What--old style inserts worth something?!

[911SCfanatic]

Bought a Boge strut on eBay that had some issues (don't need to go into that here). The seller agreed to take a return and refund my money. Before sending it back, I removed the old-style insert to save on shipping cost (thought I was doing both the seller and I a favor). The insert is the original kind that is submersed in oil. The seller is objecting to the insert missing as if it's somehow worth something. Am I missing something? Here's our email exchange thus far:

Email one, from him:
Hi Bill, I am ready to process the refund and opened the returned box to
place it back on the shelf and noticed the strut has no insert! I saw the
dust cap is in the box but no insert. Did you remove it and perhaps forgot
to reassemble it? Please let me know so we can get this finished up.

Email two, from me:
Roy, I pitched it. It is the original shock from the factory (strut tube is oil filled)--you can't even buy these anymore. Plus a single, unmatched shock is useless. I cannot imagine that you or anyone else could use it for anything but a paper weight.
Bill

Email three, from him:
Bill, please find that insert and send it back! The majority of strut assemblies I sell are just one side because someone has run their car in to a curb and bent/broke their strut assembly. I sell the strut as a complete bolt out/bolt in assembly. I know you can't buy these anymore, that's exactly why I need it back!
Roy.

It's not a big deal. I assume I can get one from someone for the cost of shipping. I guess I'm just stunned.

[Rot 911]

I agree, they aren't worth anything and no one rebuilds the Boge insert. I just threw two of them in the trash.

[KTL]

Agreed. The guts that come out are junk unless you were to send it back to the Sachs ZF factory to have it refilled & refitted. But that would be cost prohibitive since it would probably cost less to throw a new Boge sealed insert into the strut tube.

If you did still have the guts, they wouldn't be of any use. How is the fella going to put the parts back into the strut tube and make it useable? Simply fill it with some amount (how much is enough or too much?) of shock oil?

[randywebb]

The market value doesn't matter - you didn't give him a complete return, so the transaction has not been 'undone'. See if he will give you a refund anyway; if not, see how much of a refund he'll give you. Next time resolve stuff like this beforehand. Sorry to bear bad news.

[Wil Ferch]

I have to agree with RandyWebb.

"We" are making assumptions as to the "worth" of these "useless" components to the original seller. If you want to go back to square-one....you need to go back to square-one. He may indeed sell this (functional but worn) shock to someone, and not having the OEM guts does not put him back to a condition he had prior to shipping it to you.

Plus, put yourself in the seller's position. Might you be a little suspicious of hanging-on to a part , and having subsequent conversation convincing him of the total lack of worth of the guts?? Unless he truly understands the workings ....he may think you're ripping him off.

Wil

[911SCfanatic]

Randy & Wil, I agree with you--I don't dispute that, and not really the point of my post.

This guy is a dismantler and parts seller of 911 stuff (over 350 transactions on eBay selling parts). As such, I would assume the guy has some savy. Didn't really peg this guy as a neophite...I guess, I'm just shocked someone would even take this position. The funny thing too, is he sent the strut housing to me without the spacer on the spindle--not a trivial piece to be missing since it's pressed on.

[randywebb]

- what we said doesn't mean you can't ask for a full or partial refund -- but, legally, you can't get a full refund. ask him what he'll do & negotiatite

[KTL]

Bill's point about the spindle spacer ring is a valid point. That ring doesn't just fall right off. It's pressed on there- TIGHT. So technically the guy started the whole thing by notdidn't providing Bill with a strut to do the basic part-for-part swap? Now the seller's balking at the lack of a insert? Too bad. Turnabout is fair game.

Apparently the seller knows a thing or two about the parts. Point being, my completely speculative assumption is that the seller would much rather have the guts handy to stick in there and hand off to someone else. Instead of having to spend the $ to put a new or useable sealed insert into the strut tube in order to make it completely functional for a basic part swap. But, the strut would not be functional without the spacer ring!!!

What a vicious circle i've gotten myself into..............

[jstgermaine]

Bill,

How soon do you need it? I have SEVERAL!!! You know the drill!

[masraum]

The insert by itself is worthless, but since you bought a complete strut from him I would assume you'd return a complete strut to him. Just like when you buy something from a store.

[911SCfanatic]

Believe me, I agree with everyone that says the guy is entitled to get back exactly what he sent. I genuinely thought (and still think) I did both of us a favor by removing the "useless" weight. Again, there's no question that he's technically right, but I feel that I'm either being gamed or the guy doesn't really know anything about cars, in which case I'm in trouble here. My bad, I guess.

Steve, to further your analogy, its like returning a broken TV to a store and them refusing you because the twist tie around the power cord wasn't there. Doesn't seem right, does it?

[Evans, Marv]

The spindle should be sent back to the seller exactly the way it was sent to you.

[Britain Smith]

I saw this thread a while back and at that time I thought I threw my boge inserts away, but I found them on a shelf today. Let me know if you need them. They are from an '87 Carrera.

-Britain