360 CS Carbon Airbox covers OEM

PM sent!

 

These, the larger MAF's from the 599 and a CS map will make all the difference to a stock 360!

 

I have been trying to do the right thing here… but I’ve found myself in a difficult position. Would appreciate an outsider’s opinion on what course of action to take… and if I’m right to be upset in the situation.

I had been looking for these airbox covers for somewhere around 8 months so I could make some progress on a project. There have been no used examples anywhere for sale in that time, and the cheapest I can locate a new set is as a part of a complete CS airbox assembly for $6800.

Timeline for my attempted purchase of these is as follows:

2/9 Item listed for sale, and I eagerly responded, and 2/10 we have a deal for $950 including his shipping them to NorCal.

2/10 I sent him the $950 as a personal PayPal payment, and sent him a note saying that I sent him the payment in that manner so as to avoid the 3% seller fee on his end. So much for good karma – I should have just sent it the right way so I would have had some recourse if something went sour… lesson learned. The seller said he would ship the item immediately.

Between 2/15 and 2/21 I asked for the tracking number three times, and on 2/21 when I reported nothing had arrived and asked again for a tracking number, the seller responds with a tracking number showing that 1. A package was sent via USPS from his zip code. 2. A package was delivered on 2/12 to my zip code. 3. Indication that no signature was required. 4. Insurance was included up to $50. No address information is noted/associated with the tracking number. Super.

2/24 At the first opportunity Monday morning I go to the post office to locate the package. They can’t tell me where it was delivered, can’t find it, can’t locate the actual postal carrier who delivered the package, and hand me a claim form. Claim form indicates that I need a shipping receipt (not just a tracking number) to make a claim.

Later a few more things happen… USPS (manager, etc.) continues to be able to provide no information. Strangely I also talk to another FChatter who has purchased the same items from the same seller on the same day, and picked them up locally. I’m surprised he actually had 2 sets of such a rare item for sale, the ad here only listed one. Seller told me they came from some sort of a parts deal. I also send a note to my homeowners group asking if anyone has possibly received my package. I alert the NorCal FC group to look out for the item for sale locally – if stolen. I try to do my part to solve the problem.

After finally getting a hold of the Seller… who appears unwilling to talk about any sort of solution… he indicates that the loss is on me, he did his part by shipping the item and it shows it was delivered.

So here I am… with a purchase that was lost in transit, either incorrectly delivered (which has happened before), just lost in the USPS woodwork, or stolen. I believe I was home at the time of the presumed USPS delivery, and moreover I have surveillance cameras that didn't capture any sort of delivery. I’m upset and out $950, and MORE than that I am without the air boxes that would allow progress on a project I’m eager to work on. In my mind since shipping was included in the deal and I had no control, at the very least he should have properly insured the item. Further I think it would have been prudent to require a signature.

I am trying to give the seller the benefit of the doubt that he is an honorable guy, and thought he did everything he needed to. At the same time, he told me that it was my loss, to claim it on my homeowners insurance (which isn’t an option for a couple reasons), and that he took care of “his part” since the USPS shows they delivered the package. I’m surprised at how callous and dismissive the seller is.

Beyond the obvious learning points of: Not shipping valuable items USPS, properly insuring valuable items, requiring an acceptance signature, and paying via a more protected method…….. I’m curious what you think FChatter – Is this just bad luck? What would you do? Isn't the seller responsible for the loss in this circumstance? Shouldn't he have insured the package, and given it was his decision isn't this loss the sellers problem? Should I expect better treatment from an FChatter? Was I ripped off?

 

I've bought a number of items from sellers on this site (one more expensive) and never had a problem.

But there are always bad apples.

Very sorry to hear about your problem and perhaps I'll be more careful in the future.

Does sound fishy about the guy having two sets of a rare part like that.

 

In situations like this, I feel that the method of determining blame, should be similar to Paypal's policy. The seller should be required to ship the item using tracking information and signature confirmation. If the seller did not do this, then Paypal would side with the buyer and refund the money.


It is as simple as, if you bought something from your neighbor, and they just left it in the middle of the street and it got stolen before you were able to come outside and get it, common sense says its your neighbors fault for leaving it there unprotected.

