Was I Screwed By a Pelican Member? (Long)

[Rot 911]

On Jan. 13 fairly new Pelican Board member listed a set of polished Fuchs with tires for $1000. Here is a chronology of our correspondence:

Jan 13: I send email asking if they are still for sale.

Jan 13: Seller's response: Yes, they are still for sale. I can send you some pics tonight if you like.

Jan 14: I send email to seller: I am definitely interested in the wheels and if they look good in the pics you probably have a sale. Could you take pics of the fronts and the backs showing the part numbers?

Jan 14: Seller sends me an email: Okay, I won't be able to pull the wheels off until Friday because of my work schedule but I have attached a couple of pics of the wheels from the front. I will photo the numbers of Friday and send them to you.

Jan 14: I send email to seller: Got the pics. Wheels look great. Who did the work on them? Oh and are they balanced with tape on weights? Did the wheels come with your car or did you buy them from someone else? Why are you selling them. Thanks for all the info!

Jan 15: Email from seller: The wheels came with the car and I took them to a place called Rite-way wheel in Walnut Creek, CA to be polished. They do outstanding work. I actually want to get a set of 17" BBS LM's so if I can sell these I will get the BBS's. The tires are mounted and balanced; ready to go.

Jan 16: No communication waiting on pics of back of wheels on Friday Jan 17.

Jan 17: I send email to seller (at 8:28 a.m.!): Just wanted to keep communications open while waiting on you to confirm that these wheels are Fuchs and not replicas. Assuming they are, would you take $1000 including shipping? If so, and if they are Fuchs, then we will have a deal. As an aside, do you need to get the new wheels before you sell me the Fuchs?

Jan 17: Email from seller (1:59 p.m.): I sold to the first person that made an offer but I should have waited as your offer was higher. Sorry about that and thanks for the interest.

Jan 18: I email seller: I thought we were working out a deal, why didn't you tell me you had an offer? Guess we both lost out.

I know I shouldn't be pissed but I am. Was this my fault? Should I have sent an e-mail on Jan. 16? All in all it was probably for the best as these were 6x16 and 7x16 wheels and all this talk of 7's and 8's have me lusting for them. Anyway, should I be bothered by this? I now have $1000 burning a hole in my pocket!

[Eric Mckenna]

Kurt ,
It was devine entervention! hahah not that I really believe that ! but i am sure that with your 1k you have, you can score a good set of 7&8x16's and be much more happy as they look kick ass on the narrow cars.. I just bought a set of GREAT 8x16 fuchs and still have a great big smile on my face.. and the tires are cheaper than the 9's hahaha.. So be HAPPY! and just look for a set of 8's ..

the guy did you a favor!

Eric Mckenna
78SC

[RANDY P]

Don't think so. Probably less work involved with the former sale and the other guy probably moved quick. Can't blame the guy if he took an easier deal. Why 6" +7"? That would be a waste IMHO.
You can get 7+8 (assuming you don't own 7's) for nearly the same price if you wait a bit.

Check some wrecking yards (20th st Auto in Phoenix comes to mind)

rjp

[k9handler]

nope...nothing is a deal until money is exchanged and the product for sale is delivered and agreed that he product is in the condition as stated/described when sold.
You just lost out...or maybe not! Like Eric stated, there are probably a better set for the money out there!

[Chuck Moreland]

You didn't make an offer until after the wheels had been sold. Someone else moved faster than you.

You may be dissapointed that the deal didn't happen, but it doesn't sound like the seller screwed you.

On deals like this the rule is "You snooze, you looze"

[don911]

I agree with the above and also don't think the seller did anything wrong. When you sell over the internet, you can get a lot of "tire kicker" e-mails. Just be glad you didn't give a $1K for 6's and 7's. You're getting into 7's and 8's range for that price.

[Emission]

I feel bad for you, but the seller did nothing wrong.

Having sold many things in the newspaper, and online, I know that a deal isn't complete until the money is in my account. I have been burned many times from buyers who change their minds or don't have the full amount. Many times, I have turned down other offers waiting on them. As a result, the first person who makes an offer (and comes up with the money) gets the item.

In all honesty, you'll find a better set of wheels for less money!

