Jason, in an attempt to answer to your question as to why I didn't offer these here on the forum, I would suggest you read my posts in the General Discussion area which explained some of my reasoning for using auctions. Start with Part 1, there are 4 parts
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1269This forum was never meant to be a trading and 'for sale' site, just a place for information exchange and collecting fellowship like the former TPN/MAQ club and magazines.
I had always offered to people looking for items to come and visit my collection, but only one or two did.
I would also submit the following:
I am only at my home where the collection is located 4-5 times a year for a maximum stay of 2 weeks.
I had over 3,000 items to remove from my collection.
I hate to pack and ship. Not worth the time for me {for me -1.3 hours just for the mailing} and this for perhaps one $45 item. Figure it out, several hundred little packages. No thanks.
I was not going to sell for example one Mig 21 from my entire Lintoy collection. I doubt many people would do as I had done over the years, buying entire collections for just a few items.
I don't use eBay for selling. Not around long enough during my visits to do so.
I had posted some rather rare vintage Dinky Toys on this site a while ago well before the sale and had not one reply.
My entire collection was for sale and many of items sold at the toy show we held in Florida last February. Why didn't you come? Everything that went out to the 5 auction houses was available for purchase. The notification of the meeting and toy show guaranteed several 1,000s of aircraft toys for sale, and there were at least that many and not only from me but many other collectors.
There will be another show next year, so stay tuned. and make the effort to come.