A very interesting machine, although I probably would not have given it a second look if I had even seen it on Ebay. That being said, I would love to learn more about the machine and see it through the restoration.
My main reason for posting though is that I think we have another thread going sideways among friendly people on this site.
Anyone here get this? Was going after it for the kids. Very neat!
When I read Brian's original post above, I read it as a simple question about whether or not somebody on the site got the item. No sour grapes, just a simple inquiry. It is like any other unique machine that we have seen in the past. Quite often members ask the same question to see if "one of us" got it if we did not! Usually that is because we want to see pictures, learn more about the item and see it when and if it gets restored.
I have known Brian for a while through this site and we have helped each other grab deals, find and pick up machines and talked about the ones that got away and the ones to come. Brian understands the hobby that is also a business for a few of us. You win some, you lose some and that is just the way it goes. That is part of the fun of collecting.
What this machine?
? EarlyBird got the worm....
Thats a picture of the guy that sold it. Very heavy. Will be here Sunday by noon.
Curtis, Memory Lane Restorations
www.retrovending.comAs far as Curtis’ reply, I don’t see this as gloating. I see it more as the excitement of a business owner who was able to secure a rare or unusual item for an important client. And lets face it, when we all close a deal on a machine that we really “need to have” (a point that most of our spouses would debate vigorously), we are pumped and often put excited sometimes almost giddy posts on the site to show our new acquisitions. Curtis had a big order from an important customer and he was able to fill that order. This is how he makes his living so I am pretty sure he was damn excited to be able to get this machine.
Curtis goes out of his way to help members of this site. He has always taken my calls and given me free advice. As a matter of fact, he helped me identify the early model Stoner Theater that is now part of my collection. He could have told me that it wasn’t worth it and grabbed the machine for himself but he gave me the facts and has told me more than once to call if I need help. While he does this for a living, he also understands the hobby part of what we do and I really appreciate that. Eric at Global Compressors and Rod at Fun-tronics also do this for a living but help members all the time at no charge.
Now, on to the Ebay rules and seller’s behavior:
Ebay has made it easier to collect buyers to sellers, find out the relative value of items and find things that we otherwise would not be able to find. It has also made it harder from a standpoint that more potential buyers become aware of “deals” that you might have been able to grab up in the past. These good and bad aspects of Ebay have worked to the benefit and detriment of all of us at one time or another.
Bottom line—we will never change Ebay and have to take the good with the bad if we want to use their service.
Seller’s behavior: “The Carson/Johnson Law of Human Behavior: 80% of all questions that begin with the word 'why' can be answered with the simple sentence 'People are stupid.'” If we are honest, there have been times when we all have contacted Ebay sellers in an attempt to buy something that we really wanted offline or contacted CL sellers to buy something that was already “sold” but not yet picked up. Sellers are going to do what they are going to do and in most cases money talks and as previously pointed out, usually the first guy there with the money wins! Sellers will charge what they think something is worth or whatever the market will bear and that is their prerogative. Whether they honor a deal or not usually goes back to how fast you get there with the money.
Please don’t let Ebay rules and human nature—both things we can not control—get in the way of all of the positive things related to SMC. Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox and get back to work on my “honey-do” list.
