Any recommendations for Model Shops buying collections?

[Trevellan]

Another vote for Hattons from me. I have sold several batches of models to them, but before doing so I made a simple spreadsheet to set out what I felt were realistic valuations. The same document, minus prices, was used as a packing note.

   

All of my models were genuinely mint, i.e. only opened and test run, with all paperwork and additional components present where appropriate. In most cases, Hattons'  offers were fairly close to my valuations, some higher, some lower. Overall it balanced out, especially with the free collection and delivery service.

 

I have sold through eBay, but I felt the extra hassle wasn't really worth it. A few bits through RMweb Buy & Sell were a tad easier.

[hayfield]

If you wish to dispose of a collection in one go with little effort, then selling to the trade will be the answer, though most will only want the larger items normally not wanting parts, tools and sundries. Don't have high expectations as a third party will expect to make a decent profit, by selling items quickly with little effort

 

I am downsizing my collection built up over many years focusing on certain areas and if the item I want is in a lot I will resell the items/parts not required. I try and minimise any issues and never had any real hassels

 

The first rule is not to sell too many items at once, having to pack up several items at once can be a pain if you are not organised

Prepacking during the week can reduce work on posting day

Keep a store of packaging

 

Make a sales template and save it, you can save time by having several of these and all you have to do is to alter the details

Take clear photos so potential buyers can easily see the item and its condition

Leave clear and concise details about the item

 

I find following a few simple rules can make selling both interesting and enjoyable and can be addictive. Certainly maximises income and some items can be quite surprising what they fetch

 

I am always on the outlook for parts and tools, they actually sell better than larger items and I mostly get out bid, dealers will not touch these

 

Example I have over 200 Romford/Markit loco drivers, most of which are unused. I doubt if I paid even £1 each. If bought new they are over £5 each. Unused ones when described properly sell extremely well, motors are the same with can motors selling new for £20, open frame £10 and there is a lively market for older motors, many other items are also well received. The reason I say this is that many items dealers will not take these items, but in the right hands they are valuable. One of my favorite eBay searches is "parts" Now I have let the cat out of the bag

[woodenhead]

It all depends on the model - there was a time Lima models were desirable and the secondhand prices reflected this, a Rapido APT-E similarly enjoys a premium value but not say a Bachmann 57xx.

[Phil Parker]

Hi, I think one of the main issues now is, that model railways have become a bit like a car - as soon as you buy it , it depreciates in value. 

 

People have previously been able to buy models, with an expectation that over time, their models would increase in value, and indeed one companies slogan was "Tomorrows collectables, today!"  That were fine when a loco was c£50-£60.  At c£130 for a new loco, then many people are put off in any case, so actually a second hand model (unless its something mega-rare and desirable), is virtually always going to realise a lower value, and be sold at a price, that realises the true value of the model in the market.  I'd suggest that in reality nowadays, sensible second hand prices for good quality models, reflect better, what people are prepared to pay.  Just because a catalogue says a model is £159.95, does not necessarily mean potential purchasers consider this to be the case!  

 

That covers the sale price, likewise as others have said - most model shops also offer a warranty, have overheads etc., so they need a fair margin on top to cover these, before they make a profit.

 

Regards,

 

C.

 

I think that as the price has risen, people have started to kid themselves that these models are "investments" and will rise in value. It's easier than admitting to yourself you've spent over £100 on a "toy".  It also sort of excuses the growing pile of boxes in a cupboard that never see the light of day, or use on the track.

[Robin Brasher]

Britain's Model Trains used to give second hand values for a trade in and a private sale. This made alarming reading for me because I thought the new Hornby Pullmans I bought for £25 each from Hattons were a good investment and worth about £42 each in Ramsay's British Model Trains.

 

According to Britain's Model Trains the trade-in value was between £5 and £15 or £20 in a private sale. Selling to a dealer we would get less than the trade-in price so we would be lucky to get a quarter of the amount in Ramsay's guide in a private sale.

 

As has been said before it would save a lot of work selling to a dealer so it depends upon how you value your time.

[Mark Saunders]

Buy a Car it works the same way, it only increases in value after almost all the other ones have be scrapped!

