Back in June, a seller on the Bmxmuseum.com was selling a set of Tuff II's, blue, with some nasty red comp III style tyres for a grand total of $250
They looked pretty good though, and I knew I could remove the rear brake rub. So, as you do, I offered him $150 for the Tuff's without the tyres, shipped within the US. He said no.
Roll on to early September, he still had them for sale, so I offered him $120 shipped within the US.........
As you see, he was willing to let them go for that, if I paid as a gift. Well, I checked his feedback of 600+ positives, so decided it was worth the gamble. He was true to his word, and they arrived at my buddy's a week later. I had some decals to come over too, so my buddy opens the box to check the wheels are packed enough for shipping, puts in the decals, re-seals the box, and then posts them to me.
As I was eager to get these cleaned and fitted to my TA for riding, as soon as they arrived, I took them out the box and fitted the rear to my new TA frame, and got started with the Stanley blade to remove the brake pad residue. There was no damage to the box, and the wheels were wrapped in foam material with clear tape around them, just as the seller had sent them to my buddy. Anyhow, that's when I came across the crack on the rear rim
I immediately contacted the seller and never got a reply. So I pm'd the Moderator that was online, and he sent the seller an email. The seller then replied with.....
Now he knew I was in the UK, and he knew I was having them shipped here, as we discussed it briefly. He categorically denies that the damage to the wheel is his fault. I have had numerous people advise me now that the crack looks old, and as there is no damage to the sidewall around the crack or on the sidewall lips, that it must have been done with a tyre fitted to it, either by hitting a kerb hard, or performing a 'sidekick' of some sort. Either way, a tyre must have been on it at the time.
I know for a fact that my buddy wouldn't have taken the wheels out, fitted them, ridden them, cracked it, put them back in the box, and then posted to me. I opened the box the same day I got it and pm'd the seller pretty much within half an hour of getting setting up to clean it.
Anyhow, I spoke to a moderator, and the seller. The seller refuses to admit any wrong doing, and the Mods have just gone along with what he says. I paid as a gift so have no recourse, the Mods have removed my negative feedback, and that is about it.
I know what some of the comments will read to this, so I will save you the trouble. YES, I paid by gift, my fault, my issue. But that doesn't excuse what he did.
His real name is Adam Haas, his username is numbersandletters. Deal with him at your own risk. I am just pointing this out to advise you all.