I have come to the conclusion the price you've got for your locos 3 - 5 years ago is less than half today.

digital conversions with 5 pole motors 3 - 5 years ago was a seller today its common most locos have these motors in as standard.
sound decoders are becoming mor compatable and again are available sometimes as a bargain price we see from Stephen's topic: Bargain hunt.

startersets also are very popular and again you can pick up good bargains from these.

although ebay is very popular, its not a sellers market, its a buyers paradise and it shows the amount of stuff is bought here on this forum and rarely we get notices about items we sell at a profit, its like at the casino people tell you much they've won but never how much they've lost.

buying them at a bargain price will give you more room in case you do want too sell your item(s) one day and I doubt you get your money back from newly bought items.

enthusiasts who play with their trains, monetary value is not always important but it would be nice if you can have it both ways, play with them and than when the time comes sell them and may even get another bargain on the way,

John

I notice that locomotives I payed NOK 750,00 for in the 80s now sell for NOK 2000,00 by the same MMR dealer.

The loco in question is the Märklin 3143, NSB Di3.

The NOK 2000,00 version is new in the box, sold second hand for good customers.

On the other hand, how much did I have to work for NOK 750,00 in 1983, compared to NOK 2000,00 today?

I think there's no point in buying model trains as an investment or as a trading commodity. Yes, they might appreciate in value, but most models nowadays are not rare enough to give you a good return, and even then you have to have never played with it and kept it in a sealed box in a perfect environment so that appears to be brand new.

For me, these are toys. They are made to be played with, and to be enjoyed in more ways than just being kept in a display case. This is especially true of modern models with all kinds of digital functions which would never be seen or heard if the train is never run on a layout.

The beauty is that when they you decide that railway modelling is no longer for you, or if that never happens then at the end of your life, models that have had reasonably good care can be sold on ebay for a fair return on your initial cost. No one will get rich, but there will be some residual value which can be passed on to a loved one or used for other interests.

Yes Ray, agreed

I hope at least one of my kids ( or grand kids, or any relative )would acquire the love for MRR if not i would like that they just give the items who someone that really loves them............
When i will be gone, the only real thing i hope i had gave to them is a good education and how to be good persons.
Back to the topic, i think that MRR items are now far cheaper than 10 years ago, a nice loco worth about 500 USD back then, just as today....
As for accesories, if i remember well, the conversion of my BR23 8 years ago with a loksound and 5 pole engine cost me around 150 USD, about the same amount that today ( maybe less ).
They are not investments, they are little pieces of machinery that you love to run, display or whatever you like to do with them.....

Hi!
When you sell an item a few years later, you cannot expect to get more than 50% of the RRP (with very few exceptions).
When you play with your trains and the wheels look used, the value will be less.
They lose more value when they get scratches, small pieces break off, the instructions or the box get lost.

Advancement of technology could also reduce the value of the locos you have, especially if you play with them. Who knows what locos with yellow LEDs and DIP switches will be worth in 20 or 30 years time?

I think there is a reason to have locos and cars those realy worth.If you choose to sell them to buy something else,they will bring you some money
.I bought my four double Alcos on ebay.de and i paid for them more than their OVP prices.All the sellers enjoy their locos and sell them in very good prices.

Folks,


uhh spookey reading I agree that it's all to be played with, that must be why we love it all this much, and the whole "thing" / atmosphere around it.
The friends sharing the same hobby, the glory moments of the first tracks, the second, the third.... them ALL, the hours shopping, the events, the exibitions, the countless hours on the web, surfing the sites and ebay ecc ecc. The forum like this one, with all you guy's

And yet, the life is for the alive ones, and the dead is for the dead ones. All I'll ask for that NO ONE will damage or throw out anything.
If nobody feels or like (or have space enough) to keep it as it deserves to, well then sell it to make as much people happy about any single piece the might have bought. But yes it can be quite a task to get thru, for the ones that has to carry it out.

As long I get a single stright track in one pocket, and a loko or wagon in the other pocket, on my last journey, then I'am happy.

PS and should I end up the "wrong" place, then my M track will not melt as fast as K and C track !!

Happy many many many many MMR years to go, for everybody

Bye Mike

A lok is worth what somebody else is willing to pay for it. There are going to be some models that are relatively common or that seem to end up on ebay more than others, while there are others that are very rare. This includes classic as well as current year models. Some times it can be because of a intended limited production. Other times, it can be due to other reasons. RailTop stopped manufacturing around 2008. The assorted Austrian and Swiss coaches have garnered incredible prices on auction sites as a result. There is currently a SBB Pilot coach on ebay for just under 300 EUR. The original price was around 100 EUR.

At the same time, the 37320 Re 10/10 set and 37321 Re 620 seem to be pretty plentiful on ebay, while the red 37322 commands a higher price and is more rare.

I think that buyers are not fooled as much by manufactured collector's items and are more influenced by the actual model than the hype that may surround it.

I wonder what the value of a 1990-2010 lok will be around 2050?

My collection is not about model numbers, but about a collection of memories that are brought to life by models representing trains I have been on, trains that I have seen (in person) and recollections of people met, places seen and things experienced during those travels. That is priceless and cannot be sold on ebay.

Regards

Mike C

Most of all my collection has come from Ebay in the last four years? I have bought some items new or from dealers, however to me they are toys to be used and played with. If your looking for investments? Well, I myself have lost thousands in the stock market, bought rental houses, bought gold and silver coins? The Marklin at least I can play with and resell quickly on ebay if needed? So it is a fun hobby!