I got my money back from Paypal, I tried to call the number several times, and never got anything but an answering machine. The thing I found most odd was how they would never reply to any messages, email, phone or otherwise. It was just bizarre behaviour for a business that is in a market where word gets around so well. I didn't post this thread to be punitive, it was just to share experience, which I am just baffled by.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

Some parts companies are really just a 2nd job for the owner. The ride slim markup by working out of their basement and don't stock anything. This is ,in part, called Arbitrage.

If the real job responsibilities outrun the 2nd job, they won't call and sometimes that won't harm business is there are enough new customers. Since this kind of business is easy to set up, they don't care if they get a bad rep because they can open up under a different name. I've seen sellers of non automotive stuff have multiple businesses running at the same time so there is always one on the up swing , one in the middle and one on the tail end.

Sell enough odds and ends that have minimal risk of poor feedback and that waters down any bad ratings making them look OK.

I have purchased a number of parts from mercedesautoworks and have never been burned. They offer good used stuff.

I'm a very patient and understanding guy. Had this outfit ever even reached out ONCE with some sort of communication, I would have never complained at all. Even after, I've tried to get some reply from them, because as Rocky says, they look like they have some good stuff.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I'm not defending the guy in the slightest, just giving a possible why this occurs.

Certainly didn't mean to make any implications. Thanks though!

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I ordered a set of seats and a carpet kit for my '78 280ce (after trying for weeks to get in touch with them) one month ago (paid in full on 12/05/17). The carpet arrived a few weeks later than promised, and the only outgoing communication from MercedesAutoWorks was when they needed to collect and addition 27.00 in shipping for the carpet.

I have been trying to get in touch with Cole (owner) for weeks, just to confirm if my seats are done, so I can drive the 7 hours each way to retrieve them. It's radio silence - his cell phone voicemail box is full, the office line doesn't seem to reach him, and no response to texts or email.

I paid with my Discover card, and will let you know if a filed claim gets his attention. All I want to do is pick up the items I paid dearly for! It perplexes me, the lack of basic professional courtesy these days.

EDIT:

Within minutes of initiating the claim with Discover, Cole called me back - not sure if it's related or not. He promised the seats (which I was told previously were already complete) would be done "next week". I had also called an adjacent business to where Mercedes auto works was located, and they report he moved out over two years ago. The address on the website is not correct in any way.

__________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filmmaker, Dad, Citizen of the World in Asheville, NC
=== current vintage stable ===
'73 VW Thing, '09 BMW 328i Convertible, '07 Honda Ridgeline, '94 Chevy Step Van

I'm not doubting your figures at all, but this one boggled my mind. I couldn't imagine overdrawing my account three times in a year. You know what you've spent, you know when bills are being withdrawn, you know what you get paid and how much. Barring criminal activity or desperate circumstances, I just couldn't imagine three overdrafts per year. People make mistakes, I get it. I've had one overdraft in my entire life, pure accident and entirely my fault of course, and while the account had overdraft protection and I could have gotten the fee refunded, I was far too embarrassed to call and ask for it.

I couldn't imagine overdrawing my account three times a year. Far from rich, I just keep track of what's going on.

I guess I also know people who routinely overdraft their account on purpose, a couple days before payday. Doesn't take many of those to tilt the average significantly.

__________________
617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Update (see my reply just above): I got a call back immediately after initiating a charge-back with Discover Card. I haven't a clue if this is true, because it fits the description others have written about, but he cited a medical emergency. As it turns out, my seats were NOT complete, as indicated weeks ago, and yesterday, I finally received photos of the work-in-progress. I had told him I would restart the chargeback today if no photographic evidence was provided of the work being started.

So, I will await notification of their completion for some period of time before doing anything further. All I really want are my new seats!

__________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filmmaker, Dad, Citizen of the World in Asheville, NC
=== current vintage stable ===
'73 VW Thing, '09 BMW 328i Convertible, '07 Honda Ridgeline, '94 Chevy Step Van