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Discover Live Steam Ads
Our First Class Ads Really Work.  Click here to see examples.

We offer 3 types of classified ads:  

 

FIRST CLASS AD

I personally pre-screen the buyers to help make the "First Class Ad"
Spam and Scammer Resistant!  Your email address will not posted.

Up to 6 color pictures of equipment. Your ad will run for as long as one year (maximum).
(recommended for locomotives, high end rail cars or other harder to sell items).  Be sure to include:  Scale, Gauge, and Asking Price. It's also a good idea to give a general location.  That way, you potential buyers can determine if they can pick up the item or if it will need to be shipped.
 

Here is the catch (if you want to call it that): No charge if item fails to sell.  If item sells AND ONLY if it sells via this web site, we kindly request a commission of 2% (two percent) of the sale price. Minimum commission is $20 (commission chart). We understand this is far less than the required commission of those auction houses (am I allowed to say ebay?), but our results are excellent and our costs are low.  I charge for this service to generate some cash to try to offset my expenses in operating this web site.  
Two major benefits for you, the seller, are that YOU CONTROL the entire sale. You control the pace and you control the price.  Unlike e-bay, you don't have to take the lowest bid ! And you don't need to sign up or give your credit card info.

Dave from Illinois writes....

"Jim I am getting slammed with e-mails...wow!  I had no Idea so many people hit this site or I would have never listed on ebay? ...  It looks like I need to focus with your site!  I will start taking more pics and send them to you because that's what everyone wants."

 

Send in your first class ad.  If you agree to the above terms, email the text of your ad (and please attach) your photos to:  4sale@discoverlivesteam.com (the subject line of your email must contain the word train).

We reserve the right to edit or remove or refuse any ad we feel does not comply with the spirit of this web site or if we feel the seller is not serious about selling the item.
 

Did you know that ebay charges the seller an average of 7% of the selling price?

Here are my suggestions on what to include in your ad:

  • general area where equipment can be viewed (buyers get more excited if it's within driving distance).

  • asking price

  • gauge

  • scale

  • type of fuel (ie; coal, propane, gasoline, etc.)

  • last hydro (hydrostatic pressure test) for steam locomotives only

  • if locomotive, when was the last time it was operated (if not currently running)

  • age of equipment

  • send some good photos that include close up details

  • It's no longer suggested to have your phone number on the ad.  You may exchange numbers with the buyer once emails are exchanged.

HELPFUL TIP - You need to sell your loco or cars? You need 3 things to get folks to drool over your railroad equipment: Photos, Close-up Photos and Extreme Close-up Photos. The best way for folks on the internet to understand how cool your train is, is to have some good photographs.

Scammers.  I look out for and try to screen out all scammers that pray on folks selling stuff on the web.  I look for buyers from Nigeria,  3rd party buyers (no one is buying live steam using a broker), and especially buyers that want you to send off money to his shipper as soon as you get your check. He may also suggest he overpay for shipping and allow you to keep the extra $$$.  I do a good job screening requests for info but it's good to be aware of scammers in case you run into one.

 

Market Place Entrepreneur ads, click here

Ad Policies on the For Sale page.

Can my ad be moved back to the top of the page?
Everyone wants the top of the page of course.  There are two ways to get to  the top of the page:

  • New Listings get placed at the top of the page.  That spot doesn't last long.  New ads come in every week and your ad will get bumped down as new ads come in.
  • Dropping your price will also cause your ad to go back to the top.  Not just a dollar or two.  You must reduce your price by at least 3% to get back to the top.

When your ad starts to sink lower and lower on the page, it should be taken as a sign that your price is higher than folks are willing to pay.  I will keep your ad unchanged for a maximum of 12 months.  After 12 months I will remove your ad without additional notice.

(We reserve the right to edit or remove or refuse any ad we feel does not comply with the spirit of this web site or if we feel the seller is not serious about selling the item.)

Can I remove my ad now and put it back up after the summer?
It's a lot of work putting ads together.  I do it the old fashioned way.  If I do post your ad again, it will go right where it would have been if you had never removed it.  You may as well keep it posted.

Can I sell my train in the US if I live in Europe? 
We can try but it won't be easy.  It might be customs fees or the exchange rate or the fear of scammers that scares folks.

Why was my ad turned down for posting?
I'm trying to keep this web site and the for sale page "focused".  One of the comments I hear is that folks appreciate the fact that they don't have to look at unrelated advertising.  I try to make sure all ads are related to the main focus of this site:  Steam Powered Equipment, Ride-able Railroad Equipment, or machining to produce those.

Will the item you are trying to sell pass this test?
Is your item railroad related and/or
Is it steam powered or
Can a person ride on it (or be pulled by it) and it's a scale model or
Can it be used as an accessory for or used to manufacture one of the above? 

It's a judgment call.  Send it in.  If I find the item is railroad or machine shop related enough, I will carry it.  If I feel that it's stretching the case too much, I will not carry it.  It's totally my call and if you don't like it, post it on your web site.

 

 

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