I think I am being scammed x[. What do I do?

[Greenkirby21]

I sold my rims to someone through paypal. The guy is not from the forums, he saw my post and sent me e-mail. He owns a e46. Everything went pretty flawless at first.

I provided about 20 pictures of my wheels and their condition. Answered all of dudes questions, shipped the wheels out, and today I got this message:

"They arrived today .
So far pretty dissatisfied and disappointed.

These don't look like the one in the pictures they look different color .

They are all dirty and you left the bag with the lugs open so they scratch and damaged one wheel !!!

I have pictures ."

I am not sure what to do. I had lots and lots of pictures of my wheels. I sold OEM rims and they are silver. I don't know what color he was expecting them to be.

As for being dirty, not sure how. I powersprayed them with wheel soap and water. I understand maybe the inside or the wheel well not being clean, but what does he expect? The pictures clearly show their condition.

I put the lugnuts in one of those padded envelopes(actually, the one I received from tirerack for my new lug nuts). I guess it is possible that it could have broken, but I put them inside of the wheel. Unless the UPS guy flipped over my box several times I don't know how they could have scratched the wheels.

Not sure if this guy is trying to scam me or not. I am not really sure what to do as this is my first thing i sell online.

I know UPS said my wheels were insuranced for 100 dollars each wheel. Should I just file a claim against UPS for the 1 damaged wheel and tell him to get it resprayed?

Images of Damage:






For images of my wheels before I shipped them, see my original FS thread.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=714460

Not really sure what to do or say : (.

[NYC6]

Hope it works out for you. Looks like hes pulling a fast one.
Thats the reason I wont do business with people I dont know. Either a long term poster on a forum I belong and come to trust or a face to face exchange. Its not worth dealing with hassles like this. World is full of scumbags. Good luck.

[Das Ein]

To me, it looks like the buyer just took pics of a previously damaged wheel he had. Because the deep nicks in the wheel look to be old, and have dirt/grime inside them. Something that has to happen over time. If you take a wheel and take a nick out of it, it will look silver behind it...not black.

My vote goes to him being a scammer.

[syenisch]

Not a slight at the OP... Many of us have made this mistake, myself included, but...

THIS IS WHY YOU ALWAYS INCREASE THE INSURANCE COVERAGE TO THE TOTAL COST, SELLING PRICE + SHIPPING.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Das Ein

To me, it looks like the buyer just took pics of a previously damaged wheel he had. Because the deep nicks in the wheel look to be old, and have dirt/grime inside them. Something that has to happen over time. If you take a wheel and take a nick out of it, it will look silver behind it...not black.

My vote goes to him being a scammer.

+1

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by Das Ein

To me, it looks like the buyer just took pics of a previously damaged wheel he had. Because the deep nicks in the wheel look to be old, and have dirt/grime inside them. Something that has to happen over time. If you take a wheel and take a nick out of it, it will look silver behind it...not black.

My vote goes to him being a scammer.

Well, the lug nuts were black and powdery. I know when I was placing the lugnuts into the new bag my hands turned black.

But, if that was the case, I think all of that could come out with a good clean/polish. I just don't see how the lug nuts would reach that part of the wheel unless someone shaked the box. The lugnuts would have to jump pretty high and with a lot of force to do that damage, seeing how they weigh a lot.

Should I tell the guy he can file a claim with UPS if he wants? I don't want him to report me on paypal or something and have my money lost qq.

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by syenisch

Not a slight at the OP... Many of us have made this mistake, myself included, but...

THIS IS WHY YOU ALWAYS INCREASE THE INSURANCE COVERAGE TO THE TOTAL COST, SELLING PRICE + SHIPPING.

i only did sell the wheels for 450 with free shipping, so the 100 insurance per wheel basically covers that >_>.

[135iMike]

No way are those your wheels.

Here's what you do, since your wheels do have slight damage, have him take a picture of the FULL wheel, including your previous damage, including the new damage. That should debunk his bullshit pretty fast. Only thing he can claim on that it happened to be on the wheel without any damage to start. Otherwise he's busted.


edit: forgot to add this..... ... people like that ruin the world!

[ilikebmxbikes]

ask for full photos and work with him through the UPS claim.

[cpsquare8]

Total scam. Assume you took pictures that side by side do not compare to those he sent which on my supremely inadequate screen look nothing alike-real comparison would just shell him. I would tell him to send you pictures of the back of the "damaged" wheels - your original photos seem to have some very unique finger prints and marks and stampings that could easily be compare to the alleged damaged rims. Tell him that the shipper UPS, USPS fedex - really does not matter - insists on this documentation for the claim. Now simply on observation, photo two has about 6 balance weights showing, your original photos appear to show at best 3 or 4 as the weights were mounted behind spokes. The fun part is how much you wish to mess with him. Those are not my wheels - did you buy two sets, the hub mounting marks on rim 3 do not match my pictures, UPS needs your photo ID and DL number for the claim, that is really funny, only one rim had 7 weights on it and that was mounted behind spoke 4, paypal needs more information for the claim - they want to inspect them. They need the bag the lugs were shipped in to examine your claim. None of the marks on photo match. And lastly. Assuming the center caps were in the wheels -no lug nut is going to do the damage in photo 4.

