Hi all. In March 2012 I bought a group of model T parts. At the time the seller offered to drop them off at my shipping agent which is close to him. I thought that was kind of him. My shipping agent consolidates my stuff so it takes a while to get to me. The parts in question didn't get to me. My shipping agent could not remember receiving them. I had given them up as lost which was disappointing as they cost me a considerable amount.
Recently I noticed a group of parts for sale and had a closer look. They were the same items in the group of parts and bore a resemblance to what I bought in 2012. When I looked at the photos I'd saved from 2012 the markings and appearance looked identical. I can see the same forging marks, paint chips, rust spots and grease marks in corresponding positions. I consider it highly unlikely that one person has 2 groups containing the same items that have the same specific appearance without them being the same actual parts. I contacted the seller and he has responded and maintains he dropped my parts off. I queried whether he may have inadvertently dropped off the wrong box. He refuses to discuss it and says the 2013 parts are not my parts.
Let me be clear on one thing - I'm not suggesting any impropriety on the seller's part but believe he is mistaken.
I'm interested in other people's opinions here:
Do you think they are the same (actual) parts?
What would you do if you were in my position?
Regards, Andrew.
Picture 3 & 4 are obviously the same part. My eyes are not good enough for #1 & 2.
If I had to venture an opinion, I'd say it's fairly obvious that you are correct. Depending on how you bought them, ebay, classifieds, etc. you may be able to get some satisfaction. Too many unknowns at this time to make any suggestion. Good luck.
Andrew, the paint chipping on the shifter levers are Identical. It look the same to me at least this part.
If the seller don't want to acknowledge that at least the shifter is identical, at least I would have reported to eBay - if they pull the auction he may take notice?
I think I would have a longer talk with this man.
And he would also have to have a slip from the shipping.
Charley
PS---I really have a thing for cheaters!
I would call the sheriff's office in the county where this man who defrauded you lives. Ask to speak to a bunko investigator.
They ARE your parts. You've been scammed. If you bought the parts through Ebay they should be alerted to this jerk and a complaint filed. Did you pay by Paypal. If so, they can help. Does he live near you? If so, maybe you should pay his horse a visit and make him an offer he can't refuse. Don't be so nice or guys like this will confuse it for weakness. the only thing guys like this understand is hardball, so... PLAY BALL!
Ebays claims dept. sucks. I bought a watch and pd. thru paypal. never got it. Filed a claim, got a couple responces showing it was files and that was about it. Few weeks later, they said it was dismissed. What the hell good is that. No more ebay for me.
Andrew, the new bolts in the housing appear in both photos. Also the un-rust stained areas on the ring gear are the same. That added with the obvious identical shifter makes it likely they are the same parts.
In consolation,
Allan from down under.
P.S. It's probably not worth chasing this monetarily. When I purchased my T tudor a comforting part of the transaction was that the money changed hands between two US based entities. That way the fight is closer to home and more likely to succeed. You need a good friend in the US to pay funds to and have them make the payment.
Hope this helps.
I thought that's why ball bats were invented...to correct these type of mistakes!
I'd be printing and screaming their name all over the place so someone else doesn't get burned.
Andrew;
I believe I know what to suggest that will get your money back or your parts to you.
Are you in the U.S.?
Is the seller in the U.S.?
Is your shipping agent in the U.S.?
Let me know and I'll tell you what has worked successfully for me in my work.
Bill Everett
Thanks all for the comments.
Hi Bill. I'm in Australia. The seller and my shipping agent are close by in the US.
Andrew.
Looks like the same parts to me. Here is two parts rotated to match the same rust patterns.
I'd talk to him, then if no satisfaction, talk to the law, then if no satisfaction, think about a small claims action or talk to a $lawyer$.
Jim
Well, he is trying to sell the parts on ebay right now, i wont say his seller name, but be aware if you are looking at ruckstell parts.
How about everybody going to the auction and ask why he's selling parts he sold last year? Is he old and forgetful?
I know this guy.
Jack Daron, what is this guys name. He live at Jamestown, In. I can't remember. He is in our club. Can't find our club roster.
100% positive feedback, maybe he might just need another friendly reminder before things get nasty.
It could be an honest mistake. He might have put this stuff in a box to take to wherever he was going to take it and just forgot about it. Have you contacted him? I think that is the first step.
Hi Stan.
I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming he made an honest mistake. I contacted him and we exchanged a few messages. I tried to reason with him but he flat out refuses to acknowledge that these are the actual parts I bought. I am suggesting he accidentally dropped off the wrong box. I sent him comparison photos similar to what Jim posted above and pointed out the multiple points of similarity. Everything matches. I don't know whether he even looked at the photos. His last response was abrupt and indicated he was not prepared to discuss the matter any further. I am trying to be reasonable but I had no option but to pursue other avenues.
I'm still open to suggestions. If he won't talk to me to resolve this what can I do? I looked at reporting the item through ebay but none of the categories apply, unless the report is being made by a law enforcement official.
Andrew.
Andrew,I know a guy who knows him. I asked him to take a look at it. No quarantine.
