The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Official notice: I will never buy another phonograph on EBay again - two this year both poorly packaged and badly damaged - last year also. It's all about how the seller packs, even when I explain to them how you pack a phonograph - EBay is now my #1 enemy

briankeith wrote:Official notice: I will never buy another phonograph on EBay again - two this year both poorly packaged and badly damaged - last year also. It's all about how the seller packs, even when I explain to them how you pack a phonograph - EBay is now my #1 enemy

Ah....I think your on the wrong site. Ebay, is down the hall third door on the right.... . Actually, what does Ebay have to do with packing..??.

Maybe your heading should read......Ebay Sellers....???... .

Personally if a machine had to be shipped I would not purchase it on Ebay. If it were within a reasonable pick up drive then maybe so. Still your really not sure what your getting until you see it often. I had several bad experiences with a electric orthophonic table top that was supposedly restored by a progressional. It came and was damaged, it also sounded poor an the cartridge was rigged and very flimsy and sounded worse. I had to return it, it came a second time with more damage an the sound was not any better. Eventually I had to ship it the third time and just forgot about it, getting my money back. I sell on ebay, not machines though. Anything I pack I do so expecting the worst treatment, I have had very good luck shipping those items. In purchasing records I find that most sellers ignore the packing suggestions and often it leads to disaster. Still I have never brought my self to leave anyone a negative, even though several times it was hard not too.

Larry

Except for one slightly damaged corner on a very nice cabinet, Ebay and its sellers have served me perfectly well since its inception. I do welcome all reductions in competition, though - so I recommend all collectors stay away from Ebay !

Golly, I've shipped machines of all sorts hither and yon and the only one that didn't make it whole was an RCA Victor "45" player. I didn't know to strap the motor in place.

It's pretty simple, really. Cabinet machines must be suspended in a crate so that their legs float, cylinder and horn disc machines need a wood block to support the spring barrels, and otherwise everything must be secured so that no movement is possible and carefully double-boxed, firm cushioning in the inside box and soft cushioning in the outside box.

Heck, I even shipped a Victor Victrola 10-50 to Norway once.

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences. Perhaps it may be in your interest to contact the seller and get them to waive the packing fees and get an experienced packing company to pack up and dispatch it for you.

One that note, can you tell me why a lot of the sellers in the US will not post abroad?
The packing is the same, the tracking is available via USPS and UPS so what is the big deal?

I was interested in that Clark-Johnson soundbox on ebay but the seller wont even respond to me.

johannes wrote: One that note, can you tell me why a lot of the sellers in the US will not post abroad?
The packing is the same, the tracking is available via USPS and UPS so what is the big deal?

I was interested in that Clark-Johnson soundbox on ebay but the seller wont even respond to me.

Some US sellers won't even ship to Canada. So, don't take it personal... .

With regards to the transaction..if your that unhappy, you have the right to contact Ebay and or PayPal and request a refund and send the item back.

Try and do that with a personal deal off Ebay....you would be SOL.... .

I also know many buyers try and get a seller to ship the cheapest way possible and without insurance (maybe not in your case) that's just nuts... .

Not taking it personal just curious what the problem is. I have shipped Antiques for the past 35 years and have only had one problem with a lost parcel, which was insured and was honoured by the postal agency

johannes wrote:Not taking it personal just curious what the problem is. I have shipped Antiques for the past 35 years and have only had one problem with a lost parcel, which was insured and was honoured by the postal agency

Maybe it's just the over all hassle. Some people get scared when dealing outside their own country. Some, out of their own city or town.

Clearly you are experienced and perhaps a dealer. Most sellers on Ebay are just regular people with little to no experience and little to no knowledge what they are selling.

Packing and shipping can be like a alien world to them

On the other hand, experienced sellers/dealers (like Raphael and others) have no problem shipping worldwide.

Something I am starting to see more now is an experience I just had.....I just sold an item to a person on Ebay in Norway. I was expecting to ship to Norway. However, after the sale.....they wanted the item shipped to the US.

Made things simple for me....

As others have said - bad packaging is nothing to do with Ebay. I have bought many things via Ebay which I would never have been able to find without them. I have had phonographs and horn gramophones arrive perfectly ok - it is all down to the seller to pack properly. Give Ebay a break ! (or in fact, keep knocking them - I might pick things up cheaper !!)