[hayfield]

Britain's Model Trains used to give second hand values for a trade in and a private sale. This made alarming reading for me because I thought the new Hornby Pullmans I bought for £25 each from Hattons were a good investment and worth about £42 each in Ramsay's British Model Trains.

 

According to Britain's Model Trains the trade-in value was between £5 and £15 or £20 in a private sale. Selling to a dealer we would get less than the trade-in price so we would be lucky to get a quarter of the amount in Ramsay's guide in a private sale.

 

As has been said before it would save a lot of work selling to a dealer so it depends upon how you value your time.

 

 

Whilst the amount stated for trade in's is about right, I have noticed over the past few years prices rising not only of scarce items but also run of the mill items

 

Some of this is because dealers and private sellers are chancing their arm selling items, others is just modellers are getting used to paying higher prices for new items and the increases are pushing up the prices of second hand sales. On top of this the internet has opened up sales of an item to a much wider audience than a local shop or trade stand, something which is a bit specialised and may struggle locally starts a bidding war on line.

 

I keep track of 4 on line trade sellers who buy collections, sadly (for me) their items now reach much higher prices, but they do unearth some interesting items. I must say I am pleased for these sellers, all of who I have found very honest in the way they trade and pleased for their success

[Izzy]

I think that as the price has risen, people have started to kid themselves that these models are "investments" and will rise in value. It's easier than admitting to yourself you've spent over £100 on a "toy".  It also sort of excuses the growing pile of boxes in a cupboard that never see the light of day, or use on the track.

 

Yes, I have often heard the remark that it will all be 'a good investment/nestegg for the wife when I am gone'. Quite how this is expected to be I have never understood. I just pity the poor wife or who ever is left to sort it all out.

 

Izzy

[dogbox321]

I think that as the price has risen, people have started to kid themselves that these models are "investments" and will rise in value. It's easier than admitting to yourself you've spent over £100 on a "toy".  It also sort of excuses the growing pile of boxes in a cupboard that never see the light of day, or use on the track.

 

Yes, but manufacturers and traders, many of which advertise in your magazine, try and sell their models based on this.  Look at the second batch of Blue Pullman's - branded Collectors Edition (as a side note:RRP 599.00, I picked a new one up for £420 about 8 month ago, and yesterday I saw a new one at £400), offering models as limited editions with certificates etc., additional boxes, sleeves etc., its all to try to make models appear more collectable and sought after...... 

 

Regards,

 

C.

[polybear]

Yes, I have often heard the remark that it will all be 'a good investment/nestegg for the wife when I am gone'.

 

I guess if it's a choice between spending it on trains or spending it on beer then there's some truth in that statement.....

[Robin Brasher]

Yes, I have often heard the remark that it will all be 'a good investment/nestegg for the wife when I am gone'. Quite how this is expected to be I have never understood. I just pity the poor wife or who ever is left to sort it all out.

 

Izzy

One of the members of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association has a sister who was not interested in his model railway. One day she looked through Ramsay's British Model Trains and saw that some of his models looked like they were worth a lot of money. Then she realised that she was younger and was likely to live longer so she has taken an interest in his hobby. At least there is a market for second hand model railways and they are unlikely to end up in the recycling centre. Equally we are unlikely to achieve the prices in Ramsay's book.

[polybear]

One of the members of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association has a sister who was not interested in his model railway. One day she looked through Ramsay's British Model Trains and saw that some of his models looked like they were worth a lot of money. Then she realised that she was younger and was likely to live longer so she has taken an interest in his hobby. At least there is a market for second hand model railways and they are unlikely to end up in the recycling centre. Equally we are unlikely to achieve the prices in Ramsay's book.

 

Brotherly love.......

[steve1]

If the collection is a fair size, have you thought of taking a stall at a toy fair? You would have to run it but, if you price sensibly, you may well shift a lot of it for a better price than a dealer would offer.

 

Recently a member of ERFG was asked to dispose of a large collection that belonged to man who died. A dealer had offered £2-3K for the lot, but by selling to friends and taking a stall at a trade fair the widow ended up with 10 times that amount...

