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Post by WP 257 on Jan 27, 2015 8:00:33 GMT -8
cf7--
Your roster size compared to mine is very close...and I can relate to selling off the stuff one gets tired of.
I tried large scale, but the gearboxes didn't hold up adequately in actual use, so I reverted to HO 8 years ago.
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Post by riogrande on Jan 27, 2015 8:26:17 GMT -8
I don't think I will ever have the dedication to build something like that so I am always impressed when you see a big layout that is finished. ... I don't see how you could reasonably do it buying all the high detail stuff without spending a fortune, even using the "good enough" cars you're still talking a lot of money. Me neither but I would find a 20x30 foot room a good compromise in HO; enough room to build a decent layout with some good mainline operation possibilities and decent train lengths but small enough to still be manageable. As for affording a good sized roster, even a person of modest means can do it if you are able to buy over a period of years. Ten years of collecting can get you a good many cars. The problem these days is some of the stuff doesn't hang around long - so if you can't afford to lay out many hundreds or even thousands, it becomes a treasure hunt.
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Post by kcjones on Jan 27, 2015 12:56:51 GMT -8
Guys, I have thought about thinning my collection as well. What would you recommend as to how? Lhs, eBay, Craig. Any suggestions would be helpful. JL
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Post by atsfan on Jan 27, 2015 13:40:36 GMT -8
Guys, I have thought about thinning my collection as well. What would you recommend as to how? Lhs, eBay, Craig. Any suggestions would be helpful. JL If you have friends or a friendly store that will give you a fair price, go that way. Not easy for that though. Generally speaking ebay is your best bet otherwise unless you have just a few items. Figure about 10% in fees though. Consignment is not a good idea so I would avoid that.
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Post by cf7 on Jan 27, 2015 13:54:11 GMT -8
Consignment is not a good idea so I would avoid that. Why? My LHS charges around 10%. They also have a ton of customers, so odds are pretty good that your item will sell and you won't need to worry about packaging, etc.
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Post by alcoc430 on Jan 27, 2015 14:24:27 GMT -8
Guys, I have thought about thinning my collection as well. What would you recommend as to how? Lhs, eBay, Craig. Any suggestions would be helpful. JL Depends on how much stuff. If you have a lot you rent a table at a show. I have done a combination of a train show, the old yahoo ho interchange but mostly ebay. I did ok at the show. I more than covered the table cost but I priced most things to go. Blue box athearn 3 or 4 dollars each etc. I had a atlas gp40-2 for $ 80 and that didn't sell but the other atlas masterline locos sold for $60. (OK since I bought those on clearance for about that). EBay will get you a higher selling price but the fees take a high % ( about14% including PayPal) but money wise, you are still doing better than from the train show IMHO. However, at the train show I was able to get rid of 3 or 4 tubs of trains in an afternoon which would of taken months on ebay listing a couple at a time. Still have too much stuff but right now I concentrating on the design of my layout. I have the R-O-W for a 9 x 14 layout. Will see how much I actually need after I get running.
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Post by atsfan on Jan 27, 2015 14:31:45 GMT -8
Consignment is not a good idea so I would avoid that. Why? My LHS charges around 10%. They also have a ton of customers, so odds are pretty good that your item will sell and you won't need to worry about packaging, etc. Usually terms are worse That sounds worth trying Good luck
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Post by riogrande on Jan 27, 2015 16:12:40 GMT -8
Consignment is typically 20% so if your getting 10% thats a bargain. Around 11 years ago in another city, I was selling some of my stuff at my local LHS on 20% consignment until one day he refused to sell my stuff and told me it wasn't worth it. Really? I knew then it was an rage decision because he told me he read on Atlas forums I had bought trains at MB Kleins' OMG, I was having tough times financially and committed the unforgivable sin - bought mail-order to stretch my meager funds! He thought he was punishing me but he really did me a favor forcing me to learn Ebay and get more for my trains. After that I no longer spent the profits I made from the consignment stuff at the shop - sure, maybe I didn't spend thousands like some of his customers did but after that it went down virtually to zero. Sadly some shops only value their big dollar customers. Guys, I have thought about thinning my collection as well. What would you recommend as to how? Lhs, eBay, Craig. Any suggestions would be helpful. JL I stopped selling on fleabay when I found some alternatives that didn't charge fee's, although yes, not nearly as much exposure - HOswap and HOexchange. I've sold most everything I put up if I'm patient.
