Why do people do this?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:10 pm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shopsmith-Belt-Sander-/161111678816?pt=Power_Tools&hash=item2583011f60
Why would anyone put something like this up for sale at the price asked? I bought a used SS belt sander about 6 weeks ago. The pics looked pretty nice and the guy included two "new" belts plus the used belt on the machine. I paid $165 plus $40 shipping and was the only bidder; I happened to find it while it was in the final hours of the auction. When it arrived and I opened the box I was greeted by a plume of old saw dust; it had coated the entire contents of the box during shipping- what a mess! The next thing I noticed were the belts - the used one was broken at the seam and the "new" ones were so old the seam tape was dry rotted and worthless. I immediately turned to tearing down the main assembly and blowing the years (1993 model) of impacted sawdust out of the drive and idler drums and the frames. I ordered new bearings for the drive assembly and overhauled the idler assembly. I also noticed from years of use that the left and right main frames were BADLY worn underneath from a poorly adjusted/tracking belt, but they're still useable. I still have tracking issues from time to time, but I think it's more user error or maybe non-SS belts than the old machine - I think. I did write to the guy and share my experience pretty much the way I wrote it here because he didn't disclose in his listing the worn parts nor did he bother to clean it before shipping. I didn't feel I'd really been ripped off for the price I paid, but more dismayed and disappointed at other people's inconsideration. He did apologize, but he explained it away as a matter of "perception" (??). Whatever. The link above just reminded me of my experience with the belt sander I bought. As an e-bay seller, I clean up anything used and make it look as clean and appealing as possible - I've sold Harley-Davidson parts, left over Shopsmith parts from my upgrades and updates, and miscellaneous electronics and other do-dads. Why would someone put something like that up and merely say "Shopsmith Beltsander" and expect anyone to pay any price based on that and a picture of a neglected and mistreated piece of junk?
Why would anyone put something like this up for sale at the price asked? I bought a used SS belt sander about 6 weeks ago. The pics looked pretty nice and the guy included two "new" belts plus the used belt on the machine. I paid $165 plus $40 shipping and was the only bidder; I happened to find it while it was in the final hours of the auction. When it arrived and I opened the box I was greeted by a plume of old saw dust; it had coated the entire contents of the box during shipping- what a mess! The next thing I noticed were the belts - the used one was broken at the seam and the "new" ones were so old the seam tape was dry rotted and worthless. I immediately turned to tearing down the main assembly and blowing the years (1993 model) of impacted sawdust out of the drive and idler drums and the frames. I ordered new bearings for the drive assembly and overhauled the idler assembly. I also noticed from years of use that the left and right main frames were BADLY worn underneath from a poorly adjusted/tracking belt, but they're still useable. I still have tracking issues from time to time, but I think it's more user error or maybe non-SS belts than the old machine - I think. I did write to the guy and share my experience pretty much the way I wrote it here because he didn't disclose in his listing the worn parts nor did he bother to clean it before shipping. I didn't feel I'd really been ripped off for the price I paid, but more dismayed and disappointed at other people's inconsideration. He did apologize, but he explained it away as a matter of "perception" (??). Whatever. The link above just reminded me of my experience with the belt sander I bought. As an e-bay seller, I clean up anything used and make it look as clean and appealing as possible - I've sold Harley-Davidson parts, left over Shopsmith parts from my upgrades and updates, and miscellaneous electronics and other do-dads. Why would someone put something like that up and merely say "Shopsmith Beltsander" and expect anyone to pay any price based on that and a picture of a neglected and mistreated piece of junk?