Who thinks collecting Marklin trains is a sound investment still?

I certainly have come to the conclusion it is not.

Marklin wishes to make us believe that collecting Marklin trains is like collecting golden Krugerrands.
However,the current economic climate is such that apparently no one is eager to buy older Marklin trains at premium prices,it is bargaining all the way down.
Over recent months i have tried to sell some of my older M stuff on internet,to no avail.
The only people reacting are bargain hunters who have no real love for trains.
Same for the Swarovski crystal collection on sale by my wife,comments made that demand has fallen away completely,we have to accept the offer made or burst.

All in all i have come to the conclusion that collecting trains is a nice hobby to keep you busy,but that is about it.

Would be nice to hear your views.

Same with me, but sometimes we change our minds as our interests change.
Wife was collecting Hummels for a while and then lost interest. Buying them is easy, but selling them is difficult.
Always sell at a loss, unless you have something that is hot and always in demand.
Sometimes you come across a good deal, the key is patience.
I have been hunting for a Crocodile from Marklin in green for a while, but no luck yet at the right price.
Patience is key here.

I am also selling off my collection of Mercedes parts and toy cars, but often at a lower price than I want.

But it's better to sell them than to have them sit and take up space, when you can sell for some money that you can use elsewhere.

Also selling part of my Marklin/mixed train collection, as my interest is in SBB alpine setting.

Hi,

Collecting Märklin trains is definitely not a sound investment from an economic point of view, but losses and cost can be reduced to the minimum if buyers choose models which are rare and which fans will have a lasting interest in. In the 1990s I burned a lot of money on Märklin, but in the last few years I've made better choices, so whenever I sell some items now, I don't lose a lot. I've also reduced the scope of my Märklin collection and now prefer old analogue models to cut the overall cost of the hobby as I have two small kids and need to buy a house for my family.

The very expensive limited series that Märklin is churning out nowadays are suitable for fans who can easily afford to pay those prices and will never have to sell their collection. Unfortunately model railroading has become a hobby for the upper middle class, whereas in the 1960s, 70s and 80s it was accessible to a majority of the population. Many of today's kids have parents who couldn't afford to buy them model trains even if they wanted to, and most Märklin users who can still afford overpriced special models now probably don't have any small kids ...

Best regards,

Marc

Over the last few months I have noticed a trend for Marklin items on eBay Europe.
Items, which would in the past sell in a few weeks, are still there after 2 monthss.
Whether a price reduction might make a difference, I certainly don't know.

Model trains (except for very few and particular examples) are never a capitalist investment.

regards
kimball

I have loved my Märklin trains for several decades and I have no desire to sell them. I have never had children so I have inventoried my trains

and I keep adding to the list as I buy new items. My heirs know what to do when I'm gone. Peter.

As a former collector of many things ( Gramophones, Records, Coins, Stamps etc, ) I never collected Marklin as an investment. Having played with Marklin trains since the 1950 all the now collectable Items where

played with or giving away to a cousin who had less. As a former Dealer many elderly Customer tried to sell there Items since the Kids showed no interest .

This is now happening more and more but look at the bright side Your I-Phone You payed $ 600.00 for is worth nothing in a few Years but you can still play with your Trains.


Martin

Well I guess I am one of the bargain hunters then but I do have a love for Marklin trains. Don't buy to sell at a profit. That said, after 30 years out of it, I am learning quickly, I think.

I think I paid 180 euros for that Krokodil which was discussed in the other thread. Now I think it looked to be in very good shape and I don't know if you would consider this a bargain.

I have seen some Krokodils offered at 450+ and I just much rather spend the difference on MORE locomotives!!

Would never consider selling the items I have from 30 years ago. In fact I have been hunting for another 3047 just so that I don't have to run my original anymore so it can stay exactly like it is......

It seems that given patience and eBay alerts you can find just about anything at a low price.

I am certainly not paying 450-650 for some current "one time series" steam locomotives.

Paid less than 80 euros for a 3615 with a smoke generator and in very good shape. Seems not many were bidding. Bargain? I think so, investment? No. But buying that way at least assures that if anyone ever sells it off, I don't expect it to sell for much less than I paid for it. I don't expect to be that seller!


