My eBay tragedy

I recently took the plunge with my first antique television purchase: an RCA 8-T-241, won at eBay. Unfortunately when it arrived this afternoon I discovered that the seller chose to ship it packed in nothing more than two layers of cardboard, an old blanket, and some crumpled-up newspaper. There were no warning labels or shipping instructions on the outer cardboard box. Naturally, the picture tube was smashed in transit. It seems likely there is further damage inside; I haven't had the heart to open it up.

Am I right in thinking the set is now beyond repair? I'm deeply upset about the loss of what would have been a great vintage television set.

[polaraman]

Did the shipper have the initials UPS or USPS? Seems folks have been having trouble with the both of them. Turned a couple of good CRTs into duds. Sorry for your and our loss.

polaraman

[Eric H]

Welcome to the Forum!

I'm sorry to hear about your loss
This is why I rarely bid on heavy sets or Bakelite sets that will have to be shipped..

Sometimes you have to tell the seller how to pack it or just have them take it to a professional, costly but better than a broken set.

The last big set I had shipped was packed by The UPS Store, it cost $100 for packing and shipping and still wasn't done perfectly but the set arrived intact and I still had less in it than it was worth.

If it's just the picture tube that's broken you can still find those, it might cost as much as the set though.

Open er up and let us know what's broken, we might be able to scrounge up the parts you need.

Eric

No, it was FedEx. To them it was just a big heavy box, with no indication that anything fragile was inside or should be handled with one side facing upwards at all times.

[andy]

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[Jeffhs]

I'm sorry to hear of your problems as well. As at least one other person has said here, such things as "fragile" labels and the like are meaningless to barcode readers. However, I think the seller should have packed that set a lot better than he did, using styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, anything to keep the TV from moving in the box during shipment (and to protect it from bumps, jars, etc). Seems to me as if he was in a hurry to ship it; that or he didn't know much (or anything) about correct packing methods when shipping fragile items.

The seller is also guilty, IMO, of failing to put the proper warnings and shipping instructions on the box. Any time anything fragile like that is shipped, the shipper should put several "fragile" and "this end up" warnings on the box in large letters so the item isn't banged around, thrown carelessly (I've heard of that happening with carriers such as UPS and others) or otherwise mishandled in transit.

If I were you, I'd file a damage claim with FedEx immediately. They should reimburse you at least for the cost of the CRT (and of course for the value of the chassis if it was damaged as well, as it probably was if the CRT imploded), as was also mentioned in another post to this thread.

I have received two antique radios (won in ebay auctions) via UPS in excellent condition, but then again the sellers of both units packed the sets exceedingly well, using bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts. (It took me perhaps 15 minutes to get the packing material off one of those sets when it arrived here, but it was worth it: the radio played the minute I plugged it in [no broken tubes, etc.] and there was no damage to the walnut cabinet.)

Again, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Hope you settle things with FedEx quickly and are able to get your "new" old RCA working again.

Good luck and very kind regards,

Many thanks to all for your words of support - they are much appreciated.

I pulled off the rear cover and can't see much damage beyond the picture tube...which did indeed implode...and a vacuum tube that was near the rear of the set. Is the picture tube replaceable? If so, how would I go about finding a replacement and what might it cost?

I also discovered about a dozen half nut shells, possibly acorns, and what looks to be some couch stuffing. Not sure if the stuffing belongs, but the shells make me think the set was home to a rodent at some point.

The parcel turns out to have been insured, which I didn't know until this morning. I'll visit FedEx tomorrow and see what they have to say. I assume I will need some expert advice on the cost of the damages. If anyone can recommend someone in or near Los Angeles to appraise the damages for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Actually, if the set is repairable I'd rather entrust the task of restoring it to someone with the proper skills and experience, so any suggestions in that arena would be welcome as well.

I also received a fascinating email message from the seller in which he not only admits to packing the set improperly, but also indicates that he will be taking legal action against me for having left negative feedback about him at eBay. What fun.

Finally, I'm attaching scans of two labels that are on the rear panel. Does anyone know if these are just selling points dreamed up by RCA, or do they really certify some sort of technological accomplishment contained within the set?

[Kamakiri]

I have a complete and working chassis for that set.....if you can find a picture tube and the case is worth saving, perhaps we can make this thing pretty again

[Kamakiri]

Whoops, we posted at the same time!

[Jon S]

Although only somewhat related (shipping woes)...

I bought on e-bay a used NEC XG-852 8" CRT projector, seller in Baltimore, MD. The unit weighs 200 lbs and Fedex and UPS said it exceed their weight limit. It was trucked from Baltimore to Los Angeles, then shipped by boat to Hawaii.

When it got here, it was just sitting on a wooden pallet, with a blanket and a what used to be a cardboard box fabricated from other boxes held together by masking tape. The box remnants were sitting next to the unit, the case was cracked and missing some cosmetic pieces and wet from sitting in the rain. After drying it out for several days, i was surprised the unit fired up with no problems at all... weird...

[Tubejunke]

Kamakiri, mentioned having a complete and working chassis. I have an 8T-243. Wouldnt that be the same chassis? I'm the guy who has been tormented trying to figure out about 10BP4 ion traps and find a set of knobs. A working chassis would make things easier if yours is for sale. Another idea that has crossed my mind is selling off my set to someone who is really into 40s RCA roundies. I dont like the looks of the set enough to really get into the fix up job. I want an early 50s roundie table model with the "double d" look to the screen. Maybe between all of us someone will end up with a real nice old RCA...or two.

[andy]

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[Eric H]

Fed Ex will most likely deny your claim, they did mine when my Zenith portable CRT got busted.

The set may not have been handled too badly but the CRT in that set is only supported by some clips on the front of the cabinet and the yoke, it's almost guaranteed to break if it's dropped even a little.

[Kamakiri]

Originally posted by Tubejunke
Kamakiri, mentioned having a complete and working chassis. I have an 8T-243. Wouldnt that be the same chassis? I'm the guy who has been tormented trying to figure out about 10BP4 ion traps and find a set of knobs. A working chassis would make things easier if yours is for sale. Another idea that has crossed my mind is selling off my set to someone who is really into 40s RCA roundies. I dont like the looks of the set enough to really get into the fix up job. I want an early 50s roundie table model with the "double d" look to the screen. Maybe between all of us someone will end up with a real nice old RCA...or two.

Sure, we can work something out if you like, in either direction

[Jeffhs]

That's the first time I have ever heard of anyone threatening to sue someone just for negative ebay feedback. Sounds to me as if the seller figures he'll never get negative feedback at any time. What did he expect? The set was received very poorly packed, with a broken CRT. If I had received something I had won in an ebay auction in the same condition, I would not hesitate to leave negative feedback, the seller's reaction to it be darned. People who pack things for shipping that poorly have only themselves to blame if they get yelled at later because the item arrived broken or smashed.

I agree as well with the comment that there may be little or nothing to be concerned about as far as a lawsuit goes, considering the fact that the seller and buyer reside in different states--especially if those states are hundreds or thousands of miles distant from each other.