I recently found myself in the unpleasant position of being in the middle of a FABO parts deal where one member sold and another member purchased a pair of old valve covers.
The parts were shipped here directly to save on shipping costs. After they arrived and I had a good look at them, my pre-sale quote -- based on the single photo taken from a good distance away in the seller's ad -- went up by forty bucks when I saw all the unexpected work that would be required to bring them to restored condition. My customer was obviously rightfully concerned about the price hike. I told him in no uncertain terms that they were some of the worst I'd ever seen, having restored probably at least 20 sets of them. I took lots of pictures and emailed them to my customer. He quickly changed his mind about the purchase and asked me to ship them back to the seller at my customer's expense.
The pictures I took were detailed close ups of bent aluminum fins, paint on top of old heavy grease, crushed spark plug wire retainers on the corner of one valve cover because the box used to ship them was too small (also pictured with a corner completely ripped open from top to bottom), etc.
The seller now claims in his new ad that he cannot see any condition issues. (Incidentally, the ad was reposted here a couple hours after UPS returned the parts; they were listed on ebay even
before the parts had been delivered.)
The valve covers listed here on FABO in December for $165.00 are now wowwwwwww $225.00 on ebay. (Apparently straightening up a couple [previously unseen and invisible] bent plug wire retainers is a rather costly operation these days. Shame on you guys for not letting me know!!! I could've raised my prices.
) Further, the inflated charge for shipping is in actuality $15.95, and two dollars of that was to cover my butt for a signature confirmation when I sent them back.
Anybody who has talked, worked or dealt with me in the past knows that I'm honest almost to a fault and always "call 'em like I see 'em."
We all try to make the best deal for ourselves as we can in every aspect of life. I'm obviously in business to make money just like everyone else is. In fact, I make MORE money when people send me raggy, beat up parts to work on. But I also have a long-standing and very deep personal allegiance to the members of this site that far outweigh any need for the almighty dollar.
In my story outlined above, the seller has now found that out for himself. What he probably doesn't realize is that I've owned my hot rod for almost 20 years and was a just a plain ol' regular member of the site long before I hung my shingle and started working for you guys as a formal vendor. You aren't
just my customers ...
you're my friends. I have to look out for my customers, but I most especially have to look out for my friends.
Being a member of FABO is much more than just buying and selling parts. It's an association of car lovers in all shapes and sizes -- we share in each other's successes and sad times, encourage each other, help with each other's restorations, lean on each other when things go badly, count on the fact we'll be treated right and respected by the other, and keep coming back BECAUSE WE LIKE IT HERE.
If all the parts 'hoes on this site actually participated in forum discussions and got involved with the membership beyond the For Sale section, it would truly be a beautiful thing, demonstrate they're here to do more than hope for Barrett Jackson-esque prices and retire rich, and allow themselves the joyous and life-changing experience of becoming part of The Family.
Yes Mr. Unnamed Parts Seller, you're a member of this site, the person who bought your crappy parts car valve covers in December is a member of this site, and I am a member of this site. Under those circumstances, we are all representatives of FABO and owe each other and the rest of the membership the courtesy of honesty, good faith and fair dealing just like in any other transaction. My customer, the buyer, has my loyalty and allegiance over any company or individual he happens to buy his parts from and, since I'm working for him within the confines of FABO and utilizing its services, I have to look out for his and FABO's best interests ahead of yours.
You may feel entitled to raise the price of your parts after you spend thirty seconds straightening up a couple bent fins on a piece of aluminum you claimed not to be able to see, but I cannot and will not sit idly by and watch you try to pull the wool over my friends' eyes if I know differently.
If we can't look out for each other in bad times when the economy is terrible, everyone is out for themselves and money is so hard to come by, then we can't look at ourselves with a clear conscience in the mirror during good times either.
You can all rest assured that this was not an easy post to write. I have been in extreme personal turmoil since I first saw those valve covers reappear for sale again trying to decide what, if anything, to do. Over the last few days, I've carefully weighed the possible adverse outcomes in the way of customer alienation or bad vibes for calling a fellow member onto the carpet in his own For Sale ad, so I've chosen instead to do it here and leave him happily anonymous. Had I posted this reply in his ad, I know there would be people reading it who would say "Whoaaaa that's a bad move Leanna" ... but I believe there would be many, many others who would be ready to hoist me up on their shoulders and carry me around the room for finally saying what needed to be said.
What it really came down to was whether I would feel better about myself by remaining silent, not sharing what I personally knew, letting the future buyers beware ............ and thereby allow yet another one of my FABO brothers to fall prey to a lame parts description and inadequate pictures. I'd feel totally good about myself if I really "nutted up" (as a treasured friend calls it) and posted a link to this reply in the For Sale ad itself, but that would be a bit too much. He knows who he is and that has to be good enough for me in the delicate position I find myself in right now.
The way I see it, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few ... or the one.
I am not posting this to embark on a personal harassment campaign or embarrass this seller, but merely to illustrate a point and ask each and every one of you to PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN DEALING WITH ANYONE OVER THE INTERNET. Ask for good, clear close up pictures of what you're buying. Ask questions about the parts. Know who you're dealing with and what you're getting before you send your hard-earned money to anyone. (Of course that includes me -- check my references before you decide to ship me something to work on.)
If we can't look out for each other and best represent the hobby itself as a separate entity deserving of respect, there's no point in even being here.
I guess I really put a hole in that "60-word limit" theory huh?
here on f.a.b.o. there are tremendous people and they work hard to keep this place a family atmosphere and treat each other fairly (I don't count the politics and news forum in my statement)If building these cars and selling off the surplus parts becomes more than a hobby and profit becomes more important than integrity, honesty and friendship than the hobby will suffer. I learned some time ago that if you can't make it off of your friends than you can't make it....I use that phrase when a friend offers me something for way less than I am willing to pay and when they offer more than I need for something......it's nice to have reasonable friend's 
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