Wheels on Ebay
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Re: Wheels on Ebay (540 vette)
After looking around at all of the local shops and comparing prices I bought ZR-1 style 17x9.5" chrome rims for my '99 Trans AM on ebay. I was convinced that there is ONE factory producing all of the aftermarket chrome 'knock-offs' that all of these places sell as their own brand, so who I got them from wasn't originally a concern.
I don't know if you were looking at any of these sellers, but I had a perfect transaction with Jeff at "wheelblowouts" on ebay, after going through an absolute nightmare with Dan at "michigancustomauto".
Here's the short version of the story:
We made a deal on the side, not through an official auction :banghead:
The rims arrived, but in the WRONG offset, and without the lug nuts I ordered :nono:
Dan agreed to send the correct rims and lug nuts if I send the wrong rims back, and then reimburse me for the shipping, everything was still :thumbs:
The second set eventually arrived, but 2 were not chrome, they were just the highly polished style :mad
Now I can't even get ahold of anyone, and he isn't replying to my emails :mad :mad
His supplier (Complete Wheel Source in Grand Junction, CO) was sympathetic, but couldn't help me because they couldn't get in touch with him either :cry
Dan eventually sent several emails claiming he was out of the office on a business trip, home sick, his other employee didn't come in to work that day, bla, bla, bla... It was all :bs , he's a friggin COLLEGE STUDENT who still lives AT HOME. I know this is a fact because I got his home phone number off of my caller ID and talked to his mother. His 'office' number was just his cell phone. :_dupe:
I was ready to drive to Michigan and :boxing
It took a while, but I got all of my original $ for the purchase back, and a little of the return shipping $ that he promised, but I was still out about $150 after everything was finished :cuss
To make a long story short (this is the short version, remember):
MichiganCustomAuto = :reddevil
WheelBlowOuts = :blueangel:
If the seller looks like an actual business that just sells things on ebay (like afswheels), go for it. If it looks like you might just be dealing with a college student who knows a cheap supplier, then :leaving: and find someone else, the $100 difference in price is more than worth it.
Good luck! :seeya
I don't know if you were looking at any of these sellers, but I had a perfect transaction with Jeff at "wheelblowouts" on ebay, after going through an absolute nightmare with Dan at "michigancustomauto".
Here's the short version of the story:
We made a deal on the side, not through an official auction :banghead:
The rims arrived, but in the WRONG offset, and without the lug nuts I ordered :nono:
Dan agreed to send the correct rims and lug nuts if I send the wrong rims back, and then reimburse me for the shipping, everything was still :thumbs:
The second set eventually arrived, but 2 were not chrome, they were just the highly polished style :mad
Now I can't even get ahold of anyone, and he isn't replying to my emails :mad :mad
His supplier (Complete Wheel Source in Grand Junction, CO) was sympathetic, but couldn't help me because they couldn't get in touch with him either :cry
Dan eventually sent several emails claiming he was out of the office on a business trip, home sick, his other employee didn't come in to work that day, bla, bla, bla... It was all :bs , he's a friggin COLLEGE STUDENT who still lives AT HOME. I know this is a fact because I got his home phone number off of my caller ID and talked to his mother. His 'office' number was just his cell phone. :_dupe:
I was ready to drive to Michigan and :boxing
It took a while, but I got all of my original $ for the purchase back, and a little of the return shipping $ that he promised, but I was still out about $150 after everything was finished :cuss
To make a long story short (this is the short version, remember):
MichiganCustomAuto = :reddevil
WheelBlowOuts = :blueangel:
If the seller looks like an actual business that just sells things on ebay (like afswheels), go for it. If it looks like you might just be dealing with a college student who knows a cheap supplier, then :leaving: and find someone else, the $100 difference in price is more than worth it.
Good luck! :seeya
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Re: Wheels on Ebay (01SS)
I have been worried about getting taken and therefor not many major purchases off ebay.com
However, there are ways to make it safer:
Pay with PayPal or some other third party using a credit card. If you have problems you can get help through ebay, PayPal, or as a last resort you can dispute the charge with your CC company.
Don't make deals on the side, just win the auction so ebay can help if there are problems.
Check the sellers feedback, if there are any negative comments that are truly DESERVED find another seller. Some people like to bitch and moan about high shipping charges, if they thought the S/H was too high, they shouldn't have bid in the first place.
Make sure that the seller actually has the item that they are selling in their posession. Nothing ticks me off more than getting an email saying "I'll get it in the mail as soon as I get it." Wal-Mart doesn't put a picture of something on their shelf so you can see what they INTEND to sell you, when they get it, but requires you to pay for it now.
:rant:
Just be careful, there are crooks everywhere. The millions of people who have honest transactions on the internet don't make the news, only the few bad ones are ever talked about.
:cheers:
