Ebay, what would you do?

[cowboysedge]

Ok here is the deal. I purchased a 04 700 bottom end from jc sports on ebay. He sells on here also. I never thought I would be doing this but I have bought and sold a ton of stuff on here and don't want to see anyone get stung like I did.

I saw this bottom end listed on snowest for sale for $500. I pm him and ask about the bottom end. He tells me he is selling it for a freind. I then ask him if he had split the case and if the crank is good. He said no, but the crank is good. I then tell him maybe I would come look at it since he lived only a 100 miles from me, I was going to Slp in Idaho Falls to have some crank work done and that is where he lived. I went Idaho Falls took my crank to slp and stopped at Action motor sports. I left with two four wheeler. No time to stop by jc sports to look at the bottom end.

Anyway, when I got home I was looking on ebay and saw his bottom end for sale. I watched it for a day and then bought it on ebay for $405 + plus actual shipping. I then request a total for the bottom end and ask him if I could pick it up local to save some shipping and packaging costs 5/15/08. A week goes by and I hear nothing. So I email him again, and again and again. I then get an email from him telling me he had never received any email through ebay or a payment. I ask him again for a total and if I could pick up the bottom end. He tells me he will only be home for one hour on Friday if I would like to pick it up then. I tell him just to ship it then and pay him through paypal. Another week goes by and nothing. So again I email him and he replies that he shipped it out and it got returned because it leaked fluid. Keep in mind this is only 100 miles from me and I offered to pick it up. So on the 4th of June it shows up.

I open up the crate (nice work on the crate and packaging). I look over the bottom end. Right away I notice sand and oil under the broken piston and that the cases were damaged from someone tring to bar off the primary clutch and cylinders. I pull the reeds and they are full of sand and oil. I then remove the clutch with a puller designed for the job. pull the flywheel and split the case only to find the bottom end full of a sand water and oil mix.
Not good the crank bearing are rusted and full of sand. I check the run out it is spot on. (Rebuildable core). I then get looking at the primary clutch and notice the fins on the back are also damaged for the bar they used trying to remove it. (clutch will be fine once ballanced)

Bottom line is it is a pile. I email him and tell him what I found. He tells me that he sold it for a lady he was trying to help out because her husband died.
I think helping some one out in need is great. He told me that he never saw the bottom end until it was returned to him. He said he was in such a hurry that he just built the crate and shipped it out without even looking it over.

I have been trying to justify my purchase. It is easy for me but the wife doesn't see it like I do.

used recoil $50
used water pump $50
crank core $50 (thats what the builder in Logan Ut is giving for a 700 core)
used stator $100
used primary $150 - $75 to have it balanced.
Total $325
Cases may be able to be repaired. (not sure)
Looks to me like I got took for an honest $100

I will post pics later.

My question to you is Negative or Positive Feedback?

 

[Meatman]

sounds like he was tying to port and polish his motor with sand and not getting the effect he desired,

I'd give neg feedback for lack of communication, poor item description, and unsatisfactory shipping situation

 

[Nate]

sounds like he was tying to port and polish his motor with sand and not getting the effect he desired,

I'd give neg feedback for lack of communication, poor item description, and unsatisfactory shipping situation

x2. Ebay can be a tricky tricky tricky som biotch, gotta have your shhit together

 

[jsledder]

Ditto^^^ Someone took the advise they read on the "polishing head" thread.

I've sold stuff for friends before, but if it goes on my account I make sure and describe it how it is and look it over myself. If it isn't as he described it, it's really his fault regardless of who it belonged too.

If in fact the reason he gave you is legit, it's kind of a toss up as to what I'd do. Is it actually worth $405?? Doesn't sound like it. Helping out someone in that situation.... I've got a soft spot for things and would probably see if we could work something out on a better price, but it's up to you I guess.

 

[mtn_extreme]

Although I agree with the above posts, I also think some of the blame should be accepted by you as you had the oportunity to look at it first and didn't. Keep in mind that neutral counts as negative nowdays.

 

[SAWYER]

he knew he was selling you crap and did. so no blame should be pout on you. It's sad but you can't trust anyone these days

 

[Snow Fox]

When it comes to Ebay, you have to remember the following phrase:

If it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is.

If you stick to that philosphy and are careful with how you purchase things you can usually do alright for yourself. If you think you are getting a once in a lifetime deal on something, be prepared to get bent over.

Just my .02 cents............

 

[hilinerider]

sounds like you got a swimmer, skipping gone bad

bummer

 

[cowboysedge]

When it comes to Ebay, you have to remember the following phrase:

If it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is.

If you stick to that philosphy and are careful with how you purchase things you can usually do alright for yourself. If you think you are getting a once in a lifetime deal on something, be prepared to get bent over.

Just my .02 cents............

Point # 1 It was for sale here on snowest before I purchased it on ebay. I pm'd him here on snowest 1st. He told me the crank was in good shape. How would he know this if he had never looked at it.

Point # 2 You can buy running 700's here on snowest for $800 to $1200. So I didn't think 400 for just the bottom end was a great deal. Just the going price.

 

[cowboysedge]

Although I agree with the above posts, I also think some of the blame should be accepted by you as you had the oportunity to look at it first and didn't. Keep in mind that neutral counts as negative nowdays.

