Bad eBay VCR seller revealed!

[lordsmurf]

In another thread, about "unicorn" gear (rare TBCs, rare VCRs), I was asked about something currently seen on eBay. While the "unicorn" status is unlikely, what interested me most was how the seller ("RC Fulfillment Center") is a lying sack of crap -- and probably an unknowledgeable one at that.

This is the auction, though that link will surely disappear in a few months, as eBay listings always do.

Before beginning this education (and rant), understand that there's really no such thing as a "new" VCR anymore, and all decks need service/maintenance and refurbishing at this late date. Those are 90s-00s VCRs, and it's now the mid 2020s. But the exact needs vary between deck brands and models.

Take note:
- Do you see the weasel words in his description?
- Do you see how the image don't match the words he has used?

Look closely:

Quote:

From what we can tell this unit is unused and been in its original storage box for decades. It was originally purchased in Japan, and the original owner had it shipped to the states.
I marked this listing as used, for the fact if needs some repair, but I believe it is new.

Those bolded phrases are nothing statement, and honestly gaslighting given the images.

Look at the images closely:

mitsu-ebay-lies1.jpg

You must be logged in to view this content; either login or register for the forum. The attached screen shots, before/after images, photos and graphics are created/posted for the benefit of site members. And you are invited to join our digital media community.

mitsu-ebay-lies2.jpg

Those are not factory blemishes.

More description:

Quote:

Condition Description: This unit looks to be unused,

If the person is so stupid to not be able to see that an item isn't at all "new", then how wrong/lying is he when it comes to the unit properly functioning, or functioning at all. Or even about "only 1 previous owner".

Take one more look at the text:

Quote:

I marked this listing as used, for the fact if needs some repair, but I believe it is new.
Condition Description: This unit looks to be unused, but needs belts.

So a "new" unit needs repairs? Again, in the 2020s, all decks need service/maintenance -- but "repairs"?

Then he completely took it apart, saw that it needed belts, then closed it back up without testing? Or is this more gaslighting? Or just some "pulled from butt" amateur video-know-nothing guessing?

That is a horrible, horrible listing. Huge red flags here.

I know some people don't like it when I come down hard on others, but I'm trying to protect out community from POS sellers. So honestly, f**k that guy, and the VCR he rode in on. I've seen far too many people be preyed on by bad sellers (and horrible Youtuber advice), so some of my niceness has worn off over the years.

Not only is this not a unicorn, it appears to be a mule, or a horse "ready for the glue factory".

[Gary34]

Quote:

f**k that guy, and the VCR he rode in on

That sellers store has almost 6,000 items in it and he has sold 43,000 items. He won't know a lot about all the items. Sounds like the storage wars reseller type. He's overly optimistic for sure. Maybe blatantly lying.

I wonder why he believes that it is new. He doesn't give any reasoning for that assumption.

[radiokom]

Exactly.

Ebay can be a source for parts decks if you have technical skills and know what you are doing. But never a source for "new" or "serviced" decks. Because "serviced" in most cases means "damaged by monkey with crowbar". For example - if you need for parts Panaconic K-mechanism you can search for BOTL VCR in good cosmetic condition and hope inside is mechanism in serviceable condition (but keep in mind they has no SVHS detection plastic lever, there is only hole, so if that is broken you need SVHS deck). It is 50/50 you will get what you need and can use it. But otherwise even "working" VCR with video and pictures does not mean it is up to specs so if you are not technician it should be sent to technician for service and total cost will be more than buy VCR from VCRshop. For example - if VCRshop sell VCR for EUR 450 and you buy "working" one in ebay for EUR 200, service cost can easy exceed 250 (if particular ebay deck is serviceable without parts deck at all).

[latreche34]

I wouldn't touch that model with a 20ft pole, It is probably packed with those SMD caps and large chips with a lot of PCBs to go through, It was a fine editing machine but overkill for playback, But if you're getting it for sentimental reasons I don't blame you, You need a step up transformer to run it.

