I thought that I should let you guys know about my experience with the guy who's selling this panel and the panel itself. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34204&item=2489441409&rd=1 He contacted me in response to an ad that I had run in a Canadian car collector paper, and I agreed to buy the panel sight unseen. In fact I drove 3 1/2 hours to pick it up because the guy told me it "just had a bit of surface rust". When I got there it had a light coat of rust on most of the panel (both sides) and some serious scale in a couple of large patches. I was so furious at being lied too that I quickly got back into my van and drove off, before I said or did something rash (resisting the overwhelming urge to drive over the panel which had been laid out in the laneway for my inspection!). I guess I take being lied to too personally! You can take your chances if you like, but I thought that I should warn you all. By the way, note that it has obviously been repainted (since I saw it about a month ago) on the "out" side, but not on the "back" side, so as to conserve the part number. John B.
This is one of the major problems with online auctions, as well as 'long distance' sales out of the control of a legitimate company. There are tons of horror stories just like your's, John. You can contact eBay and give this member a black mark, but it does little for your experience. Even eBay states that the sales there are basically "caveat emptor", buyer beware. I, as an eBay seller, try very hard never to misrepresent anything I sell in any way and as a buyer, haven't been burned like that..yet. Unfortunately, some will try to make a buck anyway they can at anyone's expense. There has been an increase in 'long distance' sales of collectible cars and rebiuldables off eBay with the boom in the market. There was an interesting article I read recently authored by an attorney in NJ that is a classic car buff and goes out of his way to represent other classic enthuiasists who have been burned. His advice on buying stuff sight unseen, especially expensive cars, is just don't. Everything we buy sight unseen is basically a crap shoot with our options after the sale limited, even though the laws are on our side. It would cost you more financially and in time and aggrivation to fight this moron over the quarters than it may be worth, even though you would likely win. It cost a guy who bought a rebuildable Viper, or so it was represented, more than he spent on the car to win his case when he picked it up and found that it was totalled and not worth the powder to blow it up. Not much consolation, I realize John, but it's the reality of the chance we all take when we buy this way. Personally, I would have gone off on the guy and never left until I got my money back even if I had to call the local police to come to keep the scene from getting ugly. I understand why you just got furious and left. A lot of people would have done the same.
I agree with what your saying about "long distance" sales Wes, but it seems that I may have given the wrong impression unintentionally. My experience with this vendor was not by way of eBay. He had called me in response to a "Wanted" ad I had placed, looking for a rear quarter. He never got a nickel of my money, thankfully, but is now trying to sell the same panel by way of the auction that I posted the link to. Anyway, thanks for the support. You certainly turned out to be a man of your word when we did our little "long distance" deal for the rad support. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from you again Wes, sight unseen. John B.
Thank you, my friend. That means a lot to me. It's just a shame that there's all too many that have no hesitation to take advantage of anyone just to make a fast buck. The Viper fiasco I mentioned had nothing to do with eBay and there's just as much fraud going on off eBay as on, if not more because you have some recourse with eBay. Private sales are pretty much at your own risk.
