I recently purchase a used rear axle from a private party on craigslist. Visual inspection and conversation with the seller indicated it was a good usuable used part. After installing the axle it is in fact unusable and has a serious internal defect. I contacted the seller and he stated it was a final sale and I was on my own. He also stated that he offered to let me have a mechanic inspect the axle (which I don't recall), but wouldn't have made a difference as the defect could only apparent after install and wasn't discoverable from a visualinspection. My mechanic had to disassemble the axle to discover the issue.
I now have to spend several times the cost of the part to get it operational. I am not trying to get any of the repair cost recovered, but think I should be entitled to some if not all of the purchase price as the condition was misrepresented? Opinions?
Thanks.
Small claims court
That's unfortunate. The irritating part of it, as I'm sure you know, is that if the part was defective the seller likely knew of the defect (assuming he had tried to use the part himself). In any case, your best bet is to try small claims court. It is very friendly to those who represent themselves and, assuming this part cost less than $500, the cost for filing at small claims court is only $30. Good luck.