Buyer beware in the VW community?

[Sharp64]

Sitting here on hold with Paypal attempting to get a payment sorted out for another crappy buying experience within the VW community and wondering somewhat out loud.

Short background. Got back into VW's a couple of years ago after a very long absence. Finally hung up the hat on my previous hobby as running around in the woods playing army lost it's interest and found myself enjoying the tinkering with paintball markers less and less as it was loosing its challenge. So bring on working on 50+ year old cars.

With that said, I performed, literally hundreds of PayPal transactions buying and selling a lot of parts. In the amount of time I was active, I had maybe one issue where a part was lost in shipping to a customer. I also had a couple of transactions where I bought something not quite as described, but by and far, the vast majority of purchases were good and I got what I expected to get. And the vast majority of what I was buying were used parts.

Fast forward to today and sitting on the phone with Paypal trying to get my $83.20 back from some douchenozzle that sold me a shifter on FB that turned out to be broken. He offered me a discount and I refused asking for my money back. I paid through PP (he initially wanted me to send cash or gift payment and I refused) and asked to be refunded by PP. He instead wanted to send me money back through the mail. Again I refused and after not hearing back for almost three days I filed a claim and posted my experience on FB. Suddenly he starts responding like crazy and much to my surprise rather than being supported by the FB group was somewhat called out and told I was pulling a dick move....? One member went as far as to tell me I was lucky to even have an offer for my money back as most people don't get any sort of refund? I was pretty dumbfounded.

With that said, based on the multiple crappy transactions I've had within the VW community I'm beginning to wonder if it is indicative of the VW culture now or am I expecting too much to get what I paid for and for it to be described accurately? I have a set of "rebuilt" heads sitting here that are garbage as they are cracked between the spark plug hole and intake valve. I have a front beam that I had to do some work on before installing. Both of which I requested pics and these portions were selectively left out. I've gotten distributors with the wrong vac cans, a set of Kadrons that the seller decided to cut the linkage bar on to fit it in the box.... I've received boxes with small parts bouncing around inside the box loose. I've spend money on "OG" tune up parts, only for them to come in clearly marked Brazilian or worse.

I do have to give kudos out that there have been a couple of decent sales, but I'm MAYBE batting 50% on used parts purchases at this point by number. If we are going by dollar amount, the percantage is so miserable that I won't even begin to discuss that.

Is this this the state of the hobby or am I just running into jerks?
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1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine

[gears]

If a seller isn't willing to share crystal clear close-up photos of what he's selling, move on.
_________________
aka Pablo, Geary
9.36 @ 146 in '86 Hot & Sticky
'90 Syncro Westy SVX
'87 Syncro GL 2.5
https://guardtransaxle.com

[Mark Evans]

In my case, I guess I have been lucky in comparison. I don't do FB or any other social site. I sell here , Craigslist and by word of mouth. There are times when I'm not sure of condition or other questions for the prospective buyer, but try to send as many pics showing any potential "issues" there may be. If I felt any of what you are, I would not hesitate to file through Paypal, that's what it's for. They certainly get there fees, why not use the service?
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'63 Ragtop

[cbeck]

It is not just you. It's getting bad when you have to ask if the car in the pic is actually the car for sale. Learned that lesson after driving over 2 hours to look at a square body Chevy. Little f@#k thought it was funny.
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My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779

[60ragtop]

It happens more now that these VW's have an ever appealing audience even the unscrupulous.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[rcroane]

I pretty much limit my purchases to Samba members with good feedback.


PS And I learned a new word today......douchenozzle
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'65 Sunroof Bug

[Pruneman99]

Knock on wood every transaction has been flawless for me here on the Samba. Each used part was received AS ADVERTISED, quickly and without any issues. Well except once, but my mailman was stealing crap

Usually I do business with people that have feedback here, or at least are active. Once I traded distributors with a new member. That was kinda a faith move but again, everything went perfect.

I'm not saying everyone on the Samba is legit, or trustworthy, but I trust it more than E-Bay for sure.

[crukab]

I don't buy much private seller stuff, I try to get what I need locally or thru a network of long time VW buds, and any on line stuff is thru the bigger sellers- Wolfsburg West, Klassic fab, Bus depot ect. Everything I sell on the Samba I reserch for price/condition, take as many pics as needed, so far so good.
I also feel that the way of the world, things are getting more "Sketchy" ever day, Ups packages stolen off your porch, credit card fraud, I mean dammm, your postman is ripping you off ?? WTF ?
_________________
Tom

My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....

In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon

[OB Bus]

In over 12 years of buying stuff on the Samba I have had maybe 2 transactions where things weren't quite right. And in both those cases the seller immediately offered a full refund (including shipping) and/or a big discount.

If you are so concerned about what people say on Facebook, then I would quit posting on Facebook. I rarely post anything on FB; I have an account to read what others send me links for.

Bought a very small amount of FB at the IPO and it has been a good investment. And I still don't post.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.

[Sharp64]

[iowegian]

[Sharp64]

[iowegian]

[wcfvw69]

I'm knocking on wood right now. I've been buying and selling parts on The Samba for years. I can only think of a couple of transactions where the part was discovered bad or was not as described. I've never had any issues that the seller didn't immediately remedy.

I also check out a sellers feedback before buying anything.
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[crukab]