Jump to content

9467 - The Ghost Train


StarPod

Recommended Posts

I had two Ghost Trains, one to build with my family in Oct. and one to invest.  After posting the question here and assessing what I see in stores currently I decided to return the one I had for investment.  Even though I bought it for only, $54 I didn't feel like the return would be worth my time and there are other sets I wanted more that the $54 could help fund.

 

Here's my post for reference: http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/4308-ghost-trainto-keep-or-return/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The similarities between the two sets is negligible. The Ghost Train has more pieces and costs more, as well as has more minifigures. I guess to me, the only similarities are:

1. It's a train.

2. There are ghosts on the train.

3. Both have train cars that are very short and the cars don't have that much on them.

 

I'm not sure about you, but they don't seem that similar. I think a better comparison for the Ghost Train would be other more recent trains in a similar price range. To compare, I've chosen the 10219 Maersk Train and the 10173 Holiday Train. Both are trains, but the Maersk Train is much more recent which gives us a better idea of how sets today would perform. Also the Holiday Train is one of the few "seasonal" trains, that is centered around a holiday. Both are very close to the $100 MSRP mark, and both have appreciated nicely. 

 

The Maersk Train retired only 6 months ago, so it has not yet plateaued, but we see that it has appreciated roughly 71% in the last 6 months. If you don't think that's good enough, I suggest you go back in time, grab a few Zombies sets, then come back and sell 'em.

 

The Holiday Train has basically appreciated as much as it will, though I can see it being a $450 set during the holidays, because of demand. This little $89.99 train set appreciated all the way up to just short of $400!! A phenomenal appreciation in my opinion. We can't see how long it too to get there, but I have a feeling that by 2009, it was where it is now, or right around $350. 

 

You say your are on the fence, but with recent trains, you can tell it is very hard to lose on them. If you do, you must have bought it from TRU for quadruple MSRP.

 

Sorry if I sounded a little pushy, but I feel strongly about this matter.  :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both the Maersk train and the Holiday train work on track. Whereas the Ghost train is an odd mix of on and off track. The engine works on track but the cars don't, the cars work off track but the engine doesn't. I get that maybe it's supposed to fly or whatever and I'm not huge into trains, but if I were I'm not sure I would want to deal with where to put this thing without modifying/mocing it. Not to mention they are still in stores and are the 2nd to last to sell out (just before the werewolf).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest ph4tb0i

Actually if you can get it cheap enough and you bought those train deals I posted a couple of weeks back, you could probably do a mod and sell it during Halloween while selling the parts of the original set and make some money. A PF-ed modded Ghost train might make your listings stand out and give you a higher asking price. This is why when there is a smoking deal on trains you buy as many as Amazon will allow. It's one of the easiest sets to part out if you can get them for dirt cheap like Amazon UK and Amazon DE just had them for.

 

Just thought about this right now as I was reading the other replies.. lol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think so.  It isn't relevant enough anymore.  Most people nowadays don't even know what the Time Twisters were.  I'm not saying that the train won't flop, but I don't think these two can accurately be compared.

Yeah I agree. It's just to old of a set do be a relevant comparison. TT theme was a mixed bag and was so long ago we don't really have data on what the value did the first couple years after it went EOL. I think the general theme and the three glow-in-the-dark ghosts are going to carry this set. It might be the worst performing set among the $20+ sets of the MF theme. I'm still seeing a lot of them at $54 in Walmarts in my area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is one I just won`t invest in. I don`t see myself making any money, because I can`t find any for less then $80 up here. That said, I would buy in for 2-3 at $54 mainly because I want one for myself. Don`t think anyone can argue that it is pretty cool set overall, but sadly it all depends on who will be buying down the road. As others have said, a major investment fail is the track system. What was Lego thinking?  :shocked: I`m also in agreeance with others who have said that comparing the two sets in this thread isn`t going to be very accurate. They are 10 years apart, with an entirely different market present. 

 

Just my two cents, but if you want a train to invest in now, get the Lone Ranger one. That puppy is sure to bring in a decent haul down the road, just remember to buy on sale. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

I never bit on the Ghost Train.  I thought long and hard about it many times, but I just don't see it going for all that much down the road.  Definitely not $400.  It is not a conventional train, and the minifigures are very weak.  There will be no demand for those minifigures later.  Ann Lee and Frank Rock are a dime a dozen, and the glow in the dark Ghost is basically the same one that comes in the Halloween Accessory pack.  Don't get me wrong, I think it is a cool train, and I am a fan of the Monster Fighters line, but I just don't see anything special about it that will command a high price on the secondary market.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is how I received my Ghost Trains today :( Shipped in a Xmas style plastic bag, no box, nothing... All the boxes are crushed, water damaged, pre-opened too. Of course they are going back! Upon calling customer service the agent told me thats their standard shipping method (plastic bag). Brought to me by SEARS.CA

I've never ordered from Sears before. This is pretty lame

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Found four pristine boxes at one store for $79, and three more at another for $70. I hadn't seen these on the shelves anywhere. Didn't buy any.

 

great set in my opinion.  not sure about the price though.  many all of us bought this set for under $55 before tax.

 

personally, i think this set will produce a decent ROI w/in 2 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



×
×
  • Create New...