[Paul Valcourt]

I also agree the seller did nothing wrong. He offered the items for sale with certain conditions. To seal the deal you would have had to agree to purchase the items under his conditions. What you were doing was negotiating some of your own conditions into the purchase that the seller had not accepted so he was still able to continue open negotiations with other parties. Anyway I am sure you will find something better and probably will be happier for it.

[Joe Bob]

Unless it is an auction, internet sales are like a swap meet.....cash talks. First one to fork over a deposit or full payment jumps to the front of the line.....

[speeder]

Exactly. I am trying to sell a car right now and getting many emails which I always answer. I wish that my email address was not required for an online ad, one phone call accomplishes more than a half dozen emails. How on earth could this seller assume that you had a deal at the point that he sold the wheels to a real, in-the-flesh, cash in hand buyer???

Money talks, emails and BS walks. I always email back my phone# and tell them to call, if someone isn't willing to pick up the phone I assume nothing.

[89911]

If it may help, I have 6 and 7 x 16 fuchs (the real thing) that are for sale. Polished lips and black centers. Recently mounted and balanced. Don't fit my car now with the 930 calipers.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Hi Kurt: Sounds like you just lost out and are probably better off. If you had been Screwed you would have been out your 1K with no wheels or is that F----d
I think I'm going to go with 8's in the rear on my SC and move my 7's up front?
Cheers

[john_colasante]

Originally posted by mikez
Unless it is an auction, internet sales are like a swap meet.....cash talks. First one to fork over a deposit or full payment jumps to the front of the line.....

As a frequent seller I have to agree with this 100%. I try to be considerate, but this is the way it has to be. Otherwise you would spend way too much time managing all of the prospective transactions. I hope buyers understand this.

[Oldporsche]

I think that you both probably came out oK.

You were both being prudent.

One your end of the deal: How were you to know if they were original wheels? You were willing to give on the high side, however if they were the original wheels.

On his end, he saw you asking some discriminating questions and felt that he could turn these no questions asked for a little less. After all he might not have known if they were original or not. His time might be worth so much it wasn't worth it to take the wheels off to find out. You are taking his word for that he has the right to sell them anyway.

You see he who is there with the cash first, sometimes is he who is screwed first.

BTW, my wife sez, if the money is really burning a hole in your pocket, send it to her. She thinks she can hear the trade winds at Diamond Head calling her.

Thanks,
David Duffield

[twin plugged targa]

believe me, The 7's and 8's look way better!.
But of course those BBS LM's look nice too!
I bought a pair of 'fair finish' /no scratches 8's for $700 2 yrs ago and the 7's are cheap and plentifull.
You were'nt screwed, just unlucky.
Cautious is good too!
No point in having fake fuchs!
rgds Ben

[Jack Olsen]

$1000 for 6x7x16's? Must've been some pretty expensive tires on them to merit that kind of a price.

You were lucky to get out of the deal, IMO.

[sammyg2]

There's a set of original Fuch 6&7 x 16" in the recycler right now for $500 www.recycler.com
no connection, just saw the add.

[scottb]

Kurt: I have some 6s and 7s. 6s recently polished and powdercoated by Al Reed. Check your private messages.

When shopping, keep in mind that wheels like the $500 Recycler wheels are probably not polished and powdercoated. At about $100 per wheel for polishing and powdercoating (with polished caps with painted crests), you're getting into the $900 range for fully polished and coated wheels. Ya get what ya pay for!

Scott

[9XI]

Sometimes as a buyer you just have to move fast if you find what you believe is the right thing. In hind sight, sometimes you find that you got the killer deal because you were so quick. Then othertimes you overpay because you learn of another source or you discover some flaw that a deliberative process would have uncovered. The seller here took the first solid deal in his comfort price range -- you can hardly fault him. Properly priced items sell VERY quickly.

[9XI]

Sometimes as a buyer you just have to move fast if you find what you believe is the right thing. In hind sight, sometimes you find that you got the killer deal because you were so quick. Then othertimes you overpay because you learn of another source or you discover some flaw that a deliberative process would have uncovered. The seller here took the first solid deal in his comfort price range -- you can hardly fault him. Properly priced items sell VERY quickly.