Ok, I think I have been fair. I have not asked for my money back. I just take things as they come, maybe he is telling the truth. His feed backs are great although he has only been selling on ebay for a couple months. I accepted the fact that I can make this work for me but it is going to cost me alot more than I planned.

I can have the crank rebuilt, new bearings $150, new rods kits (aftermarket not oem) $225, ??? on labor lets say $150. Total $525. I think I can repain the cases my self. Time is money. $75 to balance the clutch. New reed petels $50. I am also lucky that I can do the motor assembly my self. If I couldn't add $65. per hr. Tear down and assembly. 3 hrs. total + shop supplies $200 New clutch bolt $35. Then add the $433.00 I already payed for the bottom end. Total $1308.00 For the bottom end.

I know I should have taken time to look at the bottom end. But I trusted him. If I took the time to look at everything I have bought here on SW and Ebay. I would never buy anything. Same for me. I have sold tons of stuff here and on ebay and I never sold anything I wouldn't buy my self.

So if it is my fault because I trusted a fellow guy from Idaho, and snowester. Thats my bad I guess. I would do it again in a minute. I guess I am just old fashion. Where your word mean more than letters just typed on a forum.

 

[cowboysedge]

Here's the pics. The picture of the crank was after I used a can of carb cleaner to spray off the sand and crap.

 

[snowmobiler]

the way i see it,if you want it and keep it.he should get a positive.
if you get your money back and return it,he should get a positive.
if you want to return it and he wont,a big fat negative.

 

[cowboysedge]

Here are his pictures from the ebay auction.

 

[Snow Fox]

Point # 1 It was for sale here on snowest before I purchased it on ebay. I pm'd him here on snowest 1st. He told me the crank was in good shape. How would he know this if he had never looked at it.

Point # 2 You can buy running 700's here on snowest for $800 to $1200. So I didn't think 400 for just the bottom end was a great deal. Just the going price.

Cowboy,
I was not directing my post at you...I was speaking in general terms for everyone who shops there. I was burnt once, and have learned from my mistake. Luckily I was able to get my money back, and the ahole was banned from selling anything else on ebay. In this day and age it is hard to trust anyone. It seems that so many are only out for themselves.

In regards to your purchase, return it. The guy that sold it to you should give you your money back. He was responsible for selling it, he should have been responsible enough to know what he was sellling.

 

[cowboysedge]

the way i see it,if you want it and keep it.he should get a positive.
if you get your money back and return it,he should get a positive.
if you want to return it and he wont,a big fat negative.

I think you are right.

I just got an email from him telling me that Action Motor Sports told him that it was worth at least $400 so that is what he posted it at.

I guess I just need to decide if I want it or not. Thanks for all you help.

 

[mtn_extreme]

I will also respond to that.

If you notice, I said that I agree with the posts above me but felt that you should take on "some" responsibility for having the opportunity to look at it in person and not taking the time to do so.

"Looks to me like I got took for an honest $100"

Seems like you feel that you were not completely taken advantage of and lost about 1/4 of the price it was worth. My suggestion would be to take satisfaction in the fact that you have made this public and his reputation will now be questioned, leave neutral feedback knowing it will reduce his rating overall.

"I then ask him if he had split the case and if the crank is good. He said no, but the crank is good."

"Not good the crank bearing are rusted and full of sand. I check the run out it is spot on. "


I am really not sure he mis-represented it to you and would be curious as to the e-bay description. Is the crank bad?

 

[cowboysedge]

His ebay discription was simple. 04 700 bottom end complete.

The problem is that I pm'd him here on snowest. I asked him if he had split the cases and he told me no but the crank was good. Then he tells me later in an email through ebay that he never seen the bottom end until the shipper sent it back to him because it was leaking fluid. He repacked it and then sent it out. In such a hurry he did not look it over, just shipped it.

I guess his ebay description is accurate. 04 700 bottom end is what I got.
But here on snowest his description through the pm was different.

If you want to break it down the crank run out is good. Its just all the bearings are bad. Where do you draw the line. In good or bad crank. There is about $500 difference in good crank and a $50 dollar rebuildable core.

 

[jsledder]

You could have just wiped off the pistons and slapped it together and ran it.... then where would you be?? (i know, who would do that???)

Good thing you took it apart.

 

[mtn_extreme]

It would be kind of a tough call and the thing that does stand out in your favor is the fact that he renigged on seeing it.

I would either send it back or..... try to reach a monetary agreement.....or chalk it up to a learning experience with the neutral feedback like I was saying.

I bought an outboard jet pump off ebay one time........and never got a dam thing. Now I pay everything thru paypal.

Let us know the outcome

 

[cowboysedge]

Mtn. Extreme and Snow Fox!

Thanks for your imput. I am just having a hard time with this because of all the run around I have gotten the last couple of weeks from jc sports.

You guys have mad me look at this in a different way. I my self have a feedback rating on ebay of 195 100 percent positive. I just don't want to give some one a negative feed back because I know how important it is when you are buying and selling.

I do not feel that I was totally taken to the cleaners by this guy. The product was just not what I thought I would get. I need this bottom end or another one for the project I have started. So if I give this one up and return it I am out more time. 3 week are already wasted.

He has told me that he was just trying to help his friend out. I have a soft spot for that.

I pm'd him to see if he will chime in.

I think I have decided to keep the bottom end, My buddy has a set of cases that are in great shape for $75. I think I will pick them up and have this crank rebuilt so I can start making smoke.

Thanks, again