...on an steamer and tender advertised as 'Brand new and never tested' from an alleged collector and enthusiast, proclaiming 'no returns'?
Ponz
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If it is on ebay, how much feedback and is it 100% or very close? Is it over priced, under priced or market? When I buy I assume there may be operational issues if it has been in the box for ten years and not opened. If you are uneasy about it, pass.
Pass, he does not seem very confident of the item he has.
Dave
If it's on Ebay it doesn't matter if the seller accepts returns or not when purchasing with Pay Pal. If you receive an item that has been misrepresented by the seller Pay Pal will intervene on your behalf. I know this because as a seller and a buyer I have had experience with both (over 3,000 recorded feed backs). Regardless, when I list an item I offer a 30 Day, No Questions Asked, Money Back Return and I pick-up the return shipping as well. Hope this helps. 
Chief Bob (Retired) 
He should make a video of the steamer running on the track as a test.
John, Ever heard the saying, "Buying a pig in a poke"? Have you listed your search in the Wanted To Buy Forum John in Lansing, ILL
He has a 98.9% positive feedback and the price is good.
His words: "Brand new never out of the box. Therefore untested no returns."
It's a LIONEL 6-18006 READING T-1 4-8-4
I'm torn between a T1 and a Mountain and an M1A Mountain
Ponz
PUFFRBELLY posted:If it's on Ebay it doesn't matter if the seller accepts returns or not when purchasing with Pay Pal. If you receive an item that has been misrepresented by the seller Pay Pal will intervene on your behalf. I know this because as a seller and a buyer I have had experience with both (over 3,000 recorded feed backs). Regardless, when I list an item I offer a 30 Day, No Questions Asked, Money Back Return and I pick-up the return shipping as well. Hope this helps.
Chief Bob (Retired)
That's a good policy on your part Bob. But this guy is claiming Brand new never out of the box. Therefore untested no returns. So, he wouldn't be misrepresenting anything - right? Would Pay Pal still be on my side?
I would not trust the claim that it was being sold by a "collector and enthusiast" unless most of his sales are toy trains, with items of the same vintage as yours being sold in similar condition.
How much is the price discounted? "Brand new in box and never tested" is a claim made to collectors who do not intend to operate the locomotive. The typical operator would not mind purchasing a new item that had been test run, and would probably prefer it. After all a number of "mint in box" locomotives turn out to be nonfunctional. Plus I am assuming that this is now out or warranty. You could be buying a gem. You could also be buying a shelf queen. For enough of a discount I might be willing to take a chance.
Assuming the loco is priced somewhere near full price, the first bit of information needed is what type of person you are Ponz. Are you the type of person who is going to be beating himself up six months later because he didn't take a chance? If so and you can afford to lose the money, buy it.
If OTOH you are the type of person who will be kicking himself if you open the box up and it is DOA, there might be another option IF nobody else is bidding on it. If that is the case contact the seller and tell him you are interested in the loco if it is in good condition and runs. Offer to buy the loco if he will allow you to return it at your cost if it does not meet those conditions. You might have to wait until the auction closed before he would agree, in case some fellow collector might want to bid on it. That would be a reasonable condition IMO.
Bill N posted:I would not trust the claim that it was being sold by a "collector and enthusiast" unless most of his sales are toy trains, with items of the same vintage as yours being sold in similar condition.
How much is the price discounted? "Brand new in box and never tested" is a claim made to collectors who do not intend to operate the locomotive. The typical operator would not mind purchasing a new item that had been test run, and would probably prefer it. After all a number of "mint in box" locomotives turn out to be nonfunctional. Plus I am assuming that this is now out or warranty. You could be buying a gem. You could also be buying a shelf queen. For enough of a discount I might be willing to take a chance.
Assuming the loco is priced somewhere near full price, the first bit of information needed is what type of person you are Ponz. Are you the type of person who is going to be beating himself up six months later because he didn't take a chance? If so and you can afford to lose the money, buy it.
If OTOH you are the type of person who will be kicking himself if you open the box up and it is DOA, there might be another option IF nobody else is bidding on it. If that is the case contact the seller and tell him you are interested in the loco if it is in good condition and runs. Offer to buy the loco if he will allow you to return it at your cost if it does not meet those conditions. You might have to wait until the auction closed before he would agree, in case some fellow collector might want to bid on it. That would be a reasonable condition IMO.
Bill
The engine was released in 1989 and listed for approximately 3x what the seller is asking. I've looked through his sales history and he has sold a boat load of train stuff. Currently with 98.9% feedback
It's a 'Buy it Now' sale, BTW. I think it would be a steal if there's nothing wrong with it. I even asked him to take a look at it and check for zinc rot and am waiting for a reply.
Ponz
I'd rather have this one.
Lionel #6-18006 READING T-1 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive 0-42 Little Run Time w/Box, eBay: 323840967306
It is listed as fully functional, and without any damage. Oh, and it's also cheaper than any of the "new" ones.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'd rather have this one.
Lionel #6-18006 READING T-1 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive 0-42 Little Run Time w/Box, eBay: 323840967306
It is listed as fully functional, and without any damage. Oh, and it's also cheaper than any of the "new" ones. $224 or best offer.
Offer $200 and see what happens.
gunrunnerjohn posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:I'd rather have this one.
Lionel #6-18006 READING T-1 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive 0-42 Little Run Time w/Box, eBay: 323840967306
It is listed as fully functional, and without any damage. Oh, and it's also cheaper than any of the "new" ones. $224 or best offer.
