Warning Ebay seller uspartsoutlet is, absolutly selling bogus Optima Prius batteries.

Dang, I bought a brand new battery from uspartsoutlet, ebay. But first, I read the warnings here and others sites, about, potentially, batteries that may have extended their shelf life, and should be recharged before usage. And so, with that thought, I knew what I was getting into.. decent shipping; 5 days delivery and I got mine yesterday.. But look closer. the poles have corrosion on them, and the largest give-away is, there are clamp marks on the poles. Additionally the top is dirty, sides have black and usage scuff marks, yet, indeed it's not very old, manufactured Oct 24 2015.. It's not even 6 months old, and now it's clearly obvious, this is not a new , sitting on the shelf to long battery, @ 6 months and this dirty, it's abused!

When I told them of this, and sent photos too, albeit, I did not site my suspicions, used warranty return, bogus etc. , they offered return shipping and full replacement, claiming it was an error..
No problem right? Except wasting my time, it's the way things go sometimes.

But here's where I got down to the nitty gritty with them.. I excepted their offer and asked that they check the voltage before shipping. I'd told them: I called Optima and they said; 'the current voltage of the Bat I received @ 12.56V meant it's already crystalizing, it's junk'. Optima said it should be a minimum of 13.1V So, I asked them to 'please check the voltage' before replacing..

Their quick response to this was, no.. they 'don't have time or resources to do that and so, now, because they can not conform, they will not replace it..'

'Ship it back, and we'll refund you'. I called their bluff!

the price was good, $145 shipped, less than any other seller so, I put out the effort to convince them to, just show me, as they claimed during this conversation, "We buy these new direct from Optima" just prove that and there's no need to check the voltage..

They refused, continued to claim they would not, could not check the voltage and would not illustrate their claim, "We buy them from Optima new"

8-10 email exchanges through e-bay until I finally cut to the chase and called them direct..

Pretty much went in the same direction, with their manger. He would not cite any information to illustrate "We buy them direct from optima".. nothing.

I even went so far as to advise that without this, there's nothing but, to believe this claim is a lie.. (politely)

He could care less, claimed that I got an used battery because; their "minimum wage workers make mistakes".. Implying: 'what ya want pal, it's cheap, because of this'

Moreover, this seller's "manager" is blaming everybody except themselves. he's actually blaming me now too! Typical denial from liars and cheats, it's everybody's fault but them. . same thing drug addicts say too, [grin]


They will be getting negative feedback, as, I never hesitate to do so at e-bay, it's what helps the community, protects others from cheats..

And as this guy, refused to accept that my drive, as polite as I can be, was simply to get what I paid for, a "New" battery, and if they do have "new" batteries, then, it's the shortest route to my problem with them, just show me the proof, something, anything, (I'm grasping for straws at this point in conversation.) yet, they refuse..

Hence, This is most likely the why and who has been selling junk batteries at eBay.. They're scams, warranty returns they just clean up and sell as new.
Taking used batteries, batteries that have been returned for defects, warranty claims, Batteries that can be faked as, sitting on the shelves to long, cleaning them up and calling them new..

When speaking to Optima today, they claimed that Optima's own web site has not ben updated. their policy has changed, they will not handle defective and warrenty clams, you must go the the retailer, and only if you can not get satisfaction through your retailer, then contact them.. I guarantee you, it's scums like this, that's why policy change, they've been replacing batteries due to this. these typs of sellers, have been costing optima cash by dumping returned items.

I.E. if the seller can not prove it to be brand new, "bought direct from Optima", Optima will not support you.

In this case, I would not have discovered it except, this time, their 'minimum wage workers' failed to clean it up first!

They cut me short because, it became very obvious that, with me, I am going to figure out how poor their replacements are coming out too. rather than replace, cut their losses because, like others who got scammed, they'll be replacing or refunding until they 'accidently, have a minimum wage worker send a battery which Optima will verify it's new too.

It's not that they have good prices because, they're not burdened with brick and mortar expenses, as ebay sellers can sell at discounted prices for this, .. Don't be scammed, don't waste your time too.


I double checked with Optima, and they said, to paraphrase: they're constantly bothered with sales from US scamoutlet, they do not sell batteries to them, no new products, they do not meet Optima's guidelines to become an authorized retailer, no, this scam does not buy from them at all. Not refurbished, not used, not over shelf life, (Incidentally they said a full year old off the shelf should be fine) nothing!

If you get scammed note this, if there are no clamp marks like mine has then it may have been 'refurbished, yet cheaply, , the poles should be gray, not very shiny or silvery, they should not be any scratching from steel wool or pole wire brush cleaners, nothing but nice and clean molded gray poles. maybe a little shine but not silvery, fresh lead exposure. The poles are treaded at factory so, they should not shine too much. it does not take much to clean the plastic to look new, so use extra caution.

It's clearly obvious too, these scam artist leave a signature, they are not even bothering to charge the rejects.

