Just venting a little so please bear with me! I'm not normally one to do this but the initial responses I received from the seller didn't sit well with me and I'd like to think after this thread the same thing won't happen to anyone else!
Following on from this thread:
http://www.ek9.org/forum/sale/35525-takata-bride-d1-quick-release.html
I bought the following:
I 'd been after one of these seats to match one that i've had in the garage for quite a while. The fact that it had a tear in the material wasn't an issue as i'm planning on having both retrimmed so they match. I was also going to respray the backs to match the exterior colour of my car. With that in mind I paid the full asking price of £200 and arranged to have the seat collected by a courier yesterday (thursday) at a cost of around £20-£25 (i'm yet to be billed for this as its on my account)
So this morning the seat turned up, nicely wrapped up as I was told in plenty of bubble wrap. I unwrapped it and wasn't happy with what I found (you can make your own mind up from the pics below how you'd feel)
Here's what greeted me:
The following is the series of texts sent between me and the seller this morning:
Me: Just unwrapped the seat. How come you didn't let me know it was damaged?
Seller: I'd say the seat is in very good cond for an original Bride, I bought it and was very happy with it when I owned it. Pics were added
Me: Its got a corner broken off it! Pics of that weren't there and there was no mention at all of the 4 areas that have been ground out under the mounting points? You can't see any of those things in the three pics you've posted on the forum
Seller: The 4 mounting points will be covered when side mounts are fitted, I think you need to remember this is a retro bride there is obv going to be wear and tear when you pay £200 and I paid more than that.
Me: The fact they are going to be covered up makes no difference to you not letting me know about them! You forget that i've already got one of these seats here. I paid £200 for that one and there's no damage at all to the fiberglass of the seat but there was a rip in the fabric which I knew about and is similar to the damage to the one i've got off you. I'm not bothered about the fabric of the seat as they are being re-done but as far as the damage to the fiberglass is concerned i'm not happy!
Seller: I'm sorry you feel that way, I assure you nothin was being covered up, made no difference to me. I suggest next time if your buying items you should view or ask questions about it as i felt this way very fair. Iv sold many items on the y0 and everyone has been fully satisfied. Mark
Me: Is that your final word on the matter then?
Seller: I don't feel anything further needs to be said on the matter. Mark
Me: I feel you should at least be offering a small refund to cover the cost of repairing the damage I wasn't made aware of . . .
Seller: If you want to send seat back in same condition it was received il refund you otherwise i'd say deal was fair
Me: It will be back with you on monday in that case. Nick
Now by this time I was fuming and if I were closer than I am I'd have been on my way round to drop the seat off in person but while I was wrapping it up for collection (i'd already called to have it picked up) I realised that if I did send it back i'd be almost £50 out of pocket with nothing to show for it. I got in touch with a mate who's good with fiberglass and he's going to take a mould of the corner of my intact seat and repair the damage to this one.
Now this still doesn't detract from the fact that the seller sold me the seat, knowing full well it was damaged and though he'd done nothing wrong!!!
'Good condition for its age' is not a valid way of describing anything car related as every items condition no matter how old it is is always subject to who's owned it and how well its been treated!!!
When selling something, make an effort to describe it fully, warts and all. It may not sell as quickly but you won't receive any flack or negative feedback from the sale and both parties will be 100% happy!
Sorry for the rant guys but i'm pissed off!
Nick