 

steve

[Robin Brasher]

I have not done very well from toy fairs. It cost me £30 to hire a table and I sold about £30 worth of stock so I may as well have taken it to the recycling centre. It is also quite hard work. For instance I put a price of £50 for a Hornby Eurostar set. Another trader asked me what my best price was and I said £40. He offered £30 for it so I accepted the offer, put it to one side. At the end of the fair I asked him for £30 and he said he had never offered to buy it. Another trader said that he could not count how many times that had happened to him.

 

Another alternative is to join a club and then you have a free stand at their exhibition and someone to help you sell the models. It costs £30 per year to be a member but you do get other benefits as well.

 

I have heard that the prices of old Tri-ang items are increasing because new models are getting so expensive.

[johnb]

Having run a second hand stand, that sort of request asking to hold something is common. Reasons are many and varied, 'Got to go to a hole in the wall', 'Have to ask my father for the cash', etc etc, etc. All we would ever say is 'We'll hold it for an hour, if you don't come back it goes back out on the stand'.They never come back!!

 

Where on earth did you find a  club for £30 pa  membership? Many around here are £75 a year upwards, over £100 is common. Also most club second hand stands charge a 10% commission for club members sales. Charging 15%+ for non members, assuming that they will accept non-members items, is also common.

 

Prices for old Triang can be rather erratic, most is so well 'played with' that many prices are to say the least optimistic.

 

John

[JohnR]

It really depends on how much effort you want to put in. Listing on ebay (or other auctions sites, classifieds etc) will require more work. You may well achieve a higher price than by selling to a dealer, but equally you may find that some of your items do not sell. This could be because they are common, or because your valuation is too high.

 

I recently decided to thin out my stock - many of my models were simply languishing in a box. I emailed details to a well known retailer, being honest about the condition (many were in very good condition - the exception was a Bachmann N 2-6-0 with a warped footplate). I was hoping for £200 for the lot, got offered £180 of store credit, which I accepted. I boxed the lot up, dropped it off at my local corner shop for collection and that was it. 

 

Out of morbid curiosity, when they listed the items on their website, I checked what they were asking. It was, obviously much more than they paid - but those items could be taking up space on their shelves for some time - eventually someone will buy them - but that might not be this week, this month or even this year. When they sell them they will earn their profit, and meanwhile, I am enjoying the models I bought with the credit (also second hand, as you CAN get some bargains - my tip is to check for ones missing a coupling or other minor imperfection. These are often cheap and easy to rectify)

[Phil Parker]

Another alternative is to join a club and then you have a free stand at their exhibition and someone to help you sell the models. It costs £30 per year to be a member but you do get other benefits as well.

 

 

£30 a year sounds cheap for full membership - the L&WMRS is a little lower than this for "Associate Membership" but you pay a fiver a night if you go down the club. Full or Associate though, you DEFINITELY don't get a free trade stand at the show. You can put your stuff on the official second-hand stall for which you are charged 10% of the sale price. I don't think any other clubs give away stands either, otherwise, shows would be full of them.

 

If you want to join a club, do so for all the other benefits (friendship, advice, tea etc.) rather than because you think you can make use of them for a year and then clear off. 

[jonny777]

Yes, I have often heard the remark that it will all be 'a good investment/nestegg for the wife when I am gone'. Quite how this is expected to be I have never understood. I just pity the poor wife or who ever is left to sort it all out.

 

Izzy

 

 

 

I mentioned this to my wife, who replied that she would have no idea how to sell items on Ebay - even if she could be bothered. She would have no idea how to write a description or how much they might be worth; and so would probably take them all to the charity shop. 

 

My last will and testament has now been amended so that model railway items are left to my children, who love selling stuff on Ebay and other local auction sites in order to get the money. 

[Robin Brasher]

If you want to reduce your beneficiaries' inheritance tax bill you can sell your model railway collection to a house clearance firm and lower the value of your estate.

[hayfield]

There is clearly two sides with the answers to the question

 

Those who know about model railways, have the time and can be bothered to maximise revenue and sell the items themselves

 

The rest fall into the category of either selling to a dealer, or be lucky enough to find a willing friend or society who will step in and assist

 

Having said this it’s the same for all collectors or those having to wind up estates

 

If this is the case try and get a couple of quotes/valuations

[Robin Brasher]

One of my friends in the Wimborne Railway Society died a couple of years ago. The Society had a stand to sell his collection at the Wimrail exhibition a couple of years ago and there was a notice saying that the locomotives had not been tested so purchases could get a refund if there was a fault. They sold the remaining models to club members and I think that they have sold the whole collection now. I think his wife may have given the collection to the club as he was on the committee.

