Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Ok, need a quick rant.
So, I had a spare set of genuine Z3 Roll Hoops that I put on Gumtree (£400) and Ebay (£475 best offer). They were in great condition and I even offered free UK delivery or fitting and was expecting a haggle on price. I know what they're worth and what they regularly sell for.
However, it's all gone a bit weird, so I thought I'd share the experience.
Here's the ebay ad: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192463737257
------
Edit: I've added the specifics below for reference.
----
Postage: Free Economy Delivery
Item location: Bangor, United Kingdom
Posts to: United Kingdom, Italy, Spain
Delivery: Estimated within 4-6 working days
Returns: No returns accepted
------
It all started with the following message via ebay from a 0 rated new ebay user:
Before I had a chance to respond, the same guy bought and immediately paid for them.
Now, I don't know anyone 2 hours from Norfolk that's willing to come to Bangor (Northern Ireland), and he had selected 'Free Delivery' during the purchase, so I very carefully packaged them up and got them ready to be shipped next day.
Strangely, his Ebay/Paypal account had no address, but he'd supplied an address in a 'note to seller', so that was good enough for me, and would have me believe he obviously wanted it sent (rather than fitted).
Next thing I got....
What the **** precisely!!!
As for 'going to suggest collecting', well, I'm not a mind reader, and £11k restoring an early 1.9...??? This is all a bit odd.
My response....
Anyway, somehow he then switched to texting me....
Yes, I got all that in a SMS message.......
So, i responded with:
But got the following back:
Then, this morning (via text again)..
Followed seconds later by an ebay return request:
Seriously, I saw this coming from the first message received....
Anyway, I know the entire kit was in great condition, so have responded (via ebay) with:
And that's us up to date.
No, it's not... I've just had two more messages.
Quickly followed by:
This is not due to back unpakcaging or fitting. The entire box you sent has been unopened. I opened the box lifted the first part out, the part which I asked about having any marks BEFORE you sent the item in the post and it did indeed have marks. It is £500 to replace this part. I am not using polyfilla and paint. That is an absurd solution. I wish to return the item.
By the way, I have previously repaired a storage box lid with polyfila and paint, where it had a huge chunk out of it where the factory wind deflector had been scratching it. Looked good as new afterwards, with great colour match and no visible sign of there ever having been damage at all.
Yes, anyone could say that, but check out my build thread if you want credibility towards my attention to detail!
I'm totally baffled by this guy.
Stay tuned.....
So, I had a spare set of genuine Z3 Roll Hoops that I put on Gumtree (£400) and Ebay (£475 best offer). They were in great condition and I even offered free UK delivery or fitting and was expecting a haggle on price. I know what they're worth and what they regularly sell for.
However, it's all gone a bit weird, so I thought I'd share the experience.
Here's the ebay ad: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192463737257
------
Edit: I've added the specifics below for reference.
----
Item specifics
Condition: Used :
Seller notes: “Great condition. Recently removed from '99 Z3.”
You are bidding on a full retro fit kit including all genuine BMW parts, Black roll hoops, associated black trim parts, all necessary screws and fittings, and I can provide fitting instructions.
All components are in great condition having been recently removed from my Z3 going the other way and de-hooping for a clean base spec look. If that sounds weird, it's because I also have a very high spec Z3 in show condition.
Happy to including fitting as part of the sale if you can travel to Bangor, County Down, or Free Delivery to any UK address.
Any questions, just ask.
I am open to reasonable offers, although please note that fitting and/or delivery (both of which I'm offering for free) does come at some cost to me!
------Condition: Used :
Seller notes: “Great condition. Recently removed from '99 Z3.”
You are bidding on a full retro fit kit including all genuine BMW parts, Black roll hoops, associated black trim parts, all necessary screws and fittings, and I can provide fitting instructions.
All components are in great condition having been recently removed from my Z3 going the other way and de-hooping for a clean base spec look. If that sounds weird, it's because I also have a very high spec Z3 in show condition.
Happy to including fitting as part of the sale if you can travel to Bangor, County Down, or Free Delivery to any UK address.
Any questions, just ask.
I am open to reasonable offers, although please note that fitting and/or delivery (both of which I'm offering for free) does come at some cost to me!
Postage: Free Economy Delivery
Item location: Bangor, United Kingdom
Posts to: United Kingdom, Italy, Spain
Delivery: Estimated within 4-6 working days
Returns: No returns accepted
It all started with the following message via ebay from a 0 rated new ebay user:
I want to buy these roll hoops but have had bad experience with eBay. I have been robbed before. Can we talk on the phone? I can bank transfer for post or come collect cash in hand today (Sunday) I am two hours from you and due to drive to Norfolk to collect some cheaper but scratched roll hoops (full kit)
I am happy to come to Bangor.
