bad transaction (JDM swap) with Japan2LA
 

On May 25th, I sent japan2la $3061 for a full JDM TII swap plus shipping to my house, which was

The next day, 5/26, I PM'd him asking when he'd be shipping the order and when it would arrive:

I didn't hear anything else.

On 6/2, eight days later and after the engine should have already shipped, I PM'd him asking for an update and whether the shipping had insurance on it. I didn't get a response.

On 6/7, twelve days later and after the engine should have arrived (although I did get a box with the MAF, BPS, and TID and another box with the driveshaft the day before), I again PM'd him asking for an update. This PM was also ignored.

I was checking almost daily for PMs and seeing that he would be active every day that I checked.

On 6/14, about 20 days later, I sent another PM, a similar email to his forum email address and to his paypal email address.
I got this in my email:

Next day, 6/15, I got this PM.
I told him that I didn't mind the wait, if it meant a great engine. When the engine arrived wasn't that important to me. That it didn't arrive when he said it should and that I wasn't getting any responses to my PMs was what was worrying me.

The 16th and 17th pass with no PM from japan2la even though the engine should have shipped and I should have a tracking number.

Friday the 18th I PM him
quick reply
I ask him when I should check in again and don't get a response.

Next Wednesday, 6/23, I send another PM.
quick reply
Saturday comes and I have no tracking number.

Tuesday, 6/28, I ask him how it will ship and if there is a tracking number and I get a reply PM with a tracking number. Engine finally arrives two days later on the 30th. I'm super excited!!!

Then I open the crate and my excitement dwindles.

Most of the other parts have arrived fine, with the exception of the oil cooler which is pretty beat up and the downpipe which didn't arrive at all. My initial examination of the engine show a great deal of rust and corrosion.

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26556

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26293

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26292

My NA that had 180K miles on it and sat in the driveway for a year and a half looked pristine by comparison. No rusty pulleys, no rusty OMP, no rusty much of anything.

I decide to do some initial inspection and notice that there is a lot of oil on the outside of the turbo that I can't see the source of. The hole where the BOV used to be shows a dirty looking interior tube. I remove the TMIC and notice some oil in there. I let the TMIC drain overnight and this is what came out of it.

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26557

I pull the plugs to have a quick look at the apex seals. Rear rotor looks fine, but the front rotor appears to have rusty water on the rotor faces and seals.

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26297

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26296


I then started a thread, https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/questions-about-used-engine-911331/, to get some additional opinions on the matter to make sure that I wasn't missing something. The general consensus was that the motor was iffy to bad.

I send the following PM to japan2la
Japan2la offers me a refund for the motor, which would leave me with a TII drive train, which I wouldn't need. I press for a full refund. He agrees, although he wants me to eat all the shipping charges as well as a $150 handling/restocking charge. I would be out close to $1000 at that point and have nothing to show for it. We argue some more via PM, which I'm not including here because it's kinda dull.

Here is a basic summary of his position
I'm very sick of this by now and am about ready to eat the charges just to recover at least some of my money. In a later PM he states
Since I'm very wary at this point, I want to get very clear about the above statement as it's a generic out.

I reply via PM, on 7/5
I have not received any further PMs as of 7/7, two days later.

Since his main issue is that there can not be anything wrong with the engine, I decide to dig deeper, just in case he's right and it is just a little condensation.

I pull the turbo and exhaust manifold off and find this rusty horror waiting for me. The entire rotor housing, irons, side seals and rotor corners and apex seals are covered in rust. You can see from the pics, but looking at it with the eyeballs, it looks even worse (it's hard to get a camera and a mag-light pointing into the same hole).


https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26560

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26543

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26561

You can check out my album if you want to see all of them - https://www.rx7club.com/album.php?u=2684.

So now I have an engine with a terrible coolant leak in the front rotor that has rusted everything near to death and I'm looking at having to shell out a good bit of extra cash to get it operable again.

From our PM interchange, I was expecting something a little better out of a stock of at least 7 TII swaps.
quick reply

W O W is all i can say....

Good luck man, did you pay with credit card through paypal??

Yeah, and they won't do anything about it.

Just got this PM from Japan2LA

So where then, did the major rust in the front rotor come from? Saying that there's no coolant leak in the front rotor is absurd given the amount of rust in there. That's like looking at a burned down house and claiming that there was no fire. Rust requires metal and water.Lots of rust requires metal and lots of water.

