HELP!! Paypal/ebay claim problem. Please read!!

HELP!! Paypal/ebay claim problem. Please read!!

I have a problem with an ebay item that I bought and have put a claim through Paypal. I just got an email from paypal saying that they needed proof from a third party stating that the piece was not what I paid for, that it was significantly different, damaged, and an edtimate of the cost of the repair.
Here's what it is: I bought a triple gauge pod pillar for my 97. was supposed to be a complete replacement of the stock one, in great condition etc. etc. What I got in the mail was a piece of CRAP thing and cracked fibreglass cover (does not include the edging that goes around the door, so it is in no way usable as a complete replacement for hte stock one, which is what I needed.
The paint is chipping etc etc. for it to be used, it would have to be repainted, filled, the crack in one of the pod's reglassed, etc etc.

So I need some help here. I am wondering that if I either posted some pics (of both the stock and the part that I bought), emailed them to anyone would would do this for me, if someone would be willing to put together a letter saying the above (pictures will prove what I mean - i'll include the original auction information.

Here is a snip of the email that i got from paypal:

Basically this part that I paid for (over $100USD with some gauges, which I still dont have the sensors for), and it in no way is a complete replacement, pretty much unuable (it looks horrendous without being a complete replacement) and a bunch of gauges that are useless without the sender/sensors. The part itself really pisses me off, and the other thing that I had to put in the claim was the there were parts missing for the gauges (inverter) and the sendor the oil pressure gauge, and the water temperature gauge

IF you can help me, please please do. Someone from a shop would be great, but as long as you know what you are talking about, and have an idea what it would cost to repair this one to be a replacement, or just make a whole new one, that would be a great bonus!
I need to have this faxed in by sometime early next week (tuesday I believe), so it has to be done asap.

PLEASE HELP!

I'll post the pics when I get home from work (at work now), as well as the complaint that I put in with paypa. Mind you, when you read the paypal complaint, you will notice how pissed I was, I wrote it about 10 minutes after the package arrived.

Exactly why I hate Ebay and PayPal

I've never actually had a problem with paypal or ebay, mostly becuase I am very careful who I buy from. I really took a chance (knowingly) on this one, and it didnt pay off. The guy was great in communication during the auction, but crap after, and he gave me all the answers I was looking for in the item, turns out he was lying through his... 2 teeth.

This is going to be a long post, so whoever helps me out -> I OWE YOU BIG TIME!
This post includes all the pictures and a description before each one.
NOTE: something I forgot to mention was that it was supposed ot be shipped through USPS (thus costing me nothing to pick it up, no duty, customs, etc). But he sent it through FEDEX, and it cost me something liek $40 USD to pick it up (customs and brokerage fees).

The first image shows everything (absolutely everything) that came in the original package. This includes the cheap fibreglass A-pillar pods and the three gauges. Missing (what SHOULD have been included in the package) is an inverter for the EL gauges, an electronic AC technics oil pressure sender, and a water temperature sender.
TO WHOEVER writes the letter, please include the fact that new gauges would most likely have to be bought to replace these as I cannot track down an oil pressure or water temperature sender alone without buying new AC gauges.




The second image here is the bottom of the piece. Notice how it has been cut up with an xacto knife, and has a very deep chip on the left side. It does not meet the dimensions of the stock piece (see later pictures)



This picture is of one of the pods. Notice the large crack on the front, and the obvious wear and missing paint on the pod



This picture shows another crack (which I just found today) on another pod. The fibreglass here is no more than paper thin and is VERY flexible.



Same thing as last picture, just showing light passing through the crack



Another picture of the wear



Shows how the piece is warped and is not a complete replacement. It lacks the "lip" to wrap around, which would be on the outside of the panel, which covers the metal



Crappy interior fibreglass (not saying glass is bad, but this job was cheap). Hard to see in this picture



The gauges. They were all supposed to be the same (seller told me this in one of the many emails). Notice how the voltmeter is a different line that AC carriers (with a convex lens, and different font fact etc/etc)




Comparing it to the stock one (this is the bottom) notice the lack of .... everything on the "replacement one". It doesnt even cover everywhere that the stock one does



Notice how the fibreglass one is missing the "lip" to hold it onto the frame..