Offer $200 and see what happens.
Now how come I couldn't find that!?!?!
Ponz posted:He has a 98.9% positive feedback and the price is good.
His words: "Brand new never out of the box. Therefore untested no returns."
It's a LIONEL 6-18006 READING T-1 4-8-4
I'm torn between a T1 and a Mountain and an M1A Mountain
Ponz
Yes - I'd go for it, barring a better deal somewhere else. His track record is good.
In general, if the seller has odd instructions or mentions politics or how bad eBay or the P.O. is...you get the picture - he has an agenda - I avoid them. Also, if the seller has replied to any negative feedbacks, check those. I do all this with all of them and have had very good luck on my many (too many) transactions since 1999 or so. If anything smells odd, I walk.
Also - check their other transactions. If he usually ships quilts and doilies, the secure packing of a loco may be problematic for them.
I'd have no problem buying from someone who says no returns, if fact I've said that in my own Ebay auctions many times. Although what I do say is that is that it has been tested and runs like it should.
Anytime I see and item that claims that it was never tested or the word "untested" especially if they sold trains in the past I move on to another item.
Hey Ponz, you’ve got us all on the edge of our seats awaiting your decision. Please let us know what you decide and if you buy the unit, when you get it let us know if it works. It’s become a very interesting and fun drama.
Jim
Ponz posted:PUFFRBELLY posted:If it's on Ebay it doesn't matter if the seller accepts returns or not when purchasing with Pay Pal. If you receive an item that has been misrepresented by the seller Pay Pal will intervene on your behalf. I know this because as a seller and a buyer I have had experience with both (over 3,000 recorded feed backs). Regardless, when I list an item I offer a 30 Day, No Questions Asked, Money Back Return and I pick-up the return shipping as well. Hope this helps.
Chief Bob (Retired)
That's a good policy on your part Bob. But this guy is claiming Brand new never out of the box. Therefore untested no returns. So, he wouldn't be misrepresenting anything - right? Would Pay Pal still be on my side?
It depends if the item IS actually "Brand New Never Out Of The Box". Go to Ebay and view their definition of "Brand New" and if the item is anything less, then it has been misrepresented.
Chief Bob (Retired)
Lenny the Lion posted:Anytime I see and item that claims that it was never tested or the word "untested" especially if they sold trains in the past I move on to another item.
Therein lies the big difference! If it states that it's in full operating condition, you still have a return option if it's not as represented. When it says "not tested" and "no returns", I assume it's not working and price it according to that fact.
Frankly, after looking at the auction, I almost hit the b.i.n. for a companion to my #2102. The price is good, go for it.
Ponz posted:PUFFRBELLY posted:If it's on Ebay it doesn't matter if the seller accepts returns or not when purchasing with Pay Pal. If you receive an item that has been misrepresented by the seller Pay Pal will intervene on your behalf. I know this because as a seller and a buyer I have had experience with both (over 3,000 recorded feed backs). Regardless, when I list an item I offer a 30 Day, No Questions Asked, Money Back Return and I pick-up the return shipping as well. Hope this helps.
Chief Bob (Retired)
That's a good policy on your part Bob. But this guy is claiming Brand new never out of the box. Therefore untested no returns. So, he wouldn't be misrepresenting anything - right? Would Pay Pal still be on my side?
If the item is brand new out of the box, then this is exactly what it means. There is NO guarantee that the item is operational. It is misrepresented if the item is advertised as working perfectly and does not. It is NOT misrepresented if the item is brand new (never tested) and does not run. Look at the threads in this forum were the newly delivered items were d.o.a.
Further, when items are graded per TCA standards, this is a cosmetic grade ONLY. There is no grade as to whether the item is operational.
As others have posted, I would never pay full price for a new old stock item. Always buy at a discount as there is a possibility that the item does not work and there is NO warranty on the item. Sometimes sellers here on the For Sale sub-forum forget this and think there new old stock item is still worth the money they paid for it when it was still under warranty.
Under $250 is a great price for a Reading T-1, even this is an older model that is conventional. This is one of those items are almost ALWAYS for sale on eBay. If you don't buy one now, it won't be hard to find one in the future. For Reading collectors as myself, there have been very few scale models made of Reading steam locomotives, with the T-1 and the Pacifics being the only true scale models.
Jim
OK Guys. here's the scoop. I ended up buying one for $220 DELIVERED thanks to Gunrunner John's find on the Bay. This seller claimed, "This engine has only been run once and spent its' life in a display cabinet from that point. There are no missing or broken parts, not a mark or scratch anywhere. A smooth and quiet runner." He has 99.5% positive feedback with over 3,000 sales. I felt much more comfortable going with one that actually ran, unless of course it was a new model from a retailer and under warranty. If it performs as stated it will look good hauling my larger Pecos River & Atlas cars.
Mind you, I'm not even Reading collector. I'm an old PC guy who conducted on the NE Corridor from 1974 - 1987, so I typically go for NYC, PRR of PC stock. But I really like the looks and size of this unit. Besides, my 8x8.5 layout is too small to model any particular line anyway.
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Remember, the guy I was questioning stated "Brand new never out of the box. Therefore untested no returns." and wanted $320 Delivered. He never even got back to me when I asked him to check for zinc rot!
Thanks tons for all the feedback and advice! When she arrives I'll post a pic and/or short video. BTW - what sound can I expect operating with an older ZW?
Ponz