The price of the engine you quoted me was $1850 plus shipping, not $1350.

I purchased a full TII swap, not a bunch of miscellaneous parts. Since the engine is toast, the swap can't happen. Trying to leave me with these leftovers to deal with is unfair since I can't really do anything with them without a working engine.

Since you were claiming that all of this was just made up and wouldn't pay for any return shipping and were going to charge me for a restock fee, getting clear about the state of the water and rust was a requirement.

I've never dealt with a company that wouldn't pay for the return of defective items. Never. Not once.

If I were him, I'd eat the money, send you a clean engine (like you two originally agreed upon) and keep my good rep intact.

Restocking fees and shipping charges aren't cool either, since it's NOT your fault that the transaction fell apart. Maybe the thread you started was a little...premature, but that's no reason to punish you by keeping your money.

Good luck to the both of you. :)

ive recently contacted Japan2la about purchasing a TII engine and he never came through. He just ignored my PM's. After seeing how this situation played out, i'm glad he ignored my pm's. Hope you sort things out man.

There is clear evidence of internal rust in the pictures that he provided. If this is something you knew about prior to selling the engine, the engine should have never left your possession. Anyone that buys a used engine should remove the exhaust manifold to inspect the rotors and seals. It is absurd to tell someone they're not allowed to check the engine out for themselves.

This $150 handling fee you've come up with comes across as just plain spiteful, but more to the point, it also goes against the rules of the classifieds section. We don't allow sellers to ask for handling fees, PayPal fees or anything of that kind. The item cost and shipping cost should be the only dollar figures on the table. I understand in this case that shipping costs will be high (heavy items), but hopefully there is room for some compromise given the state of the engine. It is not the buyer's fault that the engine is showing some serious warning signs. It is the seller's responsibility to ensure that an item for sale is actually what it's being marketed as.

O my F-ing god, i wont tell anyone where to buy a JDM engine anymore. Ive lost all trust on this forum. Markusparkus in my opinion you deserve all of your money back considering non of this garbage is your fault.

...Speaking of "premature". :lol:
let's not jump to conclusions. There's two sides to every coin, and Brian has a good rep on this forum for a reason. I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything, but let the guy defend/explain himself in this thread before we lose all faith in him OR the forum.
There's aren't too many guys willing to spend the time and money to do what japan2la does, finding and importing these hard-to-find parts for us. :icon_tup:

Thanks...

There has been more than one offer put on the table to resolve this..

bad transaction (JDM swap) with Japan2LA
 

I hope you as RX7club forum seller can make up to the buyer.


TENAZ

???

Yea they will......

I had a bad transaction with a member on here for 2160 and I called discover, said my sh** came broken and they filed a chargeback..

Got all of my money back

Really? My bank says that since I used paypal, which drafted from by bank account through my card, that they consider it a pre-approved payment and won't do anything about it. Maybe I should use a true credit card instead in the future.

This is true. However, both of these offers have high additional costs to them: I'm expected to pay additional shipping charges to return the item(s) to you. Charges which are way higher for me, since I don't have a shipping account with central freight. I'm having a hard time stomaching paying an additional $500 for what I originally ordered.

I understand that you are upset about not making a profit (or as high a profit) on this transaction. However, be aware that you aren't the only one who would take a loss on a full refund. I bought and installed a walbro pump that I'd take a loss on. I bought a FMIC that I'd take a loss on. I bought an n370 that would need selling. I bought a floor jack and transmission adapter so I could pull the rear subframe and differential.

I too, have spent a lot of time on this. Aside from all the time and stress just dealing with the situation, taking pictures and videos etc., pulling the subframe and diff was a LOT of time and effort. I spent days working the removal of a half shaft for this swap, destroying it in the process, which I'll have to replace if the swap doesn't happen.

It's understandable that tempers got a little hot and if I jumped the gun on anything, I do apologize. This is the largest online purchase I've ever made and I wasn't expecting the response that I got.

Building trust in a brand, the Japan2LA brand in this case, is about building relationships of trust. It seems that the heat of the situation has obscured an important point. This isn't just between you and me: this is between you and me and a lot of your future potential customers. These threads have gotten a lot of views and a lot of people are watching. How you treat this transaction and customer is a public testament to how you are willing to treat customers in general.

