tom cifelli - [email protected]

[Ofir]

Hi all,
I want to thanks to a very nice guy tom cifelli for the great parts he sold to me,
genuine VW pop out windows and german doghouse fan shroud

Tim Thanks much!
Ofir

Also uses
[email protected]

[DL West-Wiperguy]

Tom Is a good guy he has been working on VW'S for years knows his stuff. DL

[57baja]

I'm very disappointed in my dealing with Tom Cifelli, AKA Iva Blaylock, who this person also sends correspondence via.

I ordered a set of carburetors that were advertised on the Samba as "NEW", "BRAND NEW" and "NEVER INSTALLED" for $325. They were only supposed to be missing one crossbar for the linkage, which we had in stock in our shop.

Instead, I received exactly this:

Two chrome air cleaner lids
One air cleaner element
Two used manifolds, one obviously cracked
1/2 of a linkage arm, bent
and NOTHING ELSE.

We did not receive the pictured items in the ad. We received exactly what is shown in this photograph:

This begun on February 26th. It is now over a month later. I have sent it back through the Post Office, as requested, and have yet to receive my money back, as promised. Despite numerous attempts to ask for my money back, and complying to every request that was made, I am still without my hard-earned $325.

I have been scammed, and it does not feel good. Things are hard enough to survive in this economy without having people steal money from you.

Get this...

This seller blamed the Post Man for stealing the stuff, installing it, repackaging it up (without all of the missing pieces of course, including the missing carburetors themselves), and sending the remnants to me. I was literally told this and expected to believe it. I have also filed a claim with the Post Office, per his request.

I would be more than happy to forward all the emails and supporting documentation for these claims I've made to anyone who is interested in seeing them.

You have been forewarned not to deal with this seller.
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[DL West-Wiperguy]

Thanks for responding and letting us hear your side. I have had many deals with you all were good. Shipping has always been problematic and will continue to be. I agree with L5VW on the weight at different destinations as it was processed at each location. DL

[www.L5VW.com]

Tom is a good guy and I`m sure he will not leave you hanging. maybe the Postal scans should show the weight of the package to show when the parts dissappeared?

[tom cifelli]

[mikegamblin]

I just bought a '59 Ragtop from Tom and it was not only exactly as described in the post, but he gave me some extra parts he had laying around as well. When we arrived to pick it up, he had a list of everything that I needed to look at and described all the work that had been done to it. This guy knows his stuff and has kept in touch with me even after we took it home. I would buy ANYTHING from Tom and feel comfortable about it because the guy is honest and forthcoming. Thanks again, Tom.

[westyman71]

Tom is a great vendor.

Bought a 78 Bus owners manual from him. Condition was great, and shipping was fast. Great communications. Very fair priced, too.

Great experience,

Chuck
78 Westy
2-85 Westy Wolfsburgs
91 Caravelle
99 Cabrio

[57baja]

UPDATE:

It is now almost two months since I gave my hard-earned money to Tom for parts that were never received. We still do not have our money back, despite numerous promises, and I'm beginning to lose faith. We did try to call Paypal and resolve this, but they told us that since I purchased these while watching my kid's baseball game from an iPhone app, there was no buyer protection for the transaction. Yes, we have filed all the paperwork a requested. No, we still don't have our money, and I really don't understand why. Whatever claim Tom has with the Post Office is between him and them. It is not my business. I paid for stuff I never received.

I have no alternative but to try to resolve this in small claims court now. I'll keep the site updated.

I'm not trying to screw anybody's reputation up. I'm not trying to gain anything I don't deserve. I own a business, and quite frankly, don't have time to be chasing this issue. I've never left negative feedback on this site for anyone. I just have no real choice but to be sure that whoever deals with this person knows the risks they are taking.
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[DL West-Wiperguy]

Tom is as honest as they come. I have had many dealings with him all were good. I know you are frustrated,shipping is and always will be problematic. Tom claimed it was all there when shipped. I believe that. He has been in the business for over 35 years and would not jeopardize his integrity for a few bucks. DL West - wiperguy

[RooferDan]

For what it's worth:

I can't speak as to the drama unfolding above,as I have much respect for 57baja, but I have bought from Tom on a couple of occasions, and both times the transaction was smooth as silk.

Dan

[57baja]

Update:

We filed the paperwork for small claims court. Unfortunately, we got a rejection notice back via email since Tom is out of state. They will not serve someone out of state. I really don't have time to chase this down anymore. I need to run a business. I guess I should just give up at this point, and let this man steal my money fair and square. I really don't have time to chase this $325 down, despite the fact that my family could really, really use it.

