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So a vendor posts a carb kit on e-bay. The box is in less than mint condition, but it is a sealed box.

Since I would like to have a spare rebuild kit, I ask him to open the box a verify that the 'NOS' parts are still in usable condition. My main concern is that shipping is $14 to me, and if the parts are rusted (mainly the accelerator pump parts), its $14 to ship it back ($28 to return a $40 item).

The response? Collectors would want a sealed box, no matter the contents. *AND* they might complain that parts are missing.

Really? A mangled box with illegible text is a collectible item? Every rebuild kit I have bought (I have two just like the one for sale) has included a parts list.

I fear for the future of CCKWs.

The actual response:

Sorry..I don't want to open the box. I'll open other boxes but not the carb kits. Most buyers don't want an open box so it's difficult to keep everyone happy.
This box is cosmoline coated.

Hmm... how many CCKW owners spend $60 on a carb kit JUST TO HAVE THE BOX IT CAME IN???? Yeah, lame ass excuse. You buy a carb kit to USE THE PARTS INSIDE. Cosmoline is a horrible long term protection as it must be reapplied frequently (did you know that while in military storage firearms in cosmoline are to be inspected YEARLY and the protective coating reapplied if required?

Here is the interaction I had with a seller of a NOS carb kit that I bought previously:



An NOS, unopened carb kit. Got it and all the steel parts were rusted and there was significant verdigris on all the brass parts.

Not only did they refund the shipping on the original item, but shipped me an identical kit (after opening it to ensure that the parts were rust free).

This seller didn't know or care what it was, they got a few boxes from an estate sale and were more than happy to make a customer happy.

As opposed to a cckw vendor who is more than wiling to charge you $14 shipping and hope that the parts are not rusted... because if they are, you'll lose another $14 to get your money back.

CCKW and ALL MV owners need to hold vendors to a higher standard.... its sad that I get better service from a complete stranger on e-bay than a 'well respected' vendor.

This is the condition of the 'NOS' carb kit for sale by a CCKW vendor:



Look at the condition of this 'NOS' box and compare it to the one I got the rusted parts from above. The parts kit in the above post is in SIGNIFICANTLY better condition than the one the CCKW vendor is selling yet it still contained rusted parts.

Does this look like a $45 + $14 risk.. PLUS another $14 to get your money back?

Who wants this box unopened for the 'collectors value'?

It is completely reasonable to want to know if the parts are rusted.... yet another item I won't bid... good thing a compete random stranger provided me with excellent customer service... the CCKW vendors sure aren't