Our relationship has gotten off to a bad start, and even though we've been through a lot together, I really think the best thing for both of us is to break up. You offered me a replacement engine, if I'm willing to shell out a good bit extra to ship the bad one to you, but I think the best thing for both of us is for you to arrange return shipping for everything and give me a full refund. I know you don't like the idea of losing money on this, and neither do I. I offer for your consideration of this the following: how much longer do you want this disagreement to continue? The longer these threads stay open, the more people are going to see them and the more likely the search engines are going to pick them up and index them. What happens if, God forbid, I get another bad engine? Then what? We do this dance all over again? Our dirty laundry is on the line and I'd like to pull it in and rewash it. In the end, we'll both have lost some money and time, but I'll get money back to figure out another option for my car and you'll gain appreciation and positive rep. for taking care of the situation in a professional manner.

I want to make it very clear, that this is not personal for me. I don't hold a grudge against you and I don't want a flame war to start. I do appreciate the service that you provide to the community, it just didn't work out well for me.

Not fully inspecting an engine before it gets shipped is premature. He paid for an engine that looks to have been driven around the world and a bit pricey. Now has to eat shipping charges over the sellers fault? This is just wrong IMHO.

I thought japan2la offered warranties? :dunno:

Please understand that this thread is not hurting me in anyway.

I have given several resolution options..

These options are not open ended..

Japan2LA used to be the man you could trust...he still may be the best option...not for me to say. However there seems to have been several disappointing threads this year regarding his services...and I personally know someone who received an engine from him that did not have promised compression but it had been more than 30 days before he installed it so he never said anything (buyers fault).

Hope Japan2LA can get back to having a consistent good rep.

bad transaction (JDM swap) with Japan2LA
 

If I were him .
I'd take care of the customer.I know sometimes I ended up loosing a bit.
(specially in used auto parts).
But over all is about his Integrity as a Forum vendor.

Tenaz

Yeah, 30 days. Which I'd like to take advantage of, but since I'm expected to eat another several hundred dollars at least to return the defective engine, and I'd STILL be taking a chance on an engine from a questionable vendor, I'm not very interested.

If here were willing to cross ship me a replacement engine and issue a pickup for the busted one, I could consider it. Not if I'm going to have to eat another $500 dollars though. Especially since he's said this:
and won't clarify these points. As it stands, it looks like he's just rolled out a big barrel he expects me to bend over.

So, if it's not clear, I'm willing to compromise. If he'll send me another engine, one that's not rusty and has the expected > 100psi compression on all faces, isn't damaged in any way and doesn't have rust in the compression chambers, and has a manual flywheel, not an automatic one requiring me to spend even more money AND have the busted one picked up when the replacement is delivered, then I'd be willing to move on. Oh, and the downpipe that never arrived should come with the replacement engine.

I know that he'd be probably just be breaking even, but FWIW, technically, he still has $87 of my money that he charged as a paypal transfer fee, which could be considered a credit on my part towards the return of the defective engine.

I have no problem sending out another motor.. but 1st..

The original motor needs to be sent back to me for inspection.

The engine has to be 100% complete ( no missing parts, hardware..everything that was there before needs to be there when it gets back here) and it has to be all bolted together correctly.. same way it was when it arrived.

Once the motor is back here I will look it over.. and if everything is there, as it should be, another replacement longblock will be shipped out right away.

I am not going to send another motor out until the 1st one is back here.. Getting it back here is your job.. and then sending out another one is my job.. That is how it works.

Anytime there is a warranty issue, the buyer must send back the item... I am not being unreasonable in asking for this to be done in this situation..

Also, I can arrange for the shipping.. I can send you a BOL and all you need to do is package the motor up correctly, get it strapped on to a pallet and then deliver it to the terminal with the BOL paper work. And I will pay for that but...

When I get ready to ship the replacement engine out to you, you are going to have the pay me for the shipping of the new engine..

I will cover shipping 1 way only... not both ways...

BTW: The above resolution has been available to you... from before you even took delivery of the engine..

Before you started all these threads.. without even contacting me 1st to voice your concerns..

Before you made VERY unfavorable comments about me..

