Rich P., That is one beautiful piece of work. I agree. If that doesn't arrive as perfect as it was when it left. Let's just say I might be tempted to track down the delivery guy in person. Simply beautiful.
Whether $18 or $1,800 it is the principle of the matter. I've sold my share of stuff over the net as have most. Never did I skimp on packaging. If I was too stupid to capture costs up front in shipping and handling charges, my bad. In fact, my very first sale, ever, was a vintage synthesizer. Not only did I shoot myself by including a lowball Buy It Now (it sold in 32 minutes with 2 bids), I lost my shirt on shipping. But I ate the loss. Sale price almost (not quite) covered the crate and trucking costs.
Unless someone will guarantee packaging, unreasonable to guarantee transport, it will take a lot for me to purchase a TT through an auction site or from someone I do not already know.
for_P1, as for complaining there is a huge difference between a complaint and a curiosity. This post was a testament of shock and amazement over the damage and the mystery of it. Buying locally is great, if you can. The local thrift shops offer no more than broken stemware and old clothing or I would go there. They tell me they rarely see more than a cell phone and when they do, it ships out weekly to bigger stores where the economy affords better return on items such as vintage electronics, or so they say.
I decided to rehabilitate this thing. May be impossible, but will attempt reattach of the tonearm with some UV activated liquid plastic I picked up. Call it a challenge. The entire TT is plastic anyhow and, even before being trashed, it would never have been more than a sentiment for someone who had a lot of Realistic stuff back in the day.
If successful will share the results. The again, don't hold your breath. At the rate my projects are moving of late I will get to this repair in about 5 years.
Dave