I had bought plane tickets to get a type r in CT.. and got screwed. Heres what happened.

4/27/05: I saw a listing on IRTCA.com http://www.itrca.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5380; I made a post asking if the car was for sale still.

I recieved an email from Sherman Chao reguarding the car at 11:39 which stated some minor information about the car.

"

Dan:

I see on Honda-Tech.com that you are looking to buy a low mileage, stock ITR. Mine has about 12k miles, fully stock (except for aftermarket pedals) and in mint condition. Located in Connecticut, near NY City. Asking $20k, and comes with 2nd set of (lightweight Mazda) wheels, set of winter tires and set of Azenis to go with stock wheels and original tires. Autox'd a couple times and had planned to do more, but never got around to it, and looking to possibly move to another car. Go to http://www.itrca.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5380

Sherman

"

Before I actually read this though Sherman had already called me to talk about the car and my price etc. Our conversation was short and to the point. I told him I was looking to spend 19k no more etc. He said thats fine I will keep you in mind and let you know if anything happens.

Later that day I sent and email asking for some more info reguarding how much the car had been tracked etc.

4/28/05: I talked to my dad about the car and he said he was willing to loan me a little bit of money. (I don't have the money to spend over 19000) I made sherman and offer of 19500 and to come pick the car up on 5/7/05.

Same day Sherman wrote back. "I'll take $19.5k, but will keep the Madza wheels, 2 sets of tires.

I will be driving at Watkins Glen with my sports racer the weekend of May 7th, but suppose my wife/son could complete the sale if you need the car that weekend.

last thing you should know is that I will be taking a look at the M3 LTW this weekend (in Miami) and deciding on whether to buy it or not. If I don't like the LTW, then I am keeping the ITR; if I like the LTW, then it depends on how much I can selll the ITR for, and $20k is minimum. I have already negotiated a price for the LTW, but feel it is worth only $xx more than my ITR. Wife is already annoyed I am considering the LTW when I waited 5 years to get the right ITR!

"

I agreed to terms to buy the car without the rims for 19500 if he got the BMW.

5/2/05: Talked to sherman about the car on the phone. He said he wasn't really interested in the BMW but he was going to have to talk to the owner of the car first (who was unavailable until that evening) I said ok but let me know asap.

5/3/05: Sherman called me in the morning roughly. He said he was not going to buy the M3 but was still inclined to sell the type r. Then he said, "well yes I will sell you the type R. Congraulations" I said great, so can I come get it this weekend. He was like well I guess I could talk to my wife (Since he was going to be out of town) to make the exchange and the paper work. But he asked me if I would be willing to wait till next weekend since its mothersday Etc. I said that should work but my dad is coming with me so he will have to look at his sched or change it. At the end of the conversation we aggred to trade the car on 5/14/05 around early afternoon (Becuase me and my dad decided that it will be eaiser to fly) Sherman knew this and said on the phone I can even come and pick you up at the air port. I said great we were going to rent a car and drive to where ever we needed to go. At the end I said I will get my tickets and let you know the times when we are flying in etc, he said ok.

5/4/05: I make reservations to fly into hartford, CT (The state sherman lives in) Tickets were oneway and 217 a piece. I would arrive at hartford at 1:20 pm.

5/5/2005 9:06 am: Sherman sends me an email:

"
Dan:

For planning purposes, there are four airports you can fly into: the
best/closest airports to me are White Plains, NY (small regional, so easy to get into/out of, but cost of flights may be much higher), LaGuardia, NY, JFK, and Newark, NJ.

I am leaving this afternoon and will not have internet access until late
Sunday evening. I am then traveling to Europe next week, returning Thursday evening, but will have internet access in evenings.

Let me know when you plan to arrive (the earlier the better on Saturday for both of us), and what you have decided about the extra wheels/tires.

Thanks.

Sherman Chao
"

If you read this you see that hartford isn't listed in the airports he listed but our tickets had a connecting flight in newark. One of the airports listed so this was ok and I would get in eariler about 11:05 am.

I wrote him this:

"

Sherman,

Flight,

Ive already ordered my tickets, but I set them up to fly in to
Hartford, CT. But since this airport isn't on your the list I'm
assuming its not close. These tickets are not non stop so the
connecting flight is in Newark, NJ. So it sounds like the best bet is
just not get on the connecting flight from Newark to Hartford. Im
supposed to arrive at Newark @ 11:10 Terminal C. My dad will be coming with me so let me verify everything with him but this should work.


Wheels & Tires,

I'm not sure if I can do the wheels and tires. I'm already pinched for
money. I could do like 200 bucks for the stuff so 19,700. But its
your call depends if your trying to make money or get rid of them.

Thanks
-Dan

"

5/5/05 6:30 pm: Sherman calls and says this:

"I don't think im going to sell the type r. Im not going to get the M3.(Which I obviosuly already knew from the last phone convo) I said Ive already bought plane tickets and everything. He response "Thats not my problem. I was like you sent me airports that I could fly into this morning. Then he said well I have the right to not sell the car. I was like yeah I know. I lost connection. I called my dad and then sherman called back so I 3-wayed the convo. Pretty much my dad talked to sherman. My dad pretty much said so your word means nothing, and sherman said "how can you say that", blah, blah.

He hung up and I talked to my dad. The tickets are not refundable but you can transfer them to a different location for credit. To transfer them cost 130 dollars per ticket. So I have 70 dollars to spend to fly somehwere else. And its only can be used one way and it has to be me and my dad since our names are on the tickets. So these tickets are pretty much worthless. And the time my dad had to scheduale stuff around since he was On-call that week at the hospital. (Hes a doctor).

5/6/05. I checked my email this morning and saw sherman had sent an email prior to the phone convo.

He wrote this:

Not trying to make money, just trying to be fair. I don't like to be nickel and dimed. Don't think I can pick you and your dad up at the airport at this time ... in fact I really don't want to. Not in a great mood right now and I since you want to continue negotiating, I reserve my right to cancel my sale and keep my car. I really don't need to sell and have reasons to keep it. Leaving now for Watkins Glen so will be out of touch until Sunday night. If you need to reach me my cell is 646-334-8855.

Sherman

"

I wrote him a message back (I was very pissed at the time) But I said how I obviosuly was negoatiing for the car but for the wheels and tires that the car was already set at 19500.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Im not looking for sympathy or anything. It sucks I lost 400 bucks but thats life and I understand that. But I dont want other people to get screwed by this guy. So beware of this guy. He is an HT member as well: sherchao


Thanks for listening (Sorry for any typos)
-Dan

 

Damn...sorry to hear dood! I had intentions of contacting this individual, but saw you were already making negotiations....best of luck finding your caR

 

The ITR is always surrounded by so much drama...

Sorry for your experience.

 

**** this guy I hope you have an address or something. Maybe you could send over a few northern R owners to pay him a vist. Shitty situation anyway you look at it though. Good luck finding another one.

 

pretty shitty move on his part. but it is his right not to sell it. he should have just decided that before you guys planned to actually go pick it up.

 

Was there ever a pending bill of sale made or anything?

 

sucks take him to small claims. make his life as hard as he did for you... talk to the small claims court and see what your options are. it can be done , you just have to go through with it. which most do not.


and he does have a right not to sell to you at anytime. but the important point is showing the court you had an agreement (email) that you were buying tickets and you were coming on the agreed date...>>> hence he can still legally back out of the sale, but he will be responsible for the money you spent in getting the tickets.

 

No it was all word of mouth. I know that I can't do anything since nothing was official. I never asked him to refund me money or anything. I just wish he would have made his mind up truely before saying its yours.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jon D &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn...sorry to hear dood! I had intentions of contacting this individual, but saw you were already making negotiations....best of luck finding your caR </TD></TR></TABLE>

I need a car asap. I think im just going to get an s2k.

-Dan

 

That's a crock of **** -- what an ***. He should have at least offered to reimburse you 1/2 the airfare for backing out so last minute.

Send him a nice care package of week-old sushi.

 

It's amazing that i actually wasted a few minutes reading your post. You must be a noobie.


Modified by HypnoticR at 1:51 PM 5/7/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by citrus3000psi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No it was all word of mouth. I know that I can't do anything since nothing was official. I never asked him to refund me money or anything. I just wish he would have made his mind up truely before saying its yours.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea if everthing was verbal your out of luck in court. very hard to prove... i would suggest next time everything should be in writing and all possible pitfalls should be broad up first and for most...

"if for some reason the car is damaged, or stolen, or you change your mind after i purchase my plane ticket we need to agree that you will repay me for the cost of the plane tickets"

very easily done, and most if not all plane tickets can be bought easily and within minutes so having someone agree when you will buy them is not really hard.

just remember always to get it in writing and bring up any problems you can see happening... it protects you

 

what a bitch, and it's not your problem that you bought tickets to purchase his car... thats bullshit. That guy seems like a pos reguadless of what he says. If he had doubts of not selling the car he should have let you know before you purchased the tickets. I would be soo pissed right now that I would use that money to fly and visit his *** anyway.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HypnoticR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's amazing that i actually wasted a few minutes reading your post. You should've had him mail you a contract in which he signed his name stating he is willing to sell the car to you (You full name) with a copy of his driver's license, before ordering your tickets.</TD></TR></TABLE>

and no need to have any paperwork signed to make a legal binding contract... a contract is an agreement between two parties with an end result. witnesses help aswell.

verbal, email, notepad, on tissue paper etc..... it doesnt even have to be notarised...

in the end the judge will decide the intent of both parties.

 

All I can say is the seller is a ******* *******. *HE* was the one who nickled and dimed over couple hundred bucks over a $19K item.

Come to IL and buy my car. 98 CW with 39K miles. I'll sell it to you for $17.5K.

 

I'd fly out there anyway, and tell him face to face how I really feel...

Seriously, though, that's too bad. People like that really irks me. I'm a true believer in Karma and he will get what he deserves.

Also, there are other prestine ITR's for sale. Get a transfer and fly out to one of the other ITR's that are for sale--join the R family, screw the ap1's. Do you concur?

*edit - take Wai's car. CW's are where it's at, anyway


Modified by P Nut at 2:13 PM 5/6/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Come to IL and buy my car. 98 CW with 39K miles. I'll sell it to you for $17.5K.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Details?


Im looking for one completely stock and in mint condition.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by citrus3000psi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Details?


Im looking for one completely stock and in mint condition.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If I remember correctly that's exactly what Wai has for sale

Sucks about your bad buying experience, don't give up though the right car will come along

 

$20 K was way too much money anyway.

 

Yeah I was about to say, ITR's are all over the place down here in South FL.

2001 Yellow, 50k miles, $17,950

1998 White, 43k miles, $20,000

2000 Yellow, 87k miles, $19,500

2001 Yellow, 49k miles, $19,000

Be it these prices are high, but they are also the asking price and I'm sure you can hagle it down. Just rent a sun fire for a week or two and keep looking. Or borrow a car. I drove my moms 85 Dodge convertion van for 4 months while I tracked down a Type R. I had to fly out to PA to pick it up. I even bought 2 tickets but nobody wanted to go with me

Worth the wait and the hassle.... Totaly

 

Wow I can't believe that!! I live in Southern CT and I can't say I have seen this ITR or know the owner. I wonder what town he lives in?

Damn I would even have picked you up and taken you to look at the ITR and not expected a dime.

It sounds like this guy really didn't want to sell the car. Shoot I'll sell you my 2000 ITR with 34,000 miles for $18,500 and the whole motor only has 8,000 miles.

 

looks like your boy SHerman is back at it... browsed a Thread... car is f/s again...
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1234785

make a long story short this is what he had to say... this was what he had to say... something just didnt add up... but o wells...

« Re: New to Honda-Tech, Want to buy a ITR (JerseyMike) « » 10:19 PM 5/4/2005 Reply Edit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When do you return? How much do you want to spend? My son is........

 

According to your story, yeah, he's an a$$hole. He screwed you over by being an indecisive *****. (But, what's his story??)

If everything happened like you said it did, do not ever deal with him, even if he offers the car for less. Obviously, to this guy, his "words" mean nothing.

My word of advice: '98 CW is only good for collecting dust. Get a '01 with lower mileage and drive the heck out of it. CW is nice, but it's overrated. (and, this is coming from someone who had a mint '98 CW & '01 NBP).

Oh, get an S2K. RWD &gt; FWD.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">pretty shitty move on his part. but it is his right not to sell it. he should have just decided that before you guys planned to actually go pick it up. </TD></TR></TABLE>

wtf? he had a verbal contract and renegged on it AFTER the plans and monies were spent to pick it up.

IMO he should pick up the expenses.

Please, feel free to post Sherman Chaos information for all of us to see. It'd be a "pretty shitty move" on your part, but it is your right to post information about a scammer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HypnoticR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's amazing that i actually wasted a few minutes reading your post. You should've had him mail you a contract in which he signed his name stating he is willing to sell the car to you (You full name) with a copy of his driver's license, before ordering your tickets.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if you sold a car, would YOU send a contract with your drivers license to someone buying YOUR car?

GTFO newbie