I bought a set of Turbo 1 wheels and tires from ebay on Friday. Everything seemed really good, I talked to the person and he said they were mint, no scratches etc. Well today he calls me and says he meant to tell me that he noticed the previous owner had put a "Clear coat protector" on the wheels and as he was packaging it, some seemed to be flaked off at one point. He said he meant to tell me before he shipped but forgot.
Ok, so the wheels have shipped should arrive in the US (I had them shipped to a forwarding company since I live in Canada) on Friday. He says to look at them and if I don't like them he will refund my money . He will even send me the money to ship them back before I go there.
So, from what he is saying, it is not a paint, but rather a clear film, I guess like 3M.
If it is 3M, can I remove it without screwing up the finish on the wheels? If so how? What if it is some kind of paint?
Returning them is a major hassle. I will have to find a unpackage the wheels, check them, repackage and if I do not want them find a fedex and then send them back. Not to mention the three hour drive across the border!

 

Can't really tell what is going on there, but stripping and having wheels redone is not an expensive thing to do (they can do all or part of a wheel). I wouldn't sweat it till you get the wheels.

 

Ok, Porsche wants 200-250 a wheel...
We'll see.

 

1)- I hope you have all that correspondence in writing or else it could get a little
2)- If you know there's a problem with the item then why buy it unless until you bought them relatively cheaper

 

2-250 a wheel is a ripoff

 

or a ripodd.

 

Everything is in writing, and the ebay ad stated if the wheels are not as stated he will refund my money and shipping back.

I did not know there was a problem until two days after he shipped them and then called me ..." by the way, there was some flaking on the coating I noticed when packing them..."

There's no doubt he will refund the money, but I need to determine if I should return them, and unfortunelty, I need to drive 4 hours return to do so.

So is it a film? or clear coat flaking off....

 

Wise Guy...
I tried to change that bit I couldn't...I was pissed!!!

 

Its probably clear coating peeling. I have never heard of applying 3m film on wheels before. I would check them when they get there, get a quote from a wheel refinisher (anywhere from 75-150 per wheel), invoice the seller, get them taken cared!! I think most of wheel refinisher company come to you and finish a wheel in 30-45 min.
My $0.02

 

Thanks. I suspect also that it is the clear coat. I think the vendor would pay, he has indicated he would. What's the process? Do they wet sand them first? Only in the area where it is failing?

 

More than likely, they wet sand the whole wheel and reclear it.

Make sure to check with the vendor.

Good luck

 

So what's the going rate for getting a wheel refinished then

 

Sounds like you got tore even. In all honesty though, sounds like you'll come out fine.

 

Depends on what you paid for the wheels. If you got a great deal than the price of refinishing, which they probably need anyway, won't be so bad but, don't be surprised if some of your wheels are also bent which will require additional $$'s to repair. It is often difficult to determine if a wheel is bent. You have to have them put on a balancer and spun at which pount it is easily seen. Bought a set of used OEM wheels last year and two were bent. Seller made me whole on the repairs which was great but I only found out when the shop where I had the tires mounter pointed it out and said it is very common on the wide rear rims but easily repaired. I doubt the seller knew they were bent as the damage was not visible until they were spun up.

 

Well, today I braved the freezing rain and drove across the border to pick up my wheels at freeport forwarding. I opened the first wheel (with a witness from freeport) and there it was, clear coat peeling. But worse, the seller was not honest at all. There was a deep grove around 1/4 of the wheel and tons of damage but some monkey that put the tire on.
The wheels were supposed to be mint as per the ad, the pictures, and our conversation. I paid $3500 for them (5000 miles useage nd TPS included from a 2008). I only paid this since the photos showed that they were mint.
However, three days after sending them and before I picked them up, he re-listed the item on ebay. SDame photos and description (money back warrantee with shipping back) but now the tires have 6000 miles on them. Also, as it turns out, the photos that I used to judge the condition were not those of the tires I bought! Very clear.
So he told me to send them back today which I did, but he refused to pay for insurance or a signature. Well, the h**l with that. I paid for this out of my pocket. I also launched a dispute with ebay, to be sure I get my money back and that there is no funny business like not picking them up or signing for them.
All this with someone who has 1400 positive feedbacks and no negative ones.
I've bought big ticket items off ebay before and never had an issue...there's always a first one I guess.
The wheel could not be repaired without major machining, something you dont want at 140 MPH.
If this is not resolved, I will provide his ebay account name.