People who mislead when they sell

[Monkeyleg]

Whenever I sell something, I make every effort to either repair what I know needs repair, or make full disclosure. If I'm selling online, I'll have close-up photos of whatever the defect is. It's the right way to do things.

For months I've been buying quadcopter drones or the camera/gimbals for them, repairing them, selling them on Ebay, and using the gains to add to my own quad copter kit.

I bought a damaged copter from a guy on a forum. He listed all of the extras that came with it, then said "here's what I know is wrong with it", and mentioned a couple of minor things. He was asking $600, and I gave him $600.

I got the thing yesterday, and it was a box of parts. There were many broken parts, including three smashed ones that would cost nearly $500 used to replace. He  had them in Ziploc bags, so he obviously knew they were smashed. He didn't disclose that. There were other things wrong, too. There's no point in me trying to repair it, as I couldn't get $1100 for it, even with all of the extras. I'll just part it out and try to break even.

I sent him  PM on that forum and told him that he should have mentioned those three parts when he was listing the things wrong with the copter. He replied that I bought it "as is", as if that justified him withholding very important information from the buyer.

I don't know how some people live with themselves.

[Andiron]

People are bastards.

In the gun world,  I've had more than a couple look at me like I was mad for a simple full disclosure.  This is what you're buying,  here are any known issues.  Is that so hard? 

[zxcvbob]

Whenever I sell something, I make every effort to either repair what I know needs repair, or make full disclosure. If I'm selling online, I'll have close-up photos of whatever the defect is. It's the right way to do things.

For months I've been buying quadcopter drones or the camera/gimbals for them, repairing them, selling them on Ebay, and using the gains to add to my own quad copter kit.

I bought a damaged copter from a guy on a forum. He listed all of the extras that came with it, then said "here's what I know is wrong with it", and mentioned a couple of minor things. He was asking $600, and I gave him $600.

I got the thing yesterday, and it was a box of parts. There were many broken parts, including three smashed ones that would cost nearly $500 used to replace. He  had them in Ziploc bags, so he obviously knew they were smashed. He didn't disclose that. There were other things wrong, too. There's no point in me trying to repair it, as I couldn't get $1100 for it, even with all of the extras. I'll just part it out and try to break even.

I sent him  PM on that forum and told him that he should have mentioned those three parts when he was listing the things wrong with the copter. He replied that I bought it "as is", as if that justified him withholding very important information from the buyer.

I don't know how some people live with themselves.

You outed him on the forum as a thief, I hope?

[bedlamite]

How did you pay for it?

You can usually get your money back from credit cards and paypal if it's "significantly not as described"

[Monkeyleg]

I paid via Paypal, Bedlamite, but sent it as personal rather than as a purchase. Big mistake.

I haven't outed him on the forum because I'm new and he''s not. If I see him selling anything else, I'll send PM's to anyone who seems interested, just to let them know my experience with the guy.

[dogmush]

Was it in the classified section of the forum?

I have, in the past, put follow up posts in the classified ad. Both "this guy was cool, great buy", and "this was not as described, here are pictures." Kinda hard to argue with pics of broken parts in ziploc bags.

Of note, when outing a bad seller, I made it clear I was eating the loss, "buyer beware" and all. But the next buyer could be more aware. It helped with credibility, I think.

[French G.]

I'd blast off and nuke his forum reputation from orbit. What little I have sold on gunbroker and forums i work hard to keep an excellent rep. I sent a gun back to the factory and tested it when it came back just to get it sold with a sound mind. And i certainly describe all flaws when i sell. Never caused a problem selling cars like that, I make a fair price in consideration of the disclosed condition. Buyers never minded either.

[brimic]

I'd blast off and nuke his forum reputation from orbit.

That. I would call the scumbag out as publically as possible.
when someone cheats you, they will cheat someone else, making it harder for honest people like yourself to do business.

[Monkeyleg]

Okay, I will out him. I do need to wait, as I need him to have the serial number of a device removed from his account with the manufacturer, so I can register it to me. Without him doing that, I'm screwed on a $125 part.

[lupinus]

You're already screwed dude.

Nuke from orbit. Is the PayPal from a bank or a credit card? Use any avenues available to get your money back and let him know the box is ready for him as soon as he provides a shipping label.


Sent from my iPhone. Freaking autocorrect.

[Perd Hapley]

You're one to talk. I'm still waiting for the gun that goes in between my laser grips.

[Hawkmoon]

Whenever I sell something, I make every effort to either repair what I know needs repair, or make full disclosure. If I'm selling online, I'll have close-up photos of whatever the defect is. It's the right way to do things.

...

I don't know how some people live with themselves.

Agreed. A couple of years ago I bought a used reloading press from a fellow member of a forum in which I participate. The ad was accompanied by several photos, all of which clearly showed multiple sets of dies, along with some other accessories. He also claimed it was operational and that he was getting out of reloading.

I paid the asking price. When the press arrived, there were no dies and no accessories. I contacted him to ask where the dies were. "Not included." His story was that his ad didn't specify dies, so he hadn't mislead me. I pointed out that his ad included photos with dies. "Oh, those photos were just to show the press."

Then he disappeared from the forum for about six months, after which he came back as if nothing had happened. He's still reloading. Oh, and the press I got didn't work -- I had to send away to the manufacturer for parts to repair it.

Indeed, you have to wonder how these people sleep at night.