Bren Pogo Stick: Real or Repro

[rob love]

I was contacted by another forum member who can ID himself if he likes. He made up some early copies back in the 80s, and in fact welded together most of the springs as shown in my photos. He is positive this was one of his creations.

So now I start the return process on ebay. It's hard on the seller, as he has to re-reimburse the shipping that I paid, as well as pay the return shipping (with insurance and signature) back to him. Since it's international, it takes a lot of meat off the bones. I don't think he intentionally mis-represented it, but it still falls on his responsibility in the end.

Oh well, with any luck I'll find an original at my favorite scrapyard yet.

[David Herbert]

Rob, I think that Ebay rules now more or less automaticaly give you your money back in cases of misreprisentation and it is up to the seller to pay for any costs involved in getting his item back. Obviously you need to use the Ebay due process and offer evidence but the one time it happened to me (I purchaced an "Army" jacket in "unissued condition" but it came with RAF and unit badges and a name in it!) I got my money back in full and got to keep the jacket. As you say, it was the sellers responsibility to give an accurate description and if not sure, to say so.

David

[rob love]

David
I am currently in the process now of requesting a refund. The seller has until the 11th to sort it with me, after which ebay will step in. From the point of my emailing him that I want to return it, he went into radio silence. Not sure how that tactic will work with the monstrosity called ebay.

[B. Harris]

Perhaps a negotiated settlement for a repro price would be in order.
I'm sure someone on here would be interested in purchasing it for what it is?

Just a suggestion.

[rob love]

Bruce

I have been contacted by a board member who is interested. However, I am in to it for a bit more than I think a repro would sell for. I have no intention of losing anything on this deal, so we'll see what happens.

I already have a repro myself....don't need another.

[David Herbert]

Rob,
When they go silent on you, you pretty well know that they are not as honorable as they might be. I loose all sympathy for them at that point. If you have made your case to Ebay as you have here I think you might be plesantly surprised by the outcome.

Good luck David

[rob love]

Well it was over the weekend, so perhaps out of town or whatever. Anyway, he has contacted me today. I don't think he was scamming, I think he really thought it was original.

As I also mentioned earlier, if he gets stuck rebating shipping both ways, it will really take a chunk of change. He has asked if someone up here in Canada wants it, or alternatively, UK or elsewhere. To that end, It will be up for offers, and he will cover any loss to myself.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Rob,
When they go silent on you, you pretty well know that they are not as honorable as they might be. I loose all sympathy for them at that point. If you have made your case to Ebay as you have here I think you might be plesantly surprised by the outcome.

Good luck David

So I made the request for refund from ebay, and as I mentioned before the seller contacted me and we exchanged a few emails. Then I got a notice from ebay that the seller was accepting the return, and that he would send me a return label. Then nothing. I let it go past the deadline, then asked ebay for help, as I had not received the return address. So ebay put a hold on it for 5 days (which ended up being 7). Next thing I know ebay returned all the funds and told me I could keep the mount.

Not feeling right about it, I did send another email to the seller, offering to send it back to him for the cost of the shipping. I also offered that he could sell it on ebay as a repro, and I would ship it form here for the cost of the shipping. Nothing heard in about a week now. Strange. It is a nice repro, and certainly worth something to someone. Surprised that he would abandon it .