Ricambi-automobilia: what's the matter with them?

[mudhut]

I'm sure we all know of this Netherlands-based company that trades on eBay and I think some of us have bought stuff from them.

I'm interested in an item of theirs and have sent a message regarding it. Courtesy of a reply? No. :( So I sent a follow up to enquire whether they had received my first message and to prompt them to respond. No reply again. :mad:

Now I understand that English is probably not their first language and that this isn't exactly the biggest sale in their history but their eBay ads are in English and this item was actually listed even if inexpensive.

What on earth is the matter with these people? Anybody know if theye are reliable?

[Sptwoman]

I've used them before without a hitch. I have found a number of larger ebay sellers just don't reply to messages - FACT!!

[Matt No VAT]

I can beat that !

I paid £60 to Tony / Teresa Ebay ID: TERESA2860 based in Sutton-in-Ashfield for a Beta gear linkage ang handbrake set up.

After 5 weeks of hearing nothing I finally get a response, saying sorry for not sending items but no explanation for delay. Promises of kit being sent early next week, so I wait.

By the end of the next week still no goods, so i telephone this crowd.

More promises to send it out, reason for not sending the items so far.....

Haven't even taken them off the car yet!




:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[jadefarms]

I bought two items from him (Adrian Rice), one he had no stock and the other was damaged.
He refunded the first item and promised refund on the second. I never got my refund after returning it to him. Eventually, in frustration, I left negative feedback for that one. he promptly left revenge negative for both items. Ebay/Paypal were no help at all.... :mad:
Avoid...

[mudhut]

I have found a number of larger ebay sellers just don't reply to messages - FACT!!

True enough but their eBay ad specifically asks buyers to put questions before bidding.

I thought a number of us had used them without problems. Might just bid and hope for the best.

[pimms]

I must say i bought from them about five times with no problems at all, mostly NOS.
Don't have any experience with asking questions though ?

[guy mayers]

I've never had a problem with the Pim - Wil has always sent the goods out promptly, well packaged and nothing damaged/missing. I'd happily deal with him again.
Hope that helps your confidence!
Guy

[mudhut]

It does help, thanks Pim and Guy.

I really don't want to buy something that does not fit though... don't suppose they will want it back.

[guy mayers]

What are you after Peter? Perhaps somebody else has tried it already and can advise?
Guy

[mudhut]

I'm after a combined fluid reservoir for the brake master cylinder as opposed to the two small square ones that I currently have. I tried to get in touch with the seller to find out how far apart the outlet holes are.

The listing only says the part is for a F131. I bet it is OK and might just take a punt.

[chris.richard]

Now, I saw one of those somewhere in the last week - was it eBay motors USA?
is this it? (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fiat-124-Spider-2000-Brake-Fluid-Reservoir-Ritmo-Strada_W0QQitemZ290225909585QQcmdZViewItem)
or this? (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-126-BRAKE-FLUID-RESERVOIR-USED-BUT-FINE-COMPLETE_W0QQitemZ130217410129QQihZ003QQcategoryZ3 1352QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[guy mayers]

Thought it might have been the twink crankshaft pulley you were after!
If he has a fluid reservoir I may be able to help. Ian Gear needed a 131 master cylinder and saw a listing on a US eBay site quoting the part as common to the Fiat 124 Spider. I believe Ian got his master cylinder but i don't know his reservoir arrangements.
Let me know if you want me to measure the Spider one? It's a single remote reservoir unlike the Fiat 131 version (or Lancia Beta) that plug into the top of the master cylinder but I'm pretty sure that the dimensions will be the same.
Guy

[strat6v]

Easy enough to mod the beta reservoir to make it remote.

[mudhut]

Thanks chaps. I'm not after a remote reservoir but one that will sit on top of the master cylinder - hence the reason why the distance between the outlets was important.

