most day you eat the BEAR some days the BEAR eats you.

Had that happen to me before, seller didn’t keep his word, never could reach him again. At first he sent a few messages says hes “too busy” after that I never heard from him again. Something could have happened to seller, or I guess there’s a lot of jerks out there that like to take advantage of people.

Yeah, at this point, at least you got your machine - sucks about the topper, but maybe he'll resurface and you'll get lucky. I don't know if you have any choice but to deal with the problems and the topper. Doesn't make it better, I know, but again - at least you got the game!

And sellers wonder why buyers run the sellers through them hoops before making a deal.

What’s the game? Is it an easy fix? How about the topper is it rare or easily found?

If the games a paperweight now, or it was a hard to find topper in be really pissed.

If it’s an easy fix then chalk it up to lesson learned.

What machine is it? What kind of damage occurred from the connector being plugged in incorrectly? Although I agree with the others and you may have to eat this one, the truth is who knows....the guy could be in the hospital or worse. Either way glad you got the game and hope you get the topper and have an easy fix ahead of you

what game/ topper?

Good point.

Eat it and move on. It sucks that it was not as described and he did not follow through with what he was supposed to. Either he is avoiding you and is not going to do anything about it or something really has changed in his life and he is not able to do anything about it. Sucks either way but you have the game, can fix it, can buy another topper. List your experience so no one else gets burned and fix the game and enjoy it.

Bob , he may have fallen ill and has little or no family that even knows about your transaction. try posting on the Ca. thread maybe someone knows him there. GL freddy

Unfortunately sometimes a great deal is not what it appears

wow just looked at the F/S thread a refinery pin. guy was on here 2 yrs. wow and pulled phone numbers out of the add. Bob do you think he removed topper and messed up with the plug? But to vanish all together now i feel your pain. hope this works out.

Interesting. He has been a Pinsider for two years. Has made in 43 posts in two years. His for sale ad is his last activity on Pinside. And he alluded to family problems for driving the quick sale.

"Do to a massive change in my family situation I've lowered the price of my ACDC Luci, $7500. Good luck finding a Lucy for this price. She needs a new home."

Note to self: Never buy distressed sale items if I cannot cash and carry.

And his sunset statement on Pinside 37 days ago.

"She's pending sale gentleman. I am 2nd owner."

Question to self: Give more credence to Pinsiders with that little red heart ??

Screen Shot 2017-11-26 at 8.58.22 AM (resized).png

That's too bad so much damage occurred from that connector. I feel bad for you, sounds like a lot of work ahead of you.

Thats too bad, I hope the seller is OK and that the repairs are resonable... im a bit confused on the 20v connector, is that something that is disconnected at some point to install/remove the topper? Was it plug in incorrectly by the seller after the game was played last but before it shipped?
Edit: I re-read and figured it out...bummer

Sadly once again this shows "cash on the glass" (in person) is the only safe way to buy a machine. When dealing with someone new you know you are taking a bigger risk but when buying from someone with a couple year Pinside history most would assume you would be safe. I feel your pain!

Worse yet is every time you look at that machine (even after it is fixed) you will be reminded of the "bad transaction". I hate that feeling even more then getting screwed in the first place. Typically when something like that happens to me I can't wait to get the item out of my life so I can totally forget about it and move on.

Best of luck with it!

If you look at his name it states SuaSponte275. That handle is symbolic to the 2nd Bat Rangers in Ft Lewis, WA.
That Batalion is the one furthest from the flag pole. 1st, 3rd, RGT and STB are located in GA. Sua Sponte means "on their own accord" and is the regimental motto for the 75th Rangers.
2nd Bat are good people, but they are furthest from the flagpole. Hope your able to get ahold of the person, but know you could be dealing with a military Veteran that might be dealing with some other stuff.
http://www.historylink.org/File/9189

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2017/09/16/how-an-army-rangers-hellish-training-turned-him-into-a-criminal/amp/

That sucks but at least you got the game. Could have been much worse. I'd send the board out for repair. Once you have a working game you'll forget that it even happened. Even with shipping and the board repairs it's still not a bad price for a Refinery LUCI edition. It sounds like the seller may be going through a rough patch and I'd just let it go.

Butch2099 Bob sorry that you are experiencing this problem. There is a separate thread for Northern California. I suggest that you post in this thread also.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/nor-cal-pinheads-thread

Some times things happen with sellers. About 25 years ago I had a buyer come from Toronto to pick up a Black Hole I had for sale. BH was as described and he was glad to pay my asking price. We spent another couple of hours playing my games, talking about pinball, and life in general. I always enjoyed sharing and showing off my collection, and as usual I felt I had made a new friend. When he saw a nearly mint Vector, not working or set up he talked me into selling it for $500. He said he had other things going on but would come back for in in three weeks. I refused a deposit promising it would be his if he came back within a month. The next weak I received in the mail a Canadian money order from him for $500. US. I cashed the MO and set aside the week end he had said he would come back for the game. He didn't come or contact me that week end. I found that I had lost his phone number, and I had seen his address on the MO but had cashed it, and it was gone. Now jump forward about seven years. I get an email from him. He said he had a great time with me, and after sending the MO, a situation came up that prevented him for coming back when he said he would. He had lost my contact information, and had just gotten my email from an add I had posted some ware. Do you still have my game? I stated that I did, but as to the fact I had had to move it several times, and the value had gone up, I wanted a $200. storage charge. I also told him that I still needed space more than money, and if he came and bought another machine, I would wave the storage charge. I don't know if he lost my information again or was upset that I expected $200. for storing his pin, but I never heard back from him. I still have the game and may sell it soon. If he should contact me now I know, I would feel a little guilty about it ,but would have to tell him that his ticket was all punched years ago. I never wanted to take deposits and always honored my promise to hold a game the specified time they needed to get to me. After reading this thread, I may change my mind on the need to take deposits.

IMG_4309 (resized).JPG

Buy the topper and get the machine working like you want it. I know it sucks but that should make you feel better. Sometimes you gotta move on

Lennon Wisdom sounds like a pseudonym. Swammy says, this guy digs John Lennon's music and has learned many life lessons from it. Come on, Lennon Wisdom, really??

I'll be happy to help make you whole and give you $200 for that Vector

Nah, it was $ 200 storage for the first 7 years. The last 18 years would be another $ 514 for storage. Still a good deal.

If he is currently serving you could track him down that way

I think I just got screwed by SuaSponte275 as well. I should have searched his handle before.

He said he had an ACDC Train Topper (apparently the one Butch2099 never got). Said he'd take $150 shipped for it. I Paypaled him about a month ago, he kept telling me "it's going out today" or two weeks later "oh I was moving, it will go out tomorrow". Now that I've asked for a refund he's gone silent for over two weeks.

Luckily part of the payment was via CC so I've disputed the charge. Looks like I'll be eating the rest. Lesson learned - search someone's handle before doing a deal and/or ask for references. It's a shame that's even necessary.

Butch2099 , I hope you were able to get your game fixed. Love my Luci!