In 8 months time I expect I will hit 50 locomotives at probably less than 120 on average

I have been in the model train hobby for over 20 years. I never did it as investment but rather as something I just enjoy. I am relatively new to Marklin and to be honest everything I have is from the
"Start Up" line. I really enjoy running trains and adding buildings to my village. I always felt that if I wanted to use my hobby as an investment, I would buy high-end limited edition trains that I would be afraid to open the box or gasp! add detailing pieces because it would decrease the value. What fun would that be? Besides, if I accidentally break a model, it is not the end of the world!

Collector. Don't be afraid to run your old trains. Most of the stuff I am running now is nearly as old as me [ 65 ]. You could say it is more robust than the modern stuff.



If you want to be an investor that one thing. A hobby is another. I didn't buy my Marklin with the idea of making a profit nor did I buy my Nortons to make a profit [ though the first one I bought is now worth 10 times or more what I paid for it ] I was once told you cant make money out of your hobby. If you want to make money, its not your hobby.

I have bought to collect some items I must admit. They are still in their boxes, had b-all use and are like new including the boxes, but it does piss me off to see their value has dropped so much. Better to buy second hand than new ones. Marklin wont like that though. Tough.

Dereck

Do they have my name and address?

If you have Maerklin trains and you add a sound decoder, that definitely constitutes an investment.
I had a number of RailTop OBB coaches which were acquired for around 50 EUR each. At the peak, these were on ebay for 300-500 per coach. Today, with the release of the ACME versions, I expect that my models no longer have the sky high values that they gained due to the relative scarcity of the models. I never planned on retiring on that revenue and I plan to keep my coaches, so I still get enjoyment and satisfaction, but I never saw them as an investment. My trains are memory aids, reminding me of trains I have been on or seen on trips to Europe (primarily Switzerland).

Just my two cents

Mike C

Thank you gentlemen for all your valuable comments.

I have never seen it as an investment but apparently Marklin are trying to make us believe it is worthwile to buy loco's in the Euro 600 plus range.

In fact,nothing much seems to be worth investing in at the moment.
Interest on a bank savings account is only 0.5 pct,our pensionfunds are struggling to get some return on investment,and investments in shipping (co ownership) are disastreous.
The only safe place seems to be gold,but is it?

I will keep buying Marklin at a modest pace,just for fun.

Cheers,

Paul

A few bits of advice to avoid big hits down the road:

- Buy used. (or even lightly used) Like a new car, new marklin is of course going to depreciate. This has saved me a fortune, and I only very rarely buy new when its something I "must have" and right away!

- Don't sink a lot of money into what you have: sound decoder conversions and the like get expensive. only do it if you are going to run a lot, and really get the value out of the input/upgrade/lighting kit/whatever. Basically think of the additions as money you wont' get back but enjoy

- Don't buy what you don't really like or need. Sounds simple, but we are all guilty of it. I don't need a bunch of crocodiles, but I *ahem* may have a few more than that... This one I need to work on!

Just have fun and remember if it were golf you would never get the money back...

Collecting anything as an investment is always a gamble. Precious metals are somewhat reliable over the long term, and gold coins can be trade because they will be recognizable for what they are and their value by the general population. If you buy things more particular, the pool of people who value that and would exchange, say cash currency for your investment vehicle (no pun intended) shrinks.

Stocks, for example, also an investment and can go up or down, and only trade-able on exchanges typically. Try finding someone to give you market value for a stock certificate if you can even get one these days.

If something so specific as hobby items have already acquired value as a collector items, then there is some reasonable believe the price would go up on the assumption that there are no more of them out there (because only collectors of that category put any value on it). Show up with a rare comic book and try to use it to barter an airline ticket at the ticket counter and see what happens. But sure, an Action Comics first appearance of Superman has value - but its in a sealed container never to be played with and must be ceritfied, etc to sell if your smart. Where's the fun in that.

For model trains, or anything that isn't already valuable, if you are investing then you are really gambling, like the music labels do. You buy cars and locomotives in hopes that as a whole, over the long term, some will appreciate in value more than the rest depreciate in value, so the entire collection is worth more in the future. But of course only a train collector will care to buy it.

My, I treat model trains like any other hobby, the money I spend is gone, and I get to enjoy the products to play with them (I never keep my toys in the boxes). If at some point I can sell them and get anything back, that's a bonus, though ideally I'll enjoy my trains for the rest of my life and whomever has to resolve my estate after I kick the bucket will have to liquidate or transfer that train set to someone.

