[TR] eBay - a sobering story

[Frank Fisher]

 small claims court.




    On Friday, October 19, 2018, 9:02:18 PM PDT, Andrew Uprichard <auprichard at uprichard.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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