Thread: (Un) Reliable tools, a disappointing experience.

Hey there Ewan,
Have you got a TIG welder?
I recon you could fix that if you went about it the right way with a TIG.
Just a thought.

Matt

Hi Ewan,
Obviously someone to avoid doing business with !
I hope you get some kind of redress from the vendor, though I fear that you will just get ignored.

Regards:
BaronJ.

Originally Posted by Ueee

A new one will not be that hard to make... But i shouldn't have too.

I think GQ has red flagged these guys before. These days I even ask a question of vendors if engraving is not specifically mentioned in their description. It doesn't look deep though, so a lick with a surface grinder may get rid of that without wiping out the branding.

I agree with Matthew that I'd try TIGging that before making a new one. It doesn't look very thick so heat distortion would be low.

Michael

I twice emailed them about postage to Aus re an e-bay item. No replies what-so-ever; so don't bother with their auctions.

Ken

Reliable Tool do cop a flogging on Practical Machinist from time to time.

I hope you gave them a negative ranking on eBay.

That's pretty disappointing Ewan.

Something I wouldn't do as a seller, and I'm sure members here are pretty disgusted.

Maybe they never used it, but who knows - either way, they should have got back to you.

When I imported a bunch of "new" DC speed controllers, two were not new, and one of those had been fried good and proper - but that was from an auction centre, so they wouldn't know what the lot was like.

As far as fixing the crack, I would be inclined to hard bronze braze it - no distortion, full penetration, and can be faced back cleanly.

If you do, it would be best to do it with the crack very slightly open, and when fully capiliarated, let it close while molten - or reheat it without the wedge holding it open.

Cheers

Rob

Hmmm, that's a bit crap really! File a dispute with eBay. If it is broken and they did not list it I'm pretty sure they have to follow Australian standards and you should be entitled to a full refund including shipping. You can also make a counter offer for the cost of repair. Listing things as "great condition" implies that it is in working order.

When they list "as is condition", all auctions/sales fall under that category for used goods anyway. It does not offer the seller any assurances unless the description of the goods or the photos clearly show the fault. when they list the item as, 'non functioning, broken, for parts only' etc, this does offer the seller some rights.

On the flip side, it's cheeky they do not list the item as engraved, but does it really matter in the end. If it's a 'user', someone else cared about it enough to make his mark. If your collecting it, that's another matter.

I thought a sine bar was a pretty exact piece of equipment. I could be completely wrong on this but Welding it will put internal stresses in the bar changing the accuracy of the tool. Maybe this can be adjusted? I know they were made by apprentices as their final 'Bar exam' ( that was a really bad joke!) before they were qualified but from what I have read, they are pretty hard things to make.

Chase it up with EBay. They are very good at protecting the buyers if the seller is being dodgy!

Ewan
Very unsatisfactory to receive something like this.
If the seller does not respond or there is no luck with E Bay I would be inclined to make up a replacement clamp plate.
If you make a replacement, you should be able to retain the original integrity & accuracy of the Sine Bar.
I have not seen a magnetic Sine Bar like this one before but can see the value & use for it.
regards
Bruce

Originally Posted by Ueee

I sent the seller a message last Sunday but they have not replied.

Did you address that to rick @ reliable?

In watching these kind of threads at Practical Machinist. I don't expect you to have much luck with Ebay. Reliable are a big account / power seller. They must have a hot line to Ebays complaints department.

However if they lifted it as "great condition" and has a crack that renders it useless, you should have a leg to stand on.

Regards Phil.

Originally Posted by Ueee

As i hinted in Michaels angling thread, i recently purchased a Kingmann White mini magnetic sine bar. The seller was Reliable tools in the states eBay My World - reliabletools. BT warned me that they might gouge me on the postage price, and whilst the $26 postage price is steep, its what i'm beginning to expect from the US.

I ended up paying $51 USD for the bar, only because it looked good and the seller described it as "Great".

