and he notes -
I've been on eBay for ten years and over that time I have seen many
items mis-categorized. Most recently a number of 0 Gauge items were
listed as 'S' and I made a good profit on one item. But then as I
look back, any mistake in a listing is fair game or to put it
bluntly, the caveat is upon the seller as well as the bidder. Knowing
the hobby helps - to wit: a three dome tank car I bid on as an S
Gauge item is really an 0 Gauge Thomas Wine Car. I did bid on the
Baldwin switcher knowing full well that a K&D open frame motor was
not made in S dimensions and therefore the model is obviously 0 Gauge.
In a few instances I have clued the seller in on what they have or
what it isn't and once in a while I will let a bidder know that a
certain item is not S Gauge, but for the most part, the seller is
responsible for knowing the product and if a bargain can be had, so
much the better for the buyer.
Most if not all of us have taken advantage of bargains at yard sales.
eBay is no different. If you see a good deal listed incorrectly -
take it - as Bill says, the seller will be glad to get the dough!
Incidentally - there is no reason except for a lack of experience why
a seller can't find out about what they are selling unless they take
no time or effort to search the categories for similar items. But it
does happen and the "I'm not a model railroader" statement is a dead
giveaway. So if an essentially valuable item shows up under 'S Other
Manufacturers' use the age old principal - "Let The Seller Beware!"
Or - Caveat the Emptor!...
Raleigh in chilly Maine
At 07:42 PM 5/12/2007, Bill Lane wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>With the exception of the occasional scratchbuilt or ktibashed item, if you
>see an item on eBay that is in the S Scale other manufacturer's category
>that you do not recognize, it is most likely not S Scale. I try to judge
>flange size and wheel diameter to the size of visible screws since they will
>usually give away the correct scale proportion. The scale identification is
>a bit difficult for the S newbie who does not know what has been made in S,
>but for the seasoned S Vet it is giveaway.
>
>I occasionally will write to the seller telling them it is not S scale. Most
>of the time, they do not move it to another category. A seller once insisted
>that a Varney Docksider with the horn hook couplers was S Scale.
>
>If I am interested in buying something I will ask then to measure the flange
>width. Again most really don't have a clue where to even measure (which
>really annoys me) as they are selling something from an estate sale or
>Grandpa's trains. If you don't know what you are selling then you have no
>business in selling it! But it will be all found money to them no matter
>what it sells for. They usually admit in the ad that they have no train
>knowledge as well, but they know what if "should" be worth.
>
>As usual buyer beware...
>
>Thank You,
>Bill Lane
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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