Happy to bank transfer for posting.
I am happy to come to Bangor.
Happy to bank transfer for posting.
Before I had a chance to respond, the same guy bought and immediately paid for them.
Now, I don't know anyone 2 hours from Norfolk that's willing to come to Bangor (Northern Ireland), and he had selected 'Free Delivery' during the purchase, so I very carefully packaged them up and got them ready to be shipped next day.
Strangely, his Ebay/Paypal account had no address, but he'd supplied an address in a 'note to seller', so that was good enough for me, and would have me believe he obviously wanted it sent (rather than fitted).
Next thing I got....
I sent you a message and I have had no response ... yet you have sent the order in the post apparently. To what address? There is an offer to fitting but I do not need it fitting for three weeks. I have paid but was going to suggest collecting it and have it fitted then. I have spent £11k restoring the car and you have a high spec perfect z3. I wanted advice. I wanted dialogue. What the ****???
What the **** precisely!!!
As for 'going to suggest collecting', well, I'm not a mind reader, and £11k restoring an early 1.9...??? This is all a bit odd.
My response....
Hi [name removed],
Sorry for any confusion. I was away for the weekend and haven't been near a computer much over the past few days or been checking messages, although did get a mobile notification after you purchased the hoops.
With the bank holiday I didn't want to delay the sale any further so arranged delivery to [address removed] (as per your note on the sale) earlier today with the intention of getting back to your message later today or first thing tomorrow morning. However, just spotted this latest message so wanted to get back to you asap.
The kit is in great condition and certainly doesn't look like the 20 year old part it is. It is the plastic type, although I'm not aware of any other genuine BMW part. Infact, I've checked the BMW parts catalogue and can only see one type that was ever produced, with Black soft-touch effect hoops and the corresponding storage box available in Black or Beige, and either with the HK subwoofer or not. Anyway, If you restoring a car to top condition, you won't be disappointed.
I would have been happy to fit instead of post, although you hadn't mentioned this in the note during purchase, so i'm not sure why you're surprised I was arranging delivery. I take it from the age of your account you don't use ebay much, but generally after an item is purchased, the seller is obliged to arrange dispatch within the next few working days following receipt of payment which is what I was doing.
However, I see you are in Lancashire, and in the the other message, had mentioned driving to Norfork.
Does it actually suit you to come to Bangor, County Down? That's in Northern Ireland!
Or, fitting isn't a hard job. Takes about 2 hours and the only tricky part I've ever found was bolting the inner brackets to the chassis under the carpet. You could make this easy by removing the rear trim and lifting the carpet, but that's not necessary if you use a short-ratchet spanner with the correct hex attachment. The rest is straight forward.
Sorry for any confusion. I was away for the weekend and haven't been near a computer much over the past few days or been checking messages, although did get a mobile notification after you purchased the hoops.
With the bank holiday I didn't want to delay the sale any further so arranged delivery to [address removed] (as per your note on the sale) earlier today with the intention of getting back to your message later today or first thing tomorrow morning. However, just spotted this latest message so wanted to get back to you asap.
The kit is in great condition and certainly doesn't look like the 20 year old part it is. It is the plastic type, although I'm not aware of any other genuine BMW part. Infact, I've checked the BMW parts catalogue and can only see one type that was ever produced, with Black soft-touch effect hoops and the corresponding storage box available in Black or Beige, and either with the HK subwoofer or not. Anyway, If you restoring a car to top condition, you won't be disappointed.
I would have been happy to fit instead of post, although you hadn't mentioned this in the note during purchase, so i'm not sure why you're surprised I was arranging delivery. I take it from the age of your account you don't use ebay much, but generally after an item is purchased, the seller is obliged to arrange dispatch within the next few working days following receipt of payment which is what I was doing.
However, I see you are in Lancashire, and in the the other message, had mentioned driving to Norfork.
Does it actually suit you to come to Bangor, County Down? That's in Northern Ireland!
Or, fitting isn't a hard job. Takes about 2 hours and the only tricky part I've ever found was bolting the inner brackets to the chassis under the carpet. You could make this easy by removing the rear trim and lifting the carpet, but that's not necessary if you use a short-ratchet spanner with the correct hex attachment. The rest is straight forward.
Anyway, somehow he then switched to texting me....
