Bad transaction with Lmill86
12-11-12, 09:46 AM
#1
Bad transaction with Lmill86
Recently I purchased a used s5 turbo from Lmill86. The whole transaction has left such a horrible impression on me I felt compelled to share so that others can avoid bad dealings with the guy.
After posting in the FS section here I received a PM from Lmill86 saying that he had a good, low mileage turbo for sale and that I should text him for pics. So I did, and he sent these:
That's a good looking turbo, you might say: the compressor wheel looks good, the turbine looks good, all the components are there, it isn't greasy and dirty. "How's the shaft play?" I asked. He said there was none. I made arrangements to pay him for the turbocharger via PayPal and thought all was good in the world.
A week later I get the turbocharger in the mail, first thing I do is check the shaft play and there isn't any, as advertised. I didn't look the entire thing over because I was pretty busy at the time. So on December 4th, I go to swap the turbocharger onto the car and saw some things were wrong:
- The water feed line had been hacked off
- There was a generous amount of orange silicon all over the oil seals
- Chips on the turbine wheel
As I was planning on swapping the hot side with a ported one anyways, I removed it to assess the damage and this is what I saw: (I apologize for the cell phone pics, it was late, I was covered in grease and pretty pissed.)
Once again, sorry for the low quality. But you can see large chips in the turbine wheel, EVERY SINGLE SPOKE has large chips in them. On the face and near the base of the wheel, EVERY SINGLE ONE.
So I'm a little miffed. One of two things happened: This guy made an honest mistake and sent out the wrong turbocharger or he knowingly misled me. Turns out it was the latter.After explaining the situation to him he responds with the cute little remark:
"But isn't there no shaft play?"
He then says he will call me the next day. When he doesn't call, I file a dispute with PayPal. It's only after the email he gets from PayPal about the dispute that he calls me back. During this phone call he admits to two things:
1) The photos he sent me ARE TWO YEARS OLD!!! And that the car has been running on an RE engine since, hence the water line being hacked and things not looking right.
2) HE SAW THE CHIPS IN THE TURBINE BEFORE HE SHIPPED IT OUT!!! Didn't say ****!
I'm trying to contain my anger here as he tries to pawn the paperweight off to me. After a few minutes we agree on a refund and I assume that would happen soon, seeing as all he has to do is go to PayPal, and click "refund" Three days pass and he tries to sell the turbo to me again and I refuse. He says that he believes it's a functioning used turbo. Right....
I've got the turbo boxed and ready to ship out. I ask him about the refund and over the next two days he gives me lines like this:
"I contacted paypal... remember when you make a claim; they hold the money until they make a decision... if u had not made the claim I could have just hit the refund button, but you might want to send the turbo back because it might take longer."
Keep in mind here, I have not, repeat, HAVE NOT escalated this to a claim. It is at this moment still a dispute. PayPal hasn't intervened at all, communication is solely between he and I. After explaining this he gives me this little gem:
"It's under review by PaypPal... they asked me for a report and I told them that the item had not been returned."
PayPal asked you for a report? It's under review? Two blatant lies. Remember this is only a dispute. PayPal isn't involved yet. Whatever, I've got this heap sitting on my desk and I ship it to get it out of my way and get him the tacking number. I make sure to put that number in the PayPal dispute communication as well.
After letting him know it shipped and providing a tracking number, I receive nothing back, not a word of thanks and certainly no refund.
Here is the last communication we had, last night and this morning:
Me: "I'm claiming this tomorrow at noon if I don't get a refund. I'm tired of being jerked around. You've got the turbo on the way to you, I want my money back."
Him:"I think you have to wait on paypal to make a decision. remember, I don't have the money anymore."
Me: "No, this is a dispute, this is not a claim. What part of that isn't clear? PayPal is not involved yet, but they can be. The money is held until you and I come to terms or I file a claim and PayPal decides the outcome. Please refund my money by noon or I will file the claim."
Him: "PayPal took the money, please contact them."
Now I'm pissed. It was obvious before, but now it's clear as day this guy is just being a jackass.
Me:"Look buddy, all you do is go online and click refund." "It's not that hard. Do it or I will escalate this to a claim." "I've fulfilled my half of the deal, I'm waiting on you."
Him: "PayPal said they will make a decision on the dispute, if u cancelled the claim it might help, but I'm not sure you want to do that."
NO ****! Keep in mind this is a dispute there is NO claim. You can be damn sure there will be one now though.
Me: "Yep, that's not going to happen. Talking is over, I'm not getting lied to anymore. What part of claim vs. dispute are you unclear on. Go to PayPal and check. While you're there, click refund. Your turbo is on the way, you've got till noon to refund my money, it's been a pleasure."
Syreed Nix, you are a liar and a manipulator. I highly suggest you all stay clear from dealing with this guy.
