MEMORY LANE FROM BIKE CITY

[illawarra_steelers]

Is a good pitch and bat machine - i emailed seller right at start to verify some questions

1 i see broken BG and plastics - is there anything else missing apart from the bat which also appears not to be present.

My other concern was that the sound board ( is really a static sound for crowd noise) maybe missing.

I cant answer these questions - i never got a reply and so i didnt bid

I emailed THREE times before he answered about the broken backglass....at least I got a reply 

[Strangeways]

At the end of the day it is an eBay Auction and feedback can be left if the item is misrepresented. A resolution to this issue should occur before any feedback is left, and by the sounds of things - it would be very difficult to source this backglass. The item is described as "complete" but is listed as a project - so there should be a few questions asked if you were thinking of buying this machine. Having said that - The machine is rare in this country, so I doubt if the seller knew that the game was missing anything ? But not replying to inquiring emails is strange.

Hopefully, things get sorted out in a timely manner.

[ajlaird]

There is always a danger in airing public criticism of another person, especially a dealer. It can be very unfair to that person/dealer, especially on a forum where opinion can mount up very quickly. Indeed, there is probably a danger of being accused of defamation.

Having said that, if someone has been approached in private and the issue has not been resolved satisfactorily then it is certainly in the public interest to know. I for one would want to know that if I am buying a pin from a certain seller then I need to be extra extra careful. Again, if machines are often described inaccurately by a particular seller, then it is in the public interest to know that as well. In both these instances the claims need to be able to be backed up by facts if required.

We all know that pinball machines can be working perfectly at the dealership but after delivery can break down. However, buying from a dealer would usually imply some sort of warranty, so I would expect assistance in the form of parts or being able to send a board back for repair and so on. If that assistance is not provided then we need to know that the machine is sold as-is without after-sales service. Or worse, if the machine is purposely mis-described to present it in a better light, we need to know that as well.

The usual mantra applies: if at all possible view the machine yourself or get someone you trust to view it for you...

[illawarra_steelers]

Totally disagree Andrew,

This should be the place where people can learn who and who not to deal with.

In relation to Punter...he did contact them and got brushed. In the end it cost him a few hundred dollars to have his machine repaired.

I have since had another PM from a well known member here who got burnt twice.

Then as you suggest, getting to look over the machine is the best way....but that is tough when the game is 1000km away

[punter]

In response to some comments about my post.Firstly do not use the word defamation about my comments,everything stated was FACT.This machine was puchased from a dealer so you would expect a better response when talking to him on the phone.Machine was repaired by the best pin tech in this state,so do not give me the line well machines can be ok in shop but then damaged in transit.This machine had numerous issues which had nothing to do with shipping.And to the one about like being on the other forum,i have only been a member here and if that means you cannot comment about these things your kidding.This is the same seller who was using someone elses pictures for a machine he was selling what a joke.This is not a perfect world you know shit happens.Just so i get this right we do not comment on this forum about bad deals,rip offs,machines sold but not as described,nothing bad about dealers ect.Being a site which involves pin heads i thought people have a right to know these things.Thanks for your response Maxprofits,also Extra Ball for having the balls to tell it like it is ,and Tony as usual for your no bullshit comments.I come from the old school where a spade is a spade and if someone gets screwed i will post it no matter who the seller is.If these comments get me kicked off this site so be it.

[ajlaird]

Actually, I was agreeing with you.

If anyone (and especially a dealer) does the wrong thing by you and you can substantiate this (obviously you can in this instance), then I think it is in the public interest and hence everyone has the right to know. Post away. I was just saying it is wise to err on the side of caution (it is unfair to write someone off because of one bad experience).

Where the description of machines are fairly obviously designed to hide flaws and gain more money than they ought, we have the right to know about it. Post away.

And if you need someone to go and have a look at machines from said dealer (or other dealers for that matter), there are a number of us who don't live too far away and can check them out for you.

[pinball god]

All I will add to this thread is "I WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF SOMETHING WAS AMISS".

