|   burned on ebay for formula b4's | steve3
Jul 30, 2003 6:53 AM | | I just received my formula b4's from an ebay auction I won last week and I found so many things wrong with them. As they are, they're not useable.
The thorusa site was a great help in determining the faults.
I'm pasting the email to the seller below and you guys tell me what you think:
I received the brakes yesterday evening and found many problems with them. I've put together a list and made confirmations through ThorUsa/KHS bicycles, the US distributor.
1. The rear caliper bleed screw is broken off. Dirt on it indicates this was not from shipping. Unlikely it can be removed without damaging the body (automotive removers are much larger)
2. The front caliper leaks like crazy. Needs a new piston/seal set.
3. The rear rotor is cracked at one of the arms. This is a MAJOR safety issue and must be replaced. I know this is a crack and not a scratch because is goes to the other side of the rotor.
4. Pads must be replaced. The fronts, in fact are worn way past legal limit. They are only as thick as the retainer springs. The rears are less than the 50% stated.
5. The "front" lever is not a front lever. It is a rear. I have made confirmation through Thor usa. The res. must point upward. I have not attempted a fit.
The web site is thorusa.com
I have priced the caliper body, bleed valve (unlikely it can be replaced separately from the body), piston kit,pads, and rotor.
I'm requesting my money back, with return shipping charges. I'm willing to do this outside of ebay and post a fair positive feedback. If this is not doable, I have to file a formal complaint with ebay for my money back and detail all that I've found. The product listing clearly stated all it needs is bleeding, an email states 50% pad left. In its current condition, these brakes are unsafe and unusable. As with any type of braking and safety product, there is liability for sale. It's not only limited to automotive.
I'm requesting the refund prior to return, or COD (additional charges for UPS and COD service). If we can make an agreement, I'll keep ebay out and post positive feedback.
Also, all correspondence must be via email.
Thanks,
Steve |
| Sounds good... | 006_007
Jul 30, 2003 7:53 AM | | Bummer about getting burned. What sort of rating did this seller have? I will not purchase anything on e-bay unless they have a high virtually perfect record.
Would it be possible for you to post us a copy of the sales description (out of curiosity of course...)
Good Luck
TJ |
| good record | steve3
Jul 30, 2003 8:19 AM | | The seller had 99.6% positive feedback. The only negative was the buyer didn't buy and the seller sold it again. I only buy from sellers with good records and he has a few hundred good ones. I can't see why I had to be the one that got burned, but hopefully, he'll come around. It's just strange that a good seller tries to pawn off a bad product, not only bad, but unsafe.
I was going to post the auction, but decided against it until the seller contacts me. It wouldn't be a very good idea to drag him through the mud when he can make good on his reputation. |
| Good call on not posting the auction (yet)... | 006_007
Jul 30, 2003 8:35 AM | | I agree to give the seller a chance to clear it up. I was just curious about the description in the original e-bay add.
Hopefully the seller will want to keep a very good rating and will help you out of the situation. |
| Good letter. | Mikey
Jul 30, 2003 10:31 AM | | Nicely researched & written letter. From the amount of bike stuff this guy sells, and his feedback, I'd think he'd be cool and refund your money. My guess is he just didn't know - someone selling that much equipment isn't selling stuff from their personal bike that they've used, and may not have been aware of the crack, pad wear & missing part - he just got a brake set and put it up for sale.
If he doesn't refund you, you're justified in filing an ebay/paypal complaint, getting the charge reversed, and posting negative feedback since they're still not functional or safe even with the bleeding he wrote about.
The only "problem" with you returning them is whether he just eats them or will he auction them again to another unsuspecting buyer without disclosing the faults? But that's not your problem.
Good luck & let us know how it goes.
The auction text:
"Formula B4 Disc Brakes
Front and Rear
Complete W/Manual And
Bleed kit
This is a used, in good shape set of disc brakes from Formula. It includes everything you need for the front and rear. Also included is the original manual and a bleed kit including the syringe, not shown. Housing lengths are 33 inches front, 56 inches rear. Formula B4s are self adjusting, open reservoir, full hydraulic brakes that use normal DOT brake fluid. They are known for their modulation, braking power, and lightweight. These will need to be bled." |
| Good letter-thanks another note | steve3
Jul 30, 2003 11:56 AM | | Thanks for the compliment on my letter. Also, thanks for the posting of the ad (you found it!) without the seller's info.
As it goes now, I still haven't gotten a reply. Also, I took the pads out just to check them. He said in an email they were oem formulas (I asked because I wanted to know if I should order them so I can start riding the minute I get the brakes), 50% material left. Anyway, it turns out they're ebc's, little material left. Just trying to illustrate how the seller was being less than honest.
I wonder how a seller like this can think he can pawn an item like this off. |
| To think I was going to bid on these.... | MikeeR
Jul 30, 2003 1:46 PM | | ...I would have been really bummed. Sorry for your bad luck. I've only had good dealings with the few things I've bouhgt on ebay, its certainly a good warning to hear of stories such as this. Best of luck with the refund. |
| seller contacted me | steve3
Jul 30, 2003 2:00 PM | | I was thinking the seller was going to stiff me on a reply, considering how messed up these things are. I 100% believe this was intentional, from the way the brakes were reassembled (looked like they were taken apart, esp the "front" lever.
Anyway, he just shot an email back to me and said that he must've sent me the wrong set because he has a second set he was scavenging parts from. He apologizes, esp. since this is something as important as brakes. He's going to check what he's got at home later.
Well, I feel that he tried to sell off the scavenged set to me. Anyway, hopefully he'll make good, either giving me the right ones, or a 100% refund (with the return shipping). I don't feel he's very trustworthy, so I'm not going to accept anything other than refund prior to or COD for the return. Any reputable seller can recognize the mishap and the potential for injury and should be accommodating.
The next post on this subject will be at the conclusion. |
| I did notice one thing... | Schtoo
Jul 30, 2003 4:45 PM | | If you look at the picture listed above, both those levers are the same. By that I mean both are sitting the same way, with the resevoirs up.
I picked that up after reading you got a 'wrong' lever, but I also only looked quickly at the photo too. If I were studying I woulda picked it up before buying. Not criticising you at all, its just that what you saw is quite literally what you got. If the seller tries to stiff you on that, and it gets messy, you might get some trouble.
It IS good to see that the seller will likely try to fix the problem, and I wish you luck. |
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