We buy train collections-competitive prices paid!

We know that selling your personal train collection or that of a loved one can be emotional and often overwhelming. At Maine Line Trains we can help make it an easier transition.  Our goal is to pay you a fair price while still being able to make these items available to other model railroaders at a fair price.  

Of course, we feel that selling your collection to us is the best way to do the deal for everyone concerned. We will come to you. We will remove the collection. We will pay a fair and competitive price. We are based in Maine.

One thing to keep in mind is that no matter how large or small your collection, some pieces are simply more desirable than others. They enhance the overall value of the collection. The following alternatives share a common "risk"...having your collection "cherry-picked". 

1: Do It Yourself. It's not rocket science you can do it. There are any number of DIY online auction and person-to-person trade sites. You get to set the price that you think something should sell for. Less 15% - 25% in fees. It just takes time. A whole lot of time. And patience. You will learn all about market pricing. Plus, you will learn all about packing and shipping and damage and returns. You will find that, sure enough, the good stuff sells first. It's the rest of the collection that is harder to sell. Your collection will be cherry-picked through natural market selection. 

2: The Local Hobby Shop. There certainly aren't as many Hobby Shops and Train Stores as there once were. But one might be convenient to you and might be interested to some degree. But it is very unlikely they would be willing to invest more than pennies on the dollar. If the proprietor knows trains he might even offer to buy some of the "good stuff". That's cherry-picking. Resist Cherry Pickers you may even know someone that will

attempt to cherry pick your collection.

3: Sell To A Collector. Collectors are typically individuals who know what they are doing and are looking for specific items for their collection. Very rarely are they interested in buying everything you have. A collector may even agree to a higher price for some particular item. This is the quickest way to lose the value of your remaining collection.

4: Garage Sales and Flea Markets. If you have a small, heavily used and abused assortment of trains then this might be a good option.

5: Auction Houses. The "Upper Tier" Auction Houses (and those who think they are) are typically interested only in "Upper Tier" collections. The "Name" Collections. Very high Buyer and Seller Premiums and high commissions. Most people really don't have those kinds of Collections and those who do Know It. If one of the big houses accepts your collection you can expect to wait months at least before the sale and often they will lump together unrelated items into "lots" to move them quickly. What sells best is sold first. "Upper Tier" cherry-picking. But the leftovers are still yours.

6: Online Auction Sites. There are several train specialty auction and sales websites which seem very successful. You have no control of the bidding, so you have no control on the selling price. You are typically required to pack up your collection and ship it all to them and they will take it from there. They do the listing and pricing, take their fees for sold items and send you what's left over. Some items sell very well of course. Many others not so much. And your listings are competing with other listings they have for the same or very similar items. It is a competitive marketplace. It often takes many, many months (if at all) to sell your collection. When you are tired of waiting for your items to sell and you want or get your collection back, what's left? Not the good stuff. That's been cherry-picked.

7: Sell your trains to online buyer. There are several of these companies. They will determine the value for your collection and make an offer based on that value. Many of these folks require you to get the collection to them. Of course, at your expense. Some of these folks will cherry pick your collection and force you to come get what is left. Many make you wait months before they pay the full amount promised, if you get the full amount and not an adjusted price.

-We come to you-   No Auctions, No Consignments, No Shipping, No waiting for your money,

We will not Cherry Pick