 

I also belong to the Hornby Railways Collector's Association and it does executor's sales so the beneficiaries get a fair price.

[adb968008]

I had to sell my fathers collection last year after he passed.

I did get a basic quote from a shop.

However the reality was he had over a 1000 locos, all unboxed in storage crates, plus coaches etc.

The boxes were randomly stored in his loft, office, boiler cupboard, outside shed and green house.

The collection spanned mostly 1970’s-2000 era, so much of it was older/outdated, pre-dcc.

 

He additionally left more than 20 35mm film cannisters or randomly stored “bits” and 16 3” square pullout drawers full of bits that had fallen off those locos in that period.

 

My mother really didnt want the trains taking up the house any more.

 

I managed 12 weekend trips to manchester, to first ID locos to boxes.

And return with suitcases, car loads and finally a van back to my home over 6 months.

 

The newish stuff was easy to let go first, as it wasnt unboxed yet.

The older stuff required 5 months of evenings...

 

1. First sorting all the film cannisters of bits.

2. Cleaning 30 years of dust / cat hair off.

3. Testing and making good everything.

4. Fitting or ordering various spares, various christmas treeing of no hopers etc.

5. Reboxing everything.

 

And 5 months of weekends...

1. Photograph, describe and put on ebay

2. Boxings, wrapping and packing

3. Over 40+ trips to the post office, hermes, dhl.

 

It felt good in the final price achieved was nearly triple my offer from a retailer. But the costs of selling were equally high.. not just Ebays 12.5% and paypals 3.5%, but the £3.95 signed for postage, and the continual 6 mile round trips to hermes/dhl drop offs... not to mention those 500 mile round trips up north.

By Christmas 2017 i was re-evalutaing what i called a hobby, the amount of time from family. And that for nearly 5 months my own “hobby” had shrunk to not much more than buying new for myself, and putting it in a cupboard ready for when I had “my me time” back again, when this job was done.

I have eluded to this severaltimes in the forum over the past 18months.

My ebay feedback has rocketed past 3000, i had only about 20 returns from everything, though my banned list grew to over 50 (i’m not tolerant of messing about.. i had a day job and a family too).

 

Best time to list is a sunday night around 7pm-9pm.. people obviously go shopping after sunday dinner, avoid the post office on the first monday of the month (pensioners collecting benefits etc cause long queues and your not appreciated rocking up with 40+ parcels). I tried as much as possible to auction in values that would exceed £50, and weighed less than 2kg, by bundling, that way i wasnt wasting money on £3.95 postage on trivial value items or postings above RM Small Parcel size...for most part this worked out... i later discovered Hermes.. thats another story.

 

finally the amounts involved, required a tax return.

 

I have a good collection of my own, inview if the above, although worthwhile in the end result I wouldnt want to put my family through that and they wouldnt have the background knowledge to do all that.. so my new years resolution is to moderate a little what i buy, and its time to consider thining out my own collection. One thing that did affect me through this was my interest in the hobby, pre2017 I was BR 1948-1968. Post this exercise, and all those memories, Ive moved increasingly towards modern BR 1968-1994... its highly likely 2019 will see me repeating part of this exercise in my own collection as i move interest... finally then i will get to play once more with my own !

 

I will say however, ive no regrets doing it, and i’d do it again tomorrow.. the collection was old, but recalled my childhood and was very personal to me... i could have had it over in a few hours and my life back, but it wouldnt have felt the right thing to do.

Edited January 2, 2019 by adb968008

[polybear]

.......And I'd imagine that there were a few examples that you retained for sentimental reasons etc. which is nice.

[hayfield]

I had to sell my fathers collection last year after he passed.

I did get a basic quote from a shop.

However the reality was he had over a 1000 locos, all unboxed in storage crates, plus coaches etc.

The boxes were randomly stored in his loft, office, boiler cupboard, outside shed and green house.

