Wow... i just read that at the bottom of the page. Could that be some additional subterfuge to disuade an eBay or others from accusing them of collusion? I will admit... these do not show-up very often and I haven't seen an unopenned package in many years. It's even tempting to me... perhaps I don't need 4 USPS vans... hmmmmm???? I haven't seen a CMW Metro Sealtest van for years either... and the 2 pack of undecorated Metro vans are listed 'Buy-it-now' for ~$25.00. Ya... know... It'd just be my luck that CMW re-runs these just before I'd list them...
Not so much humor but aggravation. What is with sellers that don't know how to package product? I just recieved a Bachmann Heavy Mountain today that was wrapped in cardboard and paper, no protection what so ever. Needless to say, it was trashed when I opened it up. I received another a month ago that went back for the same reason. That one was stuffed in soft bag mailer. It think I am going to start sending an e-mail with shipping instructions and that I will return it without opening it if not shipped properly.
I received a package just last week which I can only guess was done hurriedly. Items were loose and rattling around inside the box. Thankfully there was no damage. But it makes me uncomfortable to deal with that party.
I always include a message to, "Please package well so items are not damaged in shipment!" seems to work.
Oh wow - reminds me of the lady that sent me an HO LV FA1 (when I was in HO) in a mailer bubble lined envelope! While it was in it's Proto box, I was lucky it only had minor damage, she was nice, new, and did give me some $$ back (I was nice too)NOW - my latest favorite - is the current rage for N Scale Sellers to use that silly little weak USPS small Flat Rate Priority Box - while the charges to the buyer for the most part, I have seen at $6.20 or so from the seller, which are indeed fine, the box cost $5.35 to mail, and is somewhat weak in the protection area. (I had an SD7 come in to me messed up with this box). What is hard is that most single N sales can be boxed in a regular small box, and weigh in at 13oz or less = USPS First Class, = max (13oz) $3.65 + .18 for delivery conf (using ebay/paypal mailer system) - i mean the seller can even add the $1.85 for insurance and still have some left over from the $6.20. And the First Class has no zones, like Priority does, its the same price all over the US, just has to be 13 ounces or less.Boxes - yes can add to the cost - but the easy way - save all those Amazon boxes - everyone buys from Amazon
timhar47- I couldn't agree with you more about current use of that box. :thumbs_up: I have received a couple where the contents were actually too much and really rather jammed in. I cringe when handed one of these, expecting damage as there is usually so little space for packing materials. And indeed there has been damage. :tb-sad: :thumbs_down:
Ivan The Terrible...prices http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Sc-ale-At...587650?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item231ace5ec2
(Sarcastically said by me ) Yes - but shipping is free, and its in that blessed small flat rate box, and Ivan is emphatically stating AS-IS (trying to defeat the evil-bay 'your purchase is guaranteed' program) - gotta love it
I find that interesting, as I use that box whenever I can. I can fit two Atlas boxes and dunnage and have never been notified of any damage by the buyer. Either I am just not being informed (could be) or the box and packaging is sufficient. I guess it all depends on what kind of a day the postal employees are having. The thing I find most aggravating about Ebay lately is the percentage charge on shipping. I guess that is one way to address the high shipping that some charge, but it is more money out of the pockets of the buyer or seller.
That does seem awfully high for this loco. I've been on the prowl for one of these for a buddy recently and I've seen two sell for HIGH prices on auctions. The first one started out at 89.99 and sold for 172.08 + 4.50 shipping and Ivan just sold one that started out 35.00 and sold for 153.78 + 8 shipping. He's probably just trying to ride the wave. In some earlier posts in this thread, a seller was mentioned who was selling Atlas & Kato locos for 150.00 to 270.00 and there was nothing special about them, they deffinetly weren't hard to come by or rare locos. Not sure if they sold any or not, I doubt it, but more power to them if they can. I've never had that kind of luck selling on eBay.
The box is okay if one does not stuff it with more than 2 items - the problem most of us see, is there is literally no room for any protection other than at the two ends - and the other is that many do not realize that USPS 1st class is lower cost, just as fast, and one can have a box that also allows bubble packing all around the item. A few of us on here have already indicated damaged items from use of this box. On top of that is the other logic that maybe many sellers are unaware of - that usps.com provides for free, shipped to your home, many sizes of boxes for REGULAR Priority Mail (not Flat Rate) - several of these boxes, along with most n-scale item sizes, will still come in at just under a pound - and the going rate for one pound usps-pri is $4.90/$5.20 low zone : $5.34/$5.50 mid zones : $6.20/$6.30 far zones - two pounds adds about .50 in the low zones, and ridiculous in the other zones. if you know your zones, one can pack it safer and save some change. Case in point - I had someone ship 2 plastic kits in a FR box, at $10 shipping, when the same package could have been sent for $4.80 at that time. None of this is meant to poke anything at anyone, only to allow the possibility that people are unaware of the free regular boxes, and the lower costs available using non-flat-rate mail. Finally-And yes - the ridiculous 9% TAX on shipping is ridiculous - they take away insurance and tell seller to add that cost in on your s&h, then they say seller is charging too much, and decide to push 'Free Shipping' and the 9% tax - they are totally unfair with all of that.
Yeah, the free shipping is another joke. Since the seller has to build the cost into his price, there is no shipping discount for purchasing multiple items. This is a problem, especially when buying rolling stock where I tend to want one item but look at what other stuff the seller is offering that I may want. It helps to defray the cost of shipping when the seller combines cost. I wlll not purchase rolling stock from a seller that offers free shipping for this reason.
Listed as in good condition. Yes, it is for parts. But it's in GOOD condition! http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-scale-Atl...317350?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4ab4f1ad66
It would make a fantastic addition to any collection! Not only are the Parts in "GOOD" condition, but "It would make a fantastic addition to any collection!" For $3.50 and $4.30 shipping, how could you go wrong? Not me! :thumbs_down:
Um, er, isn't the total cost to your door the consideration here? Sure, some sellers add a bit onto the starting bid to cover the shipping, but the total could still be a bargain: free + free = free, right. Oh, well, less competition...
Yes, that is the ultimate decider, but I think you miss my point. If I offer you free shipping, I am going to build that into my cost. If I buy 5 items in that manner, I am effectively paying shipping on all 5. On the other hand, if shipping is seperate, it can be combined for multiple purchases to result in a lower overall cost.
The price is pretty laughable for 1 car, but I think this is one of the most unique flatcar loads I've seen in a while: http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-45-...153948?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item1e6c02fc9c
