Am I wrong?

Nomad · #1 11/04/11, 10:56 AM

I bought a slot car on Ebay a few days ago. It was listed as a slot car. To me that means a complete car. The pictures showed that the body was a mess and there was no rear gear or guide pin. But I didn't care about the body. I was buying it for the chassis which is an original from 1963 and much better than the versions they came out with after that. I don't buy to collect, I buy to race. The car arrived today. I took the body off and much to my surprise there were no magnets, brushes or even a gear plate inside. I sent the seller a message asking them to somehow make this right because I don't want to file a claim. What I want to know is since the listing called it a slot car, could I have reasonably expected it to be all there? Had it said parts or parts car or incomplete, I think it would have been fine. I don't want to make a problem for the seller if I'm wrong, but I think the item should match the title. Opinions?

Nomad

Sawmill Jim · #2 11/04/11, 11:51 AM

Depends on what questions you ask the seller . Some don't volunteer information

Common Tator · #3 11/04/11, 11:58 AM

You are right. If he doesn't make it right, file a claim for SNAD (Significantly not as described).

DaniR1968 · #4 11/04/11, 01:13 PM

I don't know what a slot car is. However, if I buy a car that is listed as not running or needing work, I have a right to assume the car is complete. If the engine is missing, the car is not complete. It doesn't matter if I asked if the engine was in it. If the vehicle is missing anything, it should be advertised as such.

Immaculate Sublimity · #5 11/04/11, 01:26 PM

Give the seller a chance to make it right - could be they're clueless about slot cars and just reselling things they may have picked up as a box lot elsewhere... if the seller (foolishly) becomes impossible to deal with, then by all means file away - its not as listed.

Molly Mckee · #6 11/04/11, 05:05 PM

If they said it was a slot car and didn't say it was missing parts or did not work, I would think they miss represented it. They should make it right!

oregon woodsmok · #7 11/04/11, 05:12 PM

Agree with above. Seller owes you an adjustment. Car was misrepresented substantially.

However, for next time, since it is eBay, you have to ask the seller a multitude of question about every detail before you buy. Then hope they will answer you, because many sellers won't.

I stopped buying on eBay, having gotten so tired of the misrepresentations and cheats. The few vendors I did regular business with have all retired, so I don't ever buy there any more. Even if the seller takes returns, by the time you pay for shipping both ways, it isn't worth it.

Nomad · #8 11/05/11, 09:45 AM

Well, it's been 24 hours with no reply. I guess I will have to file a complaint after all. The seller has more feedback than I do, so he/she has been selling long enough to know you can't sell something that doesn't fit the description. I really hate to do it, but they aren't leaving me much choice.

Nomad

copperkid3 · #9 11/05/11, 10:00 AM

so that we can see what it is that you bid on and whether the
description matched what your expectations were of the item???

And I believe that I'd give the seller a bit more than 24 hrs to respond.....

some people have lives OUTSIDE of eBay......

Give them a week and then contact to file a complaint if you get no response.

Nomad · #10 11/05/11, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperkid3

so that we can see what it is that you bid on and whether the
description matched what your expectations were of the item???

And I believe that I'd give the seller a bit more than 24 hrs to respond.....

some people have lives OUTSIDE of eBay......

Give them a week and then contact to file a complaint if you get no response.

Vintage Aurora HO TJet mercury Ford Falcon Coupe Slot car

Vintage Aurora HO scale Tjet -

- not sure the model car - looks like Mercury front grille -but could be a Ford Falcon coupe .

Not tested. the wheelwells have been trimmed, windshield has a crack

No reserve $ 9.98 start bid

$ 3.50 shipping in USA

International ship $ 8.00, Canada ship $ 7.00

**** SEE OUR OTHER Slot cars and vintage CARS & TRUCKS - COMBINE SHIP FOR SAVINGS, Two individual cars ship for one shipping fee.
__________________________________________________ ______________

I also have a life outside of Ebay and have had for the last 14 years that I've been a seller and buyer. When you receive a message through Ebay you are also notified by e-mail, so I'm sure they received my message. I want this resolved and have filed a complaint. I'll probably end up having to send the item back at my expense which means I pay money and end up with nothing. I would be happy with a partial refund, because I can buy parts to make a complete car. But I would never have bid on an empty shell.

Nomad

PNP Katahdins · #11 11/05/11, 10:30 AM

In your feedback, did you mention the problem so the next guy knows what to look for? Did you check his feedback before bidding? Pretty interesting sometimes.

Good luck. I have only had one problem with a defective purchase on eBay and the seller replaced it right away - after my negative feedback since he didn't respond to an email inquiry.

Peg

Nomad · #12 11/05/11, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNP Katahdins

In your feedback, did you mention the problem so the next guy knows what to look for? Did you check his feedback before bidding? Pretty interesting sometimes.

Good luck. I have only had one problem with a defective purchase on eBay and the seller replaced it right away - after my negative feedback since he didn't respond to an email inquiry.

