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.
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.
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?
Virginian Railroad
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
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
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.
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...
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.
I have been tempted by the NYC's but have never purchased any. I am still waiting on that mint set for $200.
Bob Keller
Zephyrx Good ad for why not to buy stuff on ebay.
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.
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.
Roger
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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
Frank53,
I would have told that guy where to go. It sounds like he wanted to lowball you and turn the F3s out to make a profit. People like that guy are the reason I quit selling PW trains. They want evrything handed over for free to them because they are "collectors". I was trying to sell a like new boxed first run 1948 ZW, and the potential buyer told me that my price of $200 was too high. He went on to say that he can't even get $25 for a ZW at the York meet. I lost my cool at that point.
trainrat Yes, I got a good screwing just last year from a guy on the OGR forum. I bought an NYC 2344 F3- A-B-A set and paid premium money for them thinking they were in much better shape than they actually were. One cab had a bad crack in it, the power unit had a loose motor in the rear and it was bouncing around on the truck chewing up the gears and the horn blew by itself frequently. The paint was also rough on the front unit. The seller claimed they ran great(impossible) and he knew NOTHING about all the problems. All the pictures were carefully taken so as to not show any of the damage. He also refused to take them back or refund any at all. Pure scumbag. It has cost me a lot in money and time to get them right. Roger
Yes, I got a good screwing just last year from a guy on the OGR forum. I bought an NYC 2344 F3- A-B-A set and paid premium money for them thinking they were in much better shape than they actually were. One cab had a bad crack in it, the power unit had a loose motor in the rear and it was bouncing around on the truck chewing up the gears and the horn blew by itself frequently. The paint was also rough on the front unit. The seller claimed they ran great(impossible) and he knew NOTHING about all the problems. All the pictures were carefully taken so as to not show any of the damage. He also refused to take them back or refund any at all. Pure scumbag. It has cost me a lot in money and time to get them right.
I sold an NYC 2344 ABA set on OGR a while back. Had three imperfections which I took close up photos of to ensure the buyer was fully aware. They ran excellent, looked great, the flaws were incredibly minor. Shipped them off and got an email from the buyer claiming a ladder was missing. While I told him the ladder was clearly visible in the photos, if he was unhappy, send them back for a full refund - no questinos asked.
Well no, I don't want a refund - BUT WHAT YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS LADDER!!!!
ummm, I'm going to give you a full refund.
Wouldn't accept a refund, but was demanding a price concession. He emailed me incessently for weeks wanting money off the price.
He sells post war stuff quite a bit on OGR. I will never buy anything from him or sell anything to him ever again.
Mine is a lionel 1668-E with no tender it was $30.00 at a local antique store. It burned it self out when put it on track with 4 cars
.
My worst buy has got to be a 6464-425 black NH boxcar I got off eBay about 5 years ago for a song. Little did I know that that car was going to cost me hundreds of dollars trying to obtain more of them.
I really can't think of anything I've bought where I was too upset about it. I've bought a car or two where a coupler hasn't worked right, or a tab was busted off a shell, etc. Nothing major. I don't buy many high dollar items, but when I do, it's usually in person.
filmconsultant My worst buy was the expensive, infamous Lionel Backshop. After lugging it home, I opened the huge box, took out a gigantic building, hooked it up, turned on the power, and waited. And waited. Nothing. It just sat there, taking up lots of room. Turns out I wasn't alone in my problems with this accessory half my size. Eventually Lionel offered a complimentary patch to correct the problem, but when I returned from a long working trip and was finally able to get to my Lionel dealer's repair depot, they told me it was no longer available. So in my train storage room is a monstrous box full of a high-priced oversized Lionel accessory which is fundamentally worthless. Filmconsultant
My worst buy was the expensive, infamous Lionel Backshop. After lugging it home, I opened the huge box, took out a gigantic building, hooked it up, turned on the power, and waited. And waited. Nothing. It just sat there, taking up lots of room. Turns out I wasn't alone in my problems with this accessory half my size. Eventually Lionel offered a complimentary patch to correct the problem, but when I returned from a long working trip and was finally able to get to my Lionel dealer's repair depot, they told me it was no longer available. So in my train storage room is a monstrous box full of a high-priced oversized Lionel accessory which is fundamentally worthless.
Filmconsultant
Call Lionel tech suport . you may be on the phone an 1/2 hour or so befor you get thru but I've had them get stuff out of stock befor for me. Don't give up the ghost yet until you talk to them your local hobby may of been misinformed or something.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Berk,
The latch on the boilerfront can be replaced. All you have to do is remove the lens holder, and the latch can be removed. You will need the lens holder and latch. I have rebuilt the original boilerfront on my 726 due to a smashed lens holder and bad latch. Send me a PM. I might be able to help.
Well, I guess my worst one so far was my 726. I guess I should have waited longer but once burned lesson learned. It runs and whistles nice and its mechanical condition is perfect with its original smoking unit still working and original wiring in good shape, except for a sloppy axle in the gear box that was fixed with a nylon washer. The tab that holds the boilerfront closed on it was broken so the door was flopping out all over the place, so I ordered a repro from olsens but when I got it I wasn't impressed with its quality so I decided to use the original boilerfront door and install it on the repro outer ring. I took two of the original marker jewals that were left and put them on the repro and now it looks great, and I also removed the tab from the repro door and soldered it on the original boilerfront door and now it opens and closes like it should. I am still looking for an original boilerfront though. Anyway after I cleaned it and fixed the boilerfront on it, it is a very nice engine now. I might restore it someday.
Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!
Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.
When i was about 12 I went to a train show in springfield mass. I saw a 455 oil derrick in light green and seemed in good shape for 75.00. I grabed it and when I got it home and took a closer look, I noticed some dark green paint under the light green that was already chipping away. Add in the fact that it barely worked and Id say that's my worst buy.
To be fair I didnt know any better at that age but still....ugggh
2nd place was paying 300 for a ZW in its OB back when they were going for a lot more before the new ZW was released. Wish I waited.
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