I think I'm ready for glasses after this purchase

[wds]

Picked up this gold 202, which I think is a continental phone.  Seller of course said everything was fine on the phone.  The paint on the phone is pretty beat up, but I figured if nothing else the dial makes the purchase worth while.  I didn't notice the missing center bolt on the dial - until it arrived.  It's a dummy dial.  I'm usually pretty good about picking out the fake phones and fake parts but this time I totally missed it.  Time to take a refresher course on Ebay buying - fake phone 101.

[twocvbloke]

fake phone 101.

Shouldn't that be Fake phone 202?

[Greg G.]

fake phone 101.

Shouldn't that be Fake phone 202?

[Greg G.]

Is the dial face plate and finger stop real?

[wds]

It looks real from the picture, and in person if you don't get too close.  It even looks pretty good looking at it from a side view.  The number plate is a sticker and of course it doesn't spin.  It does have the slots for a dial card and ring so I suppose it could be used for display if you don't have any real dials. 

You let your guard down for a minute on Ebay and this is what happens. 

[poplar1]

This is probably the dummy dial provided on decorator phones that were designed to have the phone company install the leased parts after you purchased the shell. The fake finger wheel was probably originally brass color so someone went to the trouble of masking the number plate in order to spray paint the finger wheel black...I would definitely ask for a refund or at least an adjustment since this item was "not as described."

[wds]

Wasn't worth sending back, plus it's partly my fault for not noticing the tell tale signs of a fake dial.  I'm a little (but not much) smarter now.  It did have very nice leather bottom cover - other than missing a couple cork pads, it looks like new.  And I need a nice bottom cover for a WE dial candlestick, so maybe I can work a trade with someone.  

[Dan/Panther]

wds;
It depends on what you paid, do you mind sharing that ?
D/P

[wds]

About $30

[LarryInMichigan]

About $30

That doesn't sound like much of a loss.  The shell and handset are worth almost that.  I bought a D1 in rough shape mostly to get the plunger and hook switch.

If we want to discuss expensive stupid mistakes, I expect that more than a few of us could contribute to the thread, but most would probably prefer to keep the skeletons in the closet

Larry

[DavePEI]

Picked up this gold 202, which I think is a continental phone.  Seller of course said everything was fine on the phone.  The paint on the phone is pretty beat up, but I figured if nothing else the dial makes the purchase worth while.  I didn't notice the missing center bolt on the dial - until it arrived.  It's a dummy dial.  I'm usually pretty good about picking out the fake phones and fake parts but this time I totally missed it.  Time to take a refresher course on Ebay buying - fake phone 101.

Here's a spare pair I had in a drawer... No charge!

[dpaynter1066]

I have a spare non-dial plate that came off a  phone I reworked, you can have it if you dont already have one handy, to replace the fake dial.

[wds]

Thanks, I might take you up on that.