by marsonion » Mon May 19, 2014 7:59 pm
I opened this thread so I'll take responsibility for any bad feelings it has provoked. The topic in which this thread is nested is "E-Bay," and this is what it says in the topic subtitle header: "See a listing on E-Bay and want to discuss it? Want to rant about Ebay? All E-Bay related discussion should go here." I had something snarky to say about an eBay posting that contained claims that were-- to me-- obviously and demonstrably false, starting with "rare" and closing with "over 70 years of use." I don't go around harassing nor insulting any sellers on eBay, and I didn't raise any fuss with this one nor did I contact this seller with any questions or concerns, but apparently someone else did. I merely pointed to this eBay item on the forum, under the topic header where it belongs, and made a couple of sarcastic remarks about the seller's claims. Even those were gentle as kittens compared with other eBay-related postings to be found under this topic.
I will frankly admit that I could be wrong-- owing to ignorance-- in claiming that this eBay item is a recent repro/fake from top to bottom (I remain convinced of this for several reasons). If I'm wrong, misinformed, stupid, presumptuous, etc. then this is the place to correct me. With facts and logic, I mean. That's what discussion is for, isn't it? Guess what? I really did learn something here: SlotBuyer1972 claims that elongated Mills-style handles were manufactured in the 1980s and that many were sold into the slots restoration market of the period just to make the old machines somewhat "easier to pull." I sure didn't know that, and I have no reason to think SB72 is making that up. That's also consistent with a claim made by the seller, which I had considered ridiculous. I still think it's ridiculous, but if it really happened, I stand corrected. Now, does this mean that the item has suddenly become, for all to see, a bona fide restored original with an admittedly fake, replacement handle? What about that back door? Where are the nails in the base? What's with all that shiny Ace Hardware inside? Where's the check detector rod? Etc., etc.
From there, it appears everyone went off-topic to shriek about "negativity," as if neither I, nvmos2, nor anyone else has any right to discuss or decry these sorts of claims and issues regarding eBay items, not even when it's perfectly on-topic. OK: I'll never call out a fake or repro on eBay ever again. Promise! I'll keep all of my comments about fakes and repros and butchered items-- and the people who sell them-- entirely positive if not downright sunny from now on. And, for everyone who responded to this thread, I sincerely hope that all of your eBay experiences are enjoyable and productive!