You are indeed correct that I boycott eBay as a company. I am 29 years old, some 12 years ago I was robbed of £1,000 through eBay and I was not protected as a seller and the funds I received were robbed from me. I have - true to my word - boycotted the company since the said event. It has been in the news since then that Paypal is ran by corporate criminals and that has further underpinned my stance on eBay. Alas, my girlfriends father has terminal cancer so i have taken on the task (somewhat in secret) to restore his car which he has gifted to her before he is due to pass this winter.
This is the last summer they will have together so the money plunged into the sentimental car is somewhat irrelevant. The quality of the car is what counts - hence the extensive restoration.
My pockets are deeper than my patience so please forgive my email earlier today. It is of great relief to read that you have posted the item to [address removed] as opposed to any other fake address given to eBay when I made this account - an account made solely for this restoration project. I have struggled to find parts for the z3 on gumtree and other safer websites.
Thank you for your email, it is most appreciated.
Bangor appears on my google maps to be in wales and only two hours from where I reside as opposed to ireland where you reside but that is likely to be an issue with google as opposed to a problem with either of us. I care Little for eBay's policies, given their corporate criminal enterprise. They informed me on the phone that you must post to the erroneous address that my account is set up with. I am not giving eBay my personal or home address along with payment / bank details for this exposes me to identity theft & further fraud. A £1,000 loss at 17 years old truly crippled my financially and has left a bitter taste which will never wash away, I hope this is something you can appreciate as much as I sympathise you have no blame for that, but have been tarnished with the same brush of animosity that I will always have for any users of eBay / interactions with them.
The car in question is a 1997 1.9L narrow body. In 2000 they started making leather grain effect rather than the smooth plastic which your kit appears to be in the photos.
Due to the sentimental value in the car, I will likely wait to install the roll hoops (being done for safety, my girlfriend only got her driving license a couple of months ago) after she and her father go for a day out driving together (with her behind the wheel) after June 15th. I was hoping to come to Wales to see the kit then bring the car to have it installed after the said date. I am now aware you are in Ireland and therefore I will be unable to deliver the car and grateful for the postage to my home address rather than a false address. eBay assumed your postage was to the erroneous address and that the item would be returned to sender, when we would need to have a conversation about how / when to post the item safely, for both parties involved considering their ' protection guarantee' only covers postage to registered addresses on the account:- a false address or not.
Any nerd talk you may wish to have about mint condition z3's would have been appreciated but I respect there maybe a language barrier with the accent between manchester and Ireland and that you appear to have posted to the correct address and In a timely manner. I am sure My specialist in bmws can fit the kit whenever to suit my needs without problem.
Any contact in response would be appreciated.
Kindest regards
This is the last summer they will have together so the money plunged into the sentimental car is somewhat irrelevant. The quality of the car is what counts - hence the extensive restoration.
My pockets are deeper than my patience so please forgive my email earlier today. It is of great relief to read that you have posted the item to [address removed] as opposed to any other fake address given to eBay when I made this account - an account made solely for this restoration project. I have struggled to find parts for the z3 on gumtree and other safer websites.
Thank you for your email, it is most appreciated.
Bangor appears on my google maps to be in wales and only two hours from where I reside as opposed to ireland where you reside but that is likely to be an issue with google as opposed to a problem with either of us. I care Little for eBay's policies, given their corporate criminal enterprise. They informed me on the phone that you must post to the erroneous address that my account is set up with. I am not giving eBay my personal or home address along with payment / bank details for this exposes me to identity theft & further fraud. A £1,000 loss at 17 years old truly crippled my financially and has left a bitter taste which will never wash away, I hope this is something you can appreciate as much as I sympathise you have no blame for that, but have been tarnished with the same brush of animosity that I will always have for any users of eBay / interactions with them.
The car in question is a 1997 1.9L narrow body. In 2000 they started making leather grain effect rather than the smooth plastic which your kit appears to be in the photos.
Due to the sentimental value in the car, I will likely wait to install the roll hoops (being done for safety, my girlfriend only got her driving license a couple of months ago) after she and her father go for a day out driving together (with her behind the wheel) after June 15th. I was hoping to come to Wales to see the kit then bring the car to have it installed after the said date. I am now aware you are in Ireland and therefore I will be unable to deliver the car and grateful for the postage to my home address rather than a false address. eBay assumed your postage was to the erroneous address and that the item would be returned to sender, when we would need to have a conversation about how / when to post the item safely, for both parties involved considering their ' protection guarantee' only covers postage to registered addresses on the account:- a false address or not.
Any nerd talk you may wish to have about mint condition z3's would have been appreciated but I respect there maybe a language barrier with the accent between manchester and Ireland and that you appear to have posted to the correct address and In a timely manner. I am sure My specialist in bmws can fit the kit whenever to suit my needs without problem.
