OK...I am here to let off steam...in my building of a collection...one of the niches that I identified as a cool part to collect was "rare" Schwinns...so, a Schwinn that was not made for very long, or maybe low volume, etc. One of the ones I identified was a Schwinn Volare from 1987 or 1988...only made for two years...and very high end for Schwinn (for those two years, just below Paramounts). So, I started looking for one in my size...and, Voila, one popped up on eBay...my size, pretty good looking (it does have a small dent on the top tube, but, for once, I was willing to overlook that...as I did not plan on this being a major rider)...and was able to get it at a reasonable price.

So...I pulled the trigger...

And it arrived...

The guy took the wheels off...and put it all in a VERY cut down bike box...the box had a hole on 5 of its six sides...the two axles of the wheels were sticking out, part of the rear derailleur was sticking out and the bike was sitting on the chain rings, which were sticking out the bottom! There was no protection for any of the tubes...and the spokes of the wheels were rubbing on the seat stays! I know that there was recently a thread on bad packing...but...this one may take the cake! I am not including any pictures...it may make you sick! It did me! Oh...and the stem was rubbing on the top tube!

I am working with the guy to determine what we do...he offered me a "bit" of a discount to keep it (and I have to admit it is tempting)...I requested a bigger discount...he is considering it...I will let you know what happens...and then, if I do end up with enough of a discount, I will share pictures of the bike. At this point, I have not even taken it out of the box!

Big SIGH...what a disappointment...

I think some sellers mean well when they think they know how to pack a bike, but really have no clue. I always point them to a couple threads on here which contain great instructions. I would keep pictures of your current packing job and send it to sellers so they can see what happens when you don't do the job correctly.

Get a decent refund or open a claim, through Ebay and/or PayPal, if that is how you paid. The buyer always wins in situations like this, or so it would appear to me.

This lovely old and very rare Miele was packed up in a similar fashion, when I received it. Crank rings sticking out of box bottom (big ring got bent, rear derailleur sticking out and it got broken in half, and, of course, wheel axles protruding.

When I complained, the seller offered to replace the rear derailleur. Never heard from him again. I should have opened a claim, but failed to do so. Fortunately, I managed to get it all together, even though I had to buy a new rear derailleur and chain ring...

I thought the Volare was made around 77-78

+1 Volare was not from those years, are you thinking Avion/Ontare? It is super rare.

Buying bikes on eBay is a crap shoot. I always recommend if you do it, buy from someone with multiple positive feedbacks on actual sales and shipments of bikes. Otherwise, drive and pick it up. I have driven pretty far one way just to avoid the eBay shipping risk.

Of the bikes I have bought on eBay, HALF arrived with damage. The worst one, the seller put the bike, LOOSE, with NO packing whatsoever, in a bike box. It was shipped from Seattle to South Carolina. Needless to say, bike had a lot of damage by the time it arrived. The seller's response "I used a bike box". Classic....

Myself, I would get a complete refund.

As far as cutting down a bike box, most have to be cut down some. The last bike box I obtained was 135 inches overall, against a max limit of 132 inches. In that case, slight cut down was required for a complete bike shipment, massive cut down was required for a frame shipment (108 inches max).

Most disappointments on eBay are relatively predictable. Does the seller have a perfect feedback score, with lots of sales (feedback for purchases only will be spotless but meaningless). Has the seller shipped bikes in the past with positive feedback? Does the seller show pictures of past bike shipping? Is the shipping charge realistic but not super cheap? (Sellers who low ball shipping cost sometimes get sticker shock and as a result, do some creative packing to meet size requirements). How high is the feedback count on sales, and how much of it is recent? Is the seller "top rated plus"?

To meet all this criteria, expect to pay a higher price. In addition, you probably will not find many sellers that meet all the criteria. Just understand not having some of this criteria increases risk. None of this criteria = pick up in person.

The longer the seller's record, and the higher the number of feedbacks, the more confidence you should have. Realize to maintain 100% positive feedback over many years, with lots of sales = a seller that will bend over backwards to make you happy.

FWIW, the ones that have arrived with damage for me all failed the criteria I list above. So why did I buy? First, they were a mistake, I have learned a lot about buying on eBay since then. Secondly, one was a grail bike for me, one I had looked for over three years, so I knowingly rolled the dice on that one.

Sucks. Hope it works out to something resembling satisfaction.
In the meantime...

+1 got my numbers wrong...fat finger typing! Through the tears of disappointment!

Bill...as I said in another response...on the years...I had "fat finger" typing! :-)

This guy had great feedback...I did not check the specific sales that he had...my bad...

And...this was a form of a grail bike for me...so I did, knowingly, take the risk...

Finally...on cutting down a box...yes, I understand that, as I ship my share of frames and bikes...but this one was cut down to the size of a frame box...with a full bike in it...again...probably inexperience.

Oh...and on driving to pick up...that would not be practical for this one...I am in Georgia...bike was in California...

Again...live and learn...and as you said...sometimes...you just have to spend money to learn!

Very sorry to see yet another one of these. I had a similar experience with a far more rare beauty. A 1981 Marinoni Pista special in 62cm size. SP Ovalized downtube, early maple leaf cut out on the headlug and etched into the fork crown.

It had been repainted, the seller having had it down. It was all gussied up with hipster fixie parts around 2006 or so with deep V's, Nitto NJS, dura-ace track. I got it and the bars were loose in the box as well as the post and seat and poorly secured and protected despite claims of being a "professional". I paid through the nose for this machine and the guy was absolutely careless. He refused any compensation and didn't respond to emails. I could not return this bike even though the paint was ruined. The colour is difficult to match and I have never really fixed it. Some day I'll have it repainted, but I have had that bike for close to 9 years and still cringe when I think about that idiot.

Glad to see I am not alone...but...very sorry to hear your story!

I once delivered a bike from northern Ohio to Atlanta

Yes you did...and it was MUCH appreciated!!!!!