Abarth Fender Flares (now with Photos)

[MNspiderman]

So I spent some good money ($410) purchasing real abarth fender flares from a fellow in Maryland that says he had no use for them anymore. Needless to say on Ebay. They showed up Friday. I looked at them today (Sunday) They were in great shape but when i placed them to my car. They must have shrunk by 6" across the span. Should be like 27ish inches and they are around 21ish. I looked online and you cannot heat fiberglass that much to solve the problem. Man I hope that man gets my email asking for my money back. I noticed it said no returns but come on you cant falsly sell a product that has been dried up for years and fits nothing and advertise it fits. Right? If this man don't fess up and take them back. I sure hope paypal will help me out with their resolution center. I have not spoken to this man yet but I feel its OK for me to jump to a conclusion prematurely. So does anyone want to make me feel better

[So Cal Mark]

my bet is that they are not real Abarth flares. There are some VW flares that look similar but aren't quite the right shape

[Newell33]

I saw those and watched them sell. Didn't he mention something about using his hair drier to fit them to his spider? Regardless, he listed them as Fiat Spider fender flares. I'd say file a complaint as soon as possible and get the ball rolling. What was his feedback rating?

[MNspiderman]

I'll have some photos in a minute

[MNspiderman]

[NitroDemon]

Wow, I'd be pissed. I hope you can get everything set right with either the seller or paypal

[MNspiderman]

Soooooo Depressing when someone sells you this crap and hasn't got a conscious about totally ripping someone off. I can see if it has a chip or small crack, sure. But they look like they have been through an oven a few times and are about to drip

[So Cal Mark]

are they flexible plastic or hard fiberglass?

[MNspiderman]

They are very hard fiberglass. you can see it on the back side. I am guessing they are old and have been hot many times in a closed garage and that is what distorted them. I took the photos at night so you can't really see what I see in person. I am going to take more photos tomorrow. They don't even follow the curve of the car anymore. Heck, the front ones aren't even round anymore. I am quite aware that fiberglass shrinks over the years, just look at old corvettes. But this is out of control and non fixable.

[htchevyii]

gee, I wonder why he sold them.

[kmead]

Fiberglass is unlikely to change shape due to temperature change, its a thermoset plastic composite whose entire intent is to not change once made.

Those look like they were made for an entirely different car, certainly not a Fiat Spider.

[Gunsmith]

I've worked with fiberglass for years, boats, surfboards, Vette's and gun stocks. Fiberglass does not change like that. They are either for a different car or are not made of fiberglass. In my opinion that is.

[maytag]

I've worked with fiberglass for years, boats, surfboards, Vette's and gun stocks. Fiberglass does not change like that. They are either for a different car or are not made of fiberglass. In my opinion that is.

Agreed. Fiberglass does not do that. Even if it was very poorly layed-up: the resin would crack if you tried to change the shape that significanlty. And temp / humidity levels will affect the shape measurably, but not visibly.

File a complaint with Ebay & Paypal ASAP, in my opinion.

[azygoustoyou]

That's just not right. It's hard to try something new when people deceive you like that. I hope Paypal helps you out.

[MNspiderman]

I opened up a case this morning with ebay instead of paypal. Apparently my purchase is covered with the buy with confidence button because I always pay in full through paypal. I guess thats good news. So We'll see what happens in the next week. The guy still hasn't returned my emails, kinda like he doesn't see them. Right... Man, I hope this isn't a guy from this website. Anyone living in Bishopville, Maryland with the name of Bill and just got back from Mexico?