Have you had any toy disasters readers? Like dropping them or maybe messing up a repair? Has anything happened to a toy that couldn't be changed? Have you sold something you really should have kept! C'mon, tell all!
As a small child I went for a walk by the river Dee in Chester with my dad. I had a large plastic boat that I wanted to float in the river. In order to get it away from the bank, I tied string to the deck housing and threw the boat as hard as I could. It flew in an elegant parabola and landed quit far out from the bank. However, the deck housing remained firmly attached to my string and not to the deck! The ship was now sailing beyond reach, minus some superstructure! A kind gentleman in a small motor boat circled it, picked it out of the water and returned it to me!
Some years ago I'd won a Timpo Roman Chariot on ebay, Woodsy. I'd carefully unwrapped it and was admiring my prized acquisition when I accidentally snapped off one of the two fragile plastic handrails, literally just by touching it. The fragile plastic handrail was brittle from age and storage. I was gutted :)
No, sadly not, Woodsy. It was unrepairable due to the design and material. I relisted it as 'damaged' and got a portion of my initial cost back. I couldn't believe I'd damaged a vintage toy which had been around for a couple of decades... drrr. Thankfully it's the only self-inflicted wound to date :)
I once bought a cool Anker space tank in East Berlin Tone. It was my pride and joy at the time, a remnant of the Soviet space race. At the airport Customs didn't like the look of it and asked me to empty my case. Yep, as I was taking everything out I pulled to hard on the tank's barrel and it snapped in half. I couldn't believe it. It had survived the Berlin Wall, the Iron Curtain and 50 years later I break it!
Ooch... sorry to hear that, Woodsy. Based on the pics I've seen, the Anker space tank is a beautiful toy. Hope we have no more accidental toy damage in our lives. I think we've paid our dues mate :)
I recently sent you pictures of Harryhausen toys in my collection.When I took a pic of the giant cuttlefish from Mysterious Island,I dropped it and all the tentacles broke off.Happy to say I mended them with epoxy and can hardly see any cracks.
After so many years on my want list, there finally came up a complete example of the Bandai Arctic Explorer Sled, a Sears exclusive, in a very decent original box. The U.S. seller had a faultless feedback record so I dared to make such an important - and pricey - acquisition.
After a few weeks of nail-biting anticipation, the parcel finally arrived. Unwrapping is always an exiting moment: will the item be as described and has it survived the long journey to its new home?
This one I will never forget. Unwrapping the parcel, I instantly saw what was wrong. Horribly wrong.
If you have ever seen the Arctic Explorer Sled wit your own eyes, you would know that it is a very large item made of pressed steel. On the other hand, the box is made of thin cardboard. During the transport, the toy had torn through the box lid, shredding it to pieces. Not anymore that nice example I thought I had bought.
The seller, who lived up to his good reputation, accepted the return and reimbursed in full. Still, to this day I cannot understand why he did not protect the fragile box with a protective cardboard from within. After this experience, I always ask sellers to either protect the box from within or package the toy separately.
My main regret in all this, however, was not personal. I still grieve the destruction of such a fine & scarce item in the mail. I wonder how much that happens, with so many rarities changing hands globally.
The woes of packaging Arto. Yes. Its a gorgeous box from probably the most beautiful toy line ever, Sears Turnpike. Ive never owned one but I can imagine how terrible you felt. The seller was very honourable to accept its return.
I'm constantly surprised (shocked is a better word) by how flimsily ebay sellers wrap stuff that they've listed as being in great condition. How they expect it to arrive in the same condition as sent in such inadequate wrapping is beyond me.
I agree Kid. Its unknown territory for a lot of folk. I class myself as a decent packer but even I fell foul of the shipping gremlins this year. I sent a DVD to someone and it came out of the middle clasp en route and began to slip around the inside of the case on its way to the buyer. He said it was scratched like mad when it got there!
That's an easy mistake to make though, Woodsy, unless one has experience of sending DVDs. And, interestingly, any DVDs I've ever ordered from manufacturers never have any extra precautions taken to ensure the disc stays in place. However, when it comes to wrapping comics, toys, or books, you'd think common sense would prevail. Does it always? Nooooooooooo.
