Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
I would guess it's from the 4 tires. This unboxing video shows that the rubber
treads aren't in a baggie but the 4 rubber tires are in the large baggie:
That would be hard to notice, especially in a sealed bag. Your buyer is probably
exaggerating when they say the parts were "covered in oil".
In Problem Order, cosmicray writes:
In Problem Order, zorbanj writes:
What set was it?
In Problem Order, cosmicray writes:
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
I would guess it's from the 4 tires. This unboxing video shows that the rubber
treads aren't in a baggie but the 4 rubber tires are in the large baggie:
That would be hard to notice, especially in a sealed bag. Your buyer is probably
exaggerating when they say the parts were "covered in oil".
In Problem Order, cosmicray writes:
In Problem Order, zorbanj writes:
What set was it?
In Problem Order, cosmicray writes:
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
I would guess it's from the 4 tires. This unboxing video shows that the rubber
treads aren't in a baggie but the 4 rubber tires are in the large baggie:
That would be hard to notice, especially in a sealed bag. Your buyer is probably
exaggerating when they say the parts were "covered in oil".
Where does a seller's responsibility lie in a situation like this ?
Tell the buyer to bug off because this is normal after 20 years ?
I believe I did the right thing. I'm not happy about the concealed status
of sets 20 years old, ignoring the external box conditions. I keep telling people
that LEGO never designed sets to be sold after this many years, and even assuming
they might be MISB is a chancy proposition. But buyers are buying happiness,
and this would not produce happiness.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping.
Yes it could be a bag produced close to a machine making rubber things which
has an incident.
You need pictures from the buyer!
I wouldn't refund without a picture at least...
This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Maybe not, the definition of "covered in" isn't universal. If it's
slightly tainted you may not have seen it?
You need pictures from the buyer!
Maybe not, the definition of "covered in" isn't universal. If it's
slightly tainted you may not have seen it?
You need pictures from the buyer!
I had a fellow employee exclaim over the radio (before cell phones were common)
that while driving they "just got hammered by a bus!" We were all horrified
and hoped that everyone was fine.
Once they returned to the office, however, we where hard pressed to find any
dent, much less a major impact. Of course, we were happy that no one was hurt.
Hammered is not the way I would have described what was at most a fender bender!
Maybe not, the definition of "covered in" isn't universal. If it's
slightly tainted you may not have seen it?
You need pictures from the buyer!
I had a fellow employee exclaim over the radio (before cell phones were common)
that while driving they "just got hammered by a bus!" We were all horrified
and hoped that everyone was fine.
Once they returned to the office, however, we where hard pressed to find any
dent, much less a major impact. Of course, we were happy that no one was hurt.
Hammered is not the way I would have described what was at most a fender bender!
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Nita Rae
As to images of the claimed issue ... The BrickLink contact system (used by
buyer-to-seller communications on the order) does not allow for images. It is
text only. If we want to have a 21st century order problem resolution system,
we need to have the ability to add images to the communications. This is not
to say that communications outside of orders should have images, but order specific
comms should allow for images.
Telling us to take to email defeats the purpose of the order communications.
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Nita Rae
As to images of the claimed issue ... The BrickLink contact system (used by
buyer-to-seller communications on the order) does not allow for images. It is
text only.
I always communicate and reply by e-mail (apart if I see buyer doesn't read...)
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping.
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Nita Rae
You suppose it was the plasticizer leaching out of the rubber tires? I know the
tires are prone to this. Especially if they go through enough thermal cycles.
I've pulled some out of a lot that sat in a yard shed for a number of years
and they made anything they came into contact with "wet" with "oil"
and were themselves, very gummy. So if they were in a sealed bag it could easily
have gotten around to everything else in that bag while shipping.
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Nita Rae
You suppose it was the plasticizer leaching out of the rubber tires?
That's definitely what it was. I have opened enough vintage new sets with
these tires in them that had the same issue.
I know the
tires are prone to this. Especially if they go through enough thermal cycles.
I've pulled some out of a lot that sat in a yard shed for a number of years
and they made anything they came into contact with "wet" with "oil"
and were themselves, very gummy. So if they were in a sealed bag it could easily
have gotten around to everything else in that bag while shipping.
You suppose it was the plasticizer leaching out of the rubber tires?
That's definitely what it was. I have opened enough vintage new sets with
these tires in them that had the same issue.
Thanks Randy? I mentioned them as being gummy, but now that I think about it
more, that might have been a different time when I found a rubber pencil grips
in a used lot.
From what I remember of the tires that leached plasticizer, they become very
hard, correct?
You suppose it was the plasticizer leaching out of the rubber tires?
That's definitely what it was. I have opened enough vintage new sets with
these tires in them that had the same issue.
Thanks Randy? I mentioned them as being gummy, but now that I think about it
more, that might have been a different time when I found a rubber pencil grips
in a used lot.
From what I remember of the tires that leached plasticizer, they become very
hard, correct?
No, they become really sticky and oily on the outside because the plasticizers
have made their way to the outer surface of the tire.
Definitely the tires and probably due to high temperatures at some point in the
sealed bag’s life. In the future, I’d suggest opening any vintage sealed bags
with rubber in them to make sure you don’t have the same issue and just part
out the contents.
In Problem Order, cosmicray writes:
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Definitely the tires and probably due to high temperatures at some point in the
sealed bag’s life. In the future, I’d suggest opening any vintage sealed bags
with rubber in them to make sure you don’t have the same issue and just part
out the contents.
Or better yet add a section to your terms saying that sealed sets may have melted
tires from age and temperature changes.
In Problem Order, cosmicray writes:
Last week I sold a couple of Arctic LEGO sets to a buyer in Florida. They were
both sold as New/Incomplete, because they did not include the box. All the parts
were in sealed bags.
Yesterday the buyer contacted me indicating that all the parts from one of the
sets (in a sealed bag) were "covered in oil". No mention if this was
cooking oil, mold release oil (the set had no rubber tires), or engine oil. Since
it only happened on one of the sets, that presumes that it did not happen during
shipping. This is something that I would have noticed during packing, as the
bags were exposed to my vision/handling.
Out of an abundance of caution, and good customer relations, I refunded the cost
of that one set plus half the shipping. The buyer has left me positive FB, but
indicating there was a problem.
I am still in a quandary about what happened here. Was there really a problem
that escaped me ? How could the contents of the bag been covered with oil, but
the outer box, instructions, and advertising were not. I have a few thoughts
on the subject, but none that I can substantiate.
Curious to hear what other seller think about this.
Definitely the tires and probably due to high temperatures at some point in the
sealed bag’s life. In the future, I’d suggest opening any vintage sealed bags
with rubber in them to make sure you don’t have the same issue and just part
out the contents.
Or better yet add a section to your terms saying that sealed sets may have melted
tires from age and temperature changes.
or even better put it in the description of the actual item
Definitely the tires and probably due to high temperatures at some point in the
sealed bag’s life. In the future, I’d suggest opening any vintage sealed bags
with rubber in them to make sure you don’t have the same issue and just part
out the contents.
Or better yet add a section to your terms saying that sealed sets may have melted
tires from age and temperature changes.
or even better put it in the description of the actual item
Definitely the tires and probably due to high temperatures at some point in the
sealed bag’s life. In the future, I’d suggest opening any vintage sealed bags
with rubber in them to make sure you don’t have the same issue and just part
out the contents.
Really? You would wreck the value of a vintage set on the off chance there's
plasticized tires in the sealed baggie?
USA
United Kingdom, England
Canada, Ontario
France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
