Fellow R3vlimited opinions

[Skoobeesnak]

OK I have decided to solicit opinions from other people on this site to help me decide if I am full of it or not. I recently purchased a drive shaft from someone who for now will remain nameless.

The drive shaft on my '87325is had a rear u-joint that was bad so it was time to replace it. With finances being tight this time of year I decided I would try to find a decent used one to get me by for a year or two. I had one lined up for $135 and sent my money via paypal but later found out that they changed the design in 9/87 so it wouldn't fit my car. That seller actually pointed out the fact that the one he had wouldn't work on my car and promptly refunded my money. Thank you mentaleeill I would not hesitate to do business with you anytime.

That same day I reposted saying that I needed a replacement drive shaft that would fit my early '87 car. Within an hour or two I got a response asking for $140 shipped or best offer. I didn't haggle on price since it was within $5 of what I was willing to pay before and it was located closer to me so I should get the part sooner. I was told the driveshaft had 120K miles on it and I planned on replacing the guibo and carrier bearing from my old one since they were only a few months old. The seller took a few days to pull the part and get it shipped to me. So far so good, I received the drive shaft within a few days and he even included all of the nuts an bolts which was nice since I had a few that were a little rounded off and could re-use these.

The problem came when I pulled them out of the box and was getting ready to put the new CSB and Guibo on. It was then that I noticed that the front u-joint had about 1/4" of play in it and it would not be much better than what I just pulled from my car. Luckily the front bearing on my old one was still good so I decided to combine the two shafts and get them rebalanced for $55 at a local driveline shop so I could get my car back on the road.

After thinking about the situation I wrote to the seller explaining that the driveshaft that was sold to me was bad and I couldn't use it as I had planned without spending more money. I then requested that he refund me the $55 that I am having to spend to make what I received from him usable. I explained that I wouldn't have wanted the drive shaft he sold me if I would have known that one of the u-joints were shot, who would? So he offered to only refund $25 and thought that was more than generous since in his opinion most people wouldn't. To his credit I will say that the driveline looked OK but it was very easy to figure out that it was bad and would have vibrated like hell in my car.

So I ask you guys.......do you think it is resonable to expect a refund to cover the cost of getting the part I was sold usable? If you think he is wrong I will point him to this thread. If you think I shouldn't expect more from this guy I will just chalk it up to experience. Thanks for reading this long assed thread.

After thinking about the situat

[thereisnoyun]

very interesting post

I think this is a very interesting post and definitely something we all have experienced with.

I think the seller is not generous, but he did his part reasonably. Reason being its really a two way street.

On the seller side
- fend off people that always say they didnt receive items and ask for refund
- buyers that recieve a 20 year old item at fraction the cost of a new one but expect the condition to be new and always ask for refunds.
- complainers in general that always think the world is conspiring against them.

On the buyers side
- buying item from seller that knowingly sells bad things to purchaser
- ignornant seller that sells broken part or wrong part
- people that never ship the part and takes your money, or takes forever to ship anything.
- cant contact people and cant find them.

I think he did the bare minimum, but I dont think he screwed you over. If he cover say... 40 bucks or 35 out of 55. Then he is generous. If he pay you back 55 because you told him it takes you 55 to balance and that the part wasnt good... unless he knowingly knows that the part was not good and felt guilty about it... then fine. If he just took your word for it, and thought hte part was good, he wouldnt be a very smart seller either.

[e30s52]

im the one who sold him the drive shaft. i responded to all of his email and called office depot about 10 times try to figure out where it was 2 of those times i was on the phone for more then an hour. i dont have much money i offerd to pay half to him and now he thinks im some guy trying to get over on him.

when i pulled the drive shaft i did not notice any play in it. i have been working really hard to try and make you happy with the deal even talk to the idiots over at office depot for over an hour trying to locate it for you.


when i pulled it was fine. my dad even came and took he sead it was fine. he would know to from the fact that he has built several drag cars. 25 bucks is alot for me sence gas prices are so that could mean the difference of me going to school or not.

thanks alex

[atomic]

One thing all should realize when dealing with used parts is that in fact they are used and something like a drive shaft could very easliy need to be rebuilt since these cars are 20 or so years old.