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Post by Chad on Jan 27, 2015 17:06:07 GMT -8
I sell on eBay. They have fee's as well as PayPal but if I am going to sell something I want it listed and sold in a reasonable amount of time. I set the auctions for 1 week and have not been disappointed in the amount I get even after the fee's. I am just one of those people that if I make my mind up to sell it I want it gone and move on with my plans.
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Post by llxlocomotives on Jan 27, 2015 17:45:41 GMT -8
For some time now, I have kept a list of items that I think I want to keep. As many of the posters have said, when something I want or a better model of something I have appears, the pressure builds. If is is something I have to have, then, I have to sell off the same number of like items. Over the past few years, I picked up som MTH and Rapidio passenger cars. The similar number of Rivarossi cars were sold off. It is a struggle, but one only has so much room. The real problem is I see several hundred items a year, it is hard to not get sticky fingers. It takes discipline, but it can be done. I can't imagine having the investment in rolling stock that has been mentioned. I know people do and it is easily done. Like the auction of the doctors stuff last year, it was so much of everything. What was he thinking? Clearly money was no object, but what was the purpose? So many trains, so little time, Larry www.llxlocomotives.com
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Post by atsfan on Jan 27, 2015 18:22:24 GMT -8
Consignment is typically 20% so if your getting 10% thats a bargain. Around 11 years ago in another city, I was selling some of my stuff at my local LHS on 20% consignment until one day he refused to sell my stuff and told me it wasn't worth it. Really? I knew then it was an rage decision because he told me he read on Atlas forums I had bought trains at MB Kleins' OMG, I was having tough times financially and committed the unforgivable sin - bought mail-order to stretch my meager funds! He thought he was punishing me but he really did me a favor forcing me to learn Ebay and get more for my trains. After that I no longer spent the profits I made from the consignment stuff at the shop - sure, maybe I didn't spend thousands like some of his customers did but after that it went down virtually to zero. Sadly some shops only value their big dollar customers. Guys, I have thought about thinning my collection as well. What would you recommend as to how? Lhs, eBay, Craig. Any suggestions would be helpful. JL I stopped selling on fleabay when I found some alternatives that didn't charge fee's, although yes, not nearly as much exposure - HOswap and HOexchange. I've sold most everything I put up if I'm patient. Is that store still in business?
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Jan 27, 2015 18:22:28 GMT -8
For me, I generally don't sell stuff off. Much of what I've got in the past 25 years in this hobby I still have today. The only things that I have sold off have been items I bought that were out of my era (I thought they looked cool at the time), or items that have since seen better replacements come along (like NH Athearn F7A's).
My friends in the club sell things off all the time. It's either eBay or the club's White Elephant Table (which is also where I sell what few items I do sell).
