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General => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: Psyche on November 27, 2005, 22:45:41

Title: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on November 27, 2005, 22:45:41
Ok, I now am officially broke but couldn't be happier! :D Check out the haul I managed to find (all at good prices, some at GREAT prices) on ebay today:

First, I have been searching for a complete, boxed, 3433 Safari Station Ngorongoro for almost a year now. Finally found one (for a super price) and picked up a few other boxed (some MIB) sets from the same seller "just for the heck of it! "  8-)

I found the 3497 Playground set which pretty much completes my old style kids playground collection! :D

Also, I found a very nice 3735 older farm wagon (something I've long wanted) at an excellent price.  :)

And if one has a Safari Station, it only makes sense they would have the older European train station, right?    ???  ;) (Ok, I'm rationalizing but this is another set I've long wanted and the price was too good to pass up.  :-[ )

Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge :D :D :D
Post by: Psyche on November 27, 2005, 22:48:51
But while I was feeling "train-ish" and was on such a great site I also picked up two more little sets I've wanted for some time...;)

 :love: :love: :love: <:>

So...feel free to send food.  :-[  ;D  8}

Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge :D :D :D
Post by: Red on November 28, 2005, 01:42:21
Wow, awesome haul Psyche! I have never even seen the windmill before! And the train station is way cool.

Got any good tips for finding bargains on ebay as you seem to be so good at it???  :wow:
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge :D :D :D
Post by: Psyche on November 28, 2005, 02:10:06
Thanks Red...I've learned a few tricks over the years. The biggests is to know what you want and be patient, but flexible. So like here, I was looking for the Safari Station and had an ebay search out on it for months, but when I saw the other loot this seller had I took note.

These were all on German ebay where you can find better deals (even with slow boat shipping) and many items you rarely see here (for example that MIB windmill. I've seen maybe 2 of them on US ebay and they both went for over $100 US. This was less than half of that! :) )

What I can do is write some tips I've learned and post them on the shopping forum. Meg and Robbie and Sir Gareth and Serenity and several others are great ebayers too (and I know you look at a lot of auctions) so maybe if we all pool our info that will be of use to several members. How's that sound.

BTW, the Windmill (3765) was discontinued in 1991 and there is also a water tower that I'd love to have someday.  I feel lucky to have found this set still wrapped. :D
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge :D :D :D
Post by: Serenity on November 28, 2005, 03:58:53
Congrats on the great finds, especially this time of year!  I'm especially jealous of the train station.  I've been watching for that one myself, but stopped for awhile due to Christmas.

Will you take pics of pieces when you get it?  Please?
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Morgan on November 28, 2005, 08:13:18
wow, what a catch!!!  8}
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: playmofire on November 28, 2005, 08:34:54
I'd assumed that you'd spot things like these coming up in your crystal ball.  You disapopint me. :(

Anyway, congratulations on a host of good buys. :)
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: David on November 28, 2005, 19:20:50
I´d be happy with winning any one of these, but a Safari Station,  the old railway station I´ve always wanted and the Western Train, plus some smaller old sets all boxed is amazing. I am not at all jealous, nor am I kicking myself for not watching eBay more closely. I´m just so happy they are in the clutches hands of a PF. Excuse me I´ve got some wood to chop, carpets to beat..

 A  lot of beautiful sets Psyche, lucky you,

 Guarrenzino
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on November 28, 2005, 19:54:34
LOL friends! Yes, I will post photos (probably until Guarrenzino turns an even deeper shade of green).  ;D

Though I must say I don't watch ebay that closely...I plug in "searches" for particular items (in this case the Safari Station) and they email when one comes up for auction. I'd had that particular search running for almost a year but each time one would come up it would be incomplete, poor quality, way out of my budget, or located on the moon. So this was one time patience actually paid off as I found a nice boxed set and the same seller had lots of other nice sets, ships worldwide, and speaks English (sort of...better than my German danke).

And Gordon, I shall have to give you a lesson on crystal balls one day. They don't spit out answers like computers...but do give delicious hints. In this case..."Look at the other auctions...." ;)
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Meg on November 29, 2005, 20:18:28
You did very well

I am envious, of course

I just wish my German contact would mail me some of the items that he has stored for me  :(
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on November 30, 2005, 02:11:52
Rumor has it you just got the Western Train too Meg.  :)  We shall have to have a train race across the North/Midwest! I'll start here and you start in Madison and we'll meet up, where? Eastern Montanna? :D
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Meg on November 30, 2005, 02:41:30
D***, you are GOOD

I got it after I got the windmill and the water thingie.

All I needed was the train, but it wasnt MIB and there are some small parts  that are missing
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on November 30, 2005, 08:52:42
If it makes you feel better...I've not yet got the "water thingy" (I'm assuming you mean this beauty?

Can you look at yours and tell me if this one looks complete?

Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Sir Gareth on November 30, 2005, 11:26:26
Nice lot of stuff you got there Psyche.