And the real test. Tell him you have calledd UPS / Fedex and will get him a call tag. They are insured for $400 - if they are really the same rims - because you marked them with certain specific elements, photos that only you know and have pictures - once UPS / Fedex retrieves them and compares to your records they will process the claim - unless it matches no claim, no wheels - so sorry.

Just clear out your paypal account and call them to tell them you are being scammed now.

[foghat]

Originally Posted by cpsquare8

Total scam. Assume you took pictures that side by side do not compare to those he sent which on my supremely inadequate screen look nothing alike-real comparison would just shell him. I would tell him to send you pictures of the back of the "damaged" wheels - your original photos seem to have some very unique finger prints and marks and stampings that could easily be compare to the alleged damaged rims.

Except if he is scamming, how do you know he won't just take a picture of the back of the OPs wheels and then claim it is the 'damaged' one? Maybe a video showing him flipping the damaged wheel around.

[foghat]

I agree. Scam. I cannot possibly see how lug nuts, loose or not, would cause that sort of damage while being shipped. Just not going to happen.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

The guy is not from the forums, he saw my post and sent me e-mail. He owns a e46.

If he saw your FS post, how do you know he's not lurking and reading this post?

[ken1137]

That sucks the big one. In the future, I know it will not help now, but I take pics of the product and packaging so it is documented. I also insure the product for close to what they are worth b/c I know some workers at UPS like to "toss the box". I had a few buddies work for UPS in college and they used to have contests with $ involved. All you can do at this point is take them back and return the money, or not if you feel you are being scammed.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by jkoral

If he saw your FS post, how do you know he's not lurking and reading this post?

Does it matter? I would do the same.

I've heard of things like this before and it sounds like nothing new to me. Just take the advice as some members posted before. I would never sell anything on a forum to someone that just emails me without being a part of that particular forum.....if he said he is part of another forum then I would ask for his screen name and check it out.

[sonicbimmer19]

Originally Posted by jkoral

If he saw your FS post, how do you know he's not lurking and reading this post?

+1

[Bimmer-Bob]

If this guy is scamming you, what is he after? Surely he doesn't expect to keep the wheels and his money?

EDIT: Oh, just realized that if it's a scam, he would send you back his damaged wheels in exchange for his money, while keeping your good wheels. Screw him, there's no way your wheels could have gone from your pics to his pics, unless the shipper really screwed up. Tell him to make an insurance claim. He'll still be scamming someone, but at least it won't be you.

[JYohay]

with paypal, in order for him to get a refund he will have to pay for shipping back to you and provide tracking.
DO NOT SETTLE and offer this as your only resolution.
Either he will have to pay the $ to send it back to you, and then you can resell it.
.....or he will shove his foot in his mouth.
their comments about the color are bullshit since it is an OEM wheel in the OEM color.

[BimmerEnthusiast99]

Don't know about the dirt and color---that statement by buyer is odd. But if the bag with lug bolts opened, 20 bolts inside one wheel box, wiith all the weight and movement during shipping, additional weight of other boxes around and on top of it, etc, etc---could absolutely wreak havoc if they came into contact with a wheel's finish.

Hate to offer up that opinion OP, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. Seek a claim or pay him off for one wheel if you feel it's appropriate and be done with it. Good luck.

[cpsquare8]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

If this guy is scamming you, what is he after? Surely he doesn't expect to keep the wheels and his money?

EDIT: Oh, just realized that if it's a scam, he would send you back his damaged wheels in exchange for his money, while keeping your good wheels. Screw him, there's no way your wheels could have gone from your pics to his pics, unless the shipper really screwed up. Tell him to make an insurance claim. He'll still be scamming someone, but at least it won't be you.

Agree, if he does make the claim to UPS they will investigate and will likely require a pickup to process the claim. They typically contact the selling party if there is some allegation that the selling party messed up. If they damaged it they will cover it up to the insured value. As to 20 lugs in one box messing up 3 other boxes - I just do not see how that is possible. One can only hope the individual is in fact reading the thread - and if said individual files a claim and the carrier investigates, they may see this as well-because that is the location of the photos. While not the first question on the claim form the paypal invoice will be needed to process the claim-send him the links and let him have at it. You did not mess up - perhaps UPS did. He may also be required to have them repaired before the claim is processed. It just depends on the claim adjuster.

http://ltl.upsfreight.com/forms/docs/claimsdoc.pdf

https://wwwapps.ups.com/webClaims/cr...&report_type=1

[BimmerEnthusiast99]

Originally Posted by cpsquare8

As to 20 lugs in one box messing up 3 other boxes - I just do not see how that is possible.

The buyer said only one wheel was damaged by the lugs; and OP stated that the envelope was placed inside "the" wheel; also assuming each wheel was boxed individually. So it is possible that up to 20 lugs could've been grinding and rubbing against the finish of one wheel for miles and miles during shipping. In addition, the dashed line scratches in the third picture look like the threads from the lug bolts could possibly have been rubbing in between the wheel and the box.

