A kick in the shins!!!! Ouch!!! (Some venting)

[clovis97]

I have a friend who owns a junk yard of sorts.

Last week, he came across a fairly rare lathe. I made a deal to take it, part it out, sell it, and then split the profits. I don't usually do this, but this deal looked sweet enough to try.

The only catch to the whole deal is that I was leaving on vacation and couldn't haul it right away.

I returned from vacation yesterday, and went to pick up the lathe today...and found that he gave away the most valuable part to the whole lathe. Of course, this was the easiest part to pull, with almost no work whatsoever.

I'm not mad...it is his lathe, and he can do with it what he wants. I am bummed though. I sat on vacation all week thinking about this lathe and how easy it was going to be to pick up a fast $200+ when I got home.

The disappointing part to all of this is that he had no idea how valuable that part was, and unknowingly gave it to someone for free.

This kind of reminds me of a story that my best friend talks about. He had a guy give him a 1920's era gas pump, and within a few days, the owner of the gas pump gave the original globe and glass to someone else.

Now I am stuck with the cost of the hired help that I hired today, the costs of a truck, and ALL THE HARD WORK to pull those existing parts...without the additional profit of $200 to $250.

Okay, I feel better getting it off my chest. Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[aa battery]

I understand soon I will post another story kinda like yurs.

 

[Rodbuster209]

I think I would have backed out of it after finding out that he gave away the main money maker.Just my humble opinion! Hope it works out for you!

 

[clovis97]

I think I would have backed out of it after finding out that he gave away the main money maker.Just my humble opinion! Hope it works out for you!

I've thought long and hard on this one, and still might take it back.

There are some valuable parts still left on the lathe, but it is going to take some work to get them off, cleaned up and listed. I'm guessing there is still $150 to $175 there (and maybe $200), but it isn't going to be easy-peasy. As well, these parts are going to sit for a while until they sell.

I ebay for a living, and I tell ya, the hardest thing I do is trying to figure out where to best spend my time.

At the same time, I'm trying to look at the big picture. There is a slim chance that he'll be ticked if I bring it back. As well as I know him, I'm sure that he had no idea that he gave away one of the best parts of the lathe.

 

[voodoo]

gaaaaaah frustrating. hope y'sll are still friends

 

[clovis97]

gaaaaaah frustrating. hope y'sll are still friends

Yes...we are still friends. He is a good guy, but unknowingly gave away the best part of the lathe.

 

[TreasureHunters]

rub the shins and move on... HH

 

[jbc465]

Well you could show him how much the part he gave away was worth and back that out of his share of the profit. He won't like it. But that was your money too.

 

[clovis97]

Thank you for the replies.

I parted the lathe today. The thing came apart much easier than I anticipated. Sometimes, these can be a bear to disassemble, but this one came apart surprisingly easy. There is still some decent money to be made, and at this time, it is important to focus on the big picture.

When I consider the big picture, a few weeks ago, I scored some parts from this guy and made about $200...and may have been the easiest listing and fastest sale I've ever had. There is plenty of money still to be made in the future, so pressing him over the loss of the part may not be in my best interest.

 

[trdhrdr007]

Burning bridges isn't the way to go but I would let the guy know in a non-confrontational way that he gave away a big chunk of change. There are a few people I deal with on a regular basis that are scrappers that don't have a clue about what can be sold. I couldn't begin to count the number of times one of them has told me they scrapped, gave away, or trashed something I could have made good money on. If I don't say something I'm generally hearing a similar story within a month....if I say something it takes a couple months.