|
Since you’ve got a few different issues and some the seller may have covered himself for more than others, to me it breaks down to two words - “no rust”. Keep it simple, the seller advertised “no rust”, and then told you after he had your deposit in hand that the car has rust. That is deception. That is a lie. That is technically called theft by deception, a legal term used when someone induces you to commit to buying or investing in something under false pretenses, which is clearly what he did. “No rust” is clearly a lie, it is clearly deception. While you’ve got other issues with the car, it’s as simple as no rust means no rust. When no rust doesn’t mean no rust, it means the seller is a shyster and he deserves to be blasted in this forum and in his eBay remarks if he doesn’t return your downpayment. It is that simple.
Furthermore, if he has a dealership license to sell cars, the state he operates out of should be made aware of this. If he doesn’t return your deposit money in full, if I were you I’d consider bringing this issue to the state he operates in. It’s very likely your only one of many, and that this isn’t an isolated incident. And that every time it happens to someone else, they think just like you that maybe I’m making too big a deal out of it and just let it go, while this shyster keeps enriching himself by buying junk cars and passing them off as something that they’re not to unsuspecting buyers with false advertising.
You did nothing wrong. The seller is the one clearly in the wrong. Demand your money back and offer to leave it at that. If the seller refuses, blast him on this forum and in your eBay remarks. And if I were you I’d also call the state attorney’s office to make them aware of his shady business practices. That is what they are there for, to protect consumers from those licensed to operate in their state that are either operating illegally or unethically. Theft by deception is a crime, don’t take this lightly. And definitely don’t convince yourself that you’re in the wrong and just let it go. If you do that then the next buyer after you will get screwed just like you did, and this won’t end until someone finally speaks up.
|