The liability is in the sellers hands, until the physical item is in the buyers hand.

 

I would be pissed. I would inquire about possible mail fraud. At least if it is not mail fraud, then you will have some answers to your questions (ei: where the item went).

 

Go and make a claim with paypal..........

 

Can't. I sent the payment as a personal payment with paypal, not one for goods... No fees for the seller, no ability to make a claim... Was trying to be nice, but ended up being stupid on my part.

 

Sorry to hear what happened to you with the shipping issue. As for Bruce, he has been an active member on here for longer than myself (2+ years) & I have never seen or heard anything negative involving him. I have asked questions on Fchat about solving problems/ issues on my car & he responded with accurate useful info.

 

That's not just Paypal; that's common sense and goes with any kind of shipping in the western world. That's why if you are missing a shipment and you call UPS or Fedex they'll tell you to contact the shipper and have the shipper file a claim.

Regardless of convention "$950 shipped to lower 48." means "If you give me $950 I will ship it and I will be responsible for the outcome since I'm paying for and choosing the shipping method." Any gambles taken on reducing shipping or insurance costs belong to the shipper.

Be that as it may, anyone who ships nearly a thousand dollars' worth by the US Postal Service is either stupid or extremely ignorant. And on top of it to do so without insurance is definitely stupid and irresponsible. You can't quietly take a stupid risk then when it blow up try to transfer it to some other innocent person. At least not if you're anything but a snake.

So even if the whole deal wasn't a scam, the response by Plugzit/Bruce Bogart to the delivery failure certainly is a scam.

 

Wow... What a terrible situation. I just wanted to add that I have delt with Bruce in the past, and he was very helpful with a shipment to me outside the U.S.A. He seemed to be a straight up kinda guy, and kept in contact till my package arrived. I'm sure Bruce will respond shortly.
I hope it all works out for all involved.

 

Set up a claim with the credit card you used to fund the paypal transaction.

 

I think the OP used funding through his bank account or his paypal balance to fund as a gift to avoid the 3% fee for the seller. If you pay this way, then you can not use a credit card.

 

Always pay with a CC through Paypal, accurately describing the goods, shipping,
insurance, etc. Even if you end up eating the extra fees, about 5%, it is worth it.

I recently bought some Scud wheels from a member here, I paid for the extra
insurance on each wheel, specified the amount. While said member was a long time member and everything checked out......I still am not sending a stranger money
without some protection.

That said, I hope the op can resolve this, that is really a weird set of events.....

 

++1

 

yes, lesson learned. i screwed the pooch with the payment method!

 

That pooch was already pregnant by Plugzit.

 

+1,
I use USPS---first class letters & stuff only
and FedEx or UPS---any packages

 

Bruce is a good guy and i am sure there must be an answer for this problem ... hopefully it gets resolved because he surely doesn't deserve a doubtful judgement.

 

I feel for ya but your in a pickle.. If he did ship the product then your screwed.. Should have dotted your i's and crossed you t's.. What else do you want him to do.. other scenario your not believing that package was shipped and your calling him a liar.. Pick your position.. Lets not square dance boys..

R

 

PM sent

 

+1 ...... the USPS will only get my basic 1st class letters .....everything else I send, goes FedEx insured for full value.

I just found out yesterday the USPS for some reason could not deliver a 'small insured padded envelope' I sent last week. I went to the post office with tracking info and receipt and they said it would take several days to find out what the problem was. This was not the first time something like this has happened with them

I was not going to repeat my mistake .... So I went to FedEx and to my surprise found out they also ship small padded envelopes via ground. For some reason I thought they sent those envelopes 1 or 2 day only . So needless to say I re-shipped a replacement item and I will deal with the USPS issue later ...... thankfully it was just a small item.

Bruce is a good guy and my experiences with him have always been very positive. The air box tops mentioned in the thread are unfortunately a lot more expensive than the smaller parts I have sent through USPS (with problems). So knowing what I know now, after several bad experiences, I will no longer send anything of value through USPS ....... but that is hindsight in this situation .....

 

The USPS is basically in the last death twitches. The reason they are going under/away is due to extremely poor service delivered & not competitive to the non Federally subsidized private shipping companies. Mismanagement is a common problem with any/every government run business. Very sad but true!