INHERITED COLLECTION
- Thread starter BDR3524
- Start date
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
How large is large and how would you describe their general condition, i.e, near/as new with boxes to well used and worn ? And is your aim to get the best possible price or do you want to make the sale as simple and quick as possible ? There are a number of ways to dispose of this collection but it all depends on what you want to achieve. Max
its quite large, 172 loco's, wagon, carriages that I have started to make a list of and that's just for starters, all boxed a hand full of the boxes are damaged, some items are brand new, some just taken out of the boxes, they look in very good condition but I haven't been through them all to look for any damage (that's my next mission) I have other items steam engines, tracks, controls etc to go through in future but it will take me time. thank you.
my aim is to have the best possible price. Thank you
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
For best price you would probably be looking at selling via Ebay but it will require a lot of effort on your part and is not without its risks if you do not understand this market and how Ebay works. Example, allow 8 hours work per 20 items sold.
A "commision" based sale through an established trader (not selling to them as a job lot), will probably take time to raise funds as items will sell as and when over a long period. The size of the collection might require you approaching more than one trader as well.
Sale through a specialist auction house, like Vectis, may not gain the very best value to you due to factors like buyers and sellers fees to be factored in but will require the least involvement from yourself as it will be a fully managed sale by the auction house. Another benefit is it will provide a reasonable timeframe to realise the collection's value as an entirety. You'll probably get the near market price less those fees. A collection that size, mostly boxed, would probably warrant a featured sale event of its own with an auction house which might help prices if properly promoted.
Whatever happens remember the price people will pay is only what they think it is worth. You may well find that you use a variety of sales methods to market the collection, as I did when I disposed of my static and slot car collection some 10 years ago, about 1200 items........to pay for this hobby
Max
A "commision" based sale through an established trader (not selling to them as a job lot), will probably take time to raise funds as items will sell as and when over a long period. The size of the collection might require you approaching more than one trader as well.
Sale through a specialist auction house, like Vectis, may not gain the very best value to you due to factors like buyers and sellers fees to be factored in but will require the least involvement from yourself as it will be a fully managed sale by the auction house. Another benefit is it will provide a reasonable timeframe to realise the collection's value as an entirety. You'll probably get the near market price less those fees. A collection that size, mostly boxed, would probably warrant a featured sale event of its own with an auction house which might help prices if properly promoted.
Whatever happens remember the price people will pay is only what they think it is worth. You may well find that you use a variety of sales methods to market the collection, as I did when I disposed of my static and slot car collection some 10 years ago, about 1200 items........to pay for this hobby
Max
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Thank you very much, I will do a bit of research and price and sell them myself. Your help is very much appreciated.
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
You might want to run that by one of the moderators here.
For recent values (sales in past 90 days) it might be worth keying in a product's make and code and checking on the Ebay "Advanced Search" for completed listings. However, just because an item is worth X in Germany or the USA does not mean it will be saleable at a similar price in the UK. Right product, wrong country is always an issue. Don't let that stop you offering to ship outside UK though, I've brought one or two things in from the EU and US and I've shipped to there as well. And what appear to be similar products from one manufacturer may have wildly different prices in the market due to their relative collectability or condition. Sorry if I am trying to "teach my grandmother to suck eggs here"
MaxP.S. As a little aside - When shipping anywhere always make sure that there is a sheet of tissue or thin polythene between the item, say a loco or piece of rolling stock, and the expanded styrene inner box/cradle they are shipped in. Why ? Expanded styrene makes a very good fine abrasive and can scuff up the exterior of that once pristine item. I always wondered why manufacturers always seemed to ship that way (so don't discard that protection if it is still in the box) until I received an Fn3 scale (1:20.3 - big!) boxcar from the US that hadn't be packed as it should have. Instant weathered look, whether I wanted it or not
And the seller was not willing to repatriate it, even if it was also the wrong livery from the one listed to boot. Always check you have got the right item in the right box 
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Oh Thank you for your help and time will take everything you said into account.You might want to run that by one of the moderators here.
For recent values (sales in past 90 days) it might be worth keying in a product's make and code and checking on the Ebay "Advanced Search" for completed listings. However, just because an item is worth X in Germany or the USA does not mean it will be saleable at a similar price in the UK. Right product, wrong country is always an issue. Don't let that stop you offering to ship outside UK though, I've brought one or two things in from the EU and US and I've shipped to there as well. And what appear to be similar products from one manufacturer may have wildly different prices in the market due to their relative collectability or condition. Sorry if I am trying to "teach my grandmother to suck eggs here"
P.S. As a little aside - When shipping anywhere always make sure that there is a sheet of tissue or thin polythene between the item, say a loco or piece of rolling stock, and the expanded styrene inner box/cradle they are shipped in. Why ? Expanded styrene makes a very good fine abrasive and can scuff up the exterior of that once pristine item. I always wondered why manufacturers always seemed to ship that way (so don't discard that protection if it is still in the box) until I received an Fn3 scale (1:20.3 - big!) boxcar from the US that hadn't be packed as it should have. Instant weathered look, whether I wanted it or not
a98087
Registered
when you list things, please include a picture of the item and the label on the box, the box label gives lots of information such as sound, digital fitted .org digital ready or none.
And a collection of that size will take a long time to shift, due to the quantity and some items are more desirable than others.
And it would be worth researching postage as Royal Mail aren’t the cheapest for large Lgb size boxes,
Dan
And a collection of that size will take a long time to shift, due to the quantity and some items are more desirable than others.
And it would be worth researching postage as Royal Mail aren’t the cheapest for large Lgb size boxes,
Dan
Thank you very much for your help, much appreciated.
idlemarvel
Neither idle nor a marvel
Do not underestimate the time to identify, photograph, list, sell, pack, label and ship an item on eBay, and the fees involved. I think
maxi-model
s estimate of 8 hours for 20 items is a bit understated. I sold my OO collection on eBay, about 50 lots, and it took best part of 3 months elapsed and I would guess more like an hour per item. You do get the most money but for the most work. Unless you are inherently interested in what you are selling you may be wishing well before you got to the end of the exercise that you had gone a different route. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.
maxi-model
s estimate of 8 hours for 20 items is a bit understated. I sold my OO collection on eBay, about 50 lots, and it took best part of 3 months elapsed and I would guess more like an hour per item. You do get the most money but for the most work. Unless you are inherently interested in what you are selling you may be wishing well before you got to the end of the exercise that you had gone a different route. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.
Madman
Registered
Do not underestimate the time to identify, photograph, list, sell, pack, label and ship an item on eBay, and the fees involved. I think
dennishodge
Registered
I’ve seen the FB list (and replied, I was the sad one not in the UK!) and it’s a great collection half RhB and half other stuff it seems. A couple blue crocs and strawberry Coop containers. Maybe another time
half RhB and half other stuff it seems. A couple blue crocs and strawberry Coop containers. Maybe another time 
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Hi what Facebook page is it on?
dennishodge
Registered