Before I was call a "questionable vendor"

Before a question of my integrity was ever mentioned..

All you had to do was let me know what was up... instead of trying to play up to some internet audience..

Also: Thank you ...to whoever the MOD was, that cleaned up the thread..

I have been called worst things here before, so I was not very bothered by that post...

How much will shipping be for just the engine?

Before I get my hopes up and spend more money on this, I want to see some documentation on the replacement engine. I don't want to spend more money just to trade one rusty lemon for another.

I need to see clear photos of all sides, plus top and bottom. I'd like to see clear closeups of the turbo intake and exhaust blades. I also want to see clear closeups of all six rotor faces and apex seals through the exhaust ports and a shot of each rotor housing surface, similar to what I posted.

Additionally, I'd like to see a clear video of the compression test showing > 100psi on all faces.

I have a preference for a replacement engine with a manual flywheel.

I also would like for the downpipe that didn't arrive to be included in the replacement, as well as a replacement oil cooler as the one originally shipped is pretty beat up.

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=26726


How long is this in days and how long will you need to inspect the engine I return to you?



WRT to the return of the bad engine, I want to know that this
is all that's going to be used to determine that you got what you sent. Not some vague and open ended terms like "altered".

To help avoid any confusion about the above, I will video tape the re-assembly and take photos of the re-assembled engine and send them to you beforehand. Additionally, I'll send you photos of the packing process to make sure that it's packed in a way acceptable to you.

How does that sound?

I'm sorry. I would be pretty ticked off if I paid 500 bucks to have an engine full of moisture and rust shipped to me, and was then expected to pay another 500 bucks to have a replacement shipped. I know that for warranty type returns and such, that is the reality with a LOT of vendors. Part of the reason why I wont buy a JDM engine from anyone. I'm just surprised that taking off the exh. mani and visually inspecting the chamber conditions isn't a "standard" check on an imported engine. This check would have prevented this whole situation, as I highly doubt that the moisture damage in those pictures happened in transit from CA to TX. If it were my business, I personally would suck up the loss of shipping costs for this one transaction, set it right, and learn from it. Add a chamber check to your compression test as part of your QC process. Take pictures/video of these checks for your records. If you sent me pictures/video of the chamber check and a proper compression test on the engine you shipped, and then something was wrong with it, I would feel a little more at ease with having to foot a return shipping charge to get a replacement. I know these little extra steps would take more time away from what I am sure is an already packed day. (no sarcasm intended) But they would make your customers a little bit more confident in your products, and cover your butt in an instance like this. Just my $.02.

This thread scares me. I always had good deals with Japan2LA (Even if he never gave a feedback on the iTrader system...).

Shipping will be >$250.00

Here you go again, performing for your internet audience.. The "Rusty Lemon" comments need to stop. There is no documented proof where the small amount of water you say you found came from. You have said there is a coolant leak into the front rotor housing, yet the pics do not show any coolant, only a small amount of water... and the source of this water has yet to be determined.. As I said earier the engine passed a compression test here before it was shipped.. My intent is to do a proper pressure test on that engine when it is returned to me.. The jury is still out on the 1st engine being a "rusty lemon" so stop with this already..

"I need to see clear photos of all sides, plus top and bottom. I'd like to see clear closeups of the turbo intake and exhaust blades. I also want to see clear closeups of all six rotor faces and apex seals through the exhaust ports and a shot of each rotor housing surface, similar to what I posted."

I will pull the turbo and exhaust manifold off for inspection on the replacement motor. I will document what I find. I will take pictures. I will take pictures of the turbo. I will take pictures of the longblock. I will email the pics prior to sending the motor out.

The replacement will have a manual flywheel

I will not be able to video the compression test.. I dont own a video camera, and I am not going to go out and buy one just for this..

I have already addressed the downpipe

Send the oil cooler with lines back with the engine. I will send you $50.00 back ( what I charged for oil cooler) I dont have another one to send, you source one from someone else on your own..

It will take me 1 to 2 days to look the 1st engine over once it has been returned to me.

There is no trickery here.. as long as it is all bolted together and is 100% as it was when shipped out, there will be no issue. No missing parts, no missing hardware..its simple... Based on these threads you have started, I doubt you will have trouble doing this.