Sorry this happened to you OP. IMHO, since you boxed it, UPS probably won't do squat, but it may be worth a try; try to settle it the best way you can--quickly--be done with it so as not to dwell on it.

Whether its a scam or if you are fault, it happens to the best of us

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

I sold my rims to someone through paypal. The guy is not from the forums, he saw my post and sent me e-mail. He owns a e46. Everything went pretty flawless at first.

I provided about 20 pictures of my wheels and their condition. Answered all of dudes questions, shipped the wheels out, and today I got this message:

"They arrived today .
So far pretty dissatisfied and disappointed.

These don't look like the one in the pictures they look different color .

They are all dirty and you left the bag with the lugs open so they scratch and damaged one wheel !!!

I have pictures ."

I am not sure what to do. I had lots and lots of pictures of my wheels. I sold OEM rims and they are silver. I don't know what color he was expecting them to be.

As for being dirty, not sure how. I powersprayed them with wheel soap and water. I understand maybe the inside or the wheel well not being clean, but what does he expect? The pictures clearly show their condition.

I put the lugnuts in one of those padded envelopes(actually, the one I received from tirerack for my new lug nuts). I guess it is possible that it could have broken, but I put them inside of the wheel. Unless the UPS guy flipped over my box several times I don't know how they could have scratched the wheels.

Not sure if this guy is trying to scam me or not. I am not really sure what to do as this is my first thing i sell online.

I know UPS said my wheels were insuranced for 100 dollars each wheel. Should I just file a claim against UPS for the 1 damaged wheel and tell him to get it resprayed?


For images of my wheels before I shipped them, see my original FS thread.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=714460

Not really sure what to do or say : (.

Are those picts of just one wheel?

Judging by the black residue, I'd say the wheel shown in those picts have brake dust on them.
Your linked picts don't show any brake residue.

The center cap appears to have something whitish spilled on it.
Zoomed in it does not look like scratches.
I don't see how a lug nut could cause it to look like that.

It's hard to tell which wheel it could be as he didn't shoot the whole wheel, and then show details.
I'm going with that was done on purpose, so that you can't see exactly which wheel he is showing.
I'd ask for a full clear pic of the whole wheel with the valve hole at 12 o'clock, and show detail either going clockwise or counter clockwise.

I kept looking at your picts vs his picts to try and figure out which wheel it is. It doesn't look like wheel #3, as that one doesn't have the wheel weights that are shown in his picts.
It looks like wheel #1 or #4, and maybe #2.
Again, this is why you need a pic of the whole wheel in question.

I tried to diagram the nicks and residue, but something seems odd, as if it's not picts of just one wheel.

Again, the picts you do have show brake dust. I don't think it's residue from the lug nuts. Do you think the black residue you're seeing is from the lugs?
In one of the picts all it shows is residue, and if you look at the upper corner where the arm attaches, there looks to be a smudge in the residue that looks like it was done with a finger.
Plus, that residue looks like it would easily come off with a few wipes with a towel.

The pic with the 3 nicks/gouges shows the black underneath the paint, just like your pic with the rash. It's black underneath.

The boxes that you shipped them in, do they have some kind of holes covered in clear plastic?
I'm wondering because I see, in 2 picts, something that looks like silvery holes/circles. Zoomed in it looks like holes covered in clear plastic.
?

What is the buyer asking for?
My guess is that he wants you to lower the price.
But, I'll tell you, if I thought someone sent me wheels that were not the wheels I saw in pictures, I would contact Paypal, or the place I used for payment, and file a complaint.

Also, for lugs to cause that kind of damage, there would have to be a lot of tossing and tumbling to first break open the bag and then cause and damage. The box would have to look beaten up. Does he have a pic of the box? And, if the box/es were that beaten up, why did he accept delivery, or not contact UPS to complain? These wheels weight at least 20lbs. That's not really heavy, but it's also not like a light bag of clothes or patato chips.

Ask yourself, if you received these wheels, and you thought they were not the wheels you saw in picts given to you, would you even want them?
I'd tell the seller to take them back.

As the seller, I would then look at the returned wheels to make sure that wheels sent back are the wheels I first sent.
He could try and pull a fast one by returning his beat up wheels for the ones you sent.
Luckily, you have pictures of the wheels you sent so that you should easily be able to identify all the wheels sent back to you.

It sucks, but it happens.
A friend of mine regularly sells on ebay, and he gets all sorts of people trying to do all manner of things trying to get something.
Mostly, they are looking for a lower price. I guess they figure since they possess the merchandise, then they are in a position to dictate and control the sale AFTER the sale.

Last thing, it's going to be difficult to get UPS to cover the wheel/s if there is no visible damage to the shipping box/es. If there is no evidence of abuse, then how can they be liable for the condition of the contents?
They really can't. They would have to have seen the condition of the wheels first in order to accept responsibility for something damaged inside of a perfectly good shipping box.
This buyer likely knows this. And, if the box/es are not beat up, then how did the damage in his pics happen?

Good luck. I hope you at least go the money before you sent the wheels. He's got the merchandise, but you've got the money.