Part return dilemma - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 11-20-2010, 04:12 PM

I had this steering box which I bought from a guy who parts out police cars to put on my 95 Caprice wagon. I have the wagon listed for sale over on the IMpalass forum and in that ad mentioned that I had the fast ratio box which came in the Impala and the police cars which I would include in the sale.

A fellow contacted me and asked if the box was for sale by itself, so I said ok. We agreed on a price. In the course of events he asked for pics which I sent including pics which clearly show the part number on the box and on the pitman arm.

I shipped the part a few weeks ago. Today I get an email from him saying the box is not from a 96 chevy (which I never said it was) and that the steering arm was an inch too short. He asked for a refund.

His fitment is for a buick roadmaster wagon, which should work, though I did not represent that it would.

Now I feel if the box will not work on my car as I had been led to believe and it is a Ford box or something else, I would owe a refund. If it works on my 95 but not on his Buick for some strange reason I would not owe him anything since that is not what I represented it to be in the first place.

if the only problem is the length of the pitman arm I see no reason he cannot use his own pitman arm.

What does everybody here think?

if anybody happens to be an expert on the steering boxes and the fitment I can send you the part numbers.

Pooka · #2 11-20-2010, 04:52 PM

According to the catalog at ********.com the Caprice and the Roadmaster for 95-96 use the same steering box.

I could not find out if they use the same Pitmam arm.

Suggest to him that he take a look at the steering box and the Pitman arm and see if the box is the same and the arm can be changed out. I have yet to see one that could not but I have not seen everything.

Part numbers on the steering box might not help since the cop box is different from all the others.

t walgamuth · #3 11-20-2010, 05:11 PM

Isn't the cop box the same as the impala?

Wodnek · #4 11-20-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Isn't the cop box the same as the impala?

The 9C1 police package shared some components with the Impala, but not all.

When I was really into my 94 Roadmaster, I was looking for a 9c1 caprice to get a steering box, sway bars, and other goodies from. The box and sway bars are unique. I had always asumed it would just fit. I also wanted the Disc brake rear end from an Impala, but I never got lucky on any of these scores. Then one day, I thought I was going to catch a luck break and score a pair of Medusa headers for it, but I got sniped in the last second of the auction. If you ever see a Caprice, Impala, or Roadmaster with headers, you will know why they call them Medusa headers.

I still ocasionally drive the Roadmaster, and enjoy the power, but the handling doesn't compare to the 124.

layback40 · #5 11-20-2010, 07:04 PM

Given you sent him a pic of the item showing the part number, he should have made his own inquiries. You cant read his mind. The idea of providing him with tech help is 2 sided, it could be seen as an admission on your part that you were wrong, or an indication that you are doing the right thing trying to help him. As you dont know him well, I would be inclined to suggest that there were so many variations in pitman arms, it is expected that he would need to retain his.

Skid Row Joe · #6 11-20-2010, 07:09 PM

This is a tough one. Given the scammers out there.

How much $s are we talking about here??

Jim B. · #7 11-20-2010, 09:04 PM

Not worth all that trouble and haggling at this point;

Quit messing around with him.

Just tell him to return it (at HIS expense!) and then once you have it, include it again with the sale of your Caprice wagon,and refund him his money.

I haven't a lot of patience with budget-breath cheapskates like that; one of these days he will get caught putting xerox dollar bills in the coin changer of the local laundromat.

And in the meantime don't be surprised, if he asks you, in addition to everything else, for a apology ----- and a ride in the Mayor's limousine.

Miserable slimebag, DB, loser.

t walgamuth · #8 11-20-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

Given you sent him a pic of the item showing the part number, he should have made his own inquiries. You cant read his mind. The idea of providing him with tech help is 2 sided, it could be seen as an admission on your part that you were wrong, or an indication that you are doing the right thing trying to help him. As you dont know him well, I would be inclined to suggest that there were so many variations in pitman arms, it is expected that he would need to retain his.

I am not going to worry about the pitman arm if the box will fit MY car. I only represented that it would fit my car. He expressed interest. If the box is good for mine I will tell him tough luck. I cannot be responsible for determining what will work in his car.

Tom

t walgamuth · #9 11-20-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wodnek

The 9C1 police package shared some components with the Impala, but not all.

When I was really into my 94 Roadmaster, I was looking for a 9c1 caprice to get a steering box, sway bars, and other goodies from. The box and sway bars are unique. I had always asumed it would just fit. I also wanted the Disc brake rear end from an Impala, but I never got lucky on any of these scores. Then one day, I thought I was going to catch a luck break and score a pair of Medusa headers for it, but I got sniped in the last second of the auction. If you ever see a Caprice, Impala, or Roadmaster with headers, you will know why they call them Medusa headers.

I still ocasionally drive the Roadmaster, and enjoy the power, but the handling doesn't compare to the 124.

So if is a 9C1 box it should work on my car? It was represented to me when I bought it to be a 9C1 box but I really don't know.

Tom

lutzTD · #10 11-20-2010, 09:34 PM

His mistake, to be nice offer refund on purchase price only, he should pay shipping both ways.

t walgamuth · #11 11-20-2010, 09:41 PM

If I do that he will net $5.

mgburg · #12 11-21-2010, 02:15 AM

Tom:

From your description of events, you sent him pics and told him what the box fit.

He decided to jump on the purchase.

His decision, not yours.

You went further on the deal, he can either sit on it, resell it or punt it around his yard.

It's not your problem anymore.

I needed the Driver-side door mirror for my '76 450SLC, and got a LARGER mirror...hell, it may fit my 280E, but it didn't fit the 450SLC. BFD for me. I'm not going to hassle the guy for my $15.00 bucks back...geesh...

And if someone else needs the mirror, I'd sell it to them for the same $15 that I paid (plus the shipping...one way) and consider the deal done.

Life's too short to continue to haggle over used car parts...

And again...he had your pics to make a decision...let him live with it...you did OK in our book...

t walgamuth · #13 11-21-2010, 03:23 AM

I am verifying that it indeed will fit my car as I represented. If it will not then I will refund the money...all of it when I get the part back in the same condition it was in when sent.

Life is too short not to do the right thing.

Wodnek · #14 11-21-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

So if is a 9C1 box it should work on my car? It was represented to me when I bought it to be a 9C1 box but I really don't know.

Tom

It was always my understanding that it would fit. I never located a box to try though, so I cannot positively say that it will.
The Caprice, Impala and Roadmaster are obviously the same chassis, but when you talk about suspension geometry, who knows for certain.

MTUpower · #15 11-21-2010, 09:21 PM

If it's as you describe, it's his tough luck- that's the right thing to do.