SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Beware of Execmalibu
Robert Potts AKA Duckman cheated me for $89 then asked for my help. I offered to send him another wheel or have his wheel repaired. I tried to work this out but he refused.
Story-
I offered a set of used SL65 wheels that I had as spares for my own car, they appeared to be very nice. There was NO obvious damage and the faces of the wheels looked very clean with no scratches or curb damage... Robert Potts contacted me about the SL65 wheels. We agreed on a price including being shipped from LA to Florida. He sent a small Paypal deposit and then about 10 days later I received the balance on a Friday in the form of an Out of State, Personal check.
I deposited the check on Monday and waited about 5 days for the check to clear... I am not sure how you guys handle Out of State Personal Checks but 5 days for it to clear is not unreasonable. Especially after it took 10 days before he even sent it.
As far as the shipping, I agreed to pay for shipping. But the cost was almost double what Robert and I estimated and before I shipped the wheels I called Robert and he agreed that insurance was a good idea and that he would pay for the insurance. After the wheels were boxed and delivered to Fedex I sent him an email requesting the money for the additional insurance he had agreed to pay for. That is when he went totally sideways and said he changed his mind that he was NOT going to pay for the insurance. Not even offering to split the $89 cost for the insurance. He thought the wheels had been shipped already and that he could stiff me. In reality I could have had Fedex return the boxes but I let it go.
The wheels were securely wrapped and boxed in (4) brand new boxes that I had to go out and buy... I had no idea that cardboard boxes cost $16.99 each!!! That was $68 plus tax ($74) that I had not expected but a deal is a deal so it was on me...
After he received the wheels about a week later he called to say that on the inside lips of two of the wheels there was a little drama. He said that he would have the wheels inspected and would get back to me... Two weeks later he sends me a photo of a tiny hairline crack on one wheel and a few small scratches on the other wheel. In his own words from HIS email to see the damage "you have to really look."... He also only discussed the crack after having the wheels for over two weeks.
I offered to replace the cracked wheel or offered that Marco at Detroit Wheel says he has repaired hundreds of AMG wheels and I agreed I would pay them.
Last week I let Robert know I found another nice wheel. I told him I would have it dismounted and pay to have the wheel carefully inspected including being spun to check for cracks, flat spots or wobble.
Today I emailed that the wheel checked out fine and that he should send me the damaged wheel back and the $89 he stiffed me for.
Robert called me and said that he was NOT sending the wheel back or the money (this is confirmed by Robert in this post)... So I said Goodbye and hung up.
The fact that he refuses to return my wheel before I send him the replacement has me very suspicious that the damaged wheel was probably not one of the wheels I sent him? He admits he has used wheels already on his car. And why was there no mention of the crack initially plus would it take almost three weeks to have the wheel shop check the wheels? The wheels had no tires... Shouldn't their inspection take only 5 minutes?
I am not sure how you guys would have responded.
Last edited by EXECMALIBU; May 7, 2012 at 02:40 PM.
In his first email to me he makes no reference to painted or bare areas. That came after him having the wheels for almost three weeks.
Also even after three weeks from HIS email in his own words Robert wrote to see the damage "you have to really look."....
I offered to replace the supposedly damaged wheel with another wheel in perfect condition. But like with ANY and/or ALL returns from any seller on the planet, I asked to have the defective merchandise returned first. I wanted to see the damage and to make sure it was actually one of my wheels and that he was not trying to pull another move on me... Then I would send the replacement wheel. Some people will buy a product and put their old broken item in the box and then try to return it.
He REFUSED to return the supposedly damaged wheel! Very Suspicious isnt it?
He already cheated me... Now he is asking me to trust him that it is one of my wheels and that he will pay to send back the wheel after I send him the replacement...
And to clarify Robert it was $16.99 x (4) =$68 + 9.25% tax =$74... So it was $74 here and $89 there = $163 that I paid above what we agreed.
You refuse to return the damaged wheel which is very suspicious. Then the only other option is use the $89 that you stiffed me for and send the wheels to Detroit Wheel. They charge $90 max to completely remanufacture AMG wheels. I will pay $90 to refurbish the other wheel. That is my final offered take it or leave it.
Interesting update...
Robert filed a claim with Paypal for non receipt of the items...
Last edited by EXECMALIBU; May 11, 2012 at 12:25 PM.






