Are these selling practices legit ?

[Jim Wolf]

Hello guys,

I am trying to figure out if a seller selling policy is legit :

He is selling rebuild converted starters of 250$ each , then he request from an UK based buyer western union payment and then he send to him the starter with the value declared at the customs forms but w/o any kind of receipt or invoice ...

All these happen in CA I forgot to mention.

Thank you,

[Joe Bob]

Anything WU is suspect, it's like cash that you wave buhbye to.....WU is only good if you know the person and confirm it via a phone call or Skype PRIOR to sending....

[javadog]

I would say no, not legit.

JR

[Gogar]

No

[stomachmonkey]

Either dodging sales tax or collecting and keeping it.

[bleucamaro]

I can't tell from the way the original post is written, did the deal already happen and the UK buyer received the starter, just without a receipt? Or is this a proposed deal?

If it already happened, then the deal was legit, as in not a scam. But it does sound like someone very small time selling used parts, "under the radar".

[Baz]

Don't you have a local auto-electric shop to do what's needed?

[Jim Wolf]

Originally Posted by bleucamaro

I can't tell from the way the original post is written, did the deal already happen and the UK buyer received the starter, just without a receipt? Or is this a proposed deal?

If it already happened, then the deal was legit, as in not a scam. But it does sound like someone very small time selling used parts, "under the radar".

My bad I`ll try to describe better :

The buyer who is UK based saw an ad at thesamba.com for 6/12V rebuilt hybrid starters.

Seller who is US based in Gilroy,CA demand WU payment.

Buyer sent payment thru WU

Seller sent the starter w/o any receipt or invoice.

Buyer who is not mech inclined has to pay for installation of the starter , after installation the shop confirms that the starter is defective.Starter shipped back to the US at buyers expense and after the seller found that the starter is working he does not want to send refund to the buyer...

End of story and I am open for your suggestions how the buyer can proceed on this ?

Thanks for reading !

[Joe Bob]

Well first off, a mechanic should always bench test a starter or alternator provided by the owner FIRST.

Second, if it didn't work, fixing it locally would have preferable to sending it back.

Third, if the starter now works....either seller is untruthful or the buyer needs a new mechanic.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Baz

Don't you have a local auto-electric shop to do what's needed?

I have a local guy (about 75 years old) that slowly rebuilds electrical motors, been in business in the same spot for 50 years, and stands behind his work. I have never had to return anything like you tend to do using autoparts store rebuilds.

As a young boy (i'm now 51 years old) I remember my dad taking stuff into that shop, and talking to that guy.

[Schumi]

If the seller agreed to a refund if the starter was sent back, the seller should honor that refund wheather the starter actually works or not. Hell, since it works he really should have no problems refunding since he can turn around and sell it again to someone who knows how to wire a starter.

If the seller didn't agree to a refund but the buyer sent it back anyway, well, that was a dumb move on the buyer's part to just expect a refund, and it should be considered forfeited.

But if the seller did agree to a refund and now won't refund and won't ship the working part back.... then all you can do is tell people on the internet not to use this seller again. The money is gone and move on.


From your odd description of the entire ordeal it seems as though one of both of the people involved in this transaction really shouldn't be doing business over the internet/long distance as they don't sound like they have the greatest grasp on the business.