What Would You Do?

A few months ago I took a set of Tockico Blues off my CRX, along with Neuspeed shocks, because the car sat too low and rode too hard. I subsequently sold them to a guy on a CRX forum. Today I get this email:

"So I went to install the struts and springs u sold me and the struts are blown and I think u knew that. If u didn't I'd like to think u will respond and work something out with me. If not further action will be taken. I know it was awhile ago but I bought them for my project and now I have to buy new cuz I got screwed I paid u on 3/07/11 about 2 months ago. So hopefully ill hear from u. "

The shocks were fine when I took them off. In fact, they were so clean i didn't even clean them before I shipped them to him. I didn't get a lot for them, and they were practically brand new. Note that I shipped them in the beginning of March. I don't think I owe him anything, but it's my nature to not take crap like that from anyone, so I may not be thinking objectively. So, what would you do?

-Sorry, I meant to post this in the off topic forum.

bravenrace wrote: The shocks were fine when I took them off. ... I don't think I owe him anything

I think you are correct.

Be honest- tell them you thought they were good.

and the only deal I'd be willing to do is take them back. If he wants a lower price, call his bluff.

If that is a direct quote, I more suspect he's trying to scam you- that typing is so incredibly childish, it's not even funny. It's one thing to short cut text messages, it's complete crap to do the same in actual typed e-mails.

If he gets snarky- you can say- "who the heck is U? I sold you good shocks, perhaps 'u' sold you crap."

so, tell him to prove it

If the shocks were blown, he should/would have noticed that when he took them out of the box, wouldn't he?

I mean, if I get a box soaked in damper oil, I'd probably talk to the sender straight away.

Given that he's also giving you a date that doesn't match anything, I'd probably tell him to take a hike, even if I normally try to work out something with a person who's got a genuine problem with something I sold.

A reasonable warranty on used parts may be nothing, it may be a week, it may be a month. That's up to you. After two months I would feel absolutely no obligation to the guy. Aside from that I figure anyone who can't be bothered to use correct spelling and punctuation isn't worth worrying about.

Why < belated, borderline incoherent complaint >?

Because Honda-forum-kid.

Yeah - used parts = no warranty. If you think they were good, reply back and tell him so, nothing further should be done.

Thanks guys. I figured that techincally I didn't owe him anything, but it kind of bugs me that there's a possibility that this kid really believes I screwed him. I take pride in being honest, and that just bothers me. But I know the shocks were good. No oil leaking, and they were working fine on my car when I took them off.

How does he "know" the struts are blown? I'm with failboat - make him offer proof. A harassing email sent several months after the purchase says a lot more about him than it does about you.

If you're an active seller on that forum, he may go after your reputation by going public with the complaint. You have the right to defend yourself or accept the hit and deal with him this time - and never do business with him again. Also, this is a good example where taking pics (and documenting the condition of used parts with an "AS IS" caveat prominently featured in the sale) is a really good idea.

I rarely respond to anyone who anyone who refers to me as "u", or to himself as "ill".

If you sold them in good faith, I don't think you owe him anything.

As someone once said to me, "That's life in the junkyard".

oldsaw wrote: How does he "know" the struts are blown? I'm with failboat - make him offer proof. A harassing email sent several months after the purchase says a lot more about him than it does about you. If you're an active seller on that forum, he may go after your reputation by going public with the complaint. You have the right to defend yourself or accept the hit and deal with him this time - and never do business with him again. Also, this is a good example where taking pics (and documenting the condition of used parts with an "AS IS" caveat prominently featured in the sale) is a really good idea.

That's what I asked him when I replied - What makes you think they're blown? He hasn't replied yet.

Reading between the lines, I get this:

"I put the struts on with some cut springs that were way too short and drove my slammed car for a couple months until the struts blew out, now I'm trying to make you pay for me being an idiot."

...but I obviously only know what you've written here.

+1 to Duke.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

bravenrace wrote: The shocks were fine when I took them off. ... I don't think I owe him anything

I think you are correct.

+1 He should have looked the struts over the day he received them.

Paul B

I had a guy call me because the Jeep I sold him had "blowed the motor." I wasn't concerned since blowed just doesn't compute north of the Mason-Dixon line, and it's not a motor, it's an engine. Oh, and it had been nearly a year!
Anyway, I asked where the Jeep was and told him I wanted to look at it. Never heard back from him again.

bravenrace wrote:

oldsaw wrote: How does he "know" the struts are blown? I'm with failboat - make him offer proof. A harassing email sent several months after the purchase says a lot more about him than it does about you. If you're an active seller on that forum, he may go after your reputation by going public with the complaint. You have the right to defend yourself or accept the hit and deal with him this time - and never do business with him again. Also, this is a good example where taking pics (and documenting the condition of used parts with an "AS IS" caveat prominently featured in the sale) is a really good idea.

That's what I asked him when I replied - What makes you think they're blown? He hasn't replied yet.

Yeah, at this point I think the burden of proof is on him.

As an aside, I'm surprised you found the Blues and Neuspeeds too harsh. I've got Illuminas and ST springs on my '90 Civic and actually like the set-up; even at 3 on the front and 5 on the rear, it's more than tolerable. And, I don't have a fat butt for cushioning either.

You don't have to drive on the heaved and potholed roads we have up here like I do! And I'm getting old and can't/won't tolerate that kind of ride any longer. I drive this car 84 miles a day back and forth to work, and I don't autocross or track it. I put stock springs on it with Koni Sports and it's much better.

What would I do? I'd do a search on his username, real name, etc. See if he's talking E36 M3 on a bunch of forums, or if the "real story" is posted somewhere, then call him out. Tell him they were in perfect condition when taken off the car, and say "Seriously? You (oh sorry..."u") had them for 2 months and didn't pull them out of the berkeleying box?" Let him know that if he'd had problems from day 1 you'd have had no issues refunding his money upon return. Chances are he paired them with some ridiculously stiff springs and now the car is bouncing all over the place, so obviously the struts are "blown." Buyer beware.

Further action week be taken.

Who is this guy? Merlin?

I had a honyauk buy a Jetta from me, drive it 80 miles back and forth to week for 3 weeks, change the oil and rotate the tires then try to sue me when the drivers rear tire fell off... 3100 miles later.

I sold a used clutch and pressure plate to a guy on an Audi forum. Didn't get a lot for it as it's a used clutch and I thought he was rather foolish in trying to save money there, as doing a clutch on a B5 S4 is a sucky job.

Anyways, 6 months after he pays me from it he emails me saying the clutch is slipping and accuses me of selling him a bad clutch and demands his money back.

My retort was the clutch was fine when it came out of my car and no shop in the world would warranty a used wear item part, let alone something you bought 6 months ago.

He protested, but I just said "sorry" and moved on.

Ug. I think most of the ideas above are good.

I sold a guy an '88 Merkur a few years ago. Was very up front about the condition and the long, long list of things I'd fixed. Got an email about six weeks later "it's leaking oil!" Uh, duh. Are you kidding me? You did drive the car and look under the hood before you bought it. There was no secret it was leaking oil.

I wrote him a nice note saying I was sorry he wasn't happy, but I didn't feel responsible for selling him an old car with a small and obvious oil leak. He calmed down and sent me a note saying I was right and he was sorry. So maybe give the guy a chance to calm down with a nice note.

Good luck