General Cycling Discussion - I am getting screwed over....SUPER LONG

Ok, those of you that have bought stuff from me know that I am a trustworthy person. Some of you proably know that I was trying to sell a a Whitebrothers FR3 fork. Well, I sold it to a kid, and in a few days I had it shipped out COD. Well, it took a while to get there, and on the tracker it said that the package wasnt ready to be delivered. 10 days later, the kid got the fork but thats when he told me something that I was totally oblivious to. A few months back, the bearing retainer in my headset broke and rubbed into the steerer for a while. The next time i was working on the bike, I was taking off the fork and noticed the broken retainer. I also noticed a scrape in the steerer. I talked to the guys that were there, and they didnt seem to think it was a big deal. i had been riding on the fork for a few months without any problems anyway. So I put the fork back on with loose balls. I rode it for a few more months and put it up for sale. I left it on the bike until it sold. I finally set up a deal, and went down to my basement to take the fork off to ship it. Took the fork off, went down to the bike shop, packed it, and shipped it. Already went over that though. I guess a spring fell out when I was taking the fork off of the bike, so I had to send the spring out to the kid also. So after he got the fork, he took it to a bikeshop to have them install it, but the bike shop refused to install the fork because they thought the steerer was dangerous!!!:eek:

So he was online and told me about this and I was like oh my god, I totally forgot about that scratch in the steerer.....I had been riding on the fork for so long....I didnt even give it a thought when I sent the fork. Well, the kid didnt believe one word I said.....which is a total bummer because I am really trustworthy.

I was going to try to get him a brand new steerer pressed into a new crown......but he didnt want to spend any more money on the fork (which is reasonable). So he tells me that he cancelled the check that was on the way to me:eek: (because remember I sent it COD) and it was a personal check too. He then tells me that I have to send him the check back, and he would send the fork. Fine. I also had to pay the pack and ship place $16.23 for the shipping down there, and the cod, because they couldent take the money out of the cancelled check. After a little while I was ok with that....20 bucks isnt alot and this deal will be done.

I sent the check back to him, expecting to get my fork back right? Well today he tells me that he got the check back.....alright, send me the fork back. No wait....since I cancelled the check you have to send me $35 more for the cancellation fee. What the hell? He says if he woundent have cancelled the check, I would have stole his money and he would have been stuck with a damaged fork. No way...I would have given him a straight up refund. but he still dosent believe me. I even called him and apologized 200 times, and told him that I totally overlooked the scratch in the steerer. So what do you guys think.........should I have to pay $35 because he cancelled the check? I told him hell no, I already paid the COD and shipping which was 20, why should I have to pay $55 bucks because he is a jackass? I could get a brane new crown and steerer for that. Please give me suggestions, if I didnt pay him the money and he wouldent send my fork back......what could I do? Thanks!!

How much is the fork worth damaged? Send him the 35 bucks only if the fork is worth fixing and reselling. If not, let him keep the thing and you keep your $35 and wash your hands of the deal. These are the risks you take doing business over the net, as long as your not giving stuff away, it all works out in the end.

Also, COD=bad, personal check=bad, always receive payment before you send the merchandise, preferable in a money order!

Originally posted by Moose
How much is the fork worth damaged? Send him the 35 bucks only if the fork is worth fixing and reselling. If not, let him keep the thing and you keep your $35 and wash your hands of the deal. These are the risks you take doing business over the net, as long as your not giving stuff away, it all works out in the end.

Damaged i'd say maybe 150...probably more though. But if I sent him the money, thats 50 bucks gone, and another maybe 40 to fix it (not that its actually broken). I am just pissed at the kid because he just acts so incredibly dumb, and wont trust a word I say. Plus....dont you think its his fault that he cancelled the check? (of course it is:( )

He chose to cancel the check. He incurred the expense of cancellation. It isn't up to you to pay it.

On the other hand, he is holding your fork hostage. Is it worth $35 to ransom it?

Is the buyer completely unreasonable? Are there possible compromises? Could you tell him, "I don't feel that I owe you the cancellation fee, but I will meet you half way" and send him $17.50?

Yes, it was his decision to cancell the check, but it all stems from the fact that you sold him damaged goods. I think that regularguy's suggestion is good and maybe he will go for that. However, If the fork is still worth $150 even in its current condition than you might just have to suck it up and pay the $35, after all what alternative is there? Take him to court? I think a Judge would find in his favor anyhow. It sucks for sure but I wouldn't lose sleep over it if I were you.

As others have said, cut your losses.

You can't win them all, what is most important here is to maintain your trustworthiness if you're are going to continue to market via the net.

Right now you are out a fork and some cash, do the math and go for a win - win situation where you lose as little money as possible (maybe even still turn a small profit on the resale of the shock), the guy doesn't badmouth you (old retail axiom: a satisfied customer will tell noone, a disatisfied customer will tell at least 10 people and those people will repeat what they have heard) and you learn a valuable lesson for the future.

Don't badmouth the guy, it may make you feel better, but in the long haul it isn't a good thing to do here or in direct negotiations. Remember, Polish, polish, polish ;)

I wouldn't send the 35 until you know for sure that he has the fork in the mail to you. He may be screwing you over for what he can right now, and then he'll keep the fork. You don't even know for sure if he DID go to the shop.

