Morning all,

Here's something VERY unusual.

I have a saved ebay search for "3118" - it's a set considered rare because it was only produced '57 - '59, (although was probably still available into the early 60's).

Contains 1 x GS800 (3118) Loco, 2 x 4020 Passenger Coach, 1 x 4121 Baggage Coach.

The individual items are usually worth a bob or two anyway, but a complete boxed set is generally quite hard to find. I have one which I treasure and keep a watching eye on sales because Koll's does not list the older starter sets other than saying the set should be worth the sum of the individual items - I disagree and would sometimes pay a premium for a boxed original set over acquiring the same items one by one. I digress....

Check these out, 4 auctions for 3118 (mostly) complete sets, all by the same seller, all different auction numbers, different bid levels but at least two of them appear to be the identical item

http://www.ebay.de/itm/320899473648 - currently at Euro 154.00, 4 days 14 hours to run, listed as 'Used"

http://www.ebay.de/itm/320899479349 - Euro 24.18, 4 days 14 hrs, 5 bids, listed as 'New"

http://www.ebay.de/itm/320899485384 - Euro 203.00, 4 days 14 hrs, 7 bids, listed as "Used"

http://www.ebay.de/itm/320899496489 - Euro 125.68, 4 days 15 hrs, 5 bids, listed as "New"

I have more warning bells going off in my head than I can cope with.

1: What are the chances of having four of this rare set?

2: Why list them all at the same time? As most people would know, the more there are of something, the lower the price.

Surely anyone with experience and half a brain would sell the first one by itself to see what what the market says and then list the remaining three one after the other to achieve the best possible price which should be within reasonable range of the first one.

3: The 2nd and the 4th listings have all identical images, this is always a warning sign because the two sets cannot ever be identical so at least one of the listings is faudulant because it cannot possibly be the exact item in question.

4: Two of the items are listed as "New" - really?, where are the original, instructions, inspection tag etc. I do not believe new even if the condition might be excellent.

5: ALL of these sets are missing one corner packing piece beside the loco (rh side), my set has both, why would all 4 of these be missing the same thing. I see that there are slight differences where some have coach lighting and in others they don't so I can accept there are at least two valid sets.

5: And yet, here's the puzzle, the Seller (haushamerbahnhof) appears to have mostly good feedback, and has been a trader since 2008 so there is nothing to indicate a shady trader.

The only possible explanation I can come up with is that he needs to liquidate his stock fast, why else would he do it?

But still there is the question of the duplicate images.

If this were an English Ebay site I would be reporting the listings, but as it is Ebay Deutschland I feel a native German-speaker would be better to raise this.

Or have I missed something really really obvious?

It just does not make any sense.

Thoughts from those interested in this area??

Cookee
Melbourne

He is in Germany which makes it much more likely to have 4 than if he was in Nigeria and people who have repeats or 15 crocs do exist.

There are some alarm bells from some points of view. I don't like the pick up shoe, Could be right but I would like to see the one with the big hole instead, the screw seems damaged. The chrome of the wheels is perfect which shows non or little use. If you look at the stars of the feedback he scores at a level I would not even consider buying this sort of thing from him regardless of the photos.

Rare set but I wouldn't bid. That goes for the 4 of them. There will be other opportunities.

Hi Neil,

Of course people can have multiple items, but I'm not so curious about the fact he has four of them (good buying on his part) as I am that firstly he would list them all at once, and secondly the duplication of images in at least two of the auctions. This must be against Ebay policy but I would also expect any Marklin collector to raise this question anyway and seek clarification of exactly which item is being purchased.

I have nothing to suggest he is dishonest, but the use of repeating images for what are clearly not 'identical' items is a concern.

With 500 feedbacks some traders will have some questions, and sometimes it can come down to the bidder not asking the right questions to begin with but yes I think caution is wise.

Tempting but.....

Edited by user 04 May 2012 12:21:36(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Look at the second set neu/check pick up shoe. I still feel the negatives, neutrals and poor stars are sufficient to put me off regardless of what is for sale and the photos.

Correction, he's got 4 3230 at the moment.

98.7% positive feedback is not exactly a glowing recommendation.