Gotta bunk engine on Ebay!

I just bought an older engine on Ebay and in the photo and description it sounded and looked like a really good deal. When it arrived at my house it looked pretty good but looks were deceiving. The engine had almost no compression and when I ran it I found that the head had been touched up with a low-temp paint which began to bubble and melt when I finally got the engine to start. The engine barely runs and it is looking like I totally got screwed. I have bought a lot of stuff on Ebay but this is my first bad experience.

Buyer Beware!

>I just bought an older engine on Ebay and in the photo and
>description it sounded and looked like a really good deal.
>When it arrived at my house it looked pretty good but looks
>were deceiving. The engine had almost no compression and
>when I ran it I found that the head had been touched up with
>a low-temp paint which began to bubble and melt when I
>finally got the engine to start. The engine barely runs and
>it is looking like I totally got screwed. I have bought a
>lot of stuff on Ebay but this is my first bad experience.
>
>Buyer Beware!
>
>Robert

Well give us the seller name so we can watch out please.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-04 AT 01:24 AM (CDT)
 
I sent him a email and I am giving him a chance to make it right and if he doesn't, he is fair game in my book and I will be posting his Ebay ID in this thread.

Also, he doesn't have any negative feedback and 300+ positive feedback points, so I am hoping it was not sold like that on purpose. I am assuming he is just a engine collector and never runs the engines he buys and sells.

HEY!!

If I was you, I'd contact the seller and request a refund/return! You will be especially likely to get one, if you hav'nt left feedback yet.You can also lodge a conplaint and go through the arbitration process. I've done it and it works.

When I have a dog or damaged engine to sell, I make the condition clear in the description and people bid anyway and get what they expect. Thats the way it's supposed to work.

Don't get defrauded and do nothing about it! Fight back!

I deal on eBay all the time and have never had a problem that was'nt resolved to either my or a customers satisfaction.

What was the sellers ID and the auction number?

BIGS

" What constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship, that it binds men together and fashions for them a common language. For there is but one problem - the problem of human relations."

1. What was the Seller's Feedback record?

2. Have you asked for resolution of this problem?

No offense intended, but kindly do not imply to paint ebay sellers with a broad brush.

I have sold nearly 1200 items on ebay, mostly model airplane stuff. I have a No Questions Asked full guarantee, $ back policy, and I cover return postage, too. My Feedback record is 100% (and I am sure yours is, too).

Best of luck in getting some sort of settlement. But try.

Whoops, Robert, it is late at night, I just got out of the hospital, I'm on something kinda spacy, and I note that this is your first ebay bad time. Dumb me for not reading carefully.

But do try to get satisfaction. By the way, what was the motor?

>Whoops, Robert, it is late at night, I just got out of the
>hospital, I'm on something kinda spacy

Currell,

I knew something was up when you didn't answer the thread addressed to you as promptly as usual.

Hopefully nothing serious, and get well soon!

Andy

P.S. You are quite correct: the Fox FAI special 049 does not have the flutes cast into the crankcase. I looked mine over carefully...

AT

I think I am OK now, and thanks. Currell

What brand and size was the engine?

Bigiron

When you deal with people who don't know about engines or kits,they generally offer to take back the item. Then you are in the position of paying postage both ways so they can have an accurate and sucessfull second auction. You can't win unless you deal with folks like Currell. Don

LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-04 AT 09:32 PM (CDT)
 
Well, there are allways a few bad apples but there are also lots of honest eBayers too , including myself.

I sell and have sold plenty of engines, RC, and CL gear on eBay and shipped world over with satisfactory results all around.

In fact, my descriptions are honest to the point that I have never had a return, even when selling engines in need of rebuilding or repair.

In the few cases where there has been a question about quality or condition, my friendly offer of a total refund, has resulted in the buyer desiding to keep the item.

On the other hand, I have only had to return one eBay purchase and it went seamlessly.

eBay is based on honesty and most prople ARE honest. Especially modelers!

BIGS

" What constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship, that it binds men together and fashions for them a common language. For there is but one problem - the problem of human relations."

LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-04 AT 10:32 PM (CDT)
 
This was my mail to him:

Dear ------,

I just received this item, and unfortunately: 1) the engine has extremely low compression, knocks at the top end of the stroke, overheats; and 2) the head appears to have been re-painted with low-temperature paint that started to melt the first time I test-ran the engine. Although the "ad" states that it's sold "as-is," it was essentially represented as being a good engine ("practically new engine with only light chips in head paint from handling"). Given that it is certainly not "practically new" with these problems ? and basically not good for anything but parts, I would like to know if you would consider a return and refund on this item. Please respond at your earliest convenience.

I got this reply from the seller, cut and pasted from his email.

Good Morning, Bob
I certainly didn't detect anything that you mention with this engine. Of course I didn't run it. It certainly looked like a practically new engine to me. A lot of these engine I am selling for a deceased collector's widow have had the paint or anodizing "touched up" but I didn't see that on this one.
However, having said all of that, if you think I mis-represented it, by all means return it. I will look at it closer to see what you mean. I hope this is what you want.

--- -------
------

I am not sure what to do, I am considering eating the $40 and using it for a parts engine. It is definately shot, when I ran it again a few sparks came out of the port while running and it over-heats.

Do you have a too long of glow plug or one with an idle bar in it? If it knocks at the top end and shoots sparks, sounds like the piston could be hitting the glow plug or the idle bar. Are you using a glow plug gasket too?

LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-04 AT 11:35 PM (CDT)
 
Crist might be on to something here.

Please check for the head shim and look at the plug length. Prehaps you need to install a short plug rather than a long one. I've certainly never had sparks shoot out of a glow engine for G*ds sake!

Still... The guy invited you to return the engine, so, if you are so unhappy with your purchase, why not just end this drama by sending the man's merchandise back?

Tell him what you don't like about it and ask for a refund. 9+ chances out of 10 are that you'll get a refund.

This is beginning to sound like a "buyer problem" than a "seller problem". The man has offered you a resolution and you complaining instead of taking it. Whats up with that?

BIGS

" What constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship, that it binds men together and fashions for them a common language. For there is but one problem - the problem of human relations."

>This is beginning to sound like a "buyer problem" than a
>"seller problem". The man has offered you a resolution and
>you complaining instead of taking it. Whats up with that?
>
>BIGS

First off, no where in his Email does it say he is going to give me a refund. It says for me to send the engine back to him and he will look at it. ("I will look at it closer to see what you mean.")

My first post on this topic was a heads up to everyone on the board that this kind of thing does happen and it was a reminder that the buyer must beware. It was not a complaint. I also stated in my second post that I was not going to return the engine and that I was going to most likely use it for parts. I made the second post to let everyone know what happenend with the seller response and that is all.

Yes this is a "buyer problem", I bought it, it doesn't work and I am going to keep it and the seller has no problem. I didn't leave him bad feedback due to the fact that his ad also stated the engine is "sold as is".

Now you drop the other shoe, if it was sold as is "WHY" did you post
in the first place? bad form on your part.

because he said the engine was like new

What more can you ask of the guy? After you where ready to tar & feather him he turns out to be a decent person.

Robert: I am confused by your response. The seller's answer to you seemed to indicate that he was trying to please you.

When he said he would take another look at the motor, why didn't you simply ask him to explain exactly what that meant? It is probable that he would have refunded your money.