ebay fraud

[Thomas Lindholm CLC#13781]

Well they got me to, it hurts to admit it but I bought an e-bay scam. Got the highest bid on a 1946 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe, before the auction I asked the seller about missing parts and he told me that it was just the foglight lenses. In the auction he wrote that some parts where sent to a chrome shop and they wanted $1200 for the job. I sent him $8100 and called a shipping company, told them that the car was ready to pick up but that it would be a lot of parts going with it. After a couple of months a totally stripped car arrived, all mouldings, chrome parts, garnish mouldings etc was missing it’s just an empty shell. I have tried to solve it with the seller but he just say that he sold it for a friend and have nothing to do with the transaction. This car with all transport, taxes etc. is now over $14000
That’s where we stand right now
I really would like to put out a warning for him
Sellers ID on ebay is: tucci33hotrods and he is from Marcy NY.I f anyone need more information abut the seller or other info you can send an email to me
Anyone else that have been in this situation and solved it?
Thomas Lindholm  CLC #13781
mrcadillac@telia.com

[Otto Skorzeny]

Good Grief! Sorry to hear that Thomas.

I know it's too late for you but this points out to the rest of us the importance of looking at the car in person before buying it or having a trusted agent look at it for you.

Unfortunately ebay will likely not be much help to you.

[Thomas Lindholm CLC#13781]

No you are right ebay don't give much help, it did take more then 60 days to get the car to Sweden so I can't even leave feedback. Only help I got from them was an address to FBI where they want me to report it. I have sent a letter to the State police but it might be better with FBI. I'm not familiar with what your different authorities really do
Thomas

[Dave Shepherd]

What about e-bay's buyer protection policy pertaining to fraud or misrepresentation by the seller, I collected money from them on a truck my shop bought on E -Bay that had a bad engine, look into it.  State police is your first contact if E bay is no help, also I live in NYS, get me more info on this guy. Another option is to check with the NYS dept of motor vehicles and file a complaint, it seems he is a registered dealer/repair shop in Marcy, NY.  Check the link I found.  http://tuccihotrods.hypermart.net/

[Otto Skorzeny]

I don't think ebay's protection extends to parts cars or those sold as non functioning restoration projects.

[Dave Shepherd]

You may be correct, but any item that is grossly misrepresented on E Bay still makes them responsible to some degree. They may at least have the inside know how on how to proceed with this, the info I found is posted above.

[Thomas Lindholm CLC#13781]

This was absolutely not a parts car it has a very good body that has been  professionally repainted and  parts needed new chrome was sent to a chrome shop. What I think is most likely is a forgotten reserve and they try to keep the parts and sell them on eBay later

[Tollroadflyer]

Hey sorry to hear been down this road on a Maserati i bought paid the people extra to have a "mechanic" look it over and when it got here the car was a mess and to this day sits in the garage non running 3 years later.

I think most people out on Ebay are crooks and if you do not plan to go out and see the car then dont bid almost everyone I know that has bid on a car has been very disappointed with what actually arrived as oppoesed to what was suppose to arrive per the discription.

Sorry ebay is no help at all

[Joe Manna]

Thom,I know just how you feel.I fell for a scam to on Ebay several years ago.It was a 55 Chevy.If its the same place that sold you your car,they build some quality Hot Rods.I have seen their work.I think somebody will have to make good on that deal,whether its Ebay,Tucci Rods,or somebody.

But call the local police,maybe they can help you hot. Joe

[Ted in Olympia WA]

I hate it when I read things like this, the fact that eBay dioes not help really hurts their business.

There are a ton of good sellers on eBay but I know you can't always tell who is who.  The seller you purchased from has 100% positive feedback and I'm surprised they would risk selling a car for a friend.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=tucci33hotrods&ftab=AllFeedback

I have a 100% positive feedback on eBay and work very hard to keep it that way.  But if people do not trust eBay it does no good.

TED  Superted38

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Thomas,

I’m sorry to hear of your problems with this purchase. I’ve had my share of issues with unscrupulous vendors in the car hobby. However, don’t be victim. You have legal recourse. And there’s nothing sweeter than the thought of such a scoundrel being served legal notice that he is being sued. First, you need to gather all communications/correspondences  that you had with Tucci including eBay messages. Copy them to your e-mail or files in case eBay has an expiration date on such things. You need an attorney licensed to practice in New Your State. I’d contact the NY Regional CLC Directors and ask if they have any members who are attorneys.  While it may not be their field of expertise, the attorneys may know someone who handles such cases. I am not an attorney, but what you’ve described, and the dollar amount involved sounds like felony fraud, and it’s subject to major damages, fines and possible jail time. (Damages could include the vendor having to pay all your expenses in filing the suit) I would also file a complaint with the local NY police department and FBI to put the matter on record. You should also contact the NY State Business Bureau in Albany NY for possible other avenues of recourse. You should ask the business bureau what other complaints have been filed against Tucci because this establishes a pattern of behavior that may bring other litigants or evidence into the case and improve chances of success and damages.

