|
|
|
| Selling
Your Old American Flyer Trains If you're thinking of selling your old Flyer trains, you're probably wondering, "How much are my old trains worth?" Well, your old American Flyer "S Gauge" trains are certainly worth some amount of money! But to determine exactly how much they're worth will require a little effort on your part. While you may be able to find a quick sale for your American Flyer (AF) trains by selling that "whole box of trains" for $300.00, you might be surprised sometime in the future when you learn you sold a complete set of trains that were really worth $3000.00! Almost always, it pays to take the time to do some research on your old trains first, before you sell them. Make A List We highly recommend that you identify each AF train item you have, making a list of all your trains. Why? Simply because the value of the many different AF trains, cars and accessories made can vary greatly! But don't worry. Most of the AF trains can be quickly identified by the numbers printed on them, so it really isn't that hard or time consuming to make a list! If you have trouble locating the numbers on your AF trains, we'll be glad to help! We're only an e-mail message away, so feel free to contact us. Once you have a complete list of all your trains you'll then need to determine each piece's condition. Why? Simply because a train engine, car or accessory that looks "like new" will bring a much greater price than one has only a few scratches and minor "dents." Grading Your Trains Although you might think that your old trains are in good condition, "considering their age," there a good deal of American Flyer trains being sold each year that actually look "like new." Even though these AF trains may be over 50 years old, some can still be found in boxes that have never been opened! If your old AF trains have been "played with" a great deal, and have the scuff marks, scrapes and other flaws normally found on "played with" trains, their value will not be as great as those that look "nearly new." But don't be discouraged. Some AF trains can bring high prices even if they are less than perfect. And thankfully, there is a standard method for "grading" AF trains, that uses a fairly simple "fair," "good," "very good," and "excellent" rating system. Enough! -- Can't You Just Give Me a General Idea About My Old Trains Worth? Giving you even a "ballpark idea" of how much your trains may be worth is difficult to do without a complete list of your trains that lists each item and its condition. Some American Flyer trains are very collectible, and in mint condition a single train engine can be worth many hundreds of dollars. However, some Flyer trains are very common, and therefore their value is not terribly high. Even though all of the Flyer trains are more than 30 years old, and many are over 50 years old, a good deal of the AF trains aren't all that "rare." You might be surprised to learn that there are hundreds of train "swap meets" around the country were good quantities of the common American Flyer trains are bought and sold on a regular basis. A very common train engine that is complete and runs, but is only in "good" condition may only sell for $15.00 or less at these shows. However, there are many Flyer trains that are quite rare! Some American Flyer sets in their original boxes, in like new condition could be worth several thousands of dollars. On the other hand, a very common Flyer set in less than perfect condition may only be worth $100.00, or even less. The prices and values of American Flyer trains will vary greatly depending on how rare the piece is and upon the train's condition. The "Book Price" for American Flyer Trains Luckily, there is a value guide printed each year that gives very accurate prices for each piece of American Flyer trains ever made. Much like used cars, the American Flyer trains have a standard "blue book" price. We use this guide in our appraisals, and we be glad to provide you with a free appraisal of your old American Flyer trains.We'll even "walk you through" the evaluation process, and help you identify and locate the model numbers on your trains, and help you understand how to "grade" the condition of your trains. Please feel free to contact us via e-mail if you are considering selling your American Flyer trains. We will reply and provide any sort of information you need in a timely manner. Although we would like to buy your old trains you are under no obligation whatsoever to do so. You can contact us via e-mail at: aftrains@bluefieldnet.com with any questions about your old American Flyer trains.
|