I don't think the seller was miss leading and has refunded almost half of your rebuild cost. Sounds fair enough to me but why didn't you just rebuild the one you had and save your self the cost of a used driveshaft ? Just wondering .....

[Skoobeesnak]

Well at this point he hasn't refunded any amount. As far as rebuilding my drive shaft it would be at least $325 vs. $140. Money is tight for everyone this time of year.

[Teaguer]

I say take the $25 and cut your loses .

The seller is being fair to offer the $25 as a refund ...as like mentione the d-shaft is 20years old and its sort of the risk yout ake with buying a $20yo part versus ponying up for new or rebuilt .

Now if upon initial inspection of the part you told the seller about the bad u-joint I would expect him to cough up a full refund .
But since you managed to use the rear half and get it rebalanced you are really not out anything .... and he is being reasonable to offer up the $25 .

[NOMAD]

IF and only IF the seller listed and assured you the part was in like new to excellent condition would you have a right to a refund. It would then be an issue of the seller trying to make you think you're getting a perfect part and then giving you a junkyard part.

BUT, it seems like you asked for a replacement driveshaft (maybe yours was a pretzle and this would have been great to get you up and running again) and he responded with just that, a replacement 20 year old driveshaft. It's up to you to replace wear parts.

Caveat Emptor, buyer beware. You bought a used part, you got a used part. That part merely needs some TLC before it gets you back on the road.

I think it's on you to use or trash the part and he is being very generous.

This post isn't meant to be harsh.

In the past, I bought a cylinder head that I was assured was in excellent condition with no cracks. Got here with a nice crack in it. I got my money back minus the seller's cost of shipping it to me. I was out $ for shipping and he didn't get the money for the head since it was not as advertised.

Make the deal clear up front and even discuss what would happen if the part is not as advertised BEFORE spending the money.

These cars are old, buy with caution.

[Skoobeesnak]

My post requesting a drive shaft

This is the thread I posted when looking for another drive shaft. In that posting I mention that I am looking for one in decent shape with fairly low miles. I specifically ask one seller when he says that he has one if the u-joints are tight.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=100916

At this point I think $25 is fair so Alex if you could do that then I would feel fine about the transaction.

Thanks for your opinions.

[delphini]

I guess theres always a pro and con to buying used . I would always make sure buyer and seller understand each other as to condition and or mileage on said part, also its the buyers responsibility to ask questions as to wear , condition and cosmetic appearance. So technically we get what we pay for , but just not the anticipated condition of said parts. Theres much to be said for requesting information as a buyer , and also requesting pics.
Sellers should also be morally obligated to truthfully give accurate description of the parts they are selling. Face it, most of us have been burned at least once buying used parts online from parties we know little or nothing about, and let me tell you IT SUCKS!!!
So as a buyer i try to ask all the right stuff and learn fom my mistakes. Guys selling parts on here should do their part to be stand-up guys and be responsible about your dealings.
my 2 cents

[LINUS]

Chalk this up as a learning lesson. If you would have bought from Joe Funk (or any business that deals used e30 parts) you would have had a better experience, but you chose to buy from some other R3V'er who may or may not know jack when it comes to condition/wear of a driveshaft.

Realize any e30 part is 20 years old, and that as such you should expect most parts to need some reconditioning.

All in all, you came out fine & the seller at least made a goodwill gesture. Use that as a lesson & either buy remanufactured parts or a newer car, as half of e30 ownership is the hobby of maintenance. You simply might be asking too much of cars that are too old.

A lot of the younger kids here DD an e30, but most of us older guys have a backup rig since the likelyhood of problems is there on anything as old as any e30. There's no shame in owning a newer cheap Jappo car to get you through school 'till you have the cash to afford a hobby e30.

[Shoomakan]

I agree very much with Linus.

And, no offense my friend, but if you can barely afford to maintain your car, if that, you should really think about your priorities.. I know E30's are better than sex, but still.... :)