Boat jumble rip-off

[jamesdestin]

Ok folks, I know its caveat emptor when you buy things at a boat jumble but telling you this might save someone some time and trouble. I bought some Shell 2-stroke oil from a stall at the Margam Park boat jumble last weekend. A one litre can for £2. Stall had a few on there, thought that was cheap, so bought one. I bought it for a new outboard I've just bought and yesterday - because it was new and needed running in - I was particularly careful about measuring the oil before adding to the 5 litre can of petrol. This was the first time for me to run the engine. It was a good job I measured it separately because what came out of the can was thick black smelly s**t. It was clearly old engine oil not new 2 stroke. If I hadn't been paying attention I might have poured it straight into the 5 litre petrol can using the measure on the oil can. I might even have poured the resulting mix into the engine fuel tank. At the least I'd have wasted 5 litres of Tesco's finest and at worst caused damage to my engine. Who the hell can be bothered to rip someone off for £2? Had good service from the other stall holders I dealt with and this left a real bad taste in my mouth. (Not the oil - the disapointment!). Chances are the git will be at another jumble with the same trick. Keep you eyes peeled and if you catch him at it put the word around.

 

[misterg]

I opened this post expecting to read of some half-assed whinge from somebody who should have known better, but I have to say that this is pretty low!

At least it was only 2 quid - as you say, "Caveat Emptor"

 

[snowleopard]

I always assume that anything I buy at a jumble doesn't work unless I can see it's OK there and then but even with that approach have occasionally been conned, like the fresh water pump the guy demonstrated using a mug of water - I didn't see the small amount that leaked out the sides!

In future I'll be wary of anything in closed containers.

Just once in a blue moon it works the other way - I bought a hank of cord, about 50m for £3. It turned out to be commando's kevlar abseiling rope!

 

[Thistle]

[ QUOTE ]
I bought a hank of cord, about 50m for £3. It turned out to be commando's kevlar abseiling rope!

[/ QUOTE ]

... the guy who lost it was charged for losing Crown property and / or the constabulary paid you a visit seeking the return of stolen property.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably aint!

 

[PCUK]

Probably not, it get's dumped after a certain number of uses.

 

[the_wanderer]

Some of the stuff ain't that cheap either. I spotted one stall at the Eastwood site near Southend selling fibreglass products at extortionary prices a couple of years ago. I can buy from a company near where I live for half the price.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

Could have been a genuine mistake. Someone else put used engine oil into an empty 2 stroke oil container and someone else picked it up and took it to the jumble.

As to high prices, I think Jimmy Green is always the highest priced stall at boat jumbles.

 

[Rabbie]

Tony. There is now no such thing as a 'Boat Jumble'. When did you last see a Jumble Sale with shops selling brand new products at the same High Street prices?. The old Boat Jumble has been taken over in the majority by 'Chandlery' types with 'discount' prices little different from those advertising in the yottie mags. Yes, there are a few bargains to be had, but when you add the cost of getting there plus the £4 entry fee(!) - and possibly trudging around a muddy field in the rain, 'bargain' is stretching it a bit - like the leaky Quaysider wellies I bought 9 months ago!. Caveat emptor indeed.

 

[VicS]

A hint for anyone else tempted to buy oil or similar at a jumble sale.

Before you buy check that the seal is unbroken. If it is broken walk away!