As a small child I went for a walk by the river Dee in Chester with my dad. I had a large plastic boat that I wanted to float in the river. In order to get it away from the bank, I tied string to the deck housing and threw the boat as hard as I could. It flew in an elegant parabola and landed quit far out from the bank. However, the deck housing remained firmly attached to my string and not to the deck! The ship was now sailing beyond reach, minus some superstructure! A kind gentleman in a small motor boat circled it, picked it out of the water and returned it to me!
ReplyDeleteWow that was lucky Kev! You must have been gutted holding that string!
DeleteSome years ago I'd won a Timpo Roman Chariot on ebay, Woodsy. I'd carefully unwrapped it and was admiring my prized acquisition when I accidentally snapped off one of the two fragile plastic handrails, literally just by touching it. The fragile plastic handrail was brittle from age and storage. I was gutted :)
ReplyDeleteOh no. I know that feeling Tone. Its tough being a toy's new custodian and then damaging it. Were you able to glue the handrail back on?
DeleteNo, sadly not, Woodsy. It was unrepairable due to the design and material. I relisted it as 'damaged' and got a portion of my initial cost back. I couldn't believe I'd damaged a vintage toy which had been around for a couple of decades... drrr. Thankfully it's the only self-inflicted wound to date :)
DeleteI once bought a cool Anker space tank in East Berlin Tone. It was my pride and joy at the time, a remnant of the Soviet space race. At the airport Customs didn't like the look of it and asked me to empty my case. Yep, as I was taking everything out I pulled to hard on the tank's barrel and it snapped in half. I couldn't believe it. It had survived the Berlin Wall, the Iron Curtain and 50 years later I break it!
DeleteOoch... sorry to hear that, Woodsy. Based on the pics I've seen, the Anker space tank is a beautiful toy. Hope we have no more accidental toy damage in our lives. I think we've paid our dues mate :)
DeleteI recently sent you pictures of Harryhausen toys in my collection.When I took a pic of the giant cuttlefish from Mysterious Island,I dropped it and all the tentacles broke off.Happy to say I mended them with epoxy and can hardly see any cracks.
ReplyDeleteOh no Bri. You mean you dropped it after getting it out just for Moonbase photos?
DeleteIt was a calculated risk I would have taken for any interested party.Please don't feel badly.The repairs went well and the toy looks good as new!
DeleteAfter so many years on my want list, there finally came up a complete example of the Bandai Arctic Explorer Sled, a Sears exclusive, in a very decent original box. The U.S. seller had a faultless feedback record so I dared to make such an important - and pricey - acquisition.
ReplyDeleteAfter a few weeks of nail-biting anticipation, the parcel finally arrived. Unwrapping is always an exiting moment: will the item be as described and has it survived the long journey to its new home?
This one I will never forget. Unwrapping the parcel, I instantly saw what was wrong. Horribly wrong.
If you have ever seen the Arctic Explorer Sled wit your own eyes, you would know that it is a very large item made of pressed steel. On the other hand, the box is made of thin cardboard. During the transport, the toy had torn through the box lid, shredding it to pieces. Not anymore that nice example I thought I had bought.
The seller, who lived up to his good reputation, accepted the return and reimbursed in full. Still, to this day I cannot understand why he did not protect the fragile box with a protective cardboard from within. After this experience, I always ask sellers to either protect the box from within or package the toy separately.
My main regret in all this, however, was not personal. I still grieve the destruction of such a fine & scarce item in the mail. I wonder how much that happens, with so many rarities changing hands globally.
The woes of packaging Arto. Yes. Its a gorgeous box from probably the most beautiful toy line ever, Sears Turnpike. Ive never owned one but I can imagine how terrible you felt. The seller was very honourable to accept its return.
DeleteI'm constantly surprised (shocked is a better word) by how flimsily ebay sellers wrap stuff that they've listed as being in great condition. How they expect it to arrive in the same condition as sent in such inadequate wrapping is beyond me.
DeleteI agree Kid. Its unknown territory for a lot of folk. I class myself as a decent packer but even I fell foul of the shipping gremlins this year. I sent a DVD to someone and it came out of the middle clasp en route and began to slip around the inside of the case on its way to the buyer. He said it was scratched like mad when it got there!
DeleteThat's an easy mistake to make though, Woodsy, unless one has experience of sending DVDs. And, interestingly, any DVDs I've ever ordered from manufacturers never have any extra precautions taken to ensure the disc stays in place. However, when it comes to wrapping comics, toys, or books, you'd think common sense would prevail. Does it always? Nooooooooooo.
ReplyDelete