Video, take pics do whatever you want. Do you need to send any of this to me? The answer is NO.

More than $250? Or less than $250? I was expecting less than $250 since $250 was the original shipping price for the entire swap package.

I don't see where you've done that. Please restate....


As for the rusty/cooling issue. Seriously, where on earth could that much liquid have come from to generate that level of rust, if not the cooling system? As far as I know, there are only two ways for water to get into the compression chamber, the first would be through moisture in the air and the second would be from a leak in the cooling system. Since it's pretty much impossible for atmospheric moisture to do that level of rust, much less on only one of the chambers, that pretty much leaves a cooling system leak. I would love to hear another plausible option.

Don't blackberry's have a video camera in them? Don't all digital cameras these days have a video mode? I'm assuming you still aren't shooting pics on film, right? That would just be primitive.

>=less than
<=Greather than

Shipping will be less than $250.00, my mistake on the sign

downpipe will be sent with the 2nd engine

There are ways for water to get in....and I will just leave it at that..


Until a true pressure test is done, there is no proof of a coolant seal failure.

I have a digital camera..

I do not have a video camera.

Yes, I am primitive.

You aren't suggesting that if the engine passes a pressure test, that you are going to change the agreement, are you?

I'm sure you can find a friend with a video camera (I too was living in the stone age until a couple of years ago when my brother took pity on me and bought me one). I want the compression test video. I want to KNOW that the additional money spent is spent well, and that when the engine arrives, that this transaction is complete.

Jesus Christ...

I said I am going to exchange the engine...

For the LAST TIME...

I dont have a video camera, nor do I have someone who I can borrow one from..

I am done going back and forth with you..

PM me when you have the engine ready to ship and when you are ready to deliver it to the terminal. I will then email over the shipping paperwork that you will need in order to drop it off at the terminal..

Nothing else needs to be talked about until then..

Lol. Ok.

I forgot that you have the mazda digital compression tester so instead of a video, a photo of the numbers for each rotor will be just fine.

I'll start the packing process.

When you have the photos of the replacement and compression test, post them up here, or make an album and post the link or whatever works.

Looks like we are coming to a close on this issue. I'm glad.

^ This I can do...

Brian has always been and will always be a great guy to deal with. While it was unfortunate for the motor to show up in such a condition, the buyer needs to be realistic. You are dealing with 20+ year old USED engines, imported from Japan. The other side of the world.

The fact that Japan2LA is bending over backwards to photo document all this for you is a testament to his integrity. I have never, ever heard of any engine importer willing to take such steps.

It is well known amongst car enthusiasts that buying an imported, used motor is a roll of the dice. Especially a Wankel rotary. Most importers don't even offer warranties for them.

This is an obvious smear-campaign upon the good name of a pillar in the Rotary Community. If your complaint is that Brian was un-professional in his business dealings, then you should not complain un-professionally.

First off, give this nonsense a rest. I dont want to hear anything about "20 year old used parts from the other side of the world"....none of that matters. The moment that a seller represents the condition of ANY parts to be a certain quality, regardless of the age, or where they come from, then that seller is 100% liable for their claims. When japan2la certifies to a customer that an engine has "above 100 psi on both rotors", there is no excuse at all for a dead motor arriving at the buyer's door. I completely understand japan2la being very busy, but when a seller tells a customer that they are going to do something, I expect them to do it. Period. No ifs, no ands and no buts. Its that simple.

Second, we're starting to see the same issue again with regards to shipping promises. Japan2la, I have no doubt that we as a community are fortunate to have you here offering these parts to our members. But this is really beginning to cause a problem here. WHEN YOU TELL A CUSTOMER THAT YOURE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, YOU NEED TO DO IT, AND YOU NEED TO DO IT WHEN YOU SAID YOU WOULD. You received payment on 5/25, and told him it would ship "in a few days". "in a few days" is NOT just over a month later! Again, I know youre busy, but when you tell a customer something, that builds an expectation that causes problems later when you dont follow through. You first told him "in a few days"....and you didnt follow through. You then told him on 6/15 that "I will have all your shipping info for you tomorrow"....and again you didnt follow through. You then told him a THIRD time, on 6/23, that you would have it shipped out no later than Friday, which was 6/25. From what he has posted, it did not actually ship until some days later than that. This is not the first time that I have spoken to you about this issue. And while I appreciate your usual habit of delivering good quality parts, I have an issue with something else here. One of the reasons why you kept this guy waiting was so that you could "find the motor with the best compression" for him. At one point, you told him that the reason for the latest delay was that you were in the process of testing the motors. But you sent him a motor with no compression on one rotor. If you had tested that motor before shipping it, wouldnt you have noticed the problem? That motor would not have gotten rusted out, filled with water, and lose all compression in the three days it took to get from your place to his, on a pallet. The only conclusion I can come to is that it was sent to him in that condition. Wouldnt a compression test have solved that before it found its way onto a pallet in the first place?

