[6pack] eBay - a sobering story

[Tom Lofgren]

Andrew,

Since eBay won't let you leave negative feedback, can you at least let us
know his user name?  I regularly buy stuff on eBay and I would like to
avoid this guy.

Tom

On Fri, Oct 19, 2018 at 8:43 PM Andrew Uprichard via 6pack <
6pack at autox.team.net> wrote:

> Before I start the story, let me take full responsibility for my own
> stupidity.  I screwed up.  But the follow-up is where I think others need
> to be careful.
>
>
>
> Having bought a TR3 with a body which was beyond salvage, I have been
> looking for, and was prepared to pay good money for, a decent tub.  I
> recently saw one on eBay which was advertised as being “in good
> condition”.  It was fairly expensive, so I emailed the seller *twice* and
> asked specifically about the extent of the rust:  he replied by assuring me
> the car was “in great condition” with “minimal rust”.  I asked for
> additional pics, but he said it was difficult as the car was at a different
> location.
>
>
>
> After I bid and won, the seller emailed me to say I had to pick the car up
> within 24 hours as he had a family commitment and would be gone for a
> week.  The car was several hours away and I explained I couldn’t make it.
> He said OK, but he wanted the money immediately.  I called PayPal and they
> said I would lose any protection if I paid before seeing the car.  So I
> called eBay and they reassured me I was covered 100% by the eBay vehicle
> protection plan (VPP).  So I paid.  My mistake.
>
>
>
> A week later I drove out and found a car with rust holes big enough to put
> my hand through and a passenger side with so much collision damage I doubt
> it could ever be restored.  Oh, and the frame was bent.  I told him I
> wasn’t going to take the car, he had misrepresented it, and I wanted my
> money back.  He told me tough, you paid already, it’s yours.
>
>
>
> I came home and called eBay only to be told the VPP only applies to cars
> less than 10 years old and that I had no recourse other than to sue the
> seller.  After several sleepless nights I decided I could do without the
> stress of litigation and so I drove back out to collect the car.  When I
> got there the seller told me he had sold it to someone else.  Great, I
> said, give me my money.  Nah, he said, you take it and I’ll deal with the
> other guy.  The seller had brought a few buddies over, and so I simply
> loaded the car up and drove home.
>
>
>
> Bottom line – I salvaged one replacement panel and 2 fenders, one of which
> is fiberglass.  The car is being collected this week for a trip to the
> scrapyard.
>
>
>
> It was my fault and I accept responsibility for it.  Thankfully, my lovely
> wife has not given me grief and as a Christian I forgive the guy.  But I
> did leave negative feedback on eBay.  The EXACT words were “Total
> misrepresentation of the car.  Buyers beware”.  It never posted.  I called
> eBay today and was told the seller had appealed my feedback as it was
> “pejorative and threatened the future success of his business”.  As a
> result eBay had the right to remove it – and they did.  And they will not
> let me leave any negative feedback.
>
>
>
> I still love the Triumph community, but I am a little more cynical about
> mankind (which is a shame) and I am disgusted with eBay.  I guess I am
> venting, but if anyone has a good TR3 tub………
>
>
>
> Andrew Uprichard
>
> Jackson, Michigan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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