The collection spanned mostly 1970’s-2000 era, so much of it was older/outdated, pre-dcc.

 

He additionally left more than 20 35mm film cannisters or randomly stored “bits” and 16 3” square pullout drawers full of bits that had fallen off those locos in that period.

 

My mother really didnt want the trains taking up the house any more.

 

I managed 12 weekend trips to manchester, to first ID locos to boxes.

And return with suitcases, car loads and finally a van back to my home over 6 months.

 

The newish stuff was easy to let go first, as it wasnt unboxed yet.

The older stuff required 5 months of evenings...

 

1. First sorting all the film cannisters of bits.

2. Cleaning 30 years of dust / cat hair off.

3. Testing and making good everything.

4. Fitting or ordering various spares, various christmas treeing of no hopers etc.

5. Reboxing everything.

 

And 5 months of weekends...

1. Photograph, describe and put on ebay

2. Boxings, wrapping and packing

3. Over 40+ trips to the post office, hermes, dhl.

 

It felt good in the final price achieved was nearly triple my offer from a retailer. But the costs of selling were equally high.. not just Ebays 12.5% and paypals 3.5%, but the £3.95 signed for postage, and the continual 6 mile round trips to hermes/dhl drop offs... not to mention those 500 mile round trips up north.

By Christmas 2017 i was re-evalutaing what i called a hobby, the amount of time from family. And that for nearly 5 months my own “hobby” had shrunk to not much more than buying new for myself, and putting it in a cupboard ready for when I had “my me time” back again, when this job was done.

I have eluded to this severaltimes in the forum over the past 18months.

My ebay feedback has rocketed past 3000, i had only about 20 returns from everything, though my banned list grew to over 50 (i’m not tolerant of messing about.. i had a day job and a family too).

 

Best time to list is a sunday night around 7pm-9pm.. people obviously go shopping after sunday dinner, avoid the post office on the first monday of the month (pensioners collecting benefits etc cause long queues and your not appreciated rocking up with 40+ parcels). I tried as much as possible to auction in values that would exceed £50, and weighed less than 2kg, by bundling, that way i wasnt wasting money on £3.95 postage on trivial value items or postings above RM Small Parcel size...for most part this worked out... i later discovered Hermes.. thats another story.

 

finally the amounts involved, required a tax return.

 

I have a good collection of my own, inview if the above, although worthwhile in the end result I wouldnt want to put my family through that and they wouldnt have the background knowledge to do all that.. so my new years resolution is to moderate a little what i buy, and its time to consider thining out my own collection. One thing that did affect me through this was my interest in the hobby, pre2017 I was BR 1948-1968. Post this exercise, and all those memories, Ive moved increasingly towards modern BR 1968-1994... its highly likely 2019 will see me repeating part of this exercise in my own collection as i move interest... finally then i will get to play once more with my own !

 

I will say however, ive no regrets doing it, and i’d do it again tomorrow.. the collection was old, but recalled my childhood and was very personal to me... i could have had it over in a few hours and my life back, but it wouldnt have felt the right thing to do.

 

 

It can be quite addictive, I enjoy selling on eBay and you can reduce the costs by taking up eBay's selling for £1 offers, which came up quite regularly last year. But they are still cheap against normal auctions where both buyer and seller pay £20 each. Unless you offer free postage it is added to the final bid

 

I had a friend who sold another's friends collection, raised net 3 times the quote. Took a lot of work and several weeks.

 

The main thing is the true value of your fathers collection was realised and that and not the money which was important

[WD0-6-0]

This has been a very informative thread, being a regular buyer of second-hand but only sold a very small amount.

After my grandfather passed, some years ago now, my father (who is not a modeller himself) was left with his collection, I've had the railway items and a large portion of his library. The thing is he left a lot of diecast buses, an awful lot of diecast buses! Which my father has been meaning to sell for at least 15 years and the sentimental value has now very much been replaced by annoyance to the fact that they're just in the way (though I'm sure we'll both still be sad to see them go when they eventually do).

I've had any that are 1/76 and a handful of others but now we're investigating what offers we can get from dealers such as hattons as we neither of us really have time to sell privately. Does anyone know of anywhere that might be better suited to handling a bus collection?