Personally, I don't understand the "renting" of engines and cars...buying them, running them, and selling them, all in well less than a year. I know some people that do that, and IMHO if you're going to buy an engine (and there's nothing wrong with it), don't you want to at least enjoy it for a while before you get rid of it? Selling off a collection is one thing (sometimes a very needful thing), but the casual "buy it today, sell it tomorrow" is something I just don't get.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 19:11:04 GMT -8
Guys, I have thought about thinning my collection as well. What would you recommend as to how? Lhs, eBay, Craig. Any suggestions would be helpful. JL I sold about 200 models (locos & cars), 50 books, and a dozen misc. items about 18-24 months ago. I started by setting up a table at a big RR meet, but sales were terrible. I couldn't sell RTR Intermountain PFE reefers for $10. So I eneded up selling 90% of the stuff on eBay with the rest on specific Yahoo RR groups and HO Swap (or whatever it is called now). The main advantage of eBay is the huge exposure. Buyers are more confident using eBay vs. Craigs List or because they are protected by eBay and PayPal. Once you set up a couple eBay "template" pages and develop a set of boilerplate text (shipping, model condition, terms, return policy, etc) and get your photo skills down, it makes listing a lot of items pretty easy. I'd list 10 to 20 items per week, with most freight & passenger cars sold in "sets" to minimize shipping costs and hassle. I'd offer very low shipping on the 2nd, 3rd, etc items to encourage buyers to make multiple purchases. I'd ususally use USPS Priority Mail just because it was easy and offered built-in tracking. I'd offer insurance too. Overall it worked out fine, especially since I broke even or came out slightly ahead even after shipping and inflation were taken into account (not including my time driving to the post office).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 19:17:24 GMT -8
How do people decide what to thin down to? I have sold off some of the obvious out lying items, but when is enough enough? For me I am working on some basic era focus. No old ATSF paint jobs for example. But when do people stop? A focus on all three "elements" of prototype modeling helps: 1) Object. (e.g., particular railroad, type of equipment, etc) 2) Temporal. The narrower the time focus, the easier it is to avoid superfluous purchases. 3) Spatial. The smaller the geographic focus, the easier it is to avoid superfluous purchases.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 19:37:49 GMT -8
For some time now, I have kept a list of items that I think I want to keep. As many of the posters have said, when something I want or a better model of something I have appears, the pressure builds. If is is something I have to have, then, I have to sell off the same number of like items. Over the past few years, I picked up som MTH and Rapidio passenger cars. The similar number of Rivarossi cars were sold off. It is a struggle, but one only has so much room. The real problem is I see several hundred items a year, it is hard to not get sticky fingers. It takes discipline, but it can be done. I can't imagine having the investment in rolling stock that has been mentioned. I know people do and it is easily done. Like the auction of the doctors stuff last year, it was so much of everything. What was he thinking? Clearly money was no object, but what was the purpose? So many trains, so little time, Larry www.llxlocomotives.comWork up a simple Excel spreadsheet for your loco & car inventory. Keep it simple: mfgr, model, number, color, where stored, kit/built, box/no box, notes (needs repair...), etc. Everyone should have an inventory sheet, for insurance if nothing else. Instead of looking over your models to decide what to keep or sell, go thru the inventory sheet to "rationalize" your collection. Make a coulmn for keep/maybe/sell. Then SELL the stuff once you've made the decision. It's easier to develop & rationalize your fleet on paper than it is looking at models strewn all over the house, garage, layout and storage unit. Keep the spreadsheet current by deleting items when sold and adding new items.
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Post by WP 257 on Jan 27, 2015 20:55:36 GMT -8
If I could consign with a great local train store at only 10% fee, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Ebay/Paypal fees (they also take a bite out of your shipping charges) can vary from about 14% to 19% (most recently for me on one item) depending upon the selling price, so if the local store has a good following, and you have items for that area of the country, I'd say the local store is a good option if you are not in a hurry for cash. Plus, it helps to build a little good will with the owners as they'll be happy you gave them a chance to sell your mint items rather than Ebay (I wouldn't consign stuff that isn't in great condition unless the price is right). They'll feel like you are trying to support them rather than just going for the quick buck...
I think the most difficult thing is finding that particular era and/or roadname(s) that you want to focus on. So many of us can find so much to like about all the railroads that it can be difficult to just pick one or even two.
My experience with local train stores has generally been very positive. Because I like railroads from all over, they know that I buy the stuff I can't get from them via mail order/internet--but I also let them know that within reason, if they have the item I want, I'll also buy from them. Sometimes it's worth it to be able to inspect new items in person even though it may cost me a little more.
In my case, once trains are gone I don't usually miss them as much of the time they are replaced with newer, higher quality trains.