It's without question, absolutely, a warranty return from an owner who abused it. .

Beware, this seller is a cheat. uspartsoutlet,
it's a scam. ;(

 

I don't shop amazon much, if at all 2 purchases in about 10 years member. It has its good, its poor but eBay is where I go for multiple reasons which are off topic to require going into detail as too why. .

yet, I am simply trying to warn of a scam seller, yawl attack this? right who's the problem?

Yeah geez, thanks for friggen warning about that scam seller. thanks a bunch pal. helps me eliminate those who've been here for some time, and belong on the ignore list, You're welcome, ..

Not according to Optima, they claim shelf life a year should be fine. And as I said, they also said 'at 12.56v it's crystalizing'. Who's word is better, the manufacture or anonymous people on internet sites and or scam sellers? I'm going with the manufacture's word.

and this is the garbage "New battery" I received from US Scam outlet. they did put brand new plastic caps on the poles though. ;(

Can you see the clamp marks, grit and corrosion now? look "NEW" to you? I can shoot a larger photo if that's what it takes to spread a warning about a scam seller.

 

Yeah thanks oz, I never even considered that, partial yet, I have a very strict policy at e-bay. it goes like this: I sent you, a complete stranger my hard earned cash based on your advertisement, I expect, I trusted you once. If you can not deliver your promise, I've wasted my time, end of story bye, bye. what's worse is, 1 week time is lost, 1-3 weeks my money is in limbo. up to 5 weeks with poor seller locking my cash up.. I've been held up as well, 6 and 8 weeks, trying to resolve an issue with a few sellers, trying to 'work it out', my effort to make it good.. what a waste! Alternatively, as one mentioned, prob amazon is better, but there's things there I don't like so.I've had 1,000's of transactions at ebay mostly buying but sales too. .. I've been with ebay since they opened their doors, even longer, when it was "the auction web'. I've been through all kinds of creeps, bogus sellers scam artist etc. I made sellers pay to return 1st, on day one.. except, back then ebay was great, sellers were pretty good, these days, the only troubles I get is from these big sellers. feed back means nothing in terms of large sellers because, the greater majority of buyers won't comment, leave negative and so, even though I check feedback pretty good, there's a ton of scam sales like this, and in the case of batteries, ya aint gonna fool me with junk you've otherwise just cleaned off and put new caps on. it's either right or it's not..

And but this seller takes it up one more level.. claimed they buy new direct from optima, and I checked twice, it's a lie. If I wanted an used or reconditioned battery, easy sleazy 50 bucks a pop. If they are lying about who they get their batteries from then, all else they are doing is too. That's stemming from messages through eBay's message system, lies, their sales advertisement, and direct call to US scam outlet too. Optima confirms, US scam outlet does NOT sell new batteries. ;( AND they are NOT advertising factory 2nds, not reconditioned, they say in ad, "NEW", they told me, they're buying brand new fresh batteries, direct from Optima. it's a lie. Here's Optima's number hit 6 to get live person 9-5 central, ask em your self: (888-867-8462)

what ebay started with worked great, feedback helps the whole shopping community. Unfortunately, peps are afraid to use it when it's bad. I support my communities and will not hesitate giving negative, it's helps me too. knock down the losers. Also, these types of sellers are why eBay's fees have gone so high, they're wasting eBay's resources too.

I buy nothing, ever, at any price from liars and cheats.. And likely why I did not even think about a partial. everything they said, basally, was all lies. They'll go down eventually, as their sales catch up with em.. guarantied..

Alternatively, they're making amazon sound better and better. [grin]

 

Agreed, it may be possible US scam outlet, got a pack of liars, not much distance to lie to Optima too. [grin] But note this, they've had plenty calls about them as well, Optima knows who they are and what they're up too. Yet what I gathered from Optima is, as long as US Scam outlet, serves their ebay customers on their own, with the warrantee, it's not too much a big deal for em.. I.E. don't call them, call US scam outlet because you'll get zero service from Optima on any warranty. And I offered evidence for Optima as well. eBay's message system is better evidence than standard e-mailing sites. if not for any other reason but, because, eBay's attorneys need hard evidence of its site's users. So, if and when Optima needs it, now they have it, and all my contact information too. US scam is making fraudulent clams. in due time Optima may need facts too.

In the short term, those fraudulent claims means that If you buy their batteries, you're already set up for troubled battery usage, even IF they serve you, you'll suffer down and wait time for rejected and or used garbage which is not on par to new. .

also I don't get kicks out of scenarios like this, I could live just fine and well, never, ever even knowing where Optima's fricken site is too. to say the least.

and thanks for the kind words, all will end well, I'm just out time and, > gained just one more 'drama' seller to avoid. [grin]

 

Here's a portion of US Scam Outlet's

Ya know, and but, after my experience and before buying, reading all the reports about batteries being sold on the net with presumptions of new but had set on the shelves to long and so partially drained. Everybody recommends that they'll likely need a good full charge before use or you won't get good performance..

