Worst experiences come to mind more than the best, but for me there have been a few key themes:

Ebay: "like new" often does not mean anything near like new on an ebay purchase. If it isn't marketed 100% transparently (in terms of good images and thorough description), ask before you buy, and even after that make sure you can return. A great example is I once bought a set that had sat in a store window forever, and was "new". The listing didn't show the train out of the box, and in fairness may never have been taken out. On arrival each side of the train was an entire different color of blue and tan due to the sun fade. And I mean entirely. Despite this and my sending images, the seller still made a HUGE fuss about taking it back and claimed it was somehow my fault.

Dealers: don't always stand by product. About 3 years ago I bought a 31100 locomotive set from a VERY well known US dealer, thinking I'd try the him out for a change and spread some local US dealer support around. The crocodile in the set had serious issues with heat & performance. I suspect being a mechanical mis-alignment causing decoder load/strain and therefore heat and stuttered performance. (on top of a horrendous noise) The dealer argued with me that "that is just how 3015's run" and refused to take it back for warranty repair. I then took a video in comparison to a 3015 to demonstrate this was not "normal". The train went back, sat on the shelf for a year with lies of "its with marklin for repair" whenever I asked. I became so annoyed I reached out to Marklin directly about it. Sure enough, they never even received it and he was lying to me. I was so frustrated I told him to send it back and I'd deal with marklin myself. I then had a local repair contact do it at a cost to me, and sold the thing so I would never have to see it again. Terrible experience, and the dealer turned out to be a real lying jerk.

I have to concur that in general, ebay is a great experience, and disappointments have been more a case of due diligence than a mischievous seller

As to the dealer I mentioned, that was actually the 3rd bad story with him. I won't post the name here to avoid picking a fight, but I'll happily share with anyone via email if curious or they are having an issue and are curious if it is the same retailer.

I bought a green DL 800 on Craigs list for $300.00 - Ended up selling it on Ebay for $1500.00

Rick

My best purchase was from Ebay.au, a recently bought a new Austrian electric loco from Roco with Zimo sound, I had 2 benefits, a.) the postage, b.) a higher price of over A$ 250.00 from another source for the same loco, total price A$ 400.00 incl. postage, it usually sells for Euro 400.00 + postage. (Euro 65.00), for some unknown reason, other loco items from this seller had been A$ 150.00 - 200.00 higher.

John

Yes you did sell the Crocodile, to me in fact but you didn't tell me that story at the time! I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bad eBay experience for me!

I haven't run it a lot, apart from a 2 hour session at a friend's place. To be fair I don't recall any issues with it at the time, but in light of this new information I should probably give it another run.

Given I paid $500 USD for the loco and given the above story, I would have hoped for a bit more transparency around the loco's condition at the time.

And, no I don't ever recall seeing the following thread.

https://www.marklin-user...m-31100-Loco-set--Advice

Edited by user 29 October 2020 12:09:53(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Come on, lets try to keep this positive.
Although I really feel for the members who has suffered / are suffering problems with sellers on Ebay and the like, there are already SO many threads about that. Even a whole sub-forum dedicated to it...

Let´s have at least ONE "Hurray"-thread about some good experiences!


I dont have a long history of buying online, but I am very happy with these two buys;

1: Marklin, H0, 37083, Class 10 002, Steam Locomotive, Digital, Mfx, Full Sounds.
Used, but in perfect condition; 182,47 EUR
I was the only bidder willing to pay the starting auction price.

2: A lot/bundle with BR23 Märklin 39230, Passenger car set (sleeping waggons) 43204 and the special sound effects additional sleeper 43252. I paid €369,-.
All used, but in very good condition.
Again, I was the only bidder.


-Also happy to have found 2 separate cars for my metal Rheingold set (4228), so that the train now consist of an impressive 7 cars.

Hi there- not to fear! That actually is not the same croc, that was from the replacement set I bought, the SJ loco of which is in my display case. The original set was repaired by an authorized dealer, and sold on ebay (with the repair receipt. No need to worry on your side, I didn't even think to flag that!

Hi,
My best Ebay buy was a 39983 BR 798 rail bus weathered with snow. I paid 59 US$ for it. The seller put the item as damaged not working and I bid on it for the shells since I already have the 39980.
When the item arrived I tested it with my CS2 and it initially reocrd it self and started to work, but then as soon as it reached the first curve it stop and was like dead . I did review it looking for contact problems in the slider but could not see anything wrong. Then I tried using an analog transfo and it worked but did the same as soon as it reached a curve. In my opinion the problem was related to a conducting problem so I decided to take out the shell and inspect the board and the decoder. As soon as I reach the board I realized that the small screw that holds the board to the chasis and actually serves as ground was loose. I tightened the screw and that was it, problem fixed and an almost new 39983 for 59 US$.

Regards

Eduardo

Hi John, I did actually wonder along those lines as to whether it was a different loco, as I was trying to reconcile in my mind between your story and what I perceived and believed to be a perfectly good loco! All good!

I have had a few very good locomotive finds when I have stumbled across a listing that was miscategorized or had little or no description. I forget the exact number but picked up a 39xxx C-sine lok for under $75 once this way.

My most 'memorable' buy was a fairly hard-to-find Marklin set of an OBB flatcar with a transport wagon of some sort on it. It came packaged in the typical Marklin cardboard cover over foam tray. The seller had not put an elastic around the set and not put enough padding in the box. By the time it made its way from Europe to the west coast of Canada it had completely disassembled itself in the box and arrived as a 'kit'. About 95% of the parts of both the flatcar and the wagon were loose in the box - the wheel sets were off, the trucks and close couplers mechanisms off the frame of the car etc etc. The amazing thing was that none of the parts were broken and I was able to reassemble it as good as new.

A Black 05 which is at this very moment somewhere in the air or at an airport waiting to be delivered to me from the Netherlands, was posted to me last Saturday who knows how long it will take to get to me here in Adelaide. As soon as it has been delivered i will post photos of the item.

I have bought over $1000 of Marklin track, locos and cars from E-bay and have been satisfied with my purchases. If something is not working as well as it should;, no problemo. Having much experience building/fixing things, I just go ahead and fix it. I know there are many who expect everything to work without any input, but there are others who have enough skill to make things work. A loco with a burned out motor is a different matter. That borders on fraud for selling something that is faulty without informing the buyer of such fault. I bought a loco that had a burned out bulb. I just replaced the bulb and everything is fine.

Hallo kweekalot,
I agree with you on this one indeed ...locomotive is in pristine condition. What a great find... it’s like hitting a lottery;)
Cheers,
Märklineisenbahn