Well great it ain't....Not only has some half wit engraved his initials on it, which of course could not be seen in the sellers photo's , but the main thing was the bar would not lock in place. It would tighten to an extent but that was it. I soon noticed the crack in the bar that acts on the roll to lock the upper arm in place. It cannot be seen when there is no pressure on the cam but as soon as you try to lock the arm in place the crack appears.

I sent the seller a message last Sunday but they have not replied.
Very poor service if you ask me.
I don't want to send it back, other than the fact it will cost me the shipping both ways, these little bars are thin on the ground and i have wanted one for a while.

A new one will not be that hard to make, an offcut of 5160 or 4140 with a rounded end and 2 accurately spaced holes. But i shouldn't have too.

I'm about to send them another message with a link to this, we will see if that gets a response....

Cheers,
Ew

that is as bad as it can be EW .
i have one here made in england in like new condition. you should have asked and i should have pass it on to you.
file paypal claim as not as described , i'm sure you will get your full money back including postage . that is how it is . it is total seller fault and you should not out one cents.
regards
Peter

That is just crap!

To incorrectly list the condition of an item can be either ignorance or pure deception but when they don't answer your emails it confirms a level of dishonesty to me. I hate greed, end of story. I would never deny someone making their living but when you make a living by being dishonest, then you are a scumbag! There is enough money in this world to make an honest living without hurting the next person.

End of rant..

I will not be purchasing from this seller. I hope you get some satisfaction through the dispute resolution process.

Simon

Hi Ewan,

I have bought a few items from Reliable Tools and the results have been mixed.

An albrecht drill chuck was listed as being on a MT1 arbor. When it arrived I found it was MT2. A small problem when your one spindle is MT1. After a couple of emails with Rick we settled on reimbursement of the cost of a new MT1 arbor.

I recently bought two 5C collets from them which were listed as "Hardinge" brand, but only one of them is. I'm in no hurry to deal with them again.

I'd hang in there and if they don't reply to your emails raise a complaint with PayPal.

Cheers

The Beryl Bloke

Originally Posted by Ueee

As i hinted in Michaels angling thread, i recently purchased a Kingmann White mini magnetic sine bar. The seller was Reliable tools in the states eBay My World - reliabletools. BT warned me that they might gouge me on the postage price, and whilst the $26 postage price is steep, its what i'm beginning to expect from the US.

I ended up paying $51 USD for the bar, only because it looked good and the seller described it as "Great".

Well great it ain't....Not only has some half wit engraved his initials on it, which of course could not be seen in the sellers photo's , but the main thing was the bar would not lock in place. It would tighten to an extent but that was it. I soon noticed the crack in the bar that acts on the roll to lock the upper arm in place. It cannot be seen when there is no pressure on the cam but as soon as you try to lock the arm in place the crack appears.

I sent the seller a message last Sunday but they have not replied.
Very poor service if you ask me.
I don't want to send it back, other than the fact it will cost me the shipping both ways, these little bars are thin on the ground and i have wanted one for a while.

A new one will not be that hard to make, an offcut of 5160 or 4140 with a rounded end and 2 accurately spaced holes. But i shouldn't have too.

I'm about to send them another message with a link to this, we will see if that gets a response....

Cheers,
Ew

Originally Posted by Abratool

Ewan ..............
I have not seen a magnetic Sine Bar like this one before but can see the value & use for it.
regards
Bruce

But you have https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/de...6/#post1533484

I've been watching Reliable's auctions ever since I started out on Ebay. They have had some wonderful gear over the years and they go to considerable pains to thoroughly photograph many of the items listed. In that time I have never seen a small item like a indicator, vernier or gauge with photos of the rear side, the side usually adorned with engraving. They have never mentioned engraving or marking in any of their listings. I have only ever purchased one thing from them, it was new in the box and they did not respond to my enquiry regarding shipping costs. I got clipped. Lesson learned.

These days I always look at a seller's feedback before I bid. Worth looking at Reliable's...

eBay Feedback Profile for reliabletools

Given the volume of items they list, I don't think they would be in a position to thoroughly check everything they sell for damage such as that discovered on the Kingmann White. They do sell some real beater stuff and it's always described and being in good condition but they certainly are not orphans in that regard.

BT