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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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 <u>twice</u> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>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………<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Andrew Uprichard<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Jackson, Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>