BartW

A few weeks ago I sold a set of wheels and tires on Ebay (they're 17 for GM full size cars) The wheels came from a car at my buddy's impound lot that someone did not pick up after an accident and he obtained a title to and was going to scrap it, he asked if I could sell the wheels for him on EBay to recoup his towing and storage cost since he is computer illetarate. Anyway the wheels were like new and the tires had the nobbies still on them as well as there was the Discount Tire envelope in the car that had the receipt from just a few weeks ago. One of the wheels had some curb rash which I stated in the auction and took detailed pictures of that I would email to interested parties. The guy who bought the wheels bid more than I expected on them so I gave him a break on the shipping (I charged him $50 when it cost $138 from MI to WA because they are very heavy especially with the tires) Two weeks after he received them (I checked the tracking #s) he emails me to tell me that the tire on the curbed wheel has a cut on the sidewall and needs to be replaced. I offer to go to Discount TIre and have my brother in law who manages the store add the "road hazzard warranty" to the tires which he told me can be added any time and that he would make sure that the store near his house replaces the tire even though he is not the original purchaser. The guy then tells me that he already bought another tire somewhere else and I owe him $129 for it and that the tire was flat upon arrival. I packaged the tires personally and removed them from the car and know for a fact that it was not flat, I also reviewed my close up pictures and no abrasion on the tire is visible which I forwarded to him again. He calls me a few names and threatens bad feedback. I replied that it is unreasonable to just replace the tire and bill me for it without contacting me first, it would be the same if I bought a TV at one store and when something went wrong with the remote I would just go to another store and buy one and bill the first store for it who offerred me a replacement at no cost. I told him that he is unreasonable and I no longer will deal with him. I think he is unreasonable but I just want to make sure I am not in left field here.

SidViscous

Nah man You did the right thing.

So he leaves you bad feedback, unless you make a living off of it, it shouldn't be a big deal right.

And even so, you should have enough good to cover it.

Jeff928S4

Tell him you want the $129 tire and you will replace the tire with the original one, from the original store. He bought the rims with THOSE tires on them, so that is what he will get.

That's fair - he gets a new tire and you're not out $129 (you can sell the tire he bought).

...and no, you're not out in left field.

944S Boyeee

Dave

IIRC, you are able to leave your own comment on a bad feedback.
Also, you have pictures what the tires looked like when they were sent, it sounds like his claim is with the shipping company.

Randy_J

Yep, make the insurance claim and send him the proceeds. Let him swear the affidavit if the insurance company requires it.

I had a similar eBay experience - a so-called pristine 944 cargo cover arrived with BOTH caps broken. Seller claims it was the shipper - and ultimately the seller arranged for the shipper to pay out the claim less shipping charges.

What's interesting however, is that there is ample evidence that the end caps were GLUED together previously!! Seller claimed that's what UPS does - they break things in shipment and then try to repair them before delivery!! <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

icat

Two weeks AFTER he received them they go flat - and it's your fault. Right.

Carrie Ann

I've been selling stuff on eBay quite a bit these days and have run into my fair share of jerks. People bitch about shipping, despite me charging exactly what it costs to send it to them -- I even offer them the links they can use to verify and encourage them to ask questions before they bid. They have demanded refunds when an item wasn't as they'd hoped -- even though I provide detailed info + a number of pictures. And, if an item unfortunately didn't arrive at all--here's where the optional but recommended insurance comes into play--they instantly demand a refund. I feel bad, regardless of doing as I was supposed to, and usually at least refund them their shipping. But to refund in full when I'd be out an item and the eBay listing/final value fees, that's pretty bogus. I've gotten nasty threats with negative feedback, one girl even threatened to sue me over a $10 item that I shipped but didn't make it to her. Nevermind that she hadn't opted for insurance, despite claiming to be an 'experienced eBayer.' Riiight.

Some people are just never happy and I'm ever the apologetic one. Due, in part, to my history with working in customer service. However, there reaches a point where you've gotta decide what's more important. These days, if I know I did something as I should have, and have even been more than courteous and helpful in seeing the person happy, if they still want more, screw 'em. They're not worth the time and worry. I got my first negative feedback out of almost 400 positives the other day. Upset me at first, but I got over it. [And yeah, the fact that you can add a short reply, below, does help.]

Sounds to me like you've done everything you should've and are not in the wrong here. You're willing to work with him to see that he gets what he paid for. But don't sacrifice what you know is right, in the process. eBay can be a good thing, but man, every once in awhile I question whether all the crap that comes with it is really worth it sometimes.

Rambling responses aside, good luck with all this.

BartW

Thanks guys, I don't use Ebay a lot but on occasion and have always dealt with some pretty straight up people with only one exception so far and this being the second. I felt that offering the tire to him from a store that is 4.2 miles from his house (I mapped through Yellow Pages from his address) was more than reasonable. I am certain that the tire was good when I put it in the box and if I noticed a problem with it I would've had my brother in law replace it here before I shipped it at no cost to me. I am not trying to get rich off of anybody and that is why I helped him out with the shipping since the bidding exceeded expectations, I was obviously not obligated to do so and just did it out of my good will. Some people just can not be happy and I also feel that him bashing me after I was made aware of the problem and offerred replacement only alerts me of possible dishonesty on his part.

slevy951

This guy is trying to take you for $129. Either that or he drove a tire over a curb and wants you to pay for it. I personally think it's the latter. He should've contacted you prior to replacing the tire. Have you left feedback for him yet? If not, let him know he's in the same boat on the feeback issue (he may not care). I think your on firm ground. Next time, put "sold as is" in the auction text.