On February 11th, I Paypal'd teknic $804.18 (included 3.1% to cover Paypal) for New Koni Shocks and used KG/MM springs.

On February 14th, the money cleared from my account to his.

On February 16th, I emailed this:

"I show the money cleared on the 14th. Have you shipped the items yet? If so, please provide tracking number. Thanks."

He replied:
"No. They have not shipped yet. Once they ship I will let you know.
Thanks
Rigo"

On February 18th, I emailed:
"Have these items shipped yet? You made me pay with Paypal and I had to pay the extra 3.1% because you said you would ship as soon as you got payment. Payment was sent on the 14th of February, and I have not gotten any confirmation that the items I purchased have been shipped. Can you please update me as to the status of this? Thank you."

On February 18th, he replied:
"way are you acting like this? I said they stuff would ship once the money clear at my bank. "

On February 18th, I replied:
"Acting like how? The money was sent via Paypal on February 11. The money cleared out of my bank account on February 14. Today is February 18. I've never had anything take so long to clear. I've purchased items on the same day from other people and I have already gotten their items in hand. You also insisted that I use Paypal and incur the extra costs because it would ship faster. I could've spent the extra money and sent a cashier's check overnight and it would've been faster. I've seen other people bump you in the forums for being a good seller and I do not doubt that you are. All I'm asking is that you update me as the status of the items I purchased. You would ask the same if you were in my shoes. If the money is out of my account, then it should be in your account."

On February 18th, I got a tracking number from him for the shocks. The springs were not ready as of yet.

Today, Febrary 25th, I received the shocks. To my dismay, they were damaged I'm guessing from shipping. The boxes were shipped in a bigger box with shipping peanuts, but the shocks themsevles were not fastened inside their own respective box.

Please view pictures here:

Pictures of damaged Koni's

Now, here is the discussion I had with him afterwards (In reverse chronological order):

-----Original Message-----
From: RR
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 5:34 PM
To: arcadence
Subject: Re: Shipment Notification

Again, I will not refund any money since they are not used and NEVER have
been on a car. I sold koni's to 13 members on the board and none of them
EVER said they were disatisfied with the shock. i don't feel i should give
you any discount either cuz you are getting the best price for the koni's.


-----Original Message-----
From: RR
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 5:29 PM
To: arcadence
Subject: Re: Shipment Notification

Ok, if they are not used I don't see the reason why you want to send them
back. Im not a store, and I don't offer refunds either. I sold you a brand
new set of Koni Shocks and now you changed you mind and don't want them?
Sorry but no, I did my part and lived up to it, and I think you should do
the same.


-----Original Message-----
From: arcadence
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 5:28 PM
To: 'RR'
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

First, I did not say I did not want them. I asked what options were available, and you told me to return them. They are not in NEW condition, but in LIKE NEW condition, and therefore I should not pay a NEW PRICE for them. You declined to give me a discount, and stated I should return this item. You made the decision, not me. Secondly, they are SCRATCHED, and I'm concerned because I do not want a product that will rust because there is exposed metal. In any event, this item was not shipped in NEW condition and therefore I should be given a full refund and I should not have to pay for return shipping. No legitimate seller would expect this. Please refund the total cost plus return shipping.


-----Original Message-----
From: RR
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 5:21 PM
To: arcadence
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

No. I sold you brand new in the box koni shocks and now you say you dont want them cuz they are scratched. Now, for something that sits under neath the car that sounds pretty lame to me.

R

-----Original Message-----
From: arcadence
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 16:58:52 -0500
To: 'RR'
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

If we're going to do refunds, then please just refund the total $804.18 PLUS
the cost of shipping these back to you. I should not have to incur the cost
of shipping a product back to you due to defects.

Is this the correct shipping address?

XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX

I will be returning these in the original shipping packaging. You should
refund my money immediately being that I paid upfront, and now it's vice
versa. At best, you should refund my money as soon as I deliver a tracking
number to you. Please confirm.

Govern yourself accordingly,
Hans


-----Original Message-----
From: RR
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 4:49 PM
To: arcadence
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

I can refund you your money once i get them back from you. I have 3 other
menbers with money on hand that will get them anytime. Lmk

R

-----Original Message-----
From: arcadence
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 16:38:52 -0500
To: 'RR'
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

Miami, Florida 33176

I'm guessing it did happen during shipping. While the boxes were packed in
shipping peanuts, the actual shocks themselves were not fastened inside the
boxes, and I believe they hit each other during shipping. What are the
options for rectifying this? Return for different ones or a discount of
some sort? Please let me know. Thanks.


-----Original Message-----
From: RR
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 4:15 PM
To: arcadence
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

Must have been during packaging. Those are brand new. Where are you located?


R

-----Original Message-----
From: arcadence
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 16:01:04 -0500
To: 'Rigo RG'
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

Yes. I just got them, which is why I'm asking. The Koni's just came in an
hour ago, and three of them are scratched and chipped on the paint. Please
look at the pictures yourself and verify. Thanks.



-----Original Message-----
From: Rigo RG
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 3:33 PM
To: arcadence
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification

Are you kidding me? The Koni's are brand new new. The springs are still in
my car. Did you get the Koni's yet?


From: "arcadence" <
To: "'Rigo RG'" <
Subject: RE: Shipment Notification
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 15:28:46 -0500

Hey Rigo,

Are the Koni's new or used condition? I was under the impression they
werenew, and the springs were used. I just wanted to double check.

Thanks.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My options seem to be to keep the item, or to eat the shipping costs.

 

What area is he from? He's not a So Fla member, right?

 

No. He's not. He lives in Nevada. Am I just crazy? I believe if I paid new prices for an item, they should be new, regardless. He refuses to exchange them and refuses to pay for shipping back. He still owes me money for the springs he never sent me, and I asked for a refund on that after all this happened, and he still hasn't done that yet either. What an ass.

 

Were the items shipped insured? If so, you should notify the shipping co and file a claim.

I would also post this in the FS forum.

 

I will post this in the fs forum, but I wanted some people's opinions first. I'm guessing this that to go into the BAD GUY thread and not into the main? The crazy part too is that if I do return these to this guy, I'm not guaranteed I'll get my refund, and as he said above, he's going to go ahead and sell damaged goods to someone else. These buyer's need to be aware!

 

Is the damage only cosmetic or would it affect the way the items are meant to perform?

 

They are cosmetic (if you look at the pictures), but it is exposed metal, and could cause rust...and you can take it from there. The point isn't really if it's cosmetic or not, it's that I paid for something that I didn't get. I'll probably end up painting them over, but this isn't how business should be conducted. The worst part is his righteous, holier than thou attitude. He even said himself they were probably damaged in "packaging". Go figgure.

 

Mine came the same way from a different seller, this problem seems to be a manufacturing thing and not a vendor thing.

 

Seems to me one can of spray paint ($2-$4) and ten minutes would take care of the problem and cost less than shipping. Touch them up and move on. Once they are on the car no one will no.