Any contact in response would be appreciated.
Kindest regards
Yes, I got all that in a SMS message.......
So, i responded with:
send me your email address. Thanks
But got the following back:
Use eBay for emails. I am not happy disclosing my personal information. I wish to insulate myself from fraud as much as possible. Texts and calls are fine .
Then, this morning (via text again)..
The eBay advert and eBay say I can return it within 14 days. There are some marks on the cubby box that I am not happy with. BMW came back to me today with a price to replace. £500. I need to return the item. What address am I sending it to please.
Followed seconds later by an ebay return request:
Reason for return
Arrived damaged
Comments
Mark on the cubby box. The item cost £475 but will cost £500 to repair the mark.
Arrived damaged
Comments
Mark on the cubby box. The item cost £475 but will cost £500 to repair the mark.
Seriously, I saw this coming from the first message received....
Anyway, I know the entire kit was in great condition, so have responded (via ebay) with:
This has proven to be one of the strangest ebay experiences I've ever encountered.
You clearly don't like ebay but that is not something I'm responsible for. My advert clearly states 'No Returns', and the item was in great condition for a 20 year old used car part with no significant issues or marks prior to dispatch.
I have detailed photos of each component.
It was also very well packaged with each individual component carefully protected in bubblewrap and protective tape.
As per your text messages outside ebay messaging, the £500 quoted to 'repair', was in fact the price BMW have quoted you for a brand new part, and not a repair at all.
You may not be aware, but the cubby box component of the kit is exactly the same part as what your car would have already had. Only the inner storage box and outer trim pieces differ. Therefore, why not reuse your original box?
Alternatively, I know from past experience, that even quite severe marks on similar items can be quite easily repaired for just a few pounds. If the damage (marks) occurred during careless unpacking or poor fitting, I would highly recommend Polyfila and Simonez Tough Black Satin finish spray paint.
Anyway, to summarise, I carefully removed the item from the donor vehicle, accurately described and photographed the item in the advert, and packaged it very well for delivery and am not willing to accept a return based on your quite unreasonable expectations.
If you are unhappy with what you purchased, I suggest you simply resell the kit (which is in high demand at this time of year) and seek an alternate unit.
You clearly don't like ebay but that is not something I'm responsible for. My advert clearly states 'No Returns', and the item was in great condition for a 20 year old used car part with no significant issues or marks prior to dispatch.
I have detailed photos of each component.
It was also very well packaged with each individual component carefully protected in bubblewrap and protective tape.
As per your text messages outside ebay messaging, the £500 quoted to 'repair', was in fact the price BMW have quoted you for a brand new part, and not a repair at all.
You may not be aware, but the cubby box component of the kit is exactly the same part as what your car would have already had. Only the inner storage box and outer trim pieces differ. Therefore, why not reuse your original box?
Alternatively, I know from past experience, that even quite severe marks on similar items can be quite easily repaired for just a few pounds. If the damage (marks) occurred during careless unpacking or poor fitting, I would highly recommend Polyfila and Simonez Tough Black Satin finish spray paint.
Anyway, to summarise, I carefully removed the item from the donor vehicle, accurately described and photographed the item in the advert, and packaged it very well for delivery and am not willing to accept a return based on your quite unreasonable expectations.
If you are unhappy with what you purchased, I suggest you simply resell the kit (which is in high demand at this time of year) and seek an alternate unit.
And that's us up to date.
No, it's not... I've just had two more messages.
The advert, and eBay who I contacted, said I had 14 days to return the item. I do not wish to upset you. I asked what condition and it said 'great condition' on the advert. I have attached photos of the part with an issue. It is not up to standard. I will not be re selling the items on eBay. I am not an eBay seller. I am a consumer exercising my right to return.
He mentioned some photos, but there's no photo attached....lol
Quickly followed by:
This is not due to back unpakcaging or fitting. The entire box you sent has been unopened. I opened the box lifted the first part out, the part which I asked about having any marks BEFORE you sent the item in the post and it did indeed have marks. It is £500 to replace this part. I am not using polyfilla and paint. That is an absurd solution. I wish to return the item.
By the way, I have previously repaired a storage box lid with polyfila and paint, where it had a huge chunk out of it where the factory wind deflector had been scratching it. Looked good as new afterwards, with great colour match and no visible sign of there ever having been damage at all.
Yes, anyone could say that, but check out my build thread if you want credibility towards my attention to detail!
I'm totally baffled by this guy.
Stay tuned.....
Last edited:
