Good advice to all.
I've only been to three Yorks, and I think at each of them I had purchased an item that I thought was one thing but was really another. The latest was a Marx Wells Fargo set that had a wedge tender instead of the wood tender, complete with repro stickers. I'd be upset about it if it didn't look so good like that. Another time I bought a set of green 2400 cars and didn't know that they didn't originally come with silhouette inserts. I also didn't notice that one of the roofs was a different color than the other two until I had them on my better lit layout.
I consider these types of misadventures a learning experience. I'm not out a bunch of cash, and the items still run fine on the layout, so it's all good.
J White
My most memorable stings are getting a crappy pretzel. Sometimes they are decent but others not so much. Just a convenient snack.
As a table holder, I always encourage folks to look closely and test stuff. While I test it at home, it may go back and forth to a couple of shows before selling and could break. I also give them my info in case they get it home and doesn't work out. When I sell broken engines, I put in big bold letters "DEAD".
I accidentally almost stung someone buy selling a set of those MTH Amfleets with the coupler rot. This set, the couplers looked fine and even gave them a squeeze, fine. So I put a price and a note that says good couplers. Gentleman comes along and I explain to him usually the couplers are bad but these are fine. Hes looking at them and says this coupler wont close. So I take it and push it and poof, that crap breaks in my hands. Wow(not the word I really used), that was embarrassing. Apologized profusely and suggested they are replaceable if you are handy. I said, if you are still interested make an offer but totally understand if you want to run. He made an offer, I accepted.
Originally Posted by Craignor:
I have only had one problem at York, it was a couple of years ago.
A big dealer (who will remain nameless) had a big blowout on a stack of Legacy PRR U-boats, two different cab numbers too. The loco was laying in its box, port side up, on top of a stack of unopened boxes of them. The display model looked great, so I bought both cab numbers. Paid by check.
I got home from York, sat down, put my feet up, opened up my laptop, and looked at this forum...and son of a gun, right on top of the forum was a warning that the whole run of Legacy PRR U-boats was missing the both Keystone logos on the starboard side. I immediately inspected both locos and indeed the Port side had both Keystones, the Starboard side had none.
I felt duped, now I know why there was a the big blowout. I did ask why was there such a big deal and the error was not mentioned, just supply and demand stuff. I should have looked at the other side of the engine on top, but figured it was ok, never had a decoration error before.
On the way to work Monday I dropped them off at the UPS store, and sent them back to the dealer. When I got to work I called the dealer, and told him the story, he acted surprised and offered to send me decals. I told him decals were unacceptable and that the locos are already on the way back to him, and that I had stopped payment on the check. He was fine with that, and I never heard another word.
I have done more business with them since. I know it was a Lionel problem not his, but I doubt that the missing painted keystone logos were a surprise to him.
I fault Lionel for not recalling these locos before or after they hit the dealers, and fault the dealers (most all of the dealers had these for sale and no mention was made of the lack of decoration) for in some cases I am sure, knowingly passing on bad merchandise to us customers.
My problem worked out ok for me, that is my only "Taken at York" story.
I have also have had trouble getting receipts from a couple of big dealers in the Orange Hall, same lame line too. But, if you pay by check you can use your canceled check as a receipt, same with a credit card charge.
I bought one of those U-Boats too, at the Lionel open house a few years back. Didn't notice the missing keystones for quite awhile after I got it.
Those U boats are now going for $3,000 on ebay.
Yes: (based on 18 yrs of mostly buying meets). Here's just two cardinal rules:
1. If it operates, insist on trying under power before making an offer. Doesn't matter if you are looking at motive power or operating accessories. That's what makes York different than EBay. That's what those testing stations at the front of most halls are there for. (one clown's actual response to me: "You can test it all you want ... after you have bought it!). If you are going after PW motive power carry a D cell battery to test horns.
2 York trading is not symmetrical. The seller knows if there is anything wrong. Knows if it is repairable & @ what cost, and has probably researched its value & supply based on actual prior sales on the auction sites. It is simply not acceptable if he starts telling you he has no idea if it works, but is sure about what it's worth. You OTOH have the ultimate advantages: cash that can comfortably sit in your hip pocket, shoe leather under your feet, & time being on your side.
Cheers.
After 13 Yorks, so far so good although I have experienced a couple of close calls. Very close scrutiny and testing of the desired items saved my bacon both times. I learned to closely look over and test items after being less than cautious at an Allentown meet way back in the 20th century. Luckily, I just got singed and not burned on that occasion because the engine was an inexpensive little pre-war lionel 248. I took the seller's word that the engine worked fine. It didn't, but I was able to repair the engine on my own.