I am at a loss.....I dont know why you cannot seem to understand the importance of following through on what you promise, when you promise. While you have amassed a certain reputation here as a go-to guy, you are still required to abide by the rules of the forum and handle your business in an appropriate manner. It does not matter to this issue that you provide parts that others do not. You are still just as much responsible for these problems as any other seller would be. If, at some point, someone convinced you that its ok to conduct business like this on here because you get all these parts for our members, let me assure you here and now that this is NOT the case.

A final note to FCTurboII--this is NOT a "smear campaign". It is a buyer who dropped three grand to a seller, waited more than a month to get his order that was SUPPOSED to have shipped "in a few days", and when it finally arrived, it was not at all in the condition that it was promised to be in. How's about we try using a little honesty here, please? I have no doubt that Brian was not trying to send a bad motor to someone. However, he advertised one thing, and sent another. If for ANY reason you feel that this issue is the buyer's fault, think again.

Brian, I have every confidence in your desire and ability to provide quality parts to our members. But we need to figure something out about these issues. It will only help your business run more smoothly, and it will also help our members to get what they need in a more efficient manner. I am open to any ideas you may have and available if I can help you to get past this. Feel free to contact me if there is anything I can do.

Jon

No doubt Brian messed up. That's not an issue that I am contesting, the buyer comes off very childish to me, hence my statements about being realistic.

What makes this a smear campaign and really irks me is that instead of approaching Japan2LA about the issue first, the buyer creates a thread bad-mouthing the guy without giving Brian an opportunity to make good.

From what I understand, as soon as the buyer did contact Brian, he was offered a refund / replacement.

I agree that when somebody says something, they should do it and Brian was wrong to not communicate better with the buyer about the issues in selecting and shipping the engine. I also agree that when a vendor makes a statement as to the quality of their product that they are liable to back up those statements. Brian seems to have slipped there, but he backed up his claim by offering a refund or replacement.

The buyer should have handled this in a more professional manner, and Brian definitely should have been more professional himself. You don't just assume that somebody has maliciously screwed you over and start bad mouthing them to everyone without confronting the person first.

Well, lets see here....your first post said NOTHING about Brian dropping the ball. What you did was talk about:

1--how he "always has been and always will be" a great guy to deal with....
2--how "20 year old imported wankel rotary engines are a gamble, thats why no one warranties them
3--this thread is an "obvious smear campaign" against "the good name of a pillar of this community".

Please, stop me when I get to the part where you were telling us about how Brian needs to handle his responsibilities. In other words, in one post he's a good name and pillar of the community. In your next, its obvious that he messed up. Why are you talking about integrity when you cant even stick to your own story?

Apparently, you have decided against practicing some integrity of your own. If you had actually read the thread he started, you would have seen him doing nothing more than asking questions. It was OTHER PEOPLE that told him the engine was toast. AT NO TIME did he "bad-mouth" Japan2la in that thread. So, please, if you dont care enough to actually read what has taken place, then dont post in these threads. There is enough to sort through as it is without people posting biased, half-educated claims. Brian is an asset to the forum, and he does not deserve to be unfairly trashed. But thats the thing--this buyer asked questions, and didnt put down japan2la at all.

And again, this is what you get when you dont read the whole story. The refund that was offered included the buyer having to pay for return shipping--not just a few bucks--and also to forfeit a $150 restocking fee....for what? He was sold a bad engine, filled with water and rust, and because it arrived that way at his doorstep, he was supposed to pay shipping charges and a restocking fee? Youre kidding, right?

See above. The refund was offered with conditions that would have cost this buyer a substantial amount, which he should not have had to pay since none of this was his doing.

