Yeah Charlie, I have a few "Sweeper Sob Stories" too.
The worst, by far, was the time I was swindled out of five near-mint and 100% complete and all-original canister machines (see pics) sent on good faith that I would receive a huge bunch of rare Electrolux and Kirby stuff in kind.
My machines all had complete literature, tool caddies, etc. The Filter Queen had every available optional accessory under the sun including a VERY rare commercial-length bare floor nozzle, a complete dealer sales demo kit with special tools for demonstrating the machine including a TRANSPARENT canister that attached to the machine in place of the normal tan one (to show the cyclonic action by sucking up marbles), a hair dryer, clothes dryer rack, floor polisher, optional large rug nozzle ... a dozen pieces of literature; literally the works. I've never seen another one so complete, and have never seen most of the rare options like the large bare floor nozzle, the clothes dryer and the sales demo kit.
There were also a bunch of sales incentives I had collected over the years -- G.E. Sewing Kit, Constellation tape measure, Filter Queen Salt/Pepper shakers, Filter Queen Sewing Kit, and Compact Salt/Pepper shakers.
The person who wanted this stuff -- a canister freak -- claimed he had all sorts of similarly rare Electrolux stuff that he had gotten from a retired Electrolux dealer -- original XXX, LX, E, AE and AF hoses brand new in the box, rare commercial attachments, literature, etc etc etc., and a Kirby 505 brand new in the box, untouched from the day it left Cleveland. He claimed not to care about Electrolux and Kirby and was happy to make the trade. Little did I know it was all bullshit.
I sent all the stuff along to the person, spending almost $500 in packing and shipping costs (to say nothing of the value of the machines themselves), trusting I would get the things back in trade that I had been promised. Days turned into weeks; weeks turned into months; months turned into years. I never got so much as a dusting brush. Nearly 10 years later, the person finally admitted what he had done -- had co-conspired with a friend to swindle me. Oh, what a story. It would befit a daytime soap opera.
The intense frustration and sadness I went through with that experience, along with the very demoralizing experience of being such a sucker and so easily duped, along with the knowledge that someone I thought was a friend but was really a crook, still lingers with me. I will probably never completely get over it.
I have forgiven the person, because he did finally come to me and admit what had happening. But I haven't been able to forget. What that experience did to me was to lower my innate level of trust just a little. I am more wary now about entering into such trades than I used to be. I lost a little innocence around that experience.
Those who were around during that time remember what a nightmare it was for me.