Peg

I will still give them a chance to make it right before I give negative feedback. The complaint is still between us and won't go forward for another week. I hope they respond by then or I will give bad feedback. They have over 99% feedback. I always check before bidding. I noticed on the negatives they received they didn't respond which is strange unless it was deserved. Perhaps responding to people is beneath them. Guess we'll see.

Nomad

StephanieH · #13 11/05/11, 02:24 PM

If it was me who posted it (I have no idea about slot cars) I might have not known there were missing parts. From the auction you listed, they sell slot cars, this wasnt a one time thing. So this person knew parts were missing. To me that doesnt seem right.

Danaus29 · #14 11/05/11, 02:51 PM

Dh used to have a really nice old slot car set but his jerk of a brother stole it and sold the parts for a bunch of money. The old Falcons were nice looking cars.

IMO it was misrepresented because a slot car would be ready to go out of the box. The one you received won't run as you received it. But the seller might not have seen your email. Sometimes life happens and you just can't get on the computer every day. Give them a couple more days before filing negative feedback.

Karen · #15 11/05/11, 03:02 PM

From the item's description it sounds like the seller was kind of clear that he wasn't really sure what he had and even stated that it was untested. That pretty much means you take a chance unless you specifically ask questions about it.

With regards to the seller not responding, he could be out of town, had a family emergency, or doesn't have any other items selling right now so he isn't checking his Ebay pages. Another consideration might be if he lives in one of those last weeks winter storm areas since there's still something like 300,000 people without electricity yet.

May I ask how much you paid for it and what the listing shows as far as if returns are accepted (which the seller does have to specify now). If it says no returns, you know you buy it "as is" unless the item description is very deceptive.

Fat Charlie · #16 11/05/11, 03:42 PM

There's a big difference between "untested" and "missing parts."

Nomad · #17 11/05/11, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

There's a big difference between "untested" and "missing parts."

Amen. 90% of the time I can fix a car that doesn't run. I can't do much when most of the parts are missing. He sold a few cars at the same time, so I'll be watching to see if anyone else had any problem.

Nomad

Nomad · #18 11/05/11, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen

From the item's description it sounds like the seller was kind of clear that he wasn't really sure what he had and even stated that it was untested. That pretty much means you take a chance unless you specifically ask questions about it.

With regards to the seller not responding, he could be out of town, had a family emergency, or doesn't have any other items selling right now so he isn't checking his Ebay pages. Another consideration might be if he lives in one of those last weeks winter storm areas since there's still something like 300,000 people without electricity yet.

May I ask how much you paid for it and what the listing shows as far as if returns are accepted (which the seller does have to specify now). If it says no returns, you know you buy it "as is" unless the item description is very deceptive.

Here is their return policy:

Returns accepted ONLY if item you receive is NOT item pictured in listing.

Since what I received does look like the picture, I guess I can't return it. But I'm pretty sure Ebay will side with me on the description not being accurate. If the person was smart they would give me the partial refund and move on. I'd give them a positive feedback and they wouldn't have a complaint on their record. But what will probably happen is I will have to send it back at my expense and just be out the shipping cost.

I paid $10.49 plus shipping for the item. That is about right for a complete car with a ruined body. I received one today that I paid $9.99 for plus shipping and again the body is shot, but in this case the car is complete and it will run. That's all I care about. I have a couple dozen new bodies that need chassis, so that's why I buy the ones that have bad bodies but complete chassis. I have a brand new drag strip that I had custom made back in 2003 that has never been out of the box. I can't wait to get moved so I can build my track and race. The wife and I used to race all the time on my old track and we really enjoyed doing it.

The seller has active auctions on now, so I figure they are probably aware of what's going on.

Nomad

FiddleKat · #19 11/05/11, 07:29 PM

I think if it were missing parts they should have clarified that in the listing. From reading what was posted, it sounds like he didn't and therefore I think you have every right to be peeved.

Immaculate Sublimity · #20 11/05/11, 08:02 PM

Ebay will certainly side with you. Thats just how they roll now. how many other slot cars is he selling? I can tell you that I sell vintage toys on ebay - toys that I often pick up at auctions or estate sales - and I cant be an expert on EVERYTHING out there. I have no idea what parts a 'slot car' is supposed to have or what is missing. couldnt tell you what one weighs with innards or without them. The seller listed your slot car as untested... you stated you took it apart to find parts missing. Was that something that the average Joe could outwardly see? I'd not have known. I sell train engines on occasion - untested - I really wouldnt be able to tell someone if a wire or a magnet or what ever was missing. I also dont feel 24 hours on a weekend is enough time to give them to respond. Did they SHIP your item in a timely manner? do they APPEAR to be good sellers otherwise? Do YOU sell on ebay - because if you do, I'm sure you realise the ramifications of a negative on their account with ebays new rules. I really think you should try to work it out with the seller first - give them a chance to respond and if they respond unfavorably... then let ebay/paypal handle it.