Shonks thrive on people being quiet.

[rads]

I am sure this thread would get back to the seller.  Someone here will know him and pass it on.  Would be interested in a reply.  I for one want to know about experiences people have with all sellers both good and bad.  As long as statements are fact, which yours seem to be, I don't think anyone here will object.

[Caveoftreasures]

And to the one about like being on the other forum,i have only been a member here and if that means you cannot comment about these things your kidding
re the above statement. I say the following.

I was unlucky enough to be a member on that forum for a very short time and every second post was about someone being a liar, a dickhead, a rip off, a total this and a total that. Some people chose to call others wankers and other names which, in my my mind are fighting words.
This forum has been lucky enough to be fun and positive and stay away from that.

I simply say, if u think someone is a rip off or a wanker, or whatever, go tell it to them ,face to face.
If you feel a certain seller is not worth dealing with, u can simply say " i recently did business with XXX and i do not reccommend their services. anyone can contact me privately for further information".

If someone started calling Mark C various things on this site, u would have ten blokes lined up at ya front door. Some people are business assosciates of this fellow, and are friends, so saying offensive things, true or not, are still offensive. Simply take it off line or u run the risk of turning this forum into a war zone.Thats my opinion.If u can honestly say u stood in front of the bloke and told him he was a rip off, or a dickhead, then come on here and mention it if u have to, or we all run the risk of turning into keyboard commandos like the other well known bloke on the other forum.
Lets all move on and get back to fun pinball i say. I think about 500 members on this site can now decide if this guy is a shonk or not from the previous posts.Lets move on i reckon.

[Strangeways]

OK - I'm just going to try and NOT close this thread as I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I believe in the "spirit" of healthy debate.

We need to keep in mind of this very fact - These are member's opinions based on events that happened to them. Being a part of GOOD DEALS and BAD DEALS is "part and parcel" of our Hobby. We have all been part of both - I'm almost sure of that. I'm more than happy for members to post positive comments, and on the flipside - post the "not so good comments" - But just refrain from any personal comments against other members. I'm NOT saying that anyone has posted anything close to a "personal attack" on another member - but I DON'T want to see this type of behavior develop on this thread. It is just not necessary here.

Now I invite someone from the dealer to make a comment - not a problem. WE ALL want to see a resolution. If no comment is made - fine.

Every Dealer in every state is different in the way they handle themselves and service their customers. Learn from the experiences, and make "fair comment". Keep in mind that not everyone will share in your opinion(s).

Rant off..

 

[big dog]

thanks for the comments and I'm sure if this works out good ,it will be good for both seller and buyer.It's great to end the story on a good note.I know with my busseness I will make sure its a great deal,why?...they always come back,even after 25years just make them happy,its not very hard.cheers cam

[Maxprofits]

In hinesight my comments were of a far to personal nature.
In my dealing with this seller he was in an aweful big hurry to get my mate and I out of his shop (and we were the only ones in there and no it was not knock off time), he was very unwilling to allow us to power up the game and as soon as I light came on he cut the power to it (the game was still doing the power on self test). He was happy for us to look around the shop for a short while but was sort of nervous and very unwilling to talk to us and was fairly unfriendly. The game was not in a servicable condition (as stated in his description) and had other issues that he had done a good job of hideing/failed to mention in his description and photos on the listing.
I learnt my leason from dealling with him and will not do again. The whole experience left me with a bad taste in my mouth and it was a long time before I purchased another machine. If I contact a seller now and get a bad feeling about them, I just don't buy the machine, unless it is under the money. Ok enough of that.
In the short time I have been on this forum I have found it to be very positive and helpful. I would not purposely do anything to stir up trouble or spread hate. Punter started a tread about a bad experience he had with a seller, and I replied with my own bad experience with the same seller. I now realise that I should have been more circumspect in my reply.
I guess the old saying "buyer beware" is one worth remembering whenever you buy a pinball machine.

[Prince]

Great read.
Maybe it's time for another auction BCW?...