I'm not after an original look here but of a simpler layout under the bonnet with less potential for leaks. The flexible feed pipes to the m/cyl have already caused damage to the paintwork. Trying to solve the little niggles that have occurred before the refit sometime in the future after the house move (which looks like it's going backwards - people did warn us that "developers" are the most unscrupulous people in the world and second only to politicians).

Still after the crankshaft pulley though Guy and have noted that ricambi-automobilia do have one. Might just try to find a Beta FI engine and play with that a bit.

Also want to find the thing that goes down the hole where the distributor goes, or enough info to turn one for myself.

[pimms]

I have this one for spare, don't know the distance between the outlets could measure this week? Its from a Lancia Beta

[Shaun II]

"want to find the thing that goes down the hole where the distributor goes"

Would that be the distributor? The injection/volumex blocks just have a simple blanking plate with a lip bolted to the block. Normally the casting has not been machined for the mech. petrol pump.

I think you really need an IE engine as crank pulleys and cranknuts/bolts are a bit troublesome. I'm sure one will come up though.

I have some old reservoirs that may be ok, free, only pay the shipping as I'm being forced to have a clear out. I could measure, think I have a fiat 1600 master cylinder on my car and they are probably the same.

[guy mayers]

Still after the crankshaft pulley though Guy and have noted that ricambi-automobilia do have one. Might just try to find a Beta FI engine and play with that a bit.

Also want to find the thing that goes down the hole where the distributor goes, or enough info to turn one for myself.

I reckon it's cheaper to buy the new one from Ricambi Automobilia Peter!
I know I've got one of the "things" somewhere as it's part of the kit I've got to convert the Spider to twin sidedraught carbs this Summer (!) but I can'l lay my hands on it which is worrying me a little! It's dimensions are important as it's not just a blanking plate but also retains the drive gear for the oil pump that's run off the auxilliary shaft. You ought to be able to find one on any scrap Beta injection engine, the Monte should also have one as well as any Fiat with a cambox mounted dizzy. I'll keep looking for it though because i need to know where it is!

Guy

[mudhut]

Quite so Guy. I can turn the aluminium top bit but need to see how the oil pump drive is held down - could adapt the end of the distributor drive shaft but would like to see the official way first.

It's the side draught carbs that are causing me all the aggro. I do have a GC type inlet manifold for twin Weber/DellOrtos on an upright twin cam if you have need.

[Patriq Backlund]

I bought two items from him (Adrian Rice), one he had no stock and the other was damaged.
He refunded the first item and promised refund on the second. I never got my refund after returning it to him. Eventually, in frustration, I left negative feedback for that one. he promptly left revenge negative for both items. Ebay/Paypal were no help at all.... :mad:
Avoid...

I'm not too fund of e-bay for the same reason.
I was accused of something was not at all true. I had the evidence for it - which the seller also was supplied with. Despite that, the seller insisted - and in the end left me some quite heavy critic. That was a downright lie.

I then complained to e-bay about the critisism that was linked to my username. And stated the same evidence the seller had been provided.
They agreed that what I claimed was likely - but that their policy was not to take side.

To me - it's all to easy to leave comments that will follow you permanently. And that potential buyers from you will read.
As long as e-bay is as it is - I try to avoid using it as much as I can.

[guy mayers]

Quite so Guy. I can turn the aluminium top bit but need to see how the oil pump drive is held down - could adapt the end of the distributor drive shaft but would like to see the official way first.

It's the side draught carbs that are causing me all the aggro. I do have a GC type inlet manifold for twin Weber/DellOrtos on an upright twin cam if you have need.

Hi Peter, basically there is an ally extension on the underside of the blanking cap, conical in shape but with the point cut off such that it finishes above the gear that is driven off the auxiliary shaft. I assume that any the rotation of the auxilliary shaft is such that the driven gear is held down as there is no bering surface or contact marks on the used one I have (somewhere).

And thanks for the manifold offer but I already have a GC manifold for the Weber DCOMs that will eventually find thier way back onto the car! The idea of converting to downdrafts doesn't appeal....