After posting in the FS section here I received a PM from Lmill86 saying that he had a good, low mileage turbo for sale and that I should text him for pics. So I did, and he sent these:
That's a good looking turbo, you might say: the compressor wheel looks good, the turbine looks good, all the components are there, it isn't greasy and dirty. "How's the shaft play?" I asked. He said there was none. I made arrangements to pay him for the turbocharger via PayPal and thought all was good in the world.
A week later I get the turbocharger in the mail, first thing I do is check the shaft play and there isn't any, as advertised. I didn't look the entire thing over because I was pretty busy at the time. So on December 4th, I go to swap the turbocharger onto the car and saw some things were wrong:
- The water feed line had been hacked off
- There was a generous amount of orange silicon all over the oil seals
- Chips on the turbine wheel
As I was planning on swapping the hot side with a ported one anyways, I removed it to assess the damage and this is what I saw: (I apologize for the cell phone pics, it was late, I was covered in grease and pretty pissed.)
Once again, sorry for the low quality. But you can see large chips in the turbine wheel, EVERY SINGLE SPOKE has large chips in them. On the face and near the base of the wheel, EVERY SINGLE ONE.
So I'm a little miffed. One of two things happened: This guy made an honest mistake and sent out the wrong turbocharger or he knowingly misled me. Turns out it was the latter.After explaining the situation to him he responds with the cute little remark:
"But isn't there no shaft play?"
He then says he will call me the next day. When he doesn't call, I file a dispute with PayPal. It's only after the email he gets from PayPal about the dispute that he calls me back. During this phone call he admits to two things:
1) The photos he sent me ARE TWO YEARS OLD!!! And that the car has been running on an RE engine since, hence the water line being hacked and things not looking right.
2) HE SAW THE CHIPS IN THE TURBINE BEFORE HE SHIPPED IT OUT!!! Didn't say ****!
I'm trying to contain my anger here as he tries to pawn the paperweight off to me. After a few minutes we agree on a refund and I assume that would happen soon, seeing as all he has to do is go to PayPal, and click "refund" Three days pass and he tries to sell the turbo to me again and I refuse. He says that he believes it's a functioning used turbo. Right....
I've got the turbo boxed and ready to ship out. I ask him about the refund and over the next two days he gives me lines like this:
"I contacted paypal... remember when you make a claim; they hold the money until they make a decision... if u had not made the claim I could have just hit the refund button, but you might want to send the turbo back because it might take longer."
Keep in mind here, I have not, repeat, HAVE NOT escalated this to a claim. It is at this moment still a dispute. PayPal hasn't intervened at all, communication is solely between he and I. After explaining this he gives me this little gem:
"It's under review by PaypPal... they asked me for a report and I told them that the item had not been returned."
PayPal asked you for a report? It's under review? Two blatant lies. Remember this is only a dispute. PayPal isn't involved yet. Whatever, I've got this heap sitting on my desk and I ship it to get it out of my way and get him the tacking number. I make sure to put that number in the PayPal dispute communication as well.
After letting him know it shipped and providing a tracking number, I receive nothing back, not a word of thanks and certainly no refund.
Here is the last communication we had, last night and this morning:
Me: "I'm claiming this tomorrow at noon if I don't get a refund. I'm tired of being jerked around. You've got the turbo on the way to you, I want my money back."
Him:"I think you have to wait on paypal to make a decision. remember, I don't have the money anymore."
Me: "No, this is a dispute, this is not a claim. What part of that isn't clear? PayPal is not involved yet, but they can be. The money is held until you and I come to terms or I file a claim and PayPal decides the outcome. Please refund my money by noon or I will file the claim."
Him: "PayPal took the money, please contact them."
Now I'm pissed. It was obvious before, but now it's clear as day this guy is just being a jackass.
Me:"Look buddy, all you do is go online and click refund." "It's not that hard. Do it or I will escalate this to a claim." "I've fulfilled my half of the deal, I'm waiting on you."
Him: "PayPal said they will make a decision on the dispute, if u cancelled the claim it might help, but I'm not sure you want to do that."
NO ****! Keep in mind this is a dispute there is NO claim. You can be damn sure there will be one now though.
Me: "Yep, that's not going to happen. Talking is over, I'm not getting lied to anymore. What part of claim vs. dispute are you unclear on. Go to PayPal and check. While you're there, click refund. Your turbo is on the way, you've got till noon to refund my money, it's been a pleasure."
Syreed Nix, you are a liar and a manipulator. I highly suggest you all stay clear from dealing with this guy.
04-30-13, 12:20 AM
#6
bcrotary.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia
Posts: 513
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So, I got my window switch in the mail. The transaction was painless to say the least. However my '10/10' window switch is actually in 6/10 condition at best. Anyways, he gave me a good price so I'm not making a fuss. Shipped quickly as well. Just my experience.
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