[lordsmurf]

The buyer of this boat anchor posted about it in another thread.
The TL;DR = he returned it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitizeNY

Hello boys :-)
I thought you might be interested to hear the low-down on the Mitsubishi "Unicorn" :-)

I'm always wary of eBay listings, didn't really expect it to be TOTALLY "NOS", but that's fine...so long as it works.
I'm not an idiot Ebayer who just blindly believes everything I see in a listing, lol. The lack of operating instructions and "odds & ends" accessories was also a big clue. But I bought it anyway! Wanted it for its (supposedly) superior playback of EP recordings. There are tracking options for "Digital" (standard automatic adjustment) "NE(EP)" - not sure what "NE" refers to, but this mode uses the DT heads, and manual (via front mounted pot).

Long story short, the "main issue" was a soggy drive belt. Lots of screws to get to the bottom of the mech! SOOO many.

Once replaced, testing began.

SP mode...superb.

EP mode...excellent in auto/manu, not QUITE so good in NE(EP), which should be THE BEST. The other DT functions also don't work well (the freeze frame is atrocious!) Sadly, no service manual available.

Based on "soot" above the big beefy power transformer (on underside of top cabinet) I'd say the deck has been plugged in for a couple of years, but barely used. The fluorescent display is as-new.

The DT issues could be down to soooo many things...the slip-ring/brushes are fine...I think head wear is extremely unlikely (it's probably seen just a handful of tapes) but I wouldn't even know where to begin to even find the DT circuitry. So many boards, and acres of wires in between, and no service manual. I'm more used to working on professional VTRs with proper serviceability...slot-in boards for each function, not a "Spaghetti Junction" of wires.

The seller is a really nice guy. He purchased a large quantity of high-end gear from the estate of a guy who passed away.

The original owner was head of Texas Instruments in Korea. He amassed a large collection of high-end gear, and didn't actually use much of it. A lot of it was, indeed, NOS.

If someone can live without the DT functions (most people don't really need them) then this would make a pretty awesome purchase. It's BEAUTIFUL, and very well made, inside and out.

I mostly use Sony SVO-5800 decks, but they don't support EP recordings. For EP, I use JVC SR-S360U decks, with external TBC.

The Mitsubishi TBC was a bit "weak sauce", too. Good enough for most people/most purposes, not good enough to feed directly into Blackmagic Teranex.

I'm returning the unit to the seller. He's cool with that. I've "suggested to him" that around $750 would be a very fair price for this handsome beast. For most people, it will do everything they need, beautifully. For my hopes, of "near perfect tracking" on random EP tapes, direct into Blackmagic capture gear, it fell short of the mark. For playing SP tapes (and EP, in auto/manu tracking)...perfectly good. I get EP tapes from clients with all kinds of f'd up tracking issues, and normally have a scope attached to the RF test points and manually adjust the entry/exit guides and ACE head assembly. Tedious. "Dynamic Tracking" for EP VHS would have been a godsend...if it were working 100% like new.

For killer-looks, high-end SP performance (and perfectly normal EP performance...only the DT mode was a bit lacking), you'd have to search very hard to find a machine like this. "NOS" would have been AWESOME, but never mind, nothing ventured, nothing gained! I felt it was worth taking a chance on it. Most people would be thrilled with it...just not me with my never-ending supply of crappy EP recordings!

Oh, and the mark on the top aluminum panel...not damage, just a smudged fingerprint!

Someone will hopefully enjoy this very unique machine, for the right price. I think $750 would be appropriate, personally.

Yep, that tracks. Stuff didn't work in it. Shocker.

I really don't care how "nice" a seller is, when he/she is misrepresenting the condition of the item. This was obviously used, not "new" or "new old stock" (NOS) as claimed by the seller. Buyers that are too nice in return simply reinforce these bad sellers.

Did anybody else notice the huge red flag discrepancy here?
- The buyer was told this: "The original owner was head of Texas Instruments in Korea. He amassed a large collection of high-end gear, and didn't actually use much of it. A lot of it was, indeed, NOS."
- The auction listing stated this: "It was originally purchased in Japan, and the original owner had it shipped to the states."

My bullcrap-o-meter is going off.

But I really appreciate @DigitizeNY for sharing his story here.