General Discussion (Model Railroader)

TA462 wrote:

Sounds to me that you knowingly ripped off the old lady.  To be honest I really don't think thats right.  You buy the stuff and now you have plans to sell it and make a ton of money from it?  Did you think that maybe she sold it to you cheap because she wanted it to go to a good home?  Do you really think that she would have sold it to you cheap knowing that you were going to sell it on Ebay or wherever?  What comes around goes around, remember that!!! I've seen a few model railroaders pass away over the last few years and the poor wives don't have a clue on what to do with their husbands trains.  I bet they turn over in their graves knowing that people rip off their wives just to make a quick buck.

Wow thats a little harse, he DID suggest they talk to a LHS or auctioneer to get a rough value, and he waited a WEEK for THEM to take action, they didnt, they insteads AGAIN offered it to him, sounds to me like they didnt want to be bothered to do that extra work. Maybe they just wanted the stuff out of there regardless and were just happy to have someone clear out what they considered worthless junk that was the source of marital strife, or maybe, just maybe they wanted it to go to a good home. Not an uncommon sentiment, value is relative, not everyone thinks with their pocketbook, have you ever donate anything to Goodwill or Salvation Army or do you only sell it to the highest bidder? It might have been better to them knowing someone who really appreciate their loved ones stuff was going to have it and take good care of it instead of trying to squeeze as much blood out of the turnip as they could.

If you have a puppy that needs a home who would you sell it to, the poor family who can only give you $50 but will love it and make a member of their family, or sell it to the junk yard owner for $500 who will likely abuse it and treat it more like a peice of property than a companion?

C'mon, pretty soon this thread's gonna get locked, let's just quit arguing, OK? PB&J may or may not have cheated someone, depending on your point of view, but he posted and instantly people started insulting him, and over who was right and who was wrong, give him a break, OK?

I personally think the lady just wanted the stuff off her hands, if nobody would buy it it would just go in the dump. For all we know she was histerical and just wanted them gone, or something. 

marknewton wrote:

TA462, you've got a real "bee in your bonnet" about this, and I'm buggered if I can see why. If the OP had deliberately lied to the woman, telling her the collection was worth little when he knew otherwise, then yes, that would be ripping her off. But that's not what happened, is it? The woman set the price she wanted, without reference to the OP. He paid the price she was asking. Where's the rip-off? And as for what happens once he's bought the models - they're his to do with whatever he chooses. He owns them now, not the woman. When you sell models to another person, you surrender control over them. If he chooses to sell them on eBore and make a motza on them, then he's legally and ethically free to do so. (If this is really the way you think, I'd love to see how you behave at a auction or at a clearance sale...) Mark.

Do you remember what happened to me. Below is the link to something like this. The old lady still waves to me and we have since become friends. She said she would cherish that moment forever as I surely will.

RIPPING OFF AN OLD LADY

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1/493716/ShowPost.aspx#493716

8500HPGASTURBINE wrote:

Do you remember what happened to me. Below is the link to something like this. The old lady still waves to me and we have since become friends. He will also cherish that moment forever as I surely will.   RIPPING OFF AN OLD LADY http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1/493716/ShowPost.aspx#493716

I must have missed this thread when you first posted it, but I'm glad you brought it up. I hope that others follow the same example you set forth.

TA462 wrote:

In my book PB&J took advantage of her