Again, no lip. NOT a replacement piece obviously



And one more of the stock one



THUS: gauges need replacing, piece needs to be refabricated or repaired to actually be used as a stock piece, otherwise it is useless and ugly. Cracks need repair, needs to be repainted. Sure some of this I could do on my own (paint) but that is not what I paid for!.

Here is the original auction text:

Here is my paypal complaint:

hmm..well the seller never stated that it was brand new, so wear and tear is acceptable like when your buying a car. Also the gauges, i would be happy with wut u got cuz the voltmeter is an S7 gauge and is more expensive, you can sell that on ebay and buy the right voltmeter gauge and still have money left.

You missed two very important points. The seller DID say it was "Brand new!! Toyota Corolla 1993-1997 Full Pillar Triple Gauge Pod replacement". Meaning that it should be a new replacement piece. It is neither.
The gauges, sure i can live with it not being the same, but the real problem is that I dont have the two senders, making the other 2 gauges useless.

You started a claim with paypal..(sorry did not read all of the posts) but have you contaced the seller?

I hope you get your refund man.

Yes I have talked to the seller and he is being an ass.
As for the picture. there was one, of an actual replacement piece, which is not what I was sent.

I STILL NEED A LETTER FROM SOMEONE> ANYONE
As long as it is not written by me, and it comes from someone who knows what they are talking about.
Please, I need this asap, because if it isn't sent in in a couple days, the claim is "thrown out"

I need to fax it in. So basically need someone to write it up (or if you want, I can do it) then they would have to sign it or whatever, or make a word doc with a letter head (just their name, phone number)

basically:

Yes you are correct, this could be made to work, but that would cost me two things. time and money. Which I why I have filed a claim through paypal on the item

As for the auction iteself, it clearly states that it was replacement piece. to remove the stock one and put this in it's place, with caps to cover the holes (if you'll notice in the pictures, there are no holes, nor caps to cover them).
Here is the link (note: the picture listed there is actually of another car - a lancer). He had sent me a picture of a car that had a complete replacement one, which covered the lip on the outside. Unfortunately I cannot recover that email still from the the computer (crashed a couple weeks ago).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...=1,1&item=7961343523&sspagename=STRK:MEAFB:IT

The bottom line is that it need repair and custom work to install (time and money there), and the gauges can't work as if becuase they are missing parts (which I would have to pay for to get a new set, or new gauges, hence the paypal claim).

Yes I noticed that before. However i have bought a lot of items from "good buyers" on ebay and other places. Hell I had a rating of ... 30? before i sold anything on ebay.

But that's really not the problem here. how or who i bought from doesnt matter right now, it matters that I paid for something that I didnt get, and so I need a letter stating that for the claim.

Sending it from your shop letter head would be perfect.
I'll pm you the details later, regarding the auction number, reference number etc/etc. You can either scan and email it to me (I dont have access to recieve a fax). From there I'll take it somewhere where I can fax it. Or if you want, you can fax it in, but it would probably be a long distance fax.
I really appreciate this guys, it'll hopefully get about $100CDN back...

EDIT:
I have pm'ed the relavent information to vortex so that if he writes a letter, he has it
if anyone else plans on helping me out by writing a letter, please let me know, and I can pm you all that is needed.
Thank you everyone for the help.

NOTE: sorry about my tone in some of my recent posts -> dealing with the death of a friend, funeral was today.

Thanks a million vortex, and the kind words.
That'll definitely go a long way. I'll be out of town with some friends regarding the funeral and other things, at the cabin, but I'll still have internet access (sister is living out there for the summer and needed it for work).
havnt really had anyone make up a letter or anything yet, but I'll still take any that someone wants to throw together.

Again, thank you very much.