Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I need some advice as to what to do about a deal gone bad with Ebay seller CTY300

I bought an expencive NIB 58064 bodyset from him, excited after finally finding one.

The Listing is HERE

So far, so good.

After receiving the bodyset I immediately see that there is something wrong with the shell.

Take a look at the following photos, more available HERE

damage_1.jpg

damage_3.jpg

damage_4.jpg

The problem is that the seller completely ignores me and my emails through Ebay. I have now registered a Dispute with Paypal, but no replies to Paypal either.

I have some questions:

- Is it possible to get a partial refund from Paypal, if I escalate to make Paypal decide the outcome?

- Should I involve Ebay?

- I funded the purchase with my creditcard through Paypal. Can I claim through my credit card company?

- Anything else I can do?

Basically my worry is that it is my word against his...

Finally, has anyone seen this kind of damage on a body shell?? It looks like the Lexan has "boiled" during vacuum forming causing lots of very small cavities / bubbles on the inside of the shell. They are not penetrating the shell so the outer side is fine looking.

Any help appreciated,

-Lars

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had similar damage to a shell i tried stripping - but i doubt yours has been stripped or has it? Maybe he had it displayed and the sunlight has damaged it?

As for the claim - it should go through a paypal dispute thing and hopefully come out your way. If not there is not much else you can do - dont think the cc company will do much.

Maybe wrong on all the above though, all the best

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow just checked the links - 200! I would be really upset too. Strange though as he has a really good feedback :rolleyes:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I too have had issues with CTY300 with a GPM TA01/TA02 alloy motor mount. There was no thread in one of the poles. He completely ignored my emails and it's still sitting on the shelf unused. Oneday I will find a tap with the right size and thread to make it useful.

No_Thread-01.jpg

No_Thread-02.jpg

I wasn't too happy to need to buy another and wait for weeks for it to arrive.

Mark

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The questions are...

1) is the shell considered to be acceptable by industry standards?

2) would you have purchased the shell if you knew what you know now? (maybe you would but for a bit less money?)

3) once you painted it, add a light coating of smoke on the window and apply the decals would the defects still be noticable?

I am not taking sides as I am no Polycarb body specialist, I think these shells are very difficult to fine and I think you would still buy it and what is upsetting was the disclosure was not complete or not telling the whole truth.

That is why I keep saying ebay is a double edge saw. Without ebay one may not able to find the body at all, but it could be a let down in the end.

I can understand one wants it to be perfect and no one likes bad surprises... I guess can you live with it?

As for your questioins, is not your words against his as you have physical evidence. I think paypal would either do a full refund provided you return it or the seller gives you a discount refund to settle the matter.

Hope everthing works to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The questions are...

1) is the shell considered to be acceptable by industry standards?

I am pretty sure Tamiya would never have sold anything like this (unless by mistake) The two stipes of "cavities" look like tape residue from tape sitting on way too long (but it's not...)

2) would you have purchased the shell if you knew what you know now? (maybe you would but for a bit less money?)

I would have purchased the shell for, lets say half price, which is why I ask for a partial refund.

3) once you painted it, add a light coating of smoke on the window and apply the decals would the defects still be noticable?

Well, that is the big question (although it is not on the windows, but on front and rear bonnet). I fear it will show, but I can't try before the deal has been concluded, can I?

I know Ebay is a chance-game sometimes, but I do expect a little more from Store sellers than from regular Ebay sellers.

Correct description is one of them, communication is another. (oh, I expect that from every seller when I come to think of it...)

BTW, the set didn't include the L-parts either (body mounts) so, it was not even complete.

And, it was shipped without a hard box for protection. Just bubble wrap outside the Tamiya box and then paper. The box was ofcourse crushed... (without any further damage)

(see enclosed pic)

-Lars

DSC00159.JPG

post-6326-1218389635.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How disappointing after the excitement of finding one NIB B)

In fairness, the pictures clearly show what's included (i.e. not your missing parts tree).

If you look really really closely you can just about see the bonnet is weird.

The camera never lies. Yeah right! :angry:

I think many of us have been caught out assuming at a glance the small Ebay photo shows the item is OK.

Keep persisting, and I hope you get a favourable result.

P.S. Useless message on the packaging 'fragile don't crush'. Postmen take that as a licence to play football with parcels!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
In fairness, the pictures clearly show what's included (i.e. not your missing parts tree).

True, but the text says "Complete Replacement Body Shell Set". I agree that is a tough one, an I might just have to give in on that...

If you look really really closely you can just about see the bonnet is weird.

The camera never lies. Yeah right! :angry:

Wow, your eyes are certainly better then mine then, to me, CTY300's pictures look stunning :-)

I know this is a tough one..

I am one of those old guys believeing that you will get what you pay for when it comes to quality. I guess some sellers thrive on that B)

- Lars

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Lars,

I have seen damage to the Celica and Porsche bodyshells before. The process used for both these models was subsequently dropped (because of fragility and other problems). It allowed for more detail, especially the way in which the front and rear (in particular on the 959) curved back on itself, which wasn't possible with other methods used at the time. There are flaws on almost every run of 959 (rear right tip of the fender is almost always indented, if memory serves) white marks from removal and bubbling, or folds around the complicated parts, especially on the front and back detail under the licence plate positions.