Did you file anything with Ebay or anything when you noticed the parts missing in 2012? That should help some in a claim.
Looks like the same parts to me.
Something must have spooked him as the auction was ended.
I think I did it. I sent him an e-mail an asked why he was selling parts he had sold before.
I think maybe a few folks sent him a note. I did too with a link to this thread.
Jim
I hate crooks...
I got "Taken" BIG TIME on a car I bought on EBAY.......The person out n out LIED to me and as a person that trusts in their fellow man I took it "IN THE SHORTS'..He was a so-called,,professional..He had Jay Leno interviewing him about his "Book" on his website...I filled out a complaint to EBAY and never ,ever heard a thing..........By the time the car was shipped to me......What do you DO ??? I feel for you and hope the person does right by you and you get your PARTS.......
If he has seen this thread, it will be interesting to see what (if anything) happens.
Andrew, I just read your thread. If I can help you out, let me know. Kim
The seller has been sent a link to this thread, lets see if Mr. ageless-iron has anything to say on this matter.
He has seen this thread, I am certain. He should perform a google search on the name Charlie Wenzel, to get some kind of an idea how bad the world can be, if you scam someone on the web. Charlie Wenzel sold a ring and pinion set to a member of a 4x4 club, and the deal spun out of control due to his lies and deceit. I have a notion to inform the good folks at Pirate4x4.com about this parts deal. He just "may" become the next Wenzel.
Hey, where's dis mug from. You want maybe me an' da kid have a woid wit' him? Ain't nuttin' a knee cap realignment can't fixup. Jus' say da woid boss.
Thank you for letting us all know that the e-bay seller "ageless-iron" is one of those sellers on e-bay that would take advantage - I will be sure not to look at another of his sales.
It seems odd the "ageless-iron" has not come forth here or elsewhere with some sort of an apology and/or an account of the circumstances surrounding the original sale and the reappearance of some of the parts in a sale situation where one would not expect them to be. One would have hoped that "ageless-iron" would want to "clear his name" or at least settle the mater in a up front and fair manner. I suspect we have not heard the end of this.
He stated to me that he wasn't a member here but knew all about this forum. He did reply to my message almost instantly. Said it was all just a big mixup.
Charley
Never attribute to skullduggery what can be explained by incompetence. He may have CRS.
I read that crap on the Charlie Wenzel guy. It went on and on. I'm not done reading but basically he sent parts that were not as described, then he refused to refund the money. Threatened with legal action after the parts were refused from the shipper, he finally sent the buyer his money back: in the form of a Western Union Money Order.
When I read that, I just knew the man would never see his money. The seller purchased the money order at 7-11, but they won't cash them. In fact, most retailers won't. They have to go through a bank and by that time, it's easy for the person to claim it stolen and "poof" there goes the money.
Basically, the forum ended up creating a special sub-section in their classifieds of people to steer clear of, and warnings about this guy wound up on just about every forum you can imagine, even those not dealing with automobiles.
The kicker is when someone posted all about it on the local Craigslist for that guy's town....
Hi all. An update - the seller has contacted me. He is being very reasonable and is proposing a solution. Please hold off on your judgement of the situation. This has caused both the seller and I considerable stress and we are both trying to resolve it. I'd appreciate it if there were no negative posts until we've straightened this out, at which time I'll let everybody know its been resolved satisfactorily.
Andrew
Take down the rope boys...there will be no hangin tonite....lets go a drinkin.
Guys - This thread is a small part of the reason it is good to have a community of people with like interests.
It seems that this problem would have been ignored if it had not been brought up in front of a relatively large group of people that are potential customers.
Hi Andrew, why not just contact him tell him he has not sent the parts so pull them and sent them or get a T member nearby to contact him as he must be a god dam crook and needs to be named so no else will get taken, name him as you will not be buying off him again so go for broke, the last time a crook took my money Rick's stepped in and got it back so if he's not in California then some other good member could do the same for you as its in their interest to help each other, yer name him.... Ray
ill bet now he shipped the wrong box of course.
The guy in question may be one of those folks who work in their own "time frame".
Never on time for anything, always gets up when he wants to, no type of inner clock to get things
done.
Some Ebay sellers are that way also. When they say they ship items promptly it might be 3-4 weeks after they get your payment.
To them that's fast. Some folks just wont admit they have a bad case of the lazy a##!
I would bet the items were just misplaced and never sent and then "found" a year later. If he decides to do the right thing now and ship them or refund all the money it should solve this and prove some people are honest. Lets see how this turns out but if it needs a little help, we have a lot of members here in Indiana willing to stop by and help him pack up the parts and ship them. Lets hope all turns out well........
Bob with all due respect I don't think someone who does the "right" thing after being caught with his hand in the cookie jar proves he is honest. I do like that you and others close by are willing to stop by and help him pack up and ship the parts so as to correct his mistake. ;^)
I agree with Richard Gould
Do you honestly think he would make an effort to straighten this out if he had not been flagged on this forum?
He was caught and identified If he did nothing his business would have been hurt. As it is most people that have read this will be very cautious if they deal with him.