Tips on Buying Molds on Ebay

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  • Last Post 28 January 2018
David Reiss posted this 21 January 2018

I have been selling on eBay for right at 15 years. I also buy, and that is what is subject of this post. Many of you may have experience buying on eBay, but I know some of you don't and I have privately answered many questions. I don't normally sell molds or casting accessories, but have come across several that I already have and decided to sell the extra molds. 

At most times there are about 2500 or more listings in the mold category. Some are for other casting items, but there is at least 2000 molds listed at all times. Some are great deals, some are not. I have bought some great molds on eBay, a like new .30 Eagan for about $75, several used NOE & Accurate 4-6 cavity molds for under $75, sizing dies for $12 and so on. In all the years of buying, I've had to only ask once for a refund because the mold was warped. 

Buying on eBay is normally safe, you are so protected by eBay, you will never lose money. But you can save time and frustration by paying attention to the listing. 

One of the first things I look at is the shipping costs. I as a seller, offer free shipping, but build that cost into the price. However I use reasonable or actual shipping calculations. In the mold category on eBay, that is seldom the case. Many charge way more than necessary to ship the item. Single cavity Lyman/Ideal molds can be shipped with a first class rate w/ tracking for $4.50 or less. If they are a top seller, then they get a discount and can ship these molds for around $3.50. Some double cavity molds can be shipped first class also, but some not and require priority mail at around $7.00. Don't be fooled by seller asking for $12 or more for shipping, even molds with handles. Last top sellers get free insurance for priority mail shipping up to $100 value, unlike post office shipping where you only get $50 free. I ignore sellers on eBay or Gunbroker who ask for more money for insurance, it is their responsibility to get the package to you. If you can bargain on shipping do, but do so before buying. 

Don't just rely on the photos, read the details in the description and vice-versa. Some sellers disclose all, but most are somewhat vague. Ask questions if you are not sure. You can also request more photos sent directly to you. Most will respond to your request. 

As I said before, you can't lose money. If you are unhappy, then you may always return the item for a refund. If the seller is not cooperative, then eBay will cover the refund. This is very, very rare. If the item was not as advertised or there is a problem that would be a seller issue, then he or she pays for the return, most times with a pre-printed label. If you have buyers remorse, then the return is own you. 

With all this said, I still buy most molds directly from the maker or supplier. I just use eBay to find hard to find molds or just bargains to hard to pass up.

Give it a try, but just don't outbid me!

 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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BigMan54 posted this 21 January 2018

David,

Is right. Buying molds on ebay is a crapshoot. The nice barely used #429244GC I bought on ebay was a good price at $40. with $5.95 shipping. Unfortunately the guy who sold it was dishonest, and didn't answer truthfully when I asked why he was selling such a fine new mold. Mold was UNDERSIZED. Unfortunately I didn't find this out for over a month. Too late for ebay to do anything.

I'm cautious as the dickens now. Got a couple more stories I could tell ya. But I'll just say this; if they're NOT willing to give you good picture's all the way around the mold & clean mold faces/cavities,  PASS IT BY.

And If anybody ever bought an old LACHMILLER Mold & was told RCBS Handles would fit. Then I have a modified pair that will.

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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R. Dupraz posted this 21 January 2018

I stick to well known commercial reputable venders for the items that I need. I know what I'm getting and, have someone to go back to if there is a question. Spend my money once. The difference in price is worth it to me. 

And, I refuse to send any of my  personal information out into cyber space to those sites.  Except to the above

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David Reiss posted this 21 January 2018

One you have ever made a purchase anywhere on the net, it's out there. Maybe even before. Ebay is no less safe than any other site. But the point of this thread is for those that do. Sometimes things you want or need may not be found anywhere else. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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RicinYakima posted this 22 January 2018

"And If anybody ever bought an old LACHMILLER Mold & was told RCBS Handles would fit. Then I have a modified pair that will."

The first thing that OHAUS did when they bought the Lachmiller business was to change of handle design, but I don't know why. RCBS kept the OHAUS design when they bought them out, however.

I buy and sell on EBay a lot. That will be changing soon as the state has outlawed private gun sales, and killed the gun show business in the state. I would say that I'm OK with about 95% of the stuff I buy. There has only been one guy who bought one of my moulds, a early NEI. He had it a week and asked to return it, said he didn't like the way it fit together. When I got it back, I found out he had put it into a Master Caster and made thousands of bullets from it. Like a fool, I had refunded his money before I got it back.

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BigMan54 posted this 22 January 2018

So I got it backwards. Sorry, some days it's as hard to remember what I had for lunch yesterday as it is to remember what the CPO's name was back in recruit days. I can't. 

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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BigMan54 posted this 22 January 2018

Then did LACHMILLER stop making 1cav molds after taking over OHAUS ? And were there ever LACMILLER ingot molds?

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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David Reiss posted this 22 January 2018

Ric,

As you well know if you sell on eBay, it is much better to be a buyer than a seller. Buyers never lose. I have been also selling for more than 15 years, and been hit a few times where I wanted to reach through the computer and slap a knot on someone's head. But I have to admit that has been rare. I have many months where I sell 350+ items, only about .01% turned bad. The most common is the guy whose buys a part and sends back his used one. But that is part of doing business, it happens to even the big guys, MidwayUSA, Brownells, ect. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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RicinYakima posted this 22 January 2018

Yep, I know David, that is why I am still doing it. Plus I meet some very nice local, will within 150 miles which is local for us out here, that I have become friends with.

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358156hp posted this 28 January 2018

I have a set of RCBS marked handles that are much thinner at the jaws than my RCBS moulds are, I always figured this set was intended for Lachmiller mould blocks, but never bought a mould to prove my theory. Speaking of handles, here is a set of home made Lyman SC handles that came on one of my ebay purchases. My first impulse was to laugh, then I saw craftsmanship and attention to detail. I will keep these oddball handles as a tribute to a man who's name I will never know. Ther are made from a set of needlenose pliers, and some scrap metal. The guy was also one hell of a good welder, too.

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