Where To Buy Used Thomas the Train Items

As a parent of a child that loves Thomas the Train, the cost of purchasing new Thomas books, games, toys, trains, etc. can get pretty high.  The good news is that there are plenty of used Thomas the Train items for sale all over the web.

Amazon
Amazon is a great place to find new merchandise of all types, but you can also find used stuff, including used Thomas the Train items.  Amazon is a good place to start since it is a well organized site, and it is typically easy to follow up with sellers if you have questions after your purchase arrives.  One thing you always have to be wary of when buying something online is the return policy.  Usually with Amazon, returns are not a problem. 

eBay
eBay is also a good place to find used Thomas the Tank Engine items.  Some sellers on eBay prefer to use flat pricing, but some use the auction model.  You can find good deals by going through the auction process.  It can sometimes be difficult to see the quality of the game or toy you are bidding on, but eBay has an evaluation tool for sellers.  That can be to the buyer's advantage because if you are not satisfied with your purchase, most sellers would prefer you simply return the item than give them a bad rating.

Craigslist
Don't overlook Craigslist either when it comes to used Thomas the Train items.  Since people all over have kids outgrowing Thomas and Friends, you can find people that just want to declutter their homes and get rid of all things Thomas.  This is a great way to get a bargain on good quality toys, games, and even bikes.  And with Craigslist, the sellers are usually close to you, so you don't have to wait to bring the new Thomas gear home.

Garage Sales
Lastly, if you don't want to look on the web, you can always search garage sales in your area.  Like I said above, people want to save space by getting rid of Thomas as soon as their kids have moved on to other interests.  You can find good stuff if you're patient enough to find the right thing at a good price.

Just because something is used does not mean it is not quality.  By looking around long enough you can find a good deal on used Thomas the Train items.

Don't Need Thomas The Train Gear Anymore - What Do You Do?

So you no longer need your Thomas the Train gear anymore.  No more Thomas toys, tracks, and clothes.  Now what to do?  The great thing about Thomas and Friends is that there are so many options to choose from when your little Thomas fan wants to be surrounded with items from the show.  The bad things is that kids grow out of Thomas the Train very quickly.  But finding a new home for all of that stuff can be a challenge.

There is so much money invested in the Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, that you certainly don't want to just throw it in the trash.  Probably the easiest thing to do would be to give the stuff away to a friend or family member that has a child that would enjoy the toys and clothes.  But if you do not have anyone that needs these things, then I suppose selling the toys/clothes/games/etc. would be a viable option.

Craigslist and eBay are full of Thomas the Train gear.  Craigslist can be a little easier because you can usually sell to someone local.  eBay might require shipping and all that goes along with that.  But if you're just looking for some cash, these places would be good places to start.

If you want something a little simpler, include all of your child's Thomas stuff in a garage sale.  You won't get as much for it, but you can at least find a new home for everything and clear some clutter out of your house.

Finally, there are always places like churches and day cares that could use some toy donations.  They would be happy to take your Thomas things off of your hands.

What about you?  What have you done when poor Thomas was no longer needed in your home?