I have seen better ones and have perfect ones in my own personal collection, but lets say, out of 50 or so 959 bodyshells I have had through my hands, 2 or 3 have been absolutely perfect (would please 10/10 of TC members 100%), the others have been of varying quality. Tamiya people can be very fussy, however, yours is quite poor and although I am convinced this is how it came out of the factory, it is an example that should have definitely come with a health warning (ie : receiving this kit could seriously damage your heart condition). There is a lot of bubbling and to be honest, I haven't seen a worse one.

It was a lot of money for one of these and you should have got a better body and shipping. Jury is out on the mounting parts, but sometimes sellers rely too much people quickly buying without double checking something that is listed as perfect and complete. I just got caught out myself on a Monster Beetle.

Shame it happened to such a nice guy!

All the best, Paul.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If I can throw my two cents worth in here. I too remember some "issues" with the Porsche 959 body set and then subsequently the GRB would fall prey to them as well. I agree with loaded and think he should know all to well, but "AT THE TIME" Tamiya was using some unknown technology and trying their very best to produce a lot of detail in a Lexan shell. It could be possible that the brand of polycarbonate is more to blame than Tamiya.

I reference this, my friend works for an automotive after market "clear bra" for the front edges of automobiles. They keep scratches from rocks and debris from scarring the paint underneath. They are applied like a giant sticker/decal. They are clear. He allowed an experimental product placed on his 2003 Camry. It looked great(actually you cannot see it until you start staring) when first applied. Now 5 years later, it has HUGE cracks in it and looks like ****. He said it was made by Avery and that the company he works for eventually picked 3M company to provide the same material in which to cut out the bras. SO, not to knock any company, just lack of field testing and knowledge on how the product will hold up after years of environmental exposure can do stuff to plastics.

Now, I do read in the list of what is included no parts reference to the body mount tree, so, just have to make sure we read better in our old age(I will need bifocal glasses soon I think) and as far as their statement of "We will try our absolute best to package this beautiful body set to avoid any damages whatsoever!" they didn't try very hard if you ask me. I don't know why, but TC members have had several issues with Hong Kong sellers ranging from NO SERVICE, TAKE MONEY, to badly shipped rice paper wrapped items.

I have received some mini 4WD from Hong Kong a few years ago and they were a loss on their boxes, but the contents somehow survived. I cannot figure out how we are going to ask them to ship in an overwrap box so that they understand. It is probably their belief that they are shipping great until they get someone like us that love the boxes as much as the kit.

I think you have a right to file with Paypal for the poor shipping and you might have to concede the body damage to now known history. Perhaps with some white paint and the decals applied, the damage could hide from you over time. It is a great looking model, so congrats on completing it soon.

Well I think I threw in more than a dollar's worth of opinion, but the dollar is losing its value every other day, so I guess that made up for it. :rolleyes:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you Crash,

I also suspect the lexan to suffer from productiuon faults, but I can not believe the CTY300 did not know about it, it is quite obvious.

He must have noticed while looking for the body mount tree that wasn't there.

Anyway, I have escalated to a Paypal Claim, which resultet in the only response from CTY300 so far, of course a disagreement with what I state.

There is no verdict yet.

Lars

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

...What was the verdict, Lars? Did you get something back from this guy, or did you leave it alone?

Paul.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, I did not get anything.

I filed a claim through Paypal, after "zero" communication from the seller through weeks. I asked for a price reduction, but CTY300 would only accept return on my cost.

considerng reg. postage cost to and from Hong Kong is pricey, I decided to keep it. (for the time).

-Lars

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
considerng reg. postage cost to and from Hong Kong is pricey, I decided to keep it. (for the time).

-Lars

And that's how they win... I got stiched up a couple of times like this, but with postage to the US

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That is too bad the seller would not offer you a discount. I purchased a die cast not too long ago for $50.00 the base of the case had some writing on it and was blacken out and the corner of the case was damaged not due to the local post office. I wrote to the seller and he/she was willing to give me a $10.00 discount given the model itself was fine. I told the seller I'll take $5.00 instead as I can source the case locally but the seller still insist on giving me a $10.00 refund. Mind you a similar model was sold several weeks later for $25.00 ;) but likely this other seller charged a flat postal rate while my seller charged me at cost given I was local and the flat rate did not applied. In the end I was happy the way it worked out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Glad I didnt get my 959 body set from him. Time I purchased think he had one and there was a couple of others too. His was cheaper but didnt want deal with somebody outside the US for that pricey of an item. Then got wonder too see people looks like they sut copy and paste the same test over and over again. Same text basicly for a few items. Think he does that too. I got it from some guy that had collection or estate sale of a collection. They seller had a few NIB items on ebay at the not just that body. Other thing about that being in same country called and talked to the seller. Made sure it was over protected and packed well before it was sent.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...