Cox engine values down?

No, but I would figure a rebuilt engine would go for $15-$20. Would they be worth more if I test run them and not only rebuild them?

The thing about Bees and postage stamps is they are a dime a dozen. They don't have a lot of collector appeal and for the user they don't offer much either.

As you well know the market has highs and lows and you are probably experiencing a low trend right now. It may be wise to hang on to them and wait for an upswing.

A new engine that is un run is desirable, but a used rebuilt one is still a used engine. It may work to your favor to advertise as tested and running, but a collector won't care as it will sit on a shelf. A user might care, but they are so easy to go through and made operational that it's not much of a selling point.

If you want to make some money sell early engines or the TD series as they appeal to both parties and seem to hold their value better during market shifts.

Just my thoughts. I do hope you get what you want though.

Ron

I've got a few TDs and Meds I've rebuilt and tried selling, but I didn't have luck with those either. As all of you know, the carb bodies aren't cheap either. I was asking $40 for them, cleaned up and rebuilt.

What's one of your ebay listings? I'll save you as a seller. I'd rather buy from someone I know.

And My kids say I have an engine problem.  

Here is a couple I had up that didn't sell after 3 re-lists:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321373803896?ssPageName=STRK:MEUNSOLD:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1560.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321373801493?ssPageName=STRK:MEUNSOLD:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1560.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321373799791?ssPageName=STRK:MEUNSOLD:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1560.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321369030422?ssPageName=STRK:MEUNSOLD:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1560.l2649

What can I do to make them more appealing? Should I not rebuild them? I enjoy bringing them back to life...

Could you record a video of them running to include in the listing? Maybe show a tach reading.

I don't know for sure, but for me, the starting price is a little high. I know you have a bunch of money in the parts, too. Maybe list it as 'buy it now' for that price, or lower starting bid with reserve. You might be better off not rebuilding.

I do notice the price of ebay items go down at the end of the month and up again when everyone gets paid at the start of the month. I think it's mostly the old guys waiting for their SS checks.  

Not sure if a tach reading would mean much, more an engine is broke in the better it will run.  Just adding more labor and fuel cost per each engine I sell, I don't think I could list them for more.  I've seen TDs on ebay sell for what I'm asking and they are an unknown used engine. I don't get it... what am I missing.  

One of the reasons why I brought this up as I was fixing and selling that lot I bought from Bernie... plus other spare engines I had... I think I'm at the break-even point or close to it... but some are just not selling.

I was trying to keep "me" out of the original question as I'm not trying to promote what I have to sell.

duke.johnson wrote:I don't know for sure, but for me, the starting price is a little high. I know you have a bunch of money in the parts, too. Maybe list it as 'buy it now' for that price, or lower starting bid with reserve.  You might be better off not rebuilding.

I do notice the price of ebay items go down at the end of the month and up again when everyone gets paid at the start of the month.  I think it's mostly the old guys waiting for their SS checks.  

Once you start with a reserve and buy it now costs, it costs the seller more to list. The track record for these 4 engines, it's just not feasible.

An example of someone else's TD that sold... why would that engine sell and mine would not?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COX-TEE-DEE-049-CONTROL-LINE-OF-FREE-FLIGHT-MODEL-AIRPLANE-ENGINE-USED-/111346970472?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item19eccbef68

Humerous these comments about engies prices.

By exhaistive research I've proven they depend on the phase of the moon like the tides.

I've yet to factor in global warning.

        

SD

I don't know about all the fees, but the other guy had a starting bid of 9.99 and he has sold/bought three times the items you have. Maybe that has something to do with it. Just a thought.

That could be... just buyers having the "gotta have it" fever...

When I bid on used engines I look for one that appears to be lightly run and never had a wrench on it. Good photos help a lot.
I won't spend 50-60$ on a used, might as well add some $ and get new.  

One of the problems with selling engines on Ebay is the postage which is now astronomic. I looked at one of the links for a very nice looking TD049.
 
$45 for a pristine engine does not seem unreasonable. Selling "Worldwide" also increases the number of potential buyers.
 
Unfortunately, what you don't see is the full cost to the buyer of the goods that you are selling.
 
This particular engine was advertising a postage charge of $24.75. (to the UK)
 
That results in a UK buyer paying $69.75 through Ebay for this engine.
 
But it doesn't stop there!
 
That would attract a VAT charge of 20% ($13.95) and a handling fee of $12 by the carrier (Parcelforce) in the UK.
 
Therefore, the engine you advertised at $45 would cost a UK buyer - $95.70.!!!!

