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Ebay Burn...
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:29 pm
by BAC5.2
I ordered some Stoptech brakelines from
www.vividracing.com.
When I called, he offered me the front Stoptech lines for $50. I agreed, and sent the money later that night.
I called today to confirm, and lo and behold, he says he sent "Agency Racing" front lines. Checking their site, they say they are DOT approved, and he claims they are identical to Stoptech's, only a different color. Rightfully I question the validity of that claim.
He also claims that he told me they were not going to send Stoptech lines.
He further mentioned that the rears were "just in a stoptech bag" and that they were misc. parts. He never completely said they were genuine stoptech lines.
They already shipped the lines.
He further mentioned that the stuff they put on e-bay is either old, misc., or used.
So now, here I am with a set of non-stoptech front lines, and questionable rear lines, and $90 less in my pocket.
This all seems very shady to me, and I was DEFINATELY under the impression that I would be getting Stoptech front lines (he said I was getting Stoptech front lines).
Am I up shits creek if the front lines are total junk?
Here is a link to the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... AMEWN%3AIT
I don't see why they didn't send the stoptech lines, they cost exactly the same amount on their website.
This blows! Fucking place lied to me! Negative feedback is my only actual recourse, but that doesn't do anything as everyone knows.
If anything is "wrong" with any of the parts, I will not hesitate to take legal action, that's for damn sure. They are e-mailing me the tracking number ASAP. I'm glad I called on my cellphone, so I at least have logs of when I called them should they try to stiff me.
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:31 pm
by BAC5.2
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:47 pm
by tris91ricer
wow. Yeah, My retarded friend seems to run into this kinda stuff all the time, which is weird, considering all my ebay experiences have been more than wonderful. I'm sorry Phil.. Yeah, I'd say pester 'em with calls until they do what you want, or get scared that you're coming down there.. Go down and give 'em hell, Phil!
..or get together me, Art, and Vikash and stage a nice little internet coup-de-atat via Denial of Service ala Ping, NetCat, Et Al.

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:14 pm
by vrg3
Hmph.
Unfortunately, the auction description doesn't actually say "StopTech" even though the title does.
And the description says all items are new unless they say used...
How did you pay? Unless you sent them cash you have some recourse.
If you used a credit card, you have the protection of the credit card company on your side (unless your credit card company doesn't like you for some reason). Basically, first you have to talk to the merchant and ask them to refund the payment, and if the merchant is unwilling to either give you what you paid for or give you your money back, you should be able to ask the credit card company to deny payment. Then it's up to the merchant to prove the charge was valid.
PayPal also has a kind of complaint handling system... It's not very strong, but if their investigation results in a decision that the seller was at fault, they can try to recover the funds from the seller's PayPal account. Usually the account's empty, though... I think the account does get frozen or something though.
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:54 pm
by BAC5.2
If they are not Stoptech lines, I will settle for no less than refund of money or exchange of goods.
The bag says Stoptech, if they are NOT Stoptech lines then I am sure Stoptech wouldn't be to fond of the false advertising.
In fact, I will give Stoptech a call right now and see if his claim of the "AP" lines being exactly the same holds any water.
These guys picked the wrong hombre to pawn off goods on. If the parts are used, all hell is going to break loose.
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:06 pm
by legacy92ej22t
I'd post this up on every car forum you can find Phil and tell them you're doing it too. It sounds like false advertising to me. I'd file a complaint with Ebay and Paypal.
I think we should all e-mail these guys through their contact on their website and badger them about ripping off our friend at that we'll all NEVER buy a single item from them and tell everyone else that we come across in the auto community not to either. These guys need a wake up call!