Originally posted by threadend
Don't badmouth the guy


Well you know me......I didnt badmouth the guy.....I plain went off on him.

If I did send him the $35, which I probably wont, and he still kept the fork.......I would show up at his door. I know he took it to a bikeshop, because when I called Whitebrothers about a new steerer, they said that somebody also called earlier that day....which I am guessing was his bikeshop.

Here is a little negativity. You said the tube is about 40 bucks. Perhaps it is only $35. See what I am getting at.
He might be trying to get the fork for free and get you to pay for the tube.
If you do decide to send him the money I would want confirmation that the fork has been shipped. Have him send it COD for the 35 bucks.

Hope you get this worked out.

Slainte:beer:

that's why I am very paranoid, I don't trust anybody, I don't even trust myself......

Klein. Hunt the little bast*rd down and stick the whole thing up his a$$.

I can't stand people who do things like that. Hope it works out for you.

Since you know the shop called White Bros, is there a way you can find out which shop? Perhaps they'll be a mediator in the deal. Don't send the money until the shop has possession of the fork. Upon the kid getting the $35, the shop will ship your fork.

L8R

I didn't think anybody would take a check for payment on a COD. Look, life is short, it's only $35 not your retirement fund, don't sweat the small stuff. Name a retail business that hasn't at one time or another had to eat something? I made a living on eBay for about 2 years and probably got ripped a couple times.

Originally posted by Bokkie
Klein. Hunt the little bast*rd down and stick the whole thing up his a$$.

I can't stand people who do things like that. Hope it works out for you.


I am not worried about him not sending the fork, because if I did send him the money.....whch I have decided NOT to do, and he didnt ship me the fork back.....he would be sued, or have me at his house. I know....its pretty lame that fedex accepted a personal check, I guess I didnt use "secure payment" or something. As for being paranoid about getting screwed over on an online sale, I pretty much trusted anybody when I bought used goods. Now, I never need to buy used parts online again (unless I get fired from the bikeshop or quit). If this whole bs deal with my fork was happening with a complete bike, then I would probably have already paid the kid a visit.

You know WE would like his name and location so WE would accidentally do business with such a person in the future.

Originally posted by Paige
I didn't think anybody would take a check for payment on a COD. Look, life is short, it's only $35 not your retirement fund, don't sweat the small stuff. Name a retail business that hasn't at one time or another had to eat something? I made a living on eBay for about 2 years and probably got ripped a couple times.

You're right. I always knew C.O.D. meant "CASH ON DELIVERY"!

Good Luck.

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
You know WE would like his name and location so WE would accidentally do business with such a person in the future.


I will after I get the fork back, I dont want to do anything that will make the case worse.

I feel for you klein, (I'm 90% sure the guy screwed me on that specialized frame) but you know what, it was only $100 or so... I'll get over it, and life's not long enough to hold a grudge.

so I'd try to get the fork back or do whatever you can, but really it's not the end of the world, you'll make back the money eventually.

Lastly, even though it's a bad experience you always can learn from it, and now if you sell anything over the net, but super careful with payment and how you describe (and picture) the item.

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
I feel for you klein, (I'm 90% sure the guy screwed me on that specialized frame) but you know what, it was only $100 or so... I'll get over it, and life's not long enough to hold a grudge.



So did you do anything about the deal? Damn dude if I got screwed out of $100 I would be super pissed!! Anyway....I asked the kid if he sent the fork, then he says "did you send the $35?" I said no, and if you dont send the fork back, my parents are going to be on the phone with your parents, or we will sue. Then he says...."my dad is going to write your dad a letter then". This sucks....alot.

Dude never ship a product until you have the money in your hands.

Originally posted by norelec
Dude never ship a product until you have the money in your hands.


I know, this is the first time I have shipped an item COD. Boy was I dumb to do that....

Klein- it's just more tuition dude... Don't sweat it, and I wouldn't post his name if it were me.

Originally posted by KleinMp99
So did you do anything about the deal? Damn dude if I got screwed out of $100 I would be super pissed!! Anyway....I asked the kid if he sent the fork, then he says "did you send the $35?" I said no, and if you dont send the fork back, my parents are going to be on the phone with your parents, or we will sue. Then he says...."my dad is going to write your dad a letter then". This sucks....alot.

I e-mailed him and he said he would do a refund, so I sent another e-mail explaining how I would like to handle it, (send me the refund first then I ship product) but I have yet to hear from him... so I'm not holding my breath.

Just charge it to experience. You've learned a valuable lesson here. Let the other dude srew you, and he will be screwed in the future.

Originally posted by Paige
I didn't think anybody would take a check for payment on a COD.

Yep most delivery companies do not like cash the prefer checks. Though you can request cashiers checks or money orders. Cash on Delivery is what it meant a long time ago now it just means check on delivery. I'm with dirtbikedude have him send it to you COD that way you are not out the money and the fork its worth the extra fee for peace of mind. You know the old saying about one who protests too much he might try and screw you for the whole thing. No need to pay so much for an honest mistake right?

He has his dad send my dad an email, we got that, my mom read it, and then decided to pay the $35, just to get them off our backs. Thanks for your suggestions and replys.....I guess the deal from bloody hell is over.

It's ok, better lose $35 now and learn a valuable lesson than learn the same lesson in the future at a much greater cost.

Hope you got your fork back :)