply. With many collections on offer, supply is good for many items and only few items are rare and get high prices.

I think the pricing reflects the fact that we are now well into the Digital world. Even starter sets are digital now.

To bring these models to current standards is almost equivalent to a new model already done, if one includes labor cost. Hence, the low prices. Only relatively rare and collectible analog pieces are worth much. The rest are "runners". And there is no place to run if you are digital!

Hi,

Value of items will vary over the years, and are worth exactly what you are prepared to pay at a given time.

My oldest Marklin loco is 3317, made in 1991, and purchased second-hand in 2009. It was immediately converted to the latest Marklin MFX digital with sound. In my opinion, it is every bit as good a performer as the later Marklin units I purchased since 2005.

That said, I am reluctant to pursue other old models, because when adding freight to Australia, then the MFX decoder, the prices are close to currently available models.
It seems to me, that there are more comprehensive choices in the current line up of Marklin models.

regards
Kimball