Inspect and test your new purchases in a timely manner

Yes, this is important for Ebay buyers and sellers.

I believe there is a 30 day window to verify the product shipped and the buyer is happy before the seller can collect.

Hmm I better run my new Legacy 1225 this weekend. Just not ready to glue a set of pilot bushings together... have another major project going...

Absolutely right! More or less the same thing happened to me a year or two ago. I won an auction for a traditional 392E, but it turned out to be a PS/1 engine. I didn't want to deal with PS/1 in Standard Gauge, and the version with obsolete electronics is worth less than a traditional one. The seller didn't have another one, so I wound up getting my money back. 

A couple more examples. Years ago I bought a PS/2 Doodlebug at York. Somehow I never got around to testing it. When I finally did test the thing, it was DOA. Of course the warranty had expired years before. I managed to find a junker with a good PS/2 5v board to fix it, but it was a giant hassle. 

Another time I bought an MTH F3 on closeout from an East Coast dealer. I unwrapped one unit and discovered that the paint job was wrong (the catalog art showed the correct color). I resold it on eBay; never bothered to test it. When the buyer ran it, the trailing powered A unit was DOA. Fortunately, the problem was only a bad ground and the guy fixed it himself, with some phone advice from MTH, but I learned something about buying and selling untested NIB items. 

I could not agree more. Two months ago I won what was listed as an "original" Lionel super motor in very good condition. Photos looked right, I emailed the seller twice to confirm. When it arrived I opened the box to find a older MTH piece. After trying repeatedly to contact the seller, I had to file a claim.

In the past I would just write on the box, put it away and inspect later. Times have changed haven't they?

Not me, I hurry home like a kid and put any new purchases on the track.

I have a super motor from an ebay purchase coming tomorrow for a project.  I hope I have better luck than you Pappy.

William,

For most collectors the MTH units are a direct replacement for the original worn out Lionel. All my pieces are vintage originals. I prefer to keep my parts original as well. I have one seller I deal with on a regular basis. He buys and parts out good original pieces. Every now and again he is out of stock. Then I have to search around, as was the case above. (Big Mistake!)

Not only test engines but inspect buildings and accessories. Last year I purchased a Lionel Grand Central Terminal (the big one) from a dealer who sells on e-bay that was mint in sealed box that showed no signs of damage to outside carton. Although I didn't have the layout ready for it, from experience I knew to check it. Turned out it was cracked in multiple locations and had a nail sticking up through the roof. 3 weeks later I purchased a new in box Lionel Bipolar on e-bay. It turned out to be dead as a doornail. In both cases I requested and received a refund.

Anytime you buy something, you should inspect or test.  Ebay, retailer, private seller and train shows. I bought a pair of MTH signals. I tested one to see how it worked. 5 years later I go to install them on the layout last year to find the one I didn't test had no red lights

and not just trains. I've heard where car gus collecting parts for 10=20 years for a project, and never look at the parts. Then 20 years later when they open the boxes, and find a problem, the warranty is long past or the company is out of business.

I did get a real nice dark olive No8 shell and a pretty decent frame just showed up that I got on Ebay.  My super motor will be here tomorrow.  I hope it runs!, and fits.  I am staying all original parts as much as possible too.  The motor looks legit from the pictures.  But until I have it, in reality, I guess I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I've been lucky so far.

I also purchased 2 Woodland Scenics buildings some time ago. Finally wired them up last Christmas season and wouldn't you know each one had some lights that worked and some that didn't, and one had the walls coming apart. Out of luck on these with regard to sending back to dealer, was able to glue walls back but haven't been able to fix lights.

I'm guility of this.  When you're stockpiling for a layout and buying stuff, it's easier to do than you'd expect. 

Been better at checking stuff though.  I've only had to send one item back.  It'd been out of warranty if I wouldn't have checked.

My 3rd Rail GM ToT arrived today.  I can't wait to get home and look at this one...

Good advice!

Yes, very good advice, I have a few things still in the box as well. Everything really should be checked and test run upon arrival.