So far as rationalizing my railroad--sure, I love big articulateds and designed the layout for some of the plastic/hybrid ones, but they still require more special care and feeding...eventually it became easy for me to just let the steam era remain in the history books. I had fun with steam power and owned lots of different ones over the years...but I simply find diesels "easier" and more colorful/exciting for me personally.
No disrespect intended to the steam fans who remain.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 21:10:42 GMT -8
If I could consign with a great local train store at only 10% fee, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Ebay/Paypal fees (they also take a bite out of your shipping charges) can vary from about 14% to 19% (most recently for me on one item) depending upon the selling price, so if the local store has a good following, and you have items for that area of the country, I'd say the local store is a good option if you are not in a hurry for cash. Plus, it helps to build a little good will with the owners as they'll be happy you gave them a chance to sell your mint items rather than Ebay (I wouldn't consign stuff that isn't in great condition unless the price is right). They'll feel like you are trying to support them rather than just going for the quick buck... I think the most difficult thing is finding that particular era and/or roadname(s) that you want to focus on. So many of us can find so much to like about all the railroads that it can be difficult to just pick one or even two. A big problem with consignments is that you need to set a fixed price for each item. Too high a price and it will never sell- the commission rate doesn't matter. Too low and you're walking away from profit. Since most of us are selling one of this & one of that, finding the optimal price for each item is impossible. That's where the auction format works, buyers set the price. And if you've set the opening price so high that you don't get any biddrers, just drop the open and re-list. Just never list an item for less than you're willing to sell it for (including shipping & packing material and your time, etc...) I've never seen a shop offer a 10 percent consignment fee. More like 30 percent. If you can get 10 percent, great.
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Post by llxlocomotives on Jan 27, 2015 22:11:13 GMT -8
I've looked for the best option to sell trains. I've done test cases on several online sites. Same items in each test. Different items in different tests. Varied from cars to locos to special track items. Different times of the year. Done this six times. I really would like to have a second or third option. The results thus far have favored the same choice. I have not tried train shows. I have to get there, pay the fees for the table, etc. The few Hobby shops near me that do consignment selling want between 25 & 30%. If you can get 10% they are really doing you a favor. What I end up with are various online auctions and swap sites. The problem is that except for the one, the traffic is low. Generally, I see very little that I would be interested in. But I select several alternates. The listings are posted and run for a month, in increments of 3- 5 days. The online mentality is to bid/buy on closing, so you want as many closings as you can get. In every case so far, the one place sold the item five of the six times. The alternates have yet to sell the item. That place is e-bay. Yes the fees have gone up. They are socking it to the casual seller. They also have decided that they want a piece of the shipping action. Sellers would sell an item for a dollar and charge. $15 for shipping that cost $2 to ship. So in the old days they would get a nickle and an earful about the shipping cost, while the seller got $13.95. If you sell enough to have a store and do not charge extra for shipping. You would find that the among paid the e-bay per month has dropped significantly. But for the small number, short term seller, they have gone up. It is almost time for me to repeat the test. Time goes by and who knows a better place may be there. If any one has a different experience, let me know. Unless you chose to thin your holdings just before the local show dates, e-bay is my fastest and most reliable choice- even for the casual seller. Larry www.lxlocomotives.com
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Post by Brakie on Jan 28, 2015 2:15:50 GMT -8
How do people decide what to thin down to? I have sold off some of the obvious out lying items, but when is enough enough? For me I am working on some basic era focus. No old ATSF paint jobs for example. But when do people stop? If I were to downsize I would focus on one time frame(say) '85/86 and keep the road names that was seen in those two years and I would base those car needs on the industries served by my freelance Summerset Ry. Of course this would require hours of researching the road names that was commonly seen yet allowing for some fallen flag cars that was also seen in '85/86. I don't think its a easy task to simply downsize to a given era due to the amount of research needed..IMHO it would be far better if we had focus on a given era and not caved in to the "gotta have" syndrome trap we all fall head first into..