The dollar amount here is significant. And while you might consider writing it off as bad debt because of the distance, it will always be in the back of your mind when you look at the car. This may not have to go to all the way to court. Sometimes an aggressive posture on your part will make the vendor want to cut his potential losses and settle out of court. I’d go get my just due, with interest.

HTH,
Ralph

[Jim Thompson]

So sorry for you situation Thomas, I hope you can get something resolved on this. It is tough buying from overseas and things like this do happen and they happen too often. Good luck with your pursuit of this matter.

[Anthony P. Amman #15293]

Thomas,
I'm sorry to hear of your unfortunate experience; hopefully you will still be able to obtain a satisfactory outcome. 

Were you able to whip that '47 fender skirt into shape and get it installed?  How are your other projects progressing?

Take care,
Anthony

[Thomas Lindholm CLC#13781]

Hello Anthony
Yes, the fenderskirt is on my 47 Coupe and I have really been driving it this summer it’s a nice car and more fun to drive than my Volvo.
Have also found a pair of front fenders to my 38 Coupe that I’m working on right now so I hope that I can get it on the road next summer
I just wish that all transactions could be as easy as the one we did, however most people that are in the Classic Cadillac hobby are really helpful and nice to talk with
Nice to hear from you
Thomas

[Thomas Lindholm CLC#13781]

I have sent a report to IC 3 this is a part of FBI, I didn’t really want to do it but somehow I have to put some pressure on the seller,
To be honest I didn’t want to report it to the state police either but I can’t just accept lo lose my money and if I don’t try anything it will feel even worse.
It’s also reported to Econsumer.gov. They can help you file a complaint that will forward information about your situation to consumer protection agencies around the world.
I just had to send him an email and tell him what was going on and ask him if it wouldn’t have been better to send my parts instead of taking all this shit from me
I got an email back from him where he tells me that my talk about a fraud is just bullshit and my parts are soon ready to be shipped. I wish I could believe this but its 4 months since I paid for the car so I don’t have much hope that I’ll ever see them
I’m glad for your support it’s when things like this happens you need it
Thomas

[Dave Shepherd]

If you have an  e mail that states he is sending you parts and doesn't as part of the original deal, you really have him by the b***s if he renegs.

[Chris Conklin]

My condolences Thomas, it could be a long row to hoe to get anything close to satisfaction. Caveat emptor.

[Thomas Lindholm CLC#13781]

Hi Dave
Yes I have all that well documented, from the beginning when he tells me what’s missing and later all the way when he is sorry that I didn’t get my parts.
Has also got an email from him where he asks me to send a list on the parts missing.
The whole thing is just so unbelievable stupid, it would have been so easy to put the parts in the car when it was picked up, even if he is forced to give me my parts I have to ship them to Sweden and parts like bumpers and seat cushions are heavy and hard to ship
The trucking company spent 2,5 hours extra trying to get my parts but they have to give up

Here is a list on parts I know I didn’t get if someone is parting out a coupe

Stainless moldings front windshield 3pieces   outside
Chrome moldings front windshield 5 pieces inside (garnish moldings)
Wiper transmissions
Hood center molding + extension on cowl
Hood ornament
Chrome V on hood + emblem
Air cleaner
Foglights both and four chrome pieces that hold the glass
Front bumper
Front fender block letters  “Cadillac”
One headlight bucket
Fender moldings 6 pieces
Stainless side moldings on doors and quarter panels 4 pieces
Rocker moldings
Door handles outside
Door looks
Stainless moldings rear windshield 3 pieces outside
Rear windshield moldings inside 3 pieces   (garnish moldings)
Trunk lid Chrome V
Trunk lock handle
Trunk lid lock mechanism ( assembly )
Trunk lid support
Taillight
License plate light assembly
Rear valance both end pieces (Between bumper and body)
Rear bumper
Rear seat cushion
Rear view mirror
Door windows with channels
Rear quarter windows with channels
Door garnish moldings
Went window all parts
Door look assemblies with remote controls and links
Inside handles
Arm rest doors
Stainless moldings on the lower part on the inside door panels
Door window regulators
Door check link  (Both doors are empty)
Rear quarter garnish moldings
Rear quarter trim,( panel) inside the one with a hole for the handle

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

I heard a very similar story to this recently. A friend of mine who is a mechanic that works on 50's British Fords and all types of 50's American cars has a customer who recently bought a 57 Chevy on Ebay. The car was in Florida , it was supposedly fully restored with new brightwork including bumpers. When it arrived here in the UK it had had all the good new chrome swapped with rusted out old stuff. The intake manifold and carb and many other parts featured in the Ebay photos were gone. I don't know if this was reported to Ebay, but it arrived way after the 60 days limit for feedback. This aside, I bought a 59 [or 60, not confirmed one way or the other yet] Streamline trailer on Ebay from someone in Chicago . It was a really good price [the pound was strong against the dollar then] and it was everything it was meant to be. I must admit to being nervous on buying it, it always is a gamble on Ebay.
Phil

[Ted in Olympia WA]

What a list of parts!  If he did not include them I don't know why you have to pay the shipping.  But you may have to in order to get them.

I very sorry to hear about this.

TED