Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: SEUSA on January 13, 2026, 03:00:53 pm

Title: Re: Auction fees are getting out of control.
Post by: Nick on January 13, 2026, 06:57:15 pm

If the item is going to go for $500 or less, only bid about half of what the item is worth to you on these auctions, or you will be in for quite a shock!

Title: Re: Auction fees are getting out of control.
Post by: komet163b on January 13, 2026, 06:44:39 pm

  I still buy from auctions.  If the extra charges are high
you just cannot bid as much.  Sometimes, it works out ok.
All part of the game - the rules are stated.  The wild card
is shipping.  I once complained to 'Live Auctioneers' about
excessive shipping fees charged by an auction house and they
straightened it out to my satisfaction.

  If you don't buy from an auction site where do you find engines
to buy?  Nowhere in Brooklyn, that's for sure.

Wayne

Title: Re: Auction fees are getting out of control.
Post by: St Paul Steam on January 13, 2026, 04:15:45 pm

I never really buy form auctions, (Hardley even Ebay anymore) & haven't sold on eBay for years now. I guess your example is why.

Title: Auction fees are getting out of control.
Post by: SEUSA on January 13, 2026, 03:00:53 pm

Just passing this along to see if anyone else's as frustrated as I am.
Bought a ninety dollar item out of auction.
Charged a hundred and seventy four dollars with fees and shipping costs.
I paid the invoice for the auction items because I was responsible to do that.
Faced with a $57 shipping cost, i just told him to keep them.

$90.00 auction price
$174.00 to get it.

Im done with auctions.