At this point, I dont even know what thread you think youre reading. The buyer bought an engine and related parts, dropped THREE THOUSAND BUCKS. He was kept waiting for OVER A MONTH past when he was originally told to expect the engine to ship. And when it FINALLY showed up, it was wet and rusty inside. So he starts a thread which SPECIFICALLY said "I dont know if this means the motor's trash, please give me some opinions". he sought help from this community. He did so WITHOUT criticizing japan2la. And when several people, one of them a member of our moderating staff who also happens to have enough turbo swap experience that he helped to write a FAQ thread on the matter, told this buyer to suspect the engine, he took their advice. Once he was comfortable with what he thought was wrong, he then contacted the seller and informed him of the problem. He COULD have gone off half-cocked, insulted Brian up one side and down the other, cursed him out, and demanded his cash back on the spot...but instead, he kept his head, kept calm, asked for opinions from people that knew better than he does, and then presented his resulting thoughts to the seller. And even then, he didnt bad-mouth japan2la in any fashion...what he DID say was this:

if you think that he trashed Brian, you need some new reading glasses.

Tell you what--all this nonsense distracts from what this thread is here for. I'm going to ask nicely that you refrain from posting in this thread any more. Should you decide to continue this "obvious smear campaign" against a buyer who spent a chunk of cash in good faith, I'm going to ban you.....nicely....

Well I missed that thread, I was going on what I read here; I will humbly accept being owned.

Hey Japan2LA,
Do you have pics of the replacement engine yet?

Great...I was planing on doing a TII swap next year. This thread scares the hell outta me and brings out all my fears.

Hopefully the buyer and the seller can work out a deal. I'm not commenting at all, but it sucks for both parties; but really sucks for the buyer. I am curious as to how this pans out.

got pics?

You're telling me it's been two weeks and you still haven't heard from him??

No, he PM'd me saying that he was busy last week and would have them this week.

Just to make sure that I haven't missed anything before I pack this on a pallet, here are some pics. Lemme know if you see anything out of whack.

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27159

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27153

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27158

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27155

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27157

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27151

https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27156

And let me know if you want the bug.... I throw him (her? I'm not going to find out) in for free.


https://www.rx7club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=27161

Japan2LA, time is ticking away, but still seems to be no progress in resolving this situation. Where is the replacement engine/pictures?

Hope this gets solve pronto.

Fyi:
 

FYI: I have been waiting since 7/12/2010 for Mark to tell me that the engine is ready to be shipped back.

I have not been the reason for ANY delay in getting him a replacement engine. By now, the 1st engine could have already been returned to me and inspected.. and the replacement engine in Mark's possession.

On 7/27/2010 Mark posted the above..

I sent him a PM saying that I would not have time to do this until this week 7/26/ thru 7/30. I have followed thru with that request. I took and emailed pics of this engine today which is during the time period I said I would do so..

MARK....

I want this RESOLVED NOW!


I have been waiting since 7/12/2010 for you to say the 1st engine is ready to be shipped back to me.

I am going to PAY the shipping cost and book the return shipping tomorrow morning.


Before 12pm pacific standard time, you will have an email with an attached document..

This will be the bill of lading required for the engine to be shipped back to me...


I can do nothing more to get this finalized until the 1st engine is back in my possession.

JUSt got this PM from Mark..
 

This sent to me after he has gotten the pics of the replacement engine:

"Ummm.... these pics don't really tell me anything as they are so blurry. The one that I can see sorta clearly looks just as rusty as the original engine. Where are the other pics: full frontal, rear both sides and top and bottom? Plus closeups of the turbo intake and exhaust blades plus the apex seals and rotor faces on each face of both rotors?"



I have 1 digital camera.. Is the pic quality great? The answer is no.. Regardless, its what I am working with.

I could pressure wash this motor, but I am staying away from water for a reason.. It is too easy for water to get in, and then we are back to square one.. You want it cleaner then it is right now, then You pressure was it on your own..

I have sent pics: front, left and right. I will gladly take a rear pic and a pic from below..

My camera does not do close-ups


The bill of lading will be in your email box tomorrow...

Please drop the 1st engine off at the terminal with the paperwork ASAP...

Until that 1st engine gets back to me, I can do no more...