Bob Keller
I haven't been quite as unlucky as some when making deals but I did have one that was bad but turned out good. I bought a Williams E7 B & O AA set on Ebay that was nearly new for $185.00 including shipping. When I received it I opened the box to show it off to my wife and when I removed the power unit the rear truck fell off. The wife was less than impressed and I was pretty upset. I contacted the seller via email and he was not willing to do anything, basically he told me to pound salt and because I paid with a money order I reallty had no recourse. I reattached the truck and it seemed to run ok but as my layout took shape I realized it was too big for what I was building so I tried to sell it on the OGR forum and got no interest. I changed my tactics and said that I would be willing to trade it, I then started to get offers. I ended up trading the set for a Williams GP9 B & O, a Lionel GP9 E & L, and a Lionel GP7 NKP doubleheader. I think I did pretty well.
Paul
I'm noticing a theme here with on-line purchasing...
I've always contended that buying in-person, being able to "fondle" then put the engine on a test track is the only way to go...then as BK said, if I missed something, 'twernt no one's fault but mine own.
That being said - bought an original MTH N&W J a decade ago for 500. Would like a "do-over" on that one...
Fife,
I bought the 2020 from Berlin, MD in person, and the owner of the shop let me run it on their layout. It fell apart when I got it home. I am just running it till it dies, then I'll part it out.
Frank 53, send me an email. I think I bought the set you sold him. Did your dummy unit have a 2 inch crack in the roof and down the back? This set also had a missing ladder on the rear left side of the power unit. His initials are H.M.P? If its him, I know why he pestered you for a refund. He buys stuff and resells it. He has screwed over several that I know of.
Roger
I will send you an email. The item in question did not have any cracks however. Not to say he didn't keep the dummy unit from the set I sold him and substitute it with a bad one he had on hand. And yes it is the same person. Once was enough with that one. I will never buy anything he posts for sale and I'll choke on whatever I might have for sale before selling to him again. If I still have the photos of teh set I sold him, I will post them here.
I did not readily find the photos I emailed him. I will keep looking. These photos are the two sets I had at the time. The set on the bottom my Dad bought back in the 1950's - the B unit was added later by me, and I have since sold that B unit.. The set on the top is the set I sold to you know who.
Yep, thats the Power A unit shell he sold me but I think a different chassis. Mine is missing that piece of decal at the 10 O' clock position on the nose decal too and the horns are turned backwards as well. Looks like he used yours to fix up a set and sold his junk off to me. If anyone here would like the name of the guy to avoid on OGR send me a email. I have seen him selling at other places too.
Good ad for why not to buy stuff on ebay.
Zephyrx Good ad for why not to buy stuff on ebay.
Zephyrx,
It is not Ebay's fault. The problem is dishonest sellers and buyers who make assumptions. If there is one thing I've learned, it is that if something isn't shown or doesn't look quite right, don't assume it is there or in good shape. Every time that I have been burned has been due to the fact that I made an assumption. I would never blame ebay though. They are just providing a place for the stuff to be listed. However, there are some sellers that I avoid, but I'd never shut myself out from ebay. I've only had 4 bad items out of roughly 200, and 3 of those were from the same seller. Check feedback of unfamilar sellers, and carefully examine any neutrals/negatives.
I have been tempted by the NYC's but have never purchased any. I am still waiting on that mint set for $200.
I have yet to have a sour ebay purchase. In just two instances the item was not precisely as advertised, issues allegedly not known by the sellers, and the sellers both eagerly made me whole.
I have to agree with Jim about the bad apple seller. Yes, they are out there. But checking the sellers'customer happiness stats with a valid volume of items sold is a fairly good indicator of what you might expect. Even some reputable sellers run into a single customer who single handedly tries to destroy the seller's name and reputation. So I look and read to see if that is the case. Yes, there are serial killer buyers out there.
And as for it being better to be able to see the item in person, holding it, examining it, and testing it..........that would always be the ideal.
From a practical standpoint, finding what you want but restricting yourself to "live" purchases at/through a shop or a show might mean you never find/get the item or don't find it until you are 97 and can't play with it anyway!
Risk versus reward/opportunity. And each to his own.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Allow me this analogy...
If your hobby were bass fishing, would it be more satisfying/fun to get up early, spend the day pounding the pond, then landing the big one...
...or buying that trophy 10 pounder that Bubba caught down on Lake Okeechobee and had mounted 5 years ago
...as for me, 'tis not the kill, but the thrill of the chase...
Here is another analogy...
If the numerous fish (feeders) that I caught "pounding the pond" cost $10 each (+ S&H) before I got a chance to land the big one, then I would probably consider changing ponds.
Not to cause a brand war bought I bought 3 different MTH engines that were DOA. These were new in the box. MTH never did fix them.
Mine was an MTH BL-2 decorated in Western Maryland Fireball that I paid full retail price for at a local hobby shop. It is a good runner and I still have it, but I rarely run it because it is too big for my layout. I should have held off, but I "had to have it" , I wanted that thing so bad I could taste it.
Mitch
Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839
For me it was an MTH 30-1429-1 Michigan Central (NYC) Hudson loco. It looked really nice in the pics and I liked that it was a NYC Lines loco, but it was early in my train buying and I didn't realize that the "30" in the item number indicated a non-scale loco. Oh well...live and learn.
Dep
Virginian Railroad
Doofus Not to cause a brand war bought I bought 3 different MTH engines that were DOA. These were new in the box. MTH never did fix them.
Just curious...do you still have them, are they Proto 1 locos, and what road names and type of locos?
I finally was able to sell them. Took a big hit on them. Hard to sell trains that do not work for a decent price. They were POS1. I do not recall the road names.
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