I really believe that this stifles the engine market for Ebayers in the USA. Similar levies will apply throughout Europe where there is a demand for these engines.

A pristine TD 049 would typically fetch £45 ($67.50) in the UK to a user not a collecter.

Try starting them at 99 cents. Listings that I start high rarely do what I want them to. Penny auctions almost always fetch what they should. For example, I had a pristine early Babe Bee with a rare muffler/throttle spring sleeve that I started at $15. I got 15 for it. On the other hand, I had a common, beat up, late 80's PeeWee that I started at 99 cents and it ended at $56.

I have seen auctions go $20 over the usual because the seller had a video where he tached the engine. Try it once and see, factoring in a couple bucks for consumed resources.

It's a somewhat volatile market, depending on who happens to be shopping at the time.

I track the Ebay market pretty closely and have for several years. I am looking on it quite a bit. I would have to agree with you that Cox Engine Prices are going down overall. It is hard to track the used cox engine market because there are so many variables. There are a few sellers out there that get top dollar for everything. Two that come to mind are Gatafish and rureelybob. They have great engines most of the time, and are high volume. I think people pay more through them because they are reliable and people trust them. (not saying they don't trust you). Typical cost for a used TD is between 20 - 30 bucks. Babe Bee is about 10 bucks, and postage stamp is about $7 or less depending on shipping cost. I saw a used TD sell for $54 not too long ago. Who can understand that. I would generally say that you can not make money on refurbishing an engine and trying to sell it. You won't won't recover your parts cost, and if you do, you lose it in the ebay fees.

The new Cox engine market has definitely gone down in the last three years. Example: You can buy NIB Black Widow routinely for $45 if you are patient. They use to sell for $79. The desirable first edition BW use to sell for over $100. Now I picked one up for $62. The texaco use to go for around $89. If you are patient, you can pick them up for around $45 or less. I got one NIB for $39.

The engines that are going up in value are the early engines. RR 1, stratobug, SBJ. Some of the early parts are expensive too. If you want a NIP early glow head. Be prepared to pay $20 - $24.

Generally, the prices are coming down. Used engines are hit and miss. If they have collector value, AND someone realizes that, then they may sell a little higher. Starting with low price does help, but can be risky if you have money in the engine.

My theory is that there are not that many people buying and selling these engines, and we are basically buying and selling to each other with a few resellers keeping the market bottom in tact. I think prices for engines will continue to decline as fewer and fewer people remember this hobby. It is currently on it's second life from people like me who came back after 30 years because we had so much fun. The hobby started dying off in the 90's. So I figure we have about 15 more years of people returning and then who knows what will happen.

This is a great topic and I would be interested in other opinions. Andy

Andy,

I think your synopsis is pretty much spot on.

The older NIB engines still get a bid, the last NIB RR-1 I saw listed sold for almost 600$. From collectors no doubt. TDs seem to be plentiful.
The NIB RTF models seem to have come down some also.

This TD has 33 watchers, thats a lot of collectors!

crankbndr wrote:The older NIB engines still get a bid, the last NIB RR-1 I saw listed sold for almost 600$. From collectors no doubt. TDs seem to be plentiful.
The NIB RTF models seem to have come down some also.

This TD has 33 watchers, thats a lot of collectors!

I agree with you, that 33 watchers is a lot for an engine. I don't recall that I have ever sold an engine online and had that many watchers. I sold a 20 year old Lee Progressive ammo reloader on line, with two turrets and two sets of used carbide dies. I had 180+ people watching it, and it sold for $120 dollars, and that was with two broken parts (easily purchased from Midway, but broken no the less). That's when I realized the engine market was small. This particular engine has both collector and user value. Plus, it was made in small numbers. I have seen it go for between 150 - 300 dollars. $242 strikes me as high, but if you want this engine, they aren't that common, and $242 isn't uncommon.

Yep, that about sums it up, supply and demand. The common engines don't bring anything cause very few use them and fewer collect them. The is a definite down turn to all collector engines/planes as spring summer rolls around. I've seen it every year for the last 15 or better. I think the collector market will still be strong for years, but when the last of the baby boomers start cashing out I'm sure the market will dip, just like the early ignition engines did.

If you "sages of wisdom" about engines values were as astutde about stock market values you'd be millionaries and then some.

  

SD

Nice whizzing contest going on here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-New-In-Package-1959-Cox-Olympic-15-Control-Line-Model-Airplane-Engine-/151306302523?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item233a8ef43b