Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Discussions about US MREs and other US rations
Phu_Bai
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:23 pm

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Phu_Bai » Thu Jan 27, 2022 2:01 pm

Appreciate you chiming in Steve - thanks.

texrdnec
Posts: 248
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:00 pm

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by texrdnec » Thu Jan 27, 2022 4:20 pm

Militaryration_guy wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:44 am
Phu_Bai wrote:
Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:50 am
Anyway to really tell? What makes you think so? That would be fraud. Doesn't make sense the seller would risk that based on his feedback, time on ebay (2009) and other odd expensive artifacts he has sold as his history shows.
The box and wrapper looks a bit to clean for old gum.
i just tracked down a full box of 1941 beechies to finish a ration that was missing some, looked like it was produced yesterday

texrdnec
Posts: 248
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:00 pm

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by texrdnec » Thu Jan 27, 2022 4:22 pm

87AD4480-86B4-4CD1-8C46-9AD89F49629D.jpeg

Phu_Bai
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:23 pm

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Phu_Bai » Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:18 pm

Plot thickens. There is no question the box is real. I'm finding preliminarily right now this seller purchased a large lot of PK gum packs from another seller on eBay at a little over a buck apiece. I suspect he then added them to the box after the fact. He uses very clever wording in the description to circumvent this fact and not answer the question directly. This made me suspicious and I was able to find this out through some research.

I don't want to pay almost $900 for a box that has had gum added to it from whatever range of years. If this is the case he should have disclosed in the auction that period correct, with unknown year of manufacture gum was added to the box to fill it. Not to thrilled at the moment. I let him know unless he has a valid explanation I will be returning it.

User avatar
Smitty
Posts: 630
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 8:25 pm
Location: AB, Canada

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Smitty » Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:22 pm

A very cool find. I struggle with typing this in a way that sounds nice, so I apologize, but why spend $900 on something you weren't sure was legit? It's your money, so I don't begrudge you that, but perhaps approach some of these larger purchases more carefully in the future.
All the best, Gents.

- I'm also making videos mainly for my own enjoyment, but hey, maybe you might want to check them out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4-9gp ... C1dSyPX0w/

Phu_Bai
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:23 pm

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Phu_Bai » Thu Jan 27, 2022 5:27 pm

Everything seemed legit initially with seller as reiterated earlier in my posts. No matter how much experience you have you still never know. I'll be more careful the next time. Not to worried about getting refunded/reimbursed. Appreciate the comment.

User avatar
Dekard
Posts: 370
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:47 am
Location: Bermuda Shorts

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Dekard » Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:20 pm

Here's why I was suspicious...
https://www.1944supply.com/en/rations/9311-p-k-gum.html
Screen Shot 2022-01-27 at 10.15.01 PM.png


This site has a good history of ration chewing gum
http://www.kration.info/chewing-gum.html
chewing-gum-front-2_med_hr.jpeg


And this site sells repros as well
https://www.wwiisoldier.com/product/wwi ... roduction/
Screen Shot 2022-01-27 at 10.17.20 PM.png


You can also use your nose - if the gum smells store bought fresh, that would be a tip off.

I would imagine after 40+ years, the smell of gum would have diminished - but Steve1989 is prob more qualified to answer that than I.

GunnarTheFeisty
Posts: 324
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:23 pm
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by GunnarTheFeisty » Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:23 am

Man, if I got a box of that I would chew right through it all.
most wanted: RCIR, MCI/B units, IMPs, anything old, and a packet or two of RAFCO soup. PM if you've got these, or anything else to sell that isn't too expensive.

Phu_Bai
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:23 pm

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Phu_Bai » Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:49 am

Seller was cool and took it back. Sent back yesterday and I will get a refund. I think from now on I will focus on only collecting things that are sealed for now. Thanks everyone for your posts. I appreciate it.

User avatar
Dekard
Posts: 370
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:47 am
Location: Bermuda Shorts

Re: Spent $900 on a box of WWII chewing gum...

Post by Dekard » Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:02 pm

Phu_Bai wrote:
Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:49 am
Seller was cool and took it back. Sent back yesterday and I will get a refund...
wow! that's almost unheard of. lucky you.

what did the seller have to say?

Post Reply