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Railroad Locks

I'm having a hard time understanding why vintage railroad locks are not allowed for sale on ebay.I'ved tried to get a detailed reason from ebay but they say it falls into one of 3 catagories.Must be something us collectors could do.
Message 1 of 20
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19 REPLIES 19

Re: Railroad Locks

I often find myself shaking my head over eBay's rules..???
Many of them I don't understad, or even agree with, however, I'm not a share-holder, ss it's really none of my business.
I like eBay, and so far no one has come up with anything better..have they ?
Message 2 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

I had a vintage florida east coast railroad lock and key that i found in an old barn on our property which we bought in 1992 and put it up for auction on bay. within 10 minutes someone hit the buy now and before the deal could go through ebay canceled it.
they say they hav an agreement with rr, airlines etc not to sell such items because they could have been stolen and could place the public in danger.
I understand the thought process but surely some one can see these are old locks not ones that may have been stolen recently, and surely the rr has changed the type of locks they use
By the way there is one for auction as i speak and has three bids and it has not been takeen off yet
Message 3 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

I believe that antique railroad locks are rated extremely dangerous by the Department of Homeland Security.  This means they could be used by terrorists as part of an effort to destroy our transportation system.  Don't question Ebay's patriotic policy; just abide by it !!

Message 4 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

OP, I agree it's a stupid rule, but eBay tends to kneejerk and err way over on the side of caution.  A little common sense goes a long way, but they won't change their stance on this.  It's been argued for several years now.  No dice.

Message 5 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

Thats right, just abide by it and never question the Obersturmfuehrer's directives. This rule is typical of all bureacracies, to appear relevant and vital, while actually accomplishing nothing. If terrorist are searching eBay for matching keys and locks, you have nothing to fear from them. People with dynamic minds would most likely buy a bolt cutter from this site instead. Let me know when government finally reaches a size you wish to conserve.

Message 6 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

I just had over $500 in sales go down the crapper AFTER the auctions had ended because of this stupid rule!! 20yrs in the USMC- you'd think id be more enthusiastic about ebays HIGHLY PROACTIVE vigor in preventng terrorism, which I am, HOWEVER- I have a hard time believing that removing my pile of old locks (with keys) from ebay has made the world a little safer place. And. If our transportation system is worried about keys getting into the wrong hands -then maybe they should invest in some NEW LOCKS! Now, I agree with the need for the policy but will NEVER try to call customer service in an attempt to reason or get even get an reasonable explanation again!
THANKS EBAY! For overreacting on a issue as always and then solving the problem by giving exceptions to your rule THAT STILL GET YOUR STUFF REMOVED!
Message 7 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

I just had a STUPID ebay CS rep tell me my lock WITHOUT KEY from a RR that went out of buisness in 1980 could be bought and forced open then used to lock something,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,If I owned a company that had reps that said things like this I would fire them not to mention treating customers like that.

 

I said nobody would buy a $40 lock and have it picked by a locksmith to use it for that when ebay is selling thousands of locks WITH KEYS for $10 that could do the same thing.

 

ZERO, ZILTCH, NADA, NO COMMON SENSE !!

Message 8 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

I am a retired railroad freight conductor; 28 yrs. for the N&W and then Norfolk Southern Chicago Terminal. I enjoy collecting railroad switch keys and locks. When I first started working for the railroad in 1972 the brass and steel Adlake locks were ubiquitous. Every class one or shortline railroad used them on their mainline switches. In the early 1990's the railroads started using the high security locks. You could not bust them open like the Adlakes if you did not have a key. The steel shackle is at least one half inch thick. Ebay does not realize the keys for the locks are sometimes up for bid on its auction site. Maybe some of you fellas seen them not knowing what lock they are for. They are ugly dark gray steel keys with the numbers 101 through 109 stamped on the key. Each three digit number represents a different railroad lock key. These are the keys Ebay should be worried about. The Adlakes from then on could only be found on some sidings or small support yards if at all. The NS did away with the Adlakes completely in Chicago. Like the myriad of railroads of yesteryear the brass keys Adlake locks are gone forever. Ebay does not realize that they are now collector item antiques.

 

den406

Message 9 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

Seems like if I wanted to throw a switch then lock it I would just go to Walmart and buy a Master Lock and do the same thing.  I too have tried to reason with the robots at Ebay but you have to remember, the ones you talk to over the phone are in the Philippines and do not know what's the deal with a RR lock or key.  I had two locks, one locked with no keys for either and they got yanked.  I had a couple of SP caboose keys and they got yanked.  They even gave me the 3rd degree on some conductor uniform buttons.  Yea, I told them I could just put on a SP uniform with my buttons and hijack the train.

Message 10 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

They remove my add selling a adlake lock and I find someone trying to sell a 102 key and they did nothing about it .
Message 11 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

There is simply NO REASON to use eBay to try to sell or buy antique railroad switchlocks or keys.

 

There are PLENTY of other websites and auction houses that specialize in these items and can tell the difference between the currently-used high security locks and keys - which are for sale on eBay today under 'Sargeant and Greenleaf Lock and Key'  - and the historically-significant brass, hollow-barrel keys of yesterday.

 

There is, likewise, no reason to bow to eBay and use their silly PayPal scheme in accepting payments for goods bought here.

 

 

Message 12 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

Evidently the NSA has told Ebay that the terroists intend on making a time machine and go back in time 30-50 years ago when the Adlake style brass hollow barrel switch key were in wide use and then wreak havoc on America.  This policy is a fine example of killing an ant with a bazooka.

Message 13 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

Well I had a listing removed a couple months ago, it was for 6 empty Winchester BB tubes and 1 half full BB tube.  Guess the terroist were going to use BB's to steal the railroad.........

Message 14 of 20
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Re: Railroad Locks

I have been selling for 17 years now. I was shocked too to receive a phone call at 7 in the morning on a Sunday about my rail road lock and key antique. You can type in vintage or antique art man or woman and see china posted pictures of naked little boys and girls on the site. The paintings are comming from China and show life looking men and boys nude. There is no art value in seeing a naked little boy or girl. What makes me mad is that I was called about my lock in less than ten minutes of it being posted and I can go on the site and pull one of these **bleep** paintings up done with a computer in two minutes. I called them several times and they talk to you reading off of a script. Its all about the dollar. 

If you see this child porn art on there site please flag it. It takes two seconds to do so. What I am upset about is that Its all over there web site. 

Also a listing for post mordem pictures of dead people. Come on EBAY have some class! I wouldnt want a picture of my dead kid sold on ebay. Yes people are into pictures of dead babies and kids. There are all over the site/someones 6 year old dead kid being sold for buy it now. How nice!

Message 15 of 20
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