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:44 pm
by BAC5.2
I don't want to act THAT rashly just now. I'll wait until I get the parts, and assess the situation from there.
If, in fact, Stoptech calls me back saying they do NOT make the "Agency Power" brake lines, THEN I will request the correct lines as a direct swap. If the rear lines are used, or NOT stoptech lines, then I will have a few words with the company.
I request that no one send e-mail's just yet. I'd like to see if this will all be OK when the parts get here.
It's messed up, but I don't want to back myself into a corner by jumping the gun on them just yet.
I just checked my tracking number, and they WERE shipped yesterday, and 4lbs verifys both sets of lines.
Now to wait and hear from Stoptech.... If the Agency Power lines are NOT made by them, I'll have more of a leg to stand on. If they ARE made by Stoptech, then I won't really mind to much. If Stoptech has never heard of them, then I will be returning them and requesting my money back (at least the $50) and I'll just order the Stoptech lines from somewhere else.
I'm not about to "settle" for less when it comes to a major saftey component like brake lines.
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:15 pm
by fishbone79
Shitty. If you decide they aren't right before you get them, refuse the shipment upon delivery. If you dont, they have a case that you monkeyed around with the product after you got it and switched it or something. I didn't do this and got burned on what were advertised as a set of whentworth (sp?) wrenches (the limy ones), but turned out to be american standard true tempers or some shit. At anyrate, they claimed that I switched them after I recieved them, and I had no means to prove them wrong. (even though I would never be caught dead with "true temper" tools in my garage...) I had to keep the damn things, and only had the satisfaction of trashing him out online. Thats just my two cents.
Morgan
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:45 pm
by scottzg
Although they never said they were stoptech lines in the ad, the pic of the bag and nothing indicating that was not actual packaging is false advertising. You should have them. That said, that's a crappy deal.
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:17 am
by BAC5.2
The lines on the ebay ad ARE stoptechs. They have the trademark yellow band.
I called Stoptech, and was informed that "Agency Power" brake lines are NOT Stoptech lines.
I was advised to refuse delivery, and inform Vivid of my concern. I called Stoptech, and he was planning on calling Vivid to get some information.
What a bummer. I'll eat the extra $20 cost to get Stoptech front lines, because I have more confidence in Stoptech products than some random fucking guy who is making lines in their basement.
Guy fucking lied to me, flat out, saying that the Agency lines were made by Stoptech. Asshat.
I'm going to call them right now and see what they have to say.
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:27 am
by BAC5.2
Ok, I just got a new story from Vivid. He is NOW saying that the company that makes the Stoptech lines makes these lines, not Stoptech themselves.
I am asking now what the name of the line manufacturer is, and I'll see if I can get to the bottom of this.
Just asked.
Me: "Just out of curiousity, who is the company that makes all of the lines?"
Him: "If I told you, I'd have to kill you. They make a lot of lines for a lot of brake companies out there."
Time to call Stoptech back.
One solution he offered was to mail back the "Agency Power" lines, and pay the difference for the Stoptech lines (would be $20 plus the shipping it costs to send the Agency Power lines back).
*sigh*
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 3:31 am
by legacy92ej22t
Fuck that Phil! This guy missrepresented his product. This isn't just some asshat off Ebay, this is a bussiness. I say nail his ass. Refuse delivery straight up. Why should you have to pay the postage to send back product that he sent that wasn't right? I stand by my first post. I know what you mean about not wanting to back yourself in a corner and I wouldn't do anything without your say so but if and when you decide to quit bullshitting with this fucking guy, just give the word and it's on! We need to stand together so guys don't pull this kind of crap.
For one thing, in the auction it doesn't say "picture may not be of actual item that you are getting" like you see in some auctions. It actually says, and I quote "We are selling this set of rear steel braided brakelines for the 2002-2005 Subaru WRX. These brakes lines are brand new and fit with the stock brakes." They have Stoptech lines, in a Stoptech bag, pictured in the auction. This guy's a fucking liar. I notice that his feedback isn't real good and I've heard bad things about Vivid on NASIOC and I-club both.
Man, I'm not even the one that's getting ripped off and I'm all fired up! I want blood! I don't like people rippin' off my friends.

Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 4:32 am
by scottzg
I'm with matt. This guy is an asshat.
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:07 am
by azn2nr
scottzg wrote:I'm with matt. This guy is an asshat.

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 7:08 pm
by eastbaysubaru
Sorry to hear about your problems Phil. Vivid's had such a bad reputation in the Subaru community for so long, I'm surprised you'd trust them in the first place. I hope you can get it all sorted out.
-Brian
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:42 am
by BAC5.2
The good, the bad and the ugly.
The good: I got the lines today. The "AP" lines look legit and beefy, so I won't worry about them. The rears ARE stoptech.
The bad: The stoptech rear lines are in an OPEN bag. They also have NO HARDWEAR (which was promised in the ad).
The ugly: I called to ask where the hardwear was, and he said:
"Fuck it. Send the lines back, and I will credit your paypal account. You've been to much trouble. You called Stoptech, and that's it. Send them back and I'll get you your money back."
I said "I would really rather just have the hardwear."
"None of the brake lines have hardwear, that's a standard e-bay auction line."
"Well the "AP" lines you sent had hardwear, why don't these?"
"They are misc. parts, open bag. That's the only time we put things on e-bay, when they are clearence, open bag, used, or discontinued."
"The auction says they are new."
"No it doesn't."
"Ok, whatever. Just send me the hardwear and live up to your auction."
"Send me the lines back and I will replace them with a set of new lines."
"Sending me the hardwear would be a lot easier."
"THERE IS NO HARDWEAR! Send the lines back, and I will send you another set."
So now, what do I do as my next move? Call him back, tell him to fuck himself, and I am just going to keep the lines and leave negative feedback?
Should I request that he send the new lines, and upon receiving them, I will send his lines back?
If I send the lines back, I'm not going to get my money back, or the lines back, I know it. This is NOT a good company to work with. I thought they were cool at first, but they suck a major dick.
It infuriates me that they are trying to pull this shit!
What should my move be? If he want's me to send them all back, I will ask him to credit me the total cost ($90) + shipping to get it back to them, then I will ship it upon receipt of funds.
I'm tired of fucking with this guy. He's an asshole, and he deserves to be kicked in the nuts.
He has lied and lied and lied to me TO MY FACE. Once this is all over, I'm definately leaving negative feedback.
What should I say in the feedback?
I'm thinking to the tune of "Misrepresented auction goods! Parts not as promised!"
Ideas?
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 8:05 am
by fishbone79
I would just tack “…, guy is douche” to the end.
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 3:50 pm
by vrg3
So how did you pay? Now that you have been defrauded for certain, maybe it's time to get PayPal and/or your credit card company to help you?
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:01 am
by BAC5.2
I'm not even going to worry about it anymore. I'll just use my stock stuff and leave negative feedback.
It's not worth my time and/or effort to do anything rash. I have the lines, and while he lied in the auction and to my face, I still have the lines and at a decent price (90 shipped for all 4 SS lines, when one set is $70 + shipping).
Live and learn. Fuck VividRacing. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!
I paid by Paypal, btw.
I'll just use stock hardwear and piss on their "reputation." I will contact E-Bay though about their poor business practices. I've never done that before though, so does anyone have any knowledge on how to do that?
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:39 am
by fishbone79
Just pop em an e-mail, they get back to you usually within a couple of hours. They also have a instant message option, but I dont remember where it is, "help" maybe?
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:52 am
by legacy92ej22t
I say we do what I suggested.