As for that water tower and windmill combo ( I looked at it the other day) that water tower is not complete. There should be a guard rail around the walkway and a small ladder going from the walkway to the top of the orange water butt. There should also be an orange trap door on the brown roof that is not visible and a couple of grey ropes should go around the water tower and the rope you can see is not original, also theres no figure and I can't tell if the ladder is there at the back that takes you up to the walkway.

Basically it's spares or repairs with those two.
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Sir Gareth on November 30, 2005, 11:40:45
Here's a picture so you can see what's missing, sorry for the writing it's a bit poor done with a paint brush, not sure why I put figure on it,  it's a bit obvious.
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on November 30, 2005, 15:56:57
Thanks for the info Garry. The seller said they weren't complete and I was pretty sure there should be a rail and ladder. But have never seen the water tower in "real life".  (And I've got the complete windmill.) Thanks for the help. :)

Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Meg on November 30, 2005, 17:41:00
Well, Garry did a better job than I could have.

i know my train is not complete, in dealing with the accessories for the figures, but otherwise, I think its ok.

M
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on December 01, 2005, 00:05:13

i know my train is not complete, in dealing with the accessories for the figures, but otherwise, I think its ok.

M

As long as it does the "chuga chuga chew chew" bit, I'm sure it's great! :)
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Madame X on December 01, 2005, 20:12:36
Well done, Psyche!  Almost all of those sets are on my "most favorite/most wanted" list.  I salute you for plunging in to the non-English sector of ebay and you deserve all of those great finds for your patience.  Good things come to those who wait!   :)9

I am particularly fond of that train and have been looking for one for a loooooooong time and am still kicking myself for not buying one in a busted-up box at a post-Christmas clearance sale 6 or 7 years ago at Noodle Kidoodle (before it became Zany Brainy and then went out of business  ::) ) 

P will be happy now since he obviously won't have to buy you anything for Christmas!   ;) :lol:

Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Serenity on December 01, 2005, 21:01:20
P will be happy now since he obviously won't have to buy you anything for Christmas!   ;) :lol:

 :lol:  Who says?  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on December 01, 2005, 22:22:18
Well done, Psyche!  Almost all of those sets are on my "most favorite/most wanted" list.  I salute you for plunging in to the non-English sector of ebay and you deserve all of those great finds for your patience.  Good things come to those who wait!   :)9

Thanks! I do feel I spruged but then again, I've waited for all of them for a long time and this seller just happend to have them all (and a lot more good loot.)

Quote
I am particularly fond of that train and have been looking for one for a loooooooong time and am still kicking myself for not buying one in a busted-up box at a post-Christmas clearance sale 6 or 7 years ago at Noodle Kidoodle (before it became Zany Brainy and then went out of business  ::) ) 

Ok, now that sentence has earned entry into my roster of "sentences that are grammatically correct but absolutely bizzare if you read them to someone who doesn't know what one is talking about. ;) :D


Quote
P will be happy now since he obviously won't have to buy you anything for Christmas!   ;) :lol:

Oops! You mean I should tell him?  ???

I'm sure it would be best to wait. ;) 

Signed, Wise Woman With Separate Checking and Paypal Accounts

I think that's my name translated from the Choctaw. :)
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Red on December 01, 2005, 22:33:51
Quote
Signed, Wise Woman With Separate Checking and Paypal Accounts

I thought about doing that too... to shall-we-say deemphasize my ebay purchasing, but I'd have nothing to fund them with!  :lol: Sometimes I can't wait to earn my own money again!

Red




(modified because the quote tage was improperly positioned)
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on December 01, 2005, 22:36:07
That's why I toil on cold snowy nights trying to cram information into weary minds...it pays for my playmo and keeps me out of the "bill paying account"  >:D which is a scary place I don't like to visit anyway.  :o

Of course, my kid is grown so that helps.
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Red on December 02, 2005, 01:15:56
I hope to begin part-time night or during-preschool-hours work again next year when Graeleigh starts school... that is, if I can find such work; having been out of my field for three years now, my skills are pretty rusty so I will have to find someone willing to take a chance on me and my weary mind!

What do you teach Psyche? (Sorry if you already said at one point.)

Red
Title: Re: Pyche's Psychotic Ebay Binge
Post by: Psyche on December 02, 2005, 03:22:10
I'm a part-time professor for Early Childhood Special Education here at WSU (and as most of my students are teachers or student-teachers, many courses are in the evening.) I also consult and do behavioral/educational planning and therapy for kids with severe neurological disorders (mostly autism) for the public school district- for these I set my own hours based on the kids' and my schedule.

I'm not sure of your area but many courses are being taught online in conjuntion with universities (not the Uni of Phoenix sillyness but regular accredited courses). These are great for folks with odd schedules, but they can be a lot more work than a traditional class. PM me if you want more info.

Don't worry about being a bit rusty, you'll be surprised how quickly you get back in the learning groove. :D