A couple more Fails revived from the trash pile. Each story involves a well known collector, and ain't nobody reading this able to predict the final outcome. Nobody, and that included me.

I took the high road but didn't know the bridge was out.

Ten years ago was when I was most active in collecting foreign insulators. Around this time a Columbia collector started selling a number of Zicmes. Initially they were selling for more than I wanted to pay but after a couple of years when prices dropped a bit, I bought a group of three . Nothing extra special but still a nice addition. PayPal was not an option and cash was sent as per the sellers instructions - hid in an envelope with a couple pages from a newspaper. He receives the cash and sends out the well packed insulators.

So far, so good.

The insulators arrive in due time- all of them badly chipped and broken. It was obvious that customs was responsible as the box had been sliced opened and all the wrappings on the individual insulators cut free and mostly discarded. Leaving the insulators free to smash against each other, which they did too many times.

Not the sellers fault. Not my fault. I have several options, none are pleasant. Partially because he is an Icon member and partially because he has sold many insulators previous without any public complaints, I opt to take the high road and offer to settle for a discount on a future purchase. I am offering to take a partial loss on this, I just don't know how much. The seller is not going to be out any actual money, but I will be. Seller quickly agrees.

So far, so-so good.

I have been waiting to collect on our agreement since 2010, but to the best of my knowledge, I had purchased the last of any insulators he intended on selling.

I absorb the total loss, insulators and postage. Not exactly what I had in mind.

So far, not so good.

[id=235482693;the box as it arrived]

That was one of my more expensive Fails - but it only gets the runner up award for most unexpected.

The transaction with the most unexpected ending was a simple trade with a German collector, Ulrich Reiser. He sends me an insulator, I send him an insulator. Done deal. I had not been collecting foreign for very long and was working towards establishing overseas contacts. To that end, I had added two extra insulators with the thought it might curry favour further down the collecting/trading road.

Good plan, so far.

After he received my package and before I had any need of a favour, the man up and died. [id=489007333]

Good for me, not so good for Ulrich.

Closure on both of these deals could still be considered pending as last I checked both were still listed as Icon members. Looking to the future, the odds of me collecting on a favour from a dead man or collecting on a discount from Columbia, are 3 - 2 in favour of Mr Reiser's estate.

Is there such a thing as an optimistic pessimist ? [id=571912832;next episode]