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Post by atsfan on Jan 28, 2015 4:41:47 GMT -8
I believe if you use ebay for the postage there is a discount over just walking into the post office. I personally don't use ebay. I have two friends who sell and buy stuff who have offered to put stuff up for me time to time. We work out the money on the golf course.......
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Post by riogrande on Jan 28, 2015 4:50:19 GMT -8
Personally, I don't understand the "renting" of engines and cars...buying them, running them, and selling them, all in well less than a year. I know some people that do that, and IMHO if you're going to buy an engine (and there's nothing wrong with it), don't you want to at least enjoy it for a while before you get rid of it? Selling off a collection is one thing (sometimes a very needful thing), but the casual "buy it today, sell it tomorrow" is something I just don't get. Paul, it's not difficult to understand, just be an observer of human behavior. There are lots of people out there who are impulse buyers - not just in this hobby but all kinds of things. Lot's of hobbyists see trains they like and buy them because they like the way they look. Then after some time goes by, the novelty wears off or buyers remorse sets in and the trains are no longer wanted and sold. It's a bit like Christmas morning, kids open their presents, play with their new toys and then get bored with them. So while you may not think it logical intellectually (neither do I) humans do all kinds of things that are impulse or emotional choices with negative consequences; in this case usually we have less money after all is said and done. I agree with you, it's better to have a plan for ones trains in order to minimize the financial loss and to maximize the fun and satisfaction. atsfan, AFAIK yes. Shrewd operator - schmooze the bigger spenders; small fry are expendable. But honestly, because I've often had to be careful with my hobby spending, I couldn't afford to subsidize that shop and go "above and beyond" by paying the much higher prices, as if it was a charity. I already had some very good discount vendors to work with so it was in the end, a mutual parting of ways, although IMO it was an unfortunate and unnecessary experience. I think many do exactly what you said, but you defined it a little more like an academic or business power point presentation! To flesh it out for me: 1) D&RGW/SP, 2) wide time frame unfortunately - 1965 - 1990, 3) desert division Of course the more narrow one can get, the better they can focus their resources and cull those things that don't fit. But having even some kind of definition helps. Maybe some day I'll narrow things down more - it's a process most of us grapple with.
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Post by Gary P on Jan 28, 2015 5:02:17 GMT -8
I've done very very limited selling, but have had a bit of luck with this option. I have sold or traded a bit with others that I already know. I've moved some of my impulse buys to fellow modelers that may be interested in that roadname. Most times I get about what I had paid for it, sometimes less. But, these are usually on items that I bought on impulse, because the purchase price was too good to pass up. I looked at it as I just passed the great bargain on to a friend! I've even had some luck offering up to friends on facebook.
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Post by Gary P on Jan 28, 2015 5:04:48 GMT -8
I agree with the spreadheet that Omaharoad mentioned. I did that a short while ago, and was surprised at some of the loco's that I had, and had forgotten about. This is helping me to realize I was very undisciplined with my purchases, something that I am working on improving!
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Post by riogrande on Jan 28, 2015 5:22:39 GMT -8
Ten percent is extremely unusual. Over the past 25-30 years, 20% has been the most common rate seen for consignment. In addition to the above factors, you're limited in exposure to buyers and stuff can sit for weeks or months - so you may have to be very patient. I did manage to sell 90% of what I put up when I consigned by pricing items right, so it worked well enough until I got the boot.
For speed and exposure, Ebay is indisputably on top. I am a casual seller and did sell on Ebay for a few years after I stopped consigning. Then I thought I'd give the yahoo groups special interest group email list I am part of a try - and actually sold quite a bit if D&RGW related stuff there. Then 4-5 years ago I learned about HOInterchange and found it worked well for me and had decent enough exposure and no fee's. That was a win/win for me.
HOinterchange moved to Facebook about a year ago (I don't do Facebook) so it's now HOswap or HOexchange I use - which continues to work for me. One thing I notice is the same advertisements get listed on both groups at the same time, which is IMO singing to roughly the same choir. My philosophy to maximize exposure is to advertise on one and if I get no bites, wait a week or two and then advertise on the other - figuring it increases chances of a bit different visibility - figuring a few more eyes may see my offering or maybe have cash available to spend whereas a couple weeks before, not. YMMV as they say. It just seems a waste to show the same bunch of people the same offering twice in the same day.
