So I bought the DCT front grille from member cptdaz...everything was fine, except for the fact that the top border piece of the grille, which was supposed to be brand new, unmounted, and in perfect condition per his sales thread below, was bent:

https://mbworld.org/forums/exterior-...s-mirrors.html

I took several photos after I let him know, and even posted in his sales thread as you can see, but got no response...Since the item wasn't as described, I'd like to work this out somehow, and am trying to avoid paypal...

Here are some pics of the bent piece (I tried to twist it back with no luck, and I doubt it will install properly given the way it's twisted (look at the very ends to see what I mean):



Pass side:



Dri side:



This pic says it all:

 

Looks like you might need to remove the chrome one from your car and install this into the plastic and attach back to the hood.

 

Umm...this is the piece that goes along the underside of the hood...it doesn't attach to the existing grille...

 

Hm, this could work and also straighten it out.

He knows that it's that piece. But if you notice the right side is twisted toward the front. So it'll stick out if he tried to put it on

 

oh I see what you mean now... I don't know if putting it on the plastic strip will straighten it out or not... the carbon fiber is probably much stronger then the plastic.

 

its warped

 

I just wouldn't even risk it. If YOU break the CF then it becomes your problem. If you return it to him as is, then it's his problem.

Then again, if you go through paypal and get your money back I'm sure you'll hear from him.

Good luck. FWIW however, I wouldn't have posted up a whole thread to call someone out. I would've put this in his FS thread and gone from there.

 

I believe OP said he did that originally and never received a response from the guy

 

Yup...sent him THREE (3) PMs and posted in his original thread with NO response....thus the thread...if anything, I am trying to be as fair in trying to have him respond and work this out before I contact paypal...I've been pretty patient...

 

^ Yeah I know, he did say that. So I'd just go straight to paypal with it. Just from being on forums for forever these threads never really turn out well and 9 times out of 10 the person who is at fault doesn't even respond.

Just take it to paypal. Yea, it sucks, but it is what it is.

 

I feel your pain man. Like I said though, chances are he wont respond. He has his money, he's happy.

 

I can see on his profile that his last activity on the forum was on the 6th of march.
Either he's aboiding this place or he is out of town.
Good luck

 

No offense, but thats what you get for going cheap!
You should have got the part new and from a trusted source.

I doubt that Paypal will do anything.

 

Looks minor. Throw it on and it will straighten out.

 

That's ridiculous. This almost isn't even worth a reply, but in defense of the OP, you are in the minority thinking that its in any way shape or form his fault that he expected another human being to act with integrity. Are their risks of buying second hand, sure, but to say he "should have bought new" is judgmental and even worse, doesn't really add anything to the discussion but your unconstructive criticism. Hope you feel better.

To the OP. good luck. Maybe you can dispute the charge with your CC company. In addition, a body shop can likely get it to work with some heat and experience. I remember back in the day with CF many lips would ship bent into a small package and after leaving it out in the sun for a day it would revert back to shape.

 

M156beast = Jacob

 

off topic but do you ride skateboards?

 

Merc63 = Idiot

 

I'm free to express my logical opinion. You would agree that if he had gone through a trusted source, all of this wouldn't have happened.

 

You're also free to go to a random person on the street, point at a dent on their car and say "ya know you kinda deserved that, you should be a better driver." Would you do that too, or is that courtesy only reserved for real life?

Internet provides people the means to be as rude and offensive as they want, but wouldn't be, in real life. Sociological supernova.

 

Two diffrent things.

Thats like saying you found your car parked some place banged up by baseball bats and then someone comes up and tell you "hey you shouldn't have parked here".

Totally stupid logic and isn't my point here. Now please Buzz off and let the OP find a soloution peacefully.

 

you know... cpt diaz was decently active on the boards and was imo a good member for mbworld. OP buying parts off him did not do any wrong.

Part of the reason why alot of us join the boards is for some form of commerce. I picked up a beautiful dad's cf hood for a song and am enjoying it now. I also recently sold my oem diffuser to someone who really wanted one to complete his amg look on his normal W204. I wasnt planning on selling it but when he started posting... i figured why not? i wont need it again.

members trading with members is quite a normal thing. If you only want to exclusively buy new from a retailer, that is your prerogative, but imo, buying from another member does not = cheap... and doesnt neccessary mean higher risk either.

 

The seller seems like a nice guy... From his user cptdaz... Maybe his in the military (captain) maybe his out of the country... Well idk...good luck dude.

 

I hope it gets sorted out.

 

No response thus far...so I'll do what I can...thanks for the support from those who commented...much appreciated...

m156 beast...yes, I realize that buying from a vendor is safer, but I wanted to save a few bucks...given the post count and the fact he had some history on here, I figured it was safe since he said it was unmounted and brand new....I don't think the buyer should be told he should have bought from a vendor instead of a private party when the seller is the one who provided a product that wasn't as described...I do a lot of business with paypal, so I'll see what I can do...I'm sure they'll take care of me.