Please give us details of where you put your money so we, too, can make some and buy more trains!

Stay with John Bogle !

My son bought his book in 1993, I could not afford the expenditure then,
but I have done well slowly!!

I sleep well, and have time to take a couple a fliers every now and then.

Best regrars,bestes

Yup, indeed. I always say that the worst purchase I ever made was the best. I spent a good amount of money on a Porsche Targa configured just the way I wanted it all my life.. And that sucker depreciates every year. I don't think about the thousands of dollars that its worth less this year than last year. Every time I look at it or start that engine, it brings such joy and a smile.. and thats so worth it.

I have trains that have appreciated somewhat, although most have not. But that's not the main reason I rarely buy anything new anymore, with very few exceptions: there's just too much nice stuff out there from the past and -- call me old fashioned -- analog loks from the 50's through the 70's have a certain charm (not to mention the smell of ozone coming off an open frame motor!)

With that said, I didn't get into the hobby as an investment vehicle: I have other resources for that. Let's face it... in the end, the value of a train is in the mind of the owner/seller and potential buyer. I have overpaid for some trains, and underpaid for others. In the end, I figure it's all pretty much a wash. (I do have insurance on my collection just the same, though.)

As with most people here I have been with Marklin since I was a small boy some 40 years ago. Most of my trains are all second hand with a lot of tin plate wagons, all play worn some more than others! The joy for me is the "Train set" look that these all give, as it is a Toy. I have, in the past sold some of my extra stock most at a small loss. They all went to a good home and don't just sit in a box at my place. Marklin an investment it isn't but endless joy it is.

I bought a starter set back in 2006 and started my Marklin adventure. I picked up a few items after that but not much. Then a few years later I bought an extensive collection of older Marklin from a gentleman leaving the hobby at a great price. Sadly due personal and financial problems I sold my Marklin collection during a very dark time in my life. The extra money I made selling the bigger collection in pieces I believe I broke even with all my Marklin purchases. So no it was not an investment but a hobby.

Life has improved and I am now hoping to start collecting Marklin again.

Darren

I buy trains for fun, for relaxation, for my retirement (not as investment but to play with), and as a hobby. I do not expect to make any money out of them, and they give me a lot of pleasure.

It sure beats the hell out of going to the pub everynight, or taking various chemicals.

But the thing I value most is the Marklin friends I have mostly made through this Forum. Thanks Juhan

Yeah, no its not the old ones of the air-cooled era. Having removable panels never appealed to me - things to loose plus the manual steps and stowage. Plus I like some of the niceties of modern automotive technology like: 1) Air Conditioning, 2) Satellite Navigation (try finding an address in the Seattle area by hand), and 4) Stability Management (to keep me rubber side down on the asphalt without having to first become an expert driver). So I picked up a modern water-cooled one with the very large sunroof variety (MY 2009). I can open and close the large sliding Targa roof at road speeds, its just a giant glass sunroof. It makes the inside feel so much bigger (light gets in), and while its heavier up top, the AWD systems make it rock solid on the road, even in the wet and snow. As Porsche went to a complex hinged roof system that looks more like the old water-cooled days when opened, the one I have could appreciate again some day. Its got the non-electrical steering and a 6 spd manual gearbox, so thats a plus too. But I doubt I'll ever get the value out... the value I extract, as I mentioned, is in the happiness I get just from seeing it in the garage, not to mention the smile when that engine turns over, or I can open the roof out on the highway.

I have a 997 (after having a 993) and love the car. Loved the 993 too but except for the sound don't miss it. I thought about trading in the 997 and the dealer offered me $25,000. Haven't been back since. Also found the new cars to have too many systems - even does the heel/toe throttle blip!

Roger

I love sports cars and sports bikes and I always seem to have something fun hanging around.

I really like the bang for the buck though that I get with my trains. I also love the days when the postal truck comes up my lane and it has presents for me! I feel just like a kid at Christmas and that is beyond price for me as an adult!

I guess I can ignore their eventual value, since I don't intend to ever sell them. The nephew who I am going to eventually leave them to can handle that part.

If you don't mind, what was the "reserve price'? If it's too personal a question, I apologize and please do not state it.

However, would you have a picture of the loco?

I am not planning to buy it, but I like to see what it is we are talking about.