Now, with all the lies I got from this large seller, lies confirm by the manufacture themselves..
That's part of this warning,, I am not just a common user, I've had quite a few batteries through my 60 years, bought reconditioned ones in my teens, recharged plenty for lack of funds, it's not my first go around..

Now, I am more inclined to consider and most especially after discussing it with Optima, that many of these so called 'sat on shelves' are just cleaned off, reconditioned, or recharged scams sold as new.. That's an old, old trick, I've seen that one, even as a kid. Now even easier to pull off with these types of batteries.

Heck, if it's just a sticker on the side that dates these, and considering as well, these Prius batteries never see the light of day, they are protected from dirt, grease and most dust, even my current 7 year old Toyota battery looks new today.. With these Optima's, wipe off a little dust, slap a sticker, easy sleazy con anybody can do.

That battery I got was so dirty, scuffed up, grim, heavy clamp marks/impressions and corroded, yet only 6 months old?? that's some serious abuse, or a total and complete scam!

That's what I'm talking about,, and absolutely convinced I just caught one of these scam artist! yes sir.

And taking it up just one more level, Ebay feedback, not unlike the feedback I'm getting here, "It's not the seller it's you!". yeah, feedback right? no value, not at all. Proof is in the pudding.

THIS IS NOT NEW by ANY MEANS! [edit, wait, the danged plastic covers for the poles, yeah, indeed, them is new, brand new!}

CAUGHT, RED-HANDED SCAM!!

In their own words: "We hire minimum wage workers who are prone to mistakes", Yup, the mistake here was, they forgot to friggen clean it before shipping. had they, seriously, I would not have noticed, or paid much attention, inspected so closely, given all the talk on the net.

Positive pole: Note: see that corrosion ring up on the pole, that's not on the side it's setting on the indentation of where the clamp squeezed it in.


Negative pole: Difficult to photograph but, the dark area, lower mid pole is the clamp marking.



Cover, which incidentally, I should have photographed before sending back, this yellow top cover on back and sides , where attached to gray bottom is all uneven, out of balance. You can see just a little of this in my photos, at right but, I could have shot a photo that shows clearly the poor job they did. somebody either attempted to pull the top off or did and did not put it on correctly, tight. even my total, none tech wife pointed it out. And or, worse case scenario, this battery has over heated so much, potentially while reconditioning it, 'Minimum wage worker clause, they'll get HOT when reconditioning if not careful!' it's nearly popped the top off. ;(,

And quite obviously, you have absolutely zero experience with auto batteries otherwise you would have recognized before posting your innuendo that photograph I posted, 1st photograph prior to your personal attack, is a used battery !

This is not the place for your drudgery, gritty personal problems but tech talk, and in this case, a purposeful discovery whether you're buying from this scam artist, US Scam outlet, or another, of what signs to be aware of when buying batteries online that lack the new quality they should. get a life pal..

 

And yet, you're still convinced, even with the 2nd photo, posted below for your refreshment, it's a new battery eh? MAH! HA! HA! HA!,, seriously now man,, what? You're working for these or types of scam artists like this as well?

And yet, aide to my point you say:

I agree to the extent that, yup the odds are very high they'll just clean it off, and dump off on another sucker.

easy sleazy scam to pull of these days, and so, when buying new, there is only one thing to trust, it's either right, factory specifications. Aide to quote this scam seller " We buy new factory fresh direct from Optima", and it's is stated in their eBay sale too; which I confirmed, with Optima, not one but twice, call them up if you need too! is an absolute LIE, no recharging needed or it's not, and greater odds you got scammed, at any price, period!

[in but, just humor} dag even their 'minimum wage workers' get paid to visit sites to continue their scam!

NEW THIS IS? NOT!

 

Yeah that's the thing right, Ebay sellers and who to go too? but nope, it was UPS not USPS but, as if they, USPS have the resources to deal with Ebay or their sellers,, good luck wit dat, been there done that. It's tremendous, and nobody has the resources to get a grip on this. Several years ago, I got completely robbed by a seller at yahoo, for $100.. I got lucky then because She hit the Feds target, way back then of $20,000, and one day out of the blue I got a notification by federal court. Once a year for about 5 years, I got a check for 10 bucks,. I don't know why they stopped but, because the feds were in control, I spect that, it was pure luck, and why it stopped, was way to much to figure out. Except an attorney must have intercepted the feds plan and killed it.

And but these large scams know the tricks, getting caught, how not too, it's part of playing the game, rule book, as it were. I got that, clearly once I spoke to their manager.

If ya want to see some real serious scams that are even out of the hands of the SEC, police, Feds, even broadcast news too. just get a full comprehensive understanding of penny stocks or most any public company as the rules are near the same. . And I mean seriously comprehensive to say, even if you think you know enough,, yeah, dig deeper, as you almost need a doctoral in accounting and rules at the US Securities Exchange Commission to realize it all. