Mike Rini of Pembroke Pines, FL
Well OK, I guess I am gullible. When someone says something, I tend to take them at face value and believe what they say. One of my major failings, for certain.
In any event, last year when I was looking for a Z06 Corvette, I first saw an ad for one that looked promising on Z06vette.com at this thread (which apparently has since been edited into obscurity): http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showt...294#post976294 I further tracked down this car to being offered on Ebay. Anyway, yes, I was a complete noob at C5 Corvettes and the Z06 variant, so when I saw this picture among others, it really meant nothing much to me concerning the wheels as I just didn't know enough about the models to realize there was an issue with this car. http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/...riginal_02.jpg After all, I had actually been looking at mostly regular C5s and nothing looked out of the ordinary to my untrained eye. And as you will see in some screen shots of the Ebay auction, this seller was presenting himself as a dealer (kellychevroletflorida), and claiming the car was in MINT condition. Now "MINT" to me simply meant adj : as if new; "in mint condition". So quite frankly, with the ad taken at face value, I fully expected that car to be "as new". So let's look at the pages I took as screen shots from the Ebay auction. First off, I apologize as when I took the screen shots, evidently there was some slight truncating of the right edge of the page. Nothing serious, but it does cut off a few letters of each line. http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/ebay001.gif This page merely shows the ID name of Mike Rini that was being used for this auction, indicating that he was, in my opinion, representing an established dealership running this auction. ============================= Now in this next page, notice that the ad claims that the vehicle was INSPECTED http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/ebay002.gif Well I find that just a bit difficult to believe. Neither of the front turn signals were working when I picked up the vehicle. Matter of fact, the lamps were clearly shattered as the amber glass was loose inside the housing and visible through the clear cover. I doubt this would have passed inspection. How those lamps became shattered, of course, is matter for some conjecture as well. Secondly, the front tires were bald down to the threads on the inside edges and certainly an inspection would have clearly shown that to be an issue as well. ============================ On page 3, this is the beginning of the actual textual description of the Z06 being offered in this Ebay auction. http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/ebay003.gif Notice that it CLEARLY says CHROME WHEELS. As best I can recall, the 2002 did not come stock (mint) with chrome wheels at all. Even considering that chrome wheels MAY have been on the vehicle at the time of the sale, they certainly were not when the photos were taken. Also notice the mention of "EZ HIGHWAY MILES", which is quite puzzling because in further correspondence with Mr. Rini, he claimed the car had been taken in as a tradein, and he had no real knowledge of any history at all on this car. I guess "EZ HIGHWAY MILES" has the disconcerting habit of making the Z06 standard wheels change into regular C5 wheels, and cause some sort of impact to shatter the front turn signal bulbs. This apparently also caused very odd wear on the front tires to take the rubber off down to the threads on the inside edges. A curious situation that when I had an alignment done on the car after buying new tires AND wheels, was commented on by the people at Champion Chevrolet in Tallahassee that the current alignment of the vehicle could not have possible caused that sort of wear on those tires. The wear on those tires was done while they were on another vehicle and at sometime put on this Z06 before I purchased it. Oh yeah, the "SMELLS, RUNS AS NEW!" quote needs mention as well. I never knew a new car to smell like some overpowering strawberry scenting that Mr. Rini had put right at the center A/C vent. You will also note that Mr. Rini claimed in that ad that this vehicle came with Sport Seats, which is completely untrue. The car has the standard seats within it, but certainly I did not know the difference at the time to be able to tell. Also please note the comment about the car coming with a "BLACKWING AIR FILTER". This is absolutely untrue. It had something akin to the "wire tie" mod done to the original air cleaner, but was done in such a botched up way that outside completely unfiltered air was allowed to come in UNDER the filter element into the air intake system. I did not discover this one until I replaced the air cleaner system myself. But in any event, any knowledgeable Corvette person would have clearly seen and known that the air cleaner was NOT a Blackwing at all. ======================= On to page 4 of the auction descriptive text. http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/ebay004.gif In this generic text that was apparently cut and pasted within the ad, there is clear mention (somewhat truncated however) about the Z06 having larger tires with a bigger bite. Obviously this car did NOT have those larger tires, as the wheels and tires were off of a standard C5 and NOT what came standard on the Z06 at all. And notice that the vehicle condition is CLEARLY noted as being "MINT". Well to me, "MINT" would not have the following issues that I discovered later on when the vette tech looked it over at Champion Chevrolet, as well as my own discoveries:
As for it being "garaged" and "pampered", the number of rock chips on the front of the vehicle belie those statements. And considering the professed lack of knowledge of the past history of this car by Mr. Rini, I would have to wonder how he could even know such a thing to make these sorts of claims. Well I guess to round this out, I will simply append the various emails that took place between Mr. Mike Rini and myself concerning this transaction. Quote:
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Looks like Mr. Rini is also on Z06vette.com as well, under the handle of 11secondmonster this time. http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100367
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We have this post: http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/...6vette_001.jpg Which points to THIS auction on Ebay.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MESE%3AIT&rd=1 Where we find this photo: http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/black_z06.jpg And this text info for that vette in auction: http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/auction001.jpg http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/auction002.jpg http://www.corvetteflorida.com/pics/rini/auction003.jpg Also, please note that Mr. Rini posts over on CorvetteForum under the handle of mikes98pacecar. |
Rich, I've read through your ordeal and think the whole situation stinks. I think you got screwed royally. I'd check with the BBB in his area.
Don't have a whole lot of time to come up with something. Leaving tonight for the Z06Fest. I'll comment more when I get back. Oh, BTW, Happy Birthday for next week, since I won't be here. Scott |
Rich, told you I didn't like that guy! I don't know what time frames you are looking at, maybe a close to a year, and I'm no attorney, but I'd be sueing this joker. When he said "mint" you should have expected a car in good and proper order and your Z was by no means "mint'. I'd sure do one of those 15 minute free consultations with a good lawyer and see if you have a case. He could make good on the "mint" condition or buy your car back. I hate you have gotten such a raw deal. I know you love that car, but I'd be seeing if I had some recourse. Good luck with your decision..........Tom
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Rich,
Sorry you had to stumble across a boil on the ass of society! This guy needs an old fashion :spank2: :yesnod: I don't know how the Florida laws are written, one of the LEOs might be able to chime in. But up here in Maryland, if you sell more than a handful of cars a year (the number is somewhere between 5 and 7) then you must have a dealers license. Also, the Maryland DMV has a consumer protection department that takes complaints from residents that have had problems with licensed dealers. Those complaints are forwarded to the dealer for resolution and the number and type of complaints are monitored, such that a dealer can have their license temporarily suspended or revoked. My guess is that the scum bag does not have a dealer license. But maybe that is a good thing. If Florida has a similar minimum sale requirement to be licensed, you might just be able to extract a little satisfaction if nothing else. Good luck, and if I was you, I definitely would send him a sample of the finest product that you sell! :thinkin: :waveyd: |
I had actually considered retaining an attorney for this issue, but quite honestly I didn't feel it was worth pursuing for what gains could come out of it. I just decided to suck it up and fix the problems. Actually Mr. Rini recently (like yesterday, I think) made me an offer to trade me even up my '02 Z06 for the black '03 Z06 he now has on Ebay. Since I have spent thousands of dollars fixing and upgrading my car (not to mention I would then be getting something that may be even worse then what I got then), I didn't even bother to respond to that offer.
The thing that irks me the most was that this was my first Corvette purchase and I was excited as hell about it. And I admit I had a severe case of tunnel vision when I saw the car. I just didn't know enough about Corvettes to know the problems that were there. And I just stupidly trusted a used car salesman. That someone would pull what he did on me and put such a dark cloud over what should have been a really landmark event in my life just really bothers me. I don't wish Mike Rini any harm, but I damn well fervently wish that no one else will have to go through the disappointment I did if they are in the same position of purchasing their first Corvette like I was. So my intent is to just try my best to provide a potential buyer ALL of the information that appears to be prudent when dealing with Mr. Rini. They can make up their own minds, of course, if it is worth it to them, but personally knowing what I know now, I would have steered far clear of buying that car last September. |
I just read through this thread....gee, I'm sorry your first corvette purchase was such a mess.
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Rich,
I would not deal with this clown again on anything. This guy knew what he sold you and he also knew what he advertised. Does anyone that has read through this thread think that the 03 Z06 swap for you 02 is a better deal? One of the other ads that you posted he was selling a Z06 with a salvage title. This type of salesman is nothing more than a guy that picks up chicken crap and tries to pass it off as chicken salad. You would be wise to get as far away from him as possible. I would definitely enter negative feedback on his eBay account. I agree getting an attorney may be more trouble than its worth. But I would consider a Small Claims court action that in most states you can file by yourself without an attorney. I would file it near your home so that he would have to travel the same distance to the hearing that you did to pick up his mint vehicle. I bet the jerk wouldn't even show for the hearing which typically would mean that you would get a judgement that would give you the ability to attach a lein against an asset of his, say his home! Or, as I said earlier, you can get as far away from this clown as possible. When I said before that I would send him a sample of one of your products, I re-thought that and I am not sure one sample is enough. 8 or 10 in a small box, might make the SOB die of a heart attack when he opened the box and therefore, you would have saved the rest of the unexpecting customers that this jerk is going to screw in the future. Sorry, but this sort of dishonesty fries my butt, especially when you read his arrogant responses to your inquiries about his ad! |
wrong..i never sell cars with salvage titles. maybe i should sue you for libel and defamation of character.as for rich z, you blame me again for your not knowing anything about z06s, yet the pics of the car you bought clearly show c5 chrome wheels.i took 500.00 off for that and you loved the car when you bought it, then you become a z06 expert and you crucify me?
get a life....and yes i did offer you a more expensive 2003 z06 for your 2002, and you are still complaining? being the expert you now are you could have came and inspected this z06 and made your decision again......grow up......as for the losers who dont know me gfy. btw, yes i am florida licensed and if you mutts keep libeling me expect recourse..i have an attorney itching to bring a few of you peanut gallery punks into court if needed..govern yourselves accordingly....like the sayiong goes i guess....assholes are like opinions everyone has one |
are you guys really reading the facts?
this guy rich z main complaint is wheels and tires.....there were no surprises on my part..he knew these werent the z06 wheels and i gave him 500.00 for tires and he bought the car below pprice which he admits should have been 30,500.....pics clearly show c5 wheels and he knew that....period......as for my offer of a 2003 for your 2002 rich....its off....your not a man deserving of goodwill........keep up your baby games rich z.....ill enjoy my vettes/ferraris/rolls royces and so will 99% of my customers...theres always a miserable sumbich in the crowd no matter what....btw..happy 56th |
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