So I must say I am little disappointed today, bought some second spares from guy last week Thursday who advertises "Beetle spares" on Gumtree for the Western Cape.
After contacting the advertiser telephonically, I basically gave the guy a shopping list of spares that was required, but since my plan was to get the car on the road as fast as possible, I only needed certain spares right now to get the car through road worthy. The rest of the shopping list was cosmetic.
So he sent back a list of spares with prices.
My initial re-action on some spares were "sho, that seems a little pricy considering they're second hand" (Gut instinct 1 ignored). But I need those spares in order to get the get the car through road worthy, so let's get the one I require now...
Some emails later, arrange a meeting to collect the spares from the McDonalds or whatever in Wellington road, Bellville (Gut instinct 2 and alarm bell ignored). The Alarm bell / gut instinct would be for not meeting some at the residence or their place of business...
So got to the McSomething or whatever to meet with this guy and was presented with box of loose spares as part of shopping list that I needed.
All fine and dandy, spares on site, cash ready to go. The spares in question was an indicator/wiper assembly and windscreen wiper blade arms.
After seeing the spares (gut 2 instinct ignored), my immediate thought was this: "For such a premium price on second hand spares, does this guy not even clean or refurbish his spares?" They looked like they'd been pulled out of 100 year old beetle with the amount dust and dirt on them.
At this point I was feeling like I needed to walk away (gut instinct 3 ignored), but I need these spares to get through roadworthy, so just get them.
Sitting there, almost in disbelieve in the condition of those spares that he was presenting at the price he advertised, I asked the guy if they worked?
He said "yes they did work", which I didn't really believe because of the condition (again ignoring instinct 3).
So against all the better judgements, I went and did the sale, and even signed a receipt (like the guy actually pays tax on second spares, LMAO). On the invoice around half way down was a "S/H spares, no guarantee" which he obviously absolves himself from any responsibility when something goes wrong (Like the consumer protection act doesn't apply here, guess again a**hole). But of course, he seemed like a stand up guy, so I gave him my hard earned cash and left even though I still felt sceptical about the whole deal.
Whilst I was not incredibly impressed with the condition of the wiper arms (R250), I was more concerned with the Indicator/wiper assembly (R350). So, after installation last week Thursday, I was not surprised to find out that the indicator/wiper assembly came with some problems and not don't work as they should.
I was thinking to myself, this is what you get for ignoring ALL those warning signs and gut instincts. Yes, those prices in brackets are second hand, no cleaned, non tested, non refurbished prices (yes, I am that doff sometimes and I am feeling now, hence the vent).
So, I emailed (I won't mention Chris's email, since he seemed so nice (at the time) when we met telling me how he started Best Beetles or whatever informing him that the spare he supplied working, does he have another? I am still waiting for a response to my email (not that'll get one), but at this stage I am feeling like this guy has basically stolen my money.
I am sure that there could be loads of thought promoting comments on this, but, if I was selling something 2nd hand, if I wasn't sure of it worked, I would've said that it was either untested or I would've priced the unit accordingly (Like R50). But that's just me...
Guess at the end of the day, what I am peeved at is myself.... ignored all my ALL my gut feelings and get taken for a ride.... Feeling like a CHOP
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)