Cheers

Guy

[jadefarms]

I bought two items from him (Adrian Rice), one he had no stock and the other was damaged.
He refunded the first item and promised refund on the second. I never got my refund after returning it to him. Eventually, in frustration, I left negative feedback for that one. he promptly left revenge negative for both items. Ebay/Paypal were no help at all.... :mad:
Avoid...

Thank you to Peter Nixon for his email about Classic Remains, in the same vein and invitation to post his experience!

Adrian Rice (http://www.spnracing.com/classicremains.html)

[Matt No VAT]

An interesting read especially as I was just considering purchasing something from them. I think I'll avoid.

Strangely enough, I found a similar thread on the BETABOYZ forum about Ebay trader Teresa2860 who breaks Betas regularly. It took 8 weeks to get the parts I had paid for up front. And only after a couple of phone calls where I had to get a bit aggressive.

Similar stories to mine, paid for items that never arrived, some people had waited TWO YEARS for their parts which still hadn't arrived and others returned faulty items but never saw their refunds.

Same old excuses "it'll be sent next week or the refund cheque is in the post".

So buyers beware I suppose.

As time goes by and where possible, I am more and more inclined to use traditional shops, no postage issues, get you hands on the goods straight away and you can talk face to face.

[chris.richard]

An interesting read especially as I was just considering purchasing something from them. I think I'll avoid.

Strangely enough, I found a similar thread on the BETABOYZ forum about Ebay trader Teresa2860 who breaks Betas regularly. It took 8 weeks to get the parts I had paid for up front. And only after a couple of phone calls where I had to get a bit aggressive.

Similar stories to mine, paid for items that never arrived, some people had waited TWO YEARS for their parts which still hadn't arrived and others returned faulty items but never saw their refunds.

Same old excuses "it'll be sent next week or the refund cheque is in the post".

So buyers beware I suppose.

As time goes by and where possible, I am more and more inclined to use traditional shops, no postage issues, get you hands on the goods straight away and you can talk face to face.


I bought an engine from teresa2860. Mick was with me. Didn't have any problems doing the deal face to face. YMMV!

[mudhut]

Teresa2860 does take a long time to send parts. Don't know why he stated "allow 21 days for delivery" or similar - no need for this delay. The delivery charge can be quite high for some items.

In my case, I bought an Alfa alternator (postage was £12 ish - OK for an alternator I think). It didn't arrive. Was quite patient about all this and mailed him explaining. Replied that he would send another and in due course it arrived - but it took quite a while - three weeks or so IIRC. Alloy casting was a little damaged when it arrived though.

[Matt No VAT]

Peter, I don't mind waiting for items providing there's a good reason for it. But when I confronted Tony about the cause of the delay he told me that (after five weeks) he hadn't had the time to remove the bit from the car. Now, if your a car dismantler (and I was a partner in a company that dismantled cars) thats a pretty fundamental problem.

But what really pushed my button was the lies, being told on four separate occasions that "It'll be sent tomorrow" after three weeks of that B.S. I told him what I thought.. that he's taking the p1s5 out of me because he's already got my money in his pocket.:mad::mad::mad:

I think this type of behavior is on the increase because its all anonymous/distance selling and exceptionally difficult to sort out when there is a problem and the customer is 100 miles away. These guys don't trade on reputation like normal shops, these guys make quick money anyway they can and if their reputation suffers then they just change Ebay ID's and start over again and repeat the whole thing.

I'll admit - I'm the sort that will get in the car and drive up there to have words and get my money back... regardless of fuel costs, but thats me.

Shame really that it gets like this

[rutthenut]

Thank you to Peter Nixon for his email about Classic Remains, in the same vein and invitation to post his experience!

Adrian Rice (http://www.spnracing.com/classicremains.html)

That's definitely interesting - I spotted this seller when doing parts searches, so will bear this in mind. And if they don't take paypal, I'm unlike to use them unless really stuck.

Matt - I got a gearlever from Teresawhatever and it did take some time, but delivered in the end. Won't hurry to use them in future either though.

J.R.