WARNING against buying a press on eBay

Recently I purchased a Heidelberg Windmill on eBay. The reason I chose to buy this particular press was that it was listed as “in perfect working condition…very good cosmetic condition”. The seller claimed she had only used it 5 times after buying it from a reputable UK firm that specialises in refurbishing Heidelberg Windmills.

When the press arrived I immediately noticed that something was wrong as the press I had received was not the same as in the eBay listing picture (!), it didn’t have the ‘Original Heidelberg’ faceguard (but a plastic replacement) or a toolbox. The press was also covered in surface rust and the parts were sticking +both the Speed control handle and the Pile lift handle were broken off (I found those thrown in a box with some paper).

Obviously I reported the seller to eBay immediately believing this was a clear case of their money back guarantee. As the press was shipped from Ireland and I had already paid that cost once I preferred to have a partial refund from the seller to replace the cost of the missing and broken parts. However, eBay ruled that I had to return the press (and provide a tracking number) to receive a refund. I spent a lot of time speaking to eBay “customer service” representative trying to explain it was not possible to return the press with a regular courier due to its weight. No luck!

I believe the seller knew very well what she was doing so a BIG warning to everyone. Do not but a press on eBay unless you have seen it and met the seller in person. eBay obviously offers no protection for items that are difficult and expensive to ship.

To add to above a couple of minutes ago I received an email from the seller saying

“I own a letterpress wedding stationery business in xxxx

My printer has recently retired and I’m looking for a letterpress printer to print approximately 30 wedding stationery orders per year.

Would you be interested in working with me if we can work out a price point that is suitable for us both?”

She obviously didn’t take note of my name before firing off the email but beware all printers out there!

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To add to this story: two weeks ago, I spent a day teaching basic printing techniques to a young woman in the south of the country (the Netherlands). She had a nice treadle platen press, bought locally from a retired printer and an 8x5 Adana, bought on E-Bay from someone in Sweden. When I looked at the press, I noticed something was wrong. Terribly wrong actually. The main axle on which the platen hinges had disappeared and had been replaced with a piece of metal and some nuts. She had not realized this at all when she received the press and had been trying for weeks to get something decently printed on it. There was no way that she could return the press…

Look for and demand to see the serial number of the press when purchasing and to make sure that number is on the press when you receive it.

Heavy machinery like Windmills really demand physical inspection before purchase. If the shipping exceeds the cost of travel to the press, then traveling to the machine is worth it, and cheap insurance against a shady seller.

I’ve bought a couple of presses on eBay, but never anything like a windmill. A purchase that size and of that nature definitely needs to be seen in person before cash changes hands IMO.

I bought a tabletop press listed as a Sigwalt #5 on eBay last year. When it shipped to my house, I saw it was a Sigwalt #4. Long dramatic story short, the seller knew darn well what he was doing. A quick Google of his name turned up a Briar Press post where he was asking about where to get rollers for his new Sigwalt #4. I caught him red handed ripping me off, showed eBay, and eBay still wanted me to ship it back at MY expense. I ended up settling for a partial refund just to make it all go away. Some “buyer’s protection”. I got the Sigwalt #4 for well below market value, but several hundred dollars spent on something you didn’t want in the first place, is still a waste of several hundred dollars to me.

Be careful out there!

As prices go up, especially for small presses, always ask
For additional pictures and if you don’t know the
the press to well yet, do your homework and research images etc to make sure you get what you want.
Ebay is a platform to connect buyers and sellers,
They are a business and not your friends