Be VERY CAREFUL when buying a Hobart N50 or other used mixer or equipment on eBay
Hi,
I'm so upset that I had to share this so it is less likely to happen to someone else. I wanted the Hobart N50 mixer so badly and for such a long time that I finally decided to buy one on eBay that was actually listed as: New, other. The other means that it may be missing the original packaging or some other minor issue. The seller used a stock photo, which also reinforced my feeling that it was very unlikely that there were any important problems with it. When I read the description, I found that it was actually used about 4 or 5 times, which I felt was acceptable because it was $975.00, much less than the new retail of about $2035.00. It also came with an extra bowl, wire whip, and flat beater. I was SO EXCITED about my find! The seller didn't have a lot of feedback, but it was all good. It was described as follows: Been used 4-5 times, no chipped paint , JUST LIKE NEW.
Well, when I received it (I did receive it quickly), I immediately noticed some cosmetic damages, including a BROKEN OFF thumbscrew, paint chips, and severely scratched and dented bowls. I know this couldn't have happened during shipping, as the shipping box was in perfect condition. I was upset about this but I decided to give the mixer a chance, as it is a very heavy thing to send back and it was a lot cheaper than buying a new one. Overall, it doesn't look very old. First of all, the dough hook I received does not fit this mixer. Also, (this is difficult to describe properly) it is unbalanced and out of kilter. The bowls do not seat properly in the bowl holders and the bowl holders and the shaft coming out of the planetary gear have a lot of play in them. When I made just a slightly heavy cake batter (bought it mostly for kneading bread dough but couldn't do that with the wrong dough hook), the bowl actually looked like it might lift right off the holders, very unstable. The flat beater and the wire whip don't clean the sides of the bowl properly. This mixer was definately heavily used, if not abused.
With all of these problems, I decided I must contact the seller about sending it back for a refund. He refused to acknowledge any problems with the mixer (said it was in excellent condition--NOT!) and only offered to buy me a new thumbscrew and dough hook and would not accept a return on it. I feel the listing was fraudulent and deceptive and have taken this up with the Ebay Buyer Protection program. I don't know how successful I will be but the seller has only 27 feedback and I have 2508 (all positive), as I used to sell on eBay before I began taking care of my 88 year old mother. She keeps me so busy I really can't do it anymore. My listings were always COMPLETELY honest (I sold mostly vintage hats), no matter how bad the condition of the item was--of course, I tried to get the best items I could but when hats get to be 60 to 80 years old and more, they do have some issues. I assumed that a seller would not be an outright liar, but I assumed WRONG. It didn't help to ask questions, as the answers were all lies.
Getting back to my mother, there is a bright side to this whole thing. After I told her my woeful tale, she offered to buy me a brand new Hobart N50. I gladly took her up on it (especially since I don't ask for anything in return for caring for her and she can't walk, so it is difficult, to say the least) and now I am awaiting shipment of a bright white, beautiful, brand new N50! I chose the N50 because I really wanted an all purpose mixer instead of just something for dough and I want save my 22 year old KitchenAid, which I have retired to "light duty". I didn't choose another larger KitchenAid, as the reviews for the new ones are so bad.
So I guess the moral of the story is: Be SUPER careful when buying something used that you cannot see in person. And simply don't buy anything expensive from someone that has so little feedback--I know I'll never do it again. I just hope this ends well as, otherwise, I will have a VERY expensive doorstop. Wish me luck! Genie