By now I've culled 90% of what I want to sell and it's getting hard to find things I want to part with, without redefining my parameters - which could still happen. I'm constantly re-evaluating my collection.
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Post by Brakie on Jan 28, 2015 7:22:17 GMT -8
As far as e-Bay shipping charges the common thought needs to be address..Many sellers uses free shipping or tells their customers to wait on a invoice that has combined shipping prices for multiple purchases.
Last week I bought Dragon Age Inquisition that was shipped for $2.99.Yesterday I bought two Atlas Precision Designed boxcars from the same dealer and was charged $6.95 for shipping..All I had to do was wait on a invoice with the combine shipping.On the other hand there are sellers overcharging shipping costs to help recoup some of their e-Bay fees.
Before I joined the computer age I sold some models on consignment at a local shop and the fee was based on the price but was limited to 25% on high dollar brass models.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 8:18:31 GMT -8
I've looked for the best option to sell trains. I've done test cases on several online sites. Same items in each test. Different items in different tests. Varied from cars to locos to special track items. Different times of the year. Done this six times. I really would like to have a second or third option. The results thus far have favored the same choice. I have not tried train shows. I have to get there, pay the fees for the table, etc. The few Hobby shops near me that do consignment selling want between 25 & 30%. If you can get 10% they are really doing you a favor. What I end up with are various online auctions and swap sites. The problem is that except for the one, the traffic is low. Generally, I see very little that I would be interested in. But I select several alternates. The listings are posted and run for a month, in increments of 3- 5 days. The online mentality is to bid/buy on closing, so you want as many closings as you can get. In every case so far, the one place sold the item five of the six times. The alternates have yet to sell the item. That place is e-bay. Yes the fees have gone up. They are socking it to the casual seller. They also have decided that they want a piece of the shipping action. Sellers would sell an item for a dollar and charge. $15 for shipping that cost $2 to ship. So in the old days they would get a nickle and an earful about the shipping cost, while the seller got $13.95. If you sell enough to have a store and do not charge extra for shipping. You would find that the among paid the e-bay per month has dropped significantly. But for the small number, short term seller, they have gone up. It is almost time for me to repeat the test. Time goes by and who knows a better place may be there. If any one has a different experience, let me know. Unless you chose to thin your holdings just before the local show dates, e-bay is my fastest and most reliable choice- even for the casual seller. Larry www.lxlocomotives.comI came to the same conclusion. When all benefits & costs are considered, eBay is the best option for people selling more than a handful of items.
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Post by fr8kar on Jan 28, 2015 12:51:28 GMT -8
Like Gary P, I agree with Omaharoad's spreadsheet approach. I've done this for years and it has helped me go from 200+ locomotives and over 400 freight cars to 207 freight cars and 47 locomotives. There was no way I could have detailed and weathered all those locomotives and freight cars to the level I expect with so many of them, even if I spent years doing it (and believe me, I have).
That first spreadsheet created 16 years ago has evolved from a tool I used to catalog my stuff (and determine what to get rid of) to a document I can access and update on my phone, tablet or computer when I'm shopping or when I stumble upon a deal. I'm able to determine what I want to buy next based on the gaps in my roster and what cars or locomotives my prototypes used.
I also have fields in the spreadsheet to help with operations. At some of the larger Free-mo setups, often there will be operations sessions scheduled and cars will be contributed by each participant to a pool with cars assigned to the different industries that will be part of the layout. I have some fields setup for this purpose, such as coupled length, commodity carried (helpful if a covered hopper is placarded for fertilizer and thus not useful as a grain car, for example), and so on. I've seen some other modelers' database reports of their rosters or sample switchlists and it makes my little spreadsheet look puny by comparison. But I don't think it would take much effort to prepare the data for import into an operations program or database setup for operations, if that's something I pursue in the future.
Other useful fields include comments, notes and other details that can really be helpful later on. I do a lot of custom building and painting, so it's a good idea to know what color I painted the model should it need a repair later. I also still have several open top cars that need loads, so being able to tally these and keep an ongoing and up-to-date project list is helpful to keep me motivated and focused on moving forward. And I hate to admit it, but I also still have several cars that need metal wheelsets, Sergent couplers and other upgrades. I am able to get a total count of what I need to make the next big dent in coupler or wheel replacements by running reports based on the data.
I have a similar approach for my locomotive roster spreadsheet. Like the freight car spreadsheet, it has lots of useful details. More than anything, being able to keep a handle on DCC addresses, decoders and other details that aren't readily apparent from looking at the model has really made this spreadsheet well worth the effort it took to create it. And just like the freight car spreadsheet, it helps keep the collection pared down to what's necessary, what's appropriate for my area/era and what's on the wish list.
My spreadsheets started off as Excel 97 documents many years ago. Now I keep them on my Google Drive in Google's native format. Easy to modify, easy to create formulas and reports, and very easy to access from just about anywhere.
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Post by buffalobill on Jan 28, 2015 15:11:53 GMT -8
Ryan: I agree the spreadsheet has been the way to go for me. Mine is still on excel, but I have all equipment listed, including locomotives, freight cars, highway vehicles, containers, and trailers. I have all the attributes, DCC, Sound, detailing, weathering, paint, etc. listed was well as the items cost etc. In addition to knowing what I have, I can evaluate weather to upgrade, or dispose of an item should something better come along. I find the discipline helps me avoid buying mistakes. Based on manufacturers announcements, I plan out what I am going to buy, budget, and figure what I am going to dispose of and the economic impact. It has helped me stay organized, and keep track of where my hobby money is going. A big plus. Bill
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 15:26:49 GMT -8
Ryan: I agree the spreadsheet has been the way to go for me. Mine is still on excel, but I have all equipment listed, including locomotives, freight cars, highway vehicles, containers, and trailers. I have all the attributes, DCC, Sound, detailing, weathering, paint, etc. listed was well as the items cost etc. In addition to knowing what I have, I can evaluate weather to upgrade, or dispose of an item should something better come along. I find the discipline helps me avoid buying mistakes. Based on manufacturers announcements, I plan out what I am going to buy, budget, and figure what I am going to dispose of and the economic impact. It has helped me stay organized, and keep track of where my hobby money is going. A big plus. Bill I also keep a book inventory. This is especially important since most of my books are boxed and in storage. The inventory sheet lets me know which box hold what books, saving me a lot of searching. More than once the list has saved me from buying a book I already owned and had forgotten about. BTW, I went thru the list a few weeks ago and culled about 20 books I'll be selling on eBay in the next three weeks.
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Post by atsfan on Jan 28, 2015 17:48:06 GMT -8
Ryan: I agree the spreadsheet has been the way to go for me. Mine is still on excel, but I have all equipment listed, including locomotives, freight cars, highway vehicles, containers, and trailers. I have all the attributes, DCC, Sound, detailing, weathering, paint, etc. listed was well as the items cost etc. In addition to knowing what I have, I can evaluate weather to upgrade, or dispose of an item should something better come along. I find the discipline helps me avoid buying mistakes. Based on manufacturers announcements, I plan out what I am going to buy, budget, and figure what I am going to dispose of and the economic impact. It has helped me stay organized, and keep track of where my hobby money is going. A big plus. Bill I also keep a book inventory. This is especially important since most of my books are boxed and in storage. The inventory sheet lets me know which box hold what books, saving me a lot of searching. More than once the list has saved me from buying a book I already owned and had forgotten about. BTW, I went thru the list a few weeks ago and culled about 20 books I'll be selling on eBay in the next three weeks. All of my books I sold off. I just decided that since I wasn't reading them it made sense to have a cabinet full of them. Books sell well usually.
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