Update #2:

Tom emailed me yesterday. He received a check from the Post Office for the damaged/used/missing merchandise. He wrote me an email stating, "we will send some of the refund".

Some???

I guess I should be thankful if someone stealing my money offers to return "some" of it. He's promised other things before and not quite frankly lied about it, so I'm not holding my breath. We'll see what happens.

****

Refreshing my earlier standpoints:

- I ordered and paid for "NEW" merchandise on Frebruary 26th. I still have not received it.
- The damaged and missing merchandise that was in the box that was shipped was not "NEW", as described in the ad. Clearly it had ben installed, as seen in the photo, and clearly it was cracked due to improper installation. I could not re-sell it to any of my customers as "NEW", even if it had shown up in one piece. I was told that the Post Man must have installed it. Huh?

I have no problem whatsoever with the Post Office having damaged merchandise. This happens. It's understandable.

What is not acceptable is that I have been treated poorly, lied to, been called "greedy", accused of committing postal fraud, and generally been strung along for almost three months now. If something gets damaged in transit that we ship to a customer, we immediately re-ship a new item and deal with the shipping company ourselves. If the item is a used or one-of-a-kind item, we refund the customer immediately and deal with the shipping company ourselves. That's how a business should be run. That's how customers should be treated.

Again....

I have never posted negative feedback on Samba about anyone, except this one case. I feel violated, treated very poorly, stolen from, falsely accused, taken advantage of, lied to, and verbally abused.

I'm sure Tom has sold lots of items to lots of happy folks in the past. Heck. I'm one of them.

However, if there's ever a problem with an order that you place, let potential buyers beware that there is a dark side to his character, and this will be evident.

(I really hate posting stuff like this, but people really should know)
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[57baja]

[OvalinAz]

Just bought a Hurst shifter from tom, great guy, fast shipping. Item came as described. thanks tom!!

vincent
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Dad's 4/55 Oval
8/56 Oval
5/64 French Notchback
12/62 French 11 Window Bus
Wedge VW
Pandraggers C.C.

[mikmalone]

Excellent Buyer Thanks Tom !!

[John K]

I ordered a set of pretty rare cal- custom finned valve covers about a week ago. I received them within a week. Better shape than advertised. I would not hesitate to use Tom again if he has something I need. Thanks Tom

[Beetlejuice72]

As far as i am concerned 90% of the information Tom gave me was incorrect!!! The car was sold to me as a good candidate for a restoration and was exactly what i was looking for. The car that showed up was not what i was told and expected. The car has a bent front beam, rotted out heater channels, rotted out door pillars, scabbed together hood hinges, cut up dash, broken transmission, and a Brazilian 1600 that had a nut dropped down the carbuetor and the number 4 piston and head was literally beat out of it. The rear brake drums missing 75% of the pieces including a cut e brake cable. No extra parts were sent that were talked about. He told me that the title was in his name and low and behold it was in someone else's name that i had to contact. We knew the car was going to need some work but we did not expect it to be what it is. This car in my opinion would not be a good car for a restoration. He did not want to send us any pictures of the car. He only sent us pictures of the good parts of the car. When the car rolled off the trailer we knew it was a mistake. The car was not worth what i paid for it. As far as i am concerned Tom is a liar. BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUNROOF SAD

[57baja]

It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm still out the $325 for the items I paid for but never received. It's been over a year now, and I was lied to repeatedly and had my money flat out stolen. Hopefully, others will take note and not do business with this seller.
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[Bruce]

Although I'm happy with the parts I bought.....

Tom, you need to package things better. The parts inside were free to bang around and they poked many large holes in the box that the post office had to tape shut. Even the post office included a note inside recommending better packaging. I wonder what parts were lost out those holes???

When I pack things up, I shake it as if I was guessing an xmas present. If anything rattles, it gets more packing.
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[jbbugs]

I bought a pair of heads from Tom. After Receiving the wrong ones, he quickly shipped out the correct ones and sent $$ to ship the others back. He was quick to return emails, and I'm happy with the heads.
ALTHOUGH.....
He really needs to take more care in packaging them. The first set of heads were sent in a USPS Flat Rate box with ZERO packing material. The box showed up with all the exhaust studs poking holes through the box, and the heads were allowed to beat against each other, with NO packing between them. The second set was shipped in the same(too small) box, and very little packing. He did remove the exhaust and rocker studs to prevent damage, but they really needed to just be shipped in a larger box and packaged properly.
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69 OG paint Transporter
73' Super Beetle Champcar Endurance Roadracer
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