General opinion requested on this Craigslist deal..

[99Runnr]

Let me try to make this blunt, I will elaborate as necessary. I am not naming any names or trying to discredit someone. This is purely my reaching out, to see if this is as crappy of a deal as it seems to me..

Seller lives 5 hours away from me, round trip. It's 230 miles to drive there and back, I always have to head there in the morning and sit through traffic to make it on time.

I made a package purchase. A $250 item and a $100 item, together for $300. This was my 4th time coming up there, as well as sending numerous locals to him . The $100 item was discovered to be useless to me, in my specifically requested condition requirements once I got home. It was a door, I held it, he unbolted it. The truck was sitting outside for months, damp, I didn't inspect super close as I realized it had no window and was checking those aspects out.

So it's got rust bubbling the paint up in like 4 or more places. On the exterior face near the bottom out of your line of sight. Once I explained this, my "package deal" was broken. So he wants $25 more for the item I'm keeping now over our package price.

I have to drive 5 hours AGAIN to return the item that was described inaccurately to me initially. Would you guys feel like someone was being an ******* at that point over $20 in this situation or would you feel that was fair? I don't have much money to speak of, VERY little actually. So it kinda stings when someone wants just a little more, when I have to spend another $35 just in gas to return a $75 part now that nobody will want. Let alone the mileage and time added to my rig again and still without what I needed. To me this seems like SELLER description came up short, so I wouldn't think of squeezing $25 out of someone knowing where they lived, as a return customer.

Opinions?

 

[volkinator]

I'm confused... Are you keeping the $250 item? And he wants you to pay $25 over the $300 you paid to return the door? So in his books it would be $325 for a $250 sale?

I'd say if you return the door, he reimburse you the $50 difference. Then he can try to sell the door for the original $100. He wins by getting his door back and getting asking price for the other item, you win by not getting a rusty door. The travel time just sucks. But I don't think it's necessarily the sellers fault for that; that'd be on you for not inspecting closer on pickup...

My $0.02

 

[99Runnr]

I am keeping the $250 (initial asking, paying $225) item, returning the $100 item (for $75).

That is the issue to me; simply, where do I take fault for not inspecting something I'd have to lay on the ground to see practically. Either way, he missed it for that reason, so did I. Equal enough, it's just the single statement;

$200 is too cheap, I need to get $225.

If I personally explained something to be in the condition the buyer requested and then did NOT deliver. I wouldn't sweat the $25. At the end of the day it's $60 to me for returning and paying more for one item I only got to make the drive worth it.

There are much greater losses in life, just feels to me like someone was careless at their "customer support" who does a TON of business in this niche market. I'll respect any feedback, always worse being in the situation first hand then hearing someone else think they got jipped $25. Just wanted some unbiased input so I can decide to either do future business or not.

 

[Planetölogy]

Unfortunately the seller holds all the cards.

Let's do the math.
$300 parts
+$35 gas
+$35 gas
-$75 refund
$295

Even if he gave you $100 for the door you would be only $30 ahead. As it stands now you will net $5 for the second five-hour drive. Your time and effort are worth more than $1/hr.

 

[99Runnr]

I won't make this any more elaborate for those bystanders who are giving their .02. I appreciate the input and it was all I really needed to spell this out for myself. This kinda illustrates my feelings if you care to read anymore;

As a 4th time return customer or whatever, I had learned to take him on his word of part condition. I was specifically told other thing's I wanted were no good, that had minimal issues. It WAS understood I wanted something in nearly perfect condition, to bolt onto my truck and not require; paint, dent repair, ect.

We had periods before where we took each other on our word. I took parts the FIRST time I met him without paying and he trusted me. I followed true to my word and paid him that night. I had taken him on his word before to accurately describe part condition, in one case, he didn't have what was promised.

He had stated then that certain part's weren't worth selling unless they met a criteria. It was also stated the day I got this stuff, that my doors (straight, zero dents, ZERO rust, just painted 96-98 color versus 99+ IJM code) were a tough sell and not worth anything to him.

Now as a mass-partout seller, you understand certain thing's aren't worth selling. The condition I expected was quite clear and understood between us. It's acceptable that we both missed the damage to the door. My issue is ultimately giving at BOTH ends here.

I can accept paying $225 for the other item, what I don't like is paying that, AND spending 5 hours returning what I know will be GARBAGE to the seller. When you have 60 4runner doors on your property literally, and you call one garbage with 2 small sections of missing paint, one with rust coming through the exterior would more then qualify to me.

So me as this seller, would rather work with the dude who has spent $1000+ dollars and is trustworthy over getting back garbage on my property to throw in the corner. Of course that is compliant towards me, just felt like I had established that. Either way, I'll suck it up and I'm good on my word. It's a small amount of money, but feeling like you are done wrong is stronger then a few bucks sometimes.

 

[Drunner97]

Can you not salvage the part that needs to be returned and just flip it for an even price locally? I understand your frustration with the trust between you and the seller, but it seems to me you're thinking too deeply in to this. Take it for it's worth and try to at least get your money back locally before hassling with a 5 hour trip for a couple bucks.

 

[Jernik]

Sounds like it could possibly be an honest mistake. You helped take the door off and didn't notice it either. Maybe he looked it over just like you did and simply missed seeing the damage too.

If you think you might do more business in the future, maybe store the door until you make the next trip. Return it then, and maybe see if you can work a better return deal since you'll likely be spending more money at that time.

 

[ddnww]

Fair and your loss. You should have inspected and decided if you wanted it when you first went out there if I am understanding correctly. He wants the price of the first item since its no longer a package deal. Sounds fair to me.

 

[99Runnr]

Doors sell for 100-150 around here. No way to make money repairing a door with issues in it for $100 out the gate.

I guess someone's word isn't worth a shit anymore is what I conclude by modern day business practice. Someone tells you 4-6 weeks cause their busy, you should have known better at 6 months then to expect your product. Someone tells you the condition of an item and it's not. That's my fault for not believing them and going over it. Let alone any accountability for your time wasted or leaving any pennies lefr unclaimed for themself.

Lesson learned. Trust should never be maintained in business deals. The door was returned even though I have the flu as I said I would.

 

[BigBluePile]

Well, it's used parts sooo........ Especially something as large as a door, I would have made very certain it was 100%. Trust but verify. Shame on you.

 

[Jernik]

Lesson learned. Trust should never be maintained in business deals.

It's an expensive lesson, but we've all learned it the hard way at some point. And sometimes we let our guard down and get reminded. We have to remember, not everyone is raised with or has the same moral compass. The only one looking out for you is you.

Further, not everyone has the same standards for quality. My neighbor is a great guy, but things he is content with in regards to repairs/projects would never fly at my house. But it's good for him and he's happy. I would not be. Keep both things in mind dealing on anything. Good condition for someone else (especially a seller, known throughout history to exaggerate to make a sale) may be junk for you.

 

[AudiTech]

Personally I would not drive 5 hours round trip for a used part and not thoroughly inspect it before handing over cash. You were there, you helped him remove it, and handed over cash. I think it's nice of the seller to even offer a refund if you bring it back.