"Working condition" or doesn't it drive you crazy when...

[sarahperdue]

Someone posts an ad like this one:

"The oven is in perfect working condition. The timer on top doesn’t quite work right, however everything else works great!"

Perfect???

Post some of your favorites below.

Sarah

 

[repairguy]

“Gas Dryer works great. Not heating so probably needs heating element. Simple fix. $100.” Or “washer in good working condition, doesn’t spin every time should be easy fix just don’t have time to do it. $100” And many other variations of these examples. I get a good laugh every time I see one.

 

[sarahperdue]

Antique Refrigerator

IT WORKS!!! (further down in description--doesn't cool)

or "mind condition!" (further down in description--don't know if it works)

Yep, I usually laugh too although I was pretty disappointed about that $100 fridge

 

[speedqueen]

I always buy stuff under the assumption that something will need to be repaired. Enough disappointment and that is my attitude. This has, however gotten me pretty good at fixing things.

Here are some common definitions for words you may find in an eBay or Craigslist listing:

~"Works" -- Means it does SOMETHING eg. an old radio buzzes or squeals

~"Untested" -- It doesn't work, end of story.

 

[qsd-dan]

And the famous

"Worked when last used"

 

[launderess]

Have been rather lucky

All of my AEG appliances were advertised as new or near, and they were.

That being said am always leery of adverts in general when pictures don't match copy. Also am naturally suspicious of those selling vintage appliances in general these days, have seen too many fingers burned.

My basic assumption is that most sellers don't have a clue as to what they've got, so don't get my hopes up in turn. Have also learned to accept something sitting around for ages unused likely is going to have issues. This even if it has been packed away "NIB" as it were.

 

[chachp]

My personal favorite...

 

<span style="font-family: 'courier new', courier;">When an appliance is clearly hooked up the ad says "we haven't tested it".   I always take that as "we tried and it's deader than a doornail!"</span>

 

[sarahperdue]

Plugged in

I'm with you Ralph. Especially refrigerators--

"We have not tested it," "Untested," and the best one, "cord cut off but probably works..."

It's a 110 appliance. All you have to do is plug it in. Of course you tested it, and, when it didn't work, you cut the cord off...

and then there are the "can be easily fixed."

 

[turquoisedude]

AAAARGH yes! Those lines like "Pump does not seem to drain but probably an easy fix" drive me batty!!

 

[goatfarmer]

When I pick up a fridge sitting on the sidewalk, and someone sitting on the porch says "that fridge works, it just don't get cold"....

 

[launderess]

"cord cut off but probably works." Tells me seller is a scrapper or someone else who came upon something that was rubbished. Don't know why but many people cut cords (or at least the plug) when getting rid of appliances. Quite mean if the thing still works. Happily have landed vintage Hoover floor cleaner/polisher, a turntable, several vacuums (could have had more), a microwave and other things were cords were left intact.

As for "untested" sometimes will cut a seller slack.

Great many vintage/older appliances come from those who have purchased a property and found the thing inside. Even if still plugged in (or unplugged), they cannot be bothered testing to point of even turning on.

In some situations don't have a problem with such listings, and may work to one's benefit.

If an appliance is listed as fully tested and operation value increases. This is most true of the rare/sought after things were those who want but aren't technically inclined enough to manage repairs can get "plug and play" objects.

Only a serious hobbist (and or someone with money to burn) will go after an appliance that may or may not work. Look at poor Louie's problems getting his GE fridge going.

Case in point: https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?47213

Was able to nab my AEG Lavamat/Lavatherm set for very little money because seller listed as "untested" and "requires 240v/three phase power". Knew that was rubbish at once, but apparently no one else caught on so the things just sat on fleaPay. One watched price drop at each relisting until reached give away level, then pounced.

 

[circlew]

Cutting off cords

I've done this several times when tossing out broken appliances. I usually have made them into extension cords by adding a connector to the end.

 

[launderess]

If appliance is not operational

Can understand cutting cord/plug. But otherwise consider it mean doing so for something that is still perfectly usable.

Local building cuts cords and does serious damage to Miele and other high end appliances discarded by residents. These units are perfectly fine, just removed after a resident dies, unit is sold, redecorated, etc....

 

[sarahperdue]

here's a new one

"refrig does not work the way it used to"

 

[turbokinetic]

Translations of seller condition descriptions...

 

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">In perfect working condition</span>! = Price is 10x what it should be, "firm" and will not negotiate at all.  (or) Item is on other side of the country, and NO SHIPPING WHATSOEVER only buyer in person to pick up and pay cash!

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Needs easy repair, but I don't have time</span>. = I've called 4 or 5 repair companies, all of them saying the fix is to salvage the casing only; and replace every part inside, all made of Unobtanium at a cost of at least $250,000 USD. Then it will work again.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Vintage Refrigerator Runs but doesn't cool</span>. = I used a pickaxe or pneumatic jackhammer to defrost the fridge; thereby leaving multiple horrendous gouges and holes in the evaporator in impossible-to-fix places. It gassed me with sulphur dioxide, but I will not tell you about that because you may be scared off and not pay my inflated price for it.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Untested, but we expect it to work</span>. = I tested it and it sparked, smoked and shocked me.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Not working properly</span>. = We tested it. Knocked out power for the neighborhood and filled the whole building with toxic, acrid, choking clouds of smoke. When we returned after resetting the 200A main breaker which tripped, we discovered a medium-sized carpet fire. The fire department and cops showed up and told us to get rid of it or go to jail.

 

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Washer is louder than most, but works OK</span>. = Sounds like a pulp-wood truck with no muffler, dragging a logging chain through a nitroglycerine factory with the gas pedal stuck wide-open. It does work, though as every 5 or 10 seconds, the agitator twitches slightly in one direction or another.

 

[sarahperdue]

Oh, my gosh, I laughed!

David, That's side splitting hilarious!

 

[chachp]

That is really funny.....

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">Are you Alabama folks safe?</span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/02/politics/trump-hurricane-dorian-false-claims-alabama/index.html </span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;">Sorry couldn't resist!</span>

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well, this is my "works, but" that I was forced to junk just because I can no longer get a new needle for:

-- Dave

 

[vacerator]

Oh Dave!

I wish you would not have junked it. Was the cartridge not removable? My belt drive Technics has a bad servo speed controller. It has the S tone arm with removable head shell. I just bet the tone would work on yours if they are detachable at the gimball points. I have both an Audio Technica and a Pickering cartridge for it which are both still in excellent shape.