I don’t know if I have ever seen this discussed before, so I thought I would ask it here. If you purchase something new on eBay, does it matter to you if the seller shows the package opened so that you can see the parts? Do you prefer it since you can see what you are getting? Personally, I would be afraid that opening the package could cause them to lose some of the parts. And, I just like the idea of getting something new in its original sealed packaging, if possible. May I ask how others feel?
Unsealed could mean anything. You can take at face value someone’s statement they unsealed things just to show in the pics. But you have no way of knowing if that’s true. May be wholly legit, but could also cover for the fact it was unsealed when they got it with no way of knowing something is missing. One things for certain, you won’t get anything but what’s in the pic, so it’s then on you to determine if something is missing, which you may not know any more than the seller.
Yeah, if it’s unsealed, I would be, too. It’s likely your only recourse then.
But if it’s sealed and the mfg is still in business, then you’re one more person with a missing part and with a little luck they will replace it under their standard policy of dealing with that, whatever it may be. I would not expect an ebay vendor to do that, as they have no way of coming up with a replacement part and (usually) not another of the same kit to sub instead. Nor do they have any way of knowing the part is missing from a sealed kit in most cases. And you, the purchaser, unsealing the kit have changed its value. Thus, it would be unfair to expect the seller to solve this problem IMO.
I do not want to see photos of the model in the box…I would like several photos of different views of the models so I can see any flaws the model may have.
BTW…I pass by any dark photos of models since they may be hiding flaws or who knows what.
I have bought and sold a number of items on eBay over the years. I side with wanting to see the item out of the box as well. Ive purchesed a number of things in my early days of eBay where I found flaws that would have been obvous if taken out of the package although I still would have purchased knowing the flaw was there.
As far as selling, unless I bought something new from a hobby store, I do not trust that the person or show dealer I bought it from knows for a fact that it was never out of the box or run. I want to know that the item I am selling is in the condition I claim it is in in the case that someone claims it was not as advertised. Without taking it out of the box, how can I say what condition the item is in? Unless the model is shrink wrapped or sealed with some kind of tamper evident seal, there is no way to ensure that the item has never been opened.
I guess I didn’t make it clear what I was thinking about. I was thinking more of new items that a seller gets from a manufacturer or distributor. Or even a new sealed item from a collection. I’m not really sure if I want a seller tampering with a sealed item. I think it would be too easy for them to lose or misplace small parts. The same with a brand new engine or freight car. They are carefully packed and I wouldn’t want to risk the seller damaging one taking it out of the box. I want to damage it myself. : )
That said, if a dealer is repeatedly selling the same items, he might have just opened one and reused the photo over again. But how do you know?
And even if he has a good return policy, I’d rather not have to go through that hassle because they damaged or lost something.
With today’s QA/QC problems that some manufacturers are having I would hate to buy a pig in the poke.
I fully understand why a seal package is preferred and as far as the photo…There are ways of telling a repeat photo or if its been copied and paste from the manufacturers web page.
So along the lines of new items from dealers, I wouldnt want it removed. I cannot say that I have purchased any newly released items from eBay. Ive had a few issues with missing or broken parts on locomotives that were replaced without question. BLI sent me a driver set for a Northern to replace the one that had a huge scratch in it no questions asked. My concern would be with the overall warranty. I dont know how strict all the manufacturers are about ensuring your purchase was from an authorized dealer for warranty repairs. Anyone ever have issues?
I buy and sell on ebay everyday. I also used to work at a television shopping network where we sold estate items and I learned all of the tricks. As a seller I always show the flaws so people know what they are buying or else you just get a return and that is a no good waste of time and money. There are plenty of snakes on ebay that hide the flaws with dark, out of focus or poorly framed pictures. I have gotten the eBurn a few times, therefore I try to buy only from people with 100% feedback. Too often I see items listed as new that are kits which have been assembled. That is NOT new. It might be Like New, but not New.
Mostly I have bought Athearn blue box kits which have broken or missing parts. They are listed as new but are from a private seller not a hobby store. It makes me mad because they say they are new but they are opened and missing pieces and could be the reason they are being sold. Items sold by hobby stores that are opened could be returns. Unless you buy dozens of an item you never open a sealed box to show it. The manufacturer has promotional pictures taken by a professional for you to show your customers instead. The display item you opened is now worth 15-35% less just because you broke the factory seal.
I know Athearn blue box kits were not factory sealed so you could open the box and see the car but the parts envelop was sealed. At Long’s Drugstore in Moreno Valley, the store where I used to shop, they would open the box and shrink wrap it open so you could see inside. That is the proper method for showing what is inside of the box.
Recently on eBay I looked at a 50 year old AHM loco that the owner said was never taken out of the box so he didn’t show any pictures of it except in the box however I could see that the end flap had a slight rip indicating that it had indeed been opened. I let someone else win that auction. On an item like this it would be ok to take it out of the box because it was already opened. It’s not really NOS (new old stock) if a
I got a LL P2K SCL GP9 that was indeed NOS for $49.00 BIN…The parts still in their plastic bag…The proof was the hobby shop’ tag(named matched the shipping invoice this was verified by Bing Maps street view out of curiosity) and the old store price of $69.95…I buy a lot from this shop because of the fast and reasonable shipping and needless to say I would love to visit this store.
I have seen some that was supposedly NOS but,a check of the photo told a whole different story or in the case of a BB GP7-NOS no handrails or parts bag…No sale for either.
This is a pretty untrusting bunch. Must be a lot of snakes selling HO on E Bay.
As a seller I explain any flaws or defects on items I sell.
As a buyer, I have to trust that the seller is honest. I look at their feedback from buyers. If buyers complain that what they bought is “Not as described” or if the buyer complains that the seller is hard to deal with or does not communicate, I will pass on buying from them. High shipping is also a big turn off.
Not having 100% feedback does not rule out my dealing with a seller, but I do look at the negative feedback and see what it is and who left it. A lot is unwarranted. I wish E Bay would publish their IDs so I could block them.
I have had very good luck in not getting items with missing or defective parts.
Yes, there are snakes on E Bay. A little investigation can weed them out.
I only will buy structure kits on eBay that are factory sealed, and generally from trusted sellers.
With more expensive kits, I just bite the bullet and buy from Walthers, Caboose, or Fifer. I’m with you, I would rather pay more and not have to deal with lost/broken parts or returns’
With locos & rolling stock I want to see it out of the box. In any case after a few years of eBay experience I tend to only deal with those reputable sellers.
My thought exactly…There are many reputable sellers on e-Bay but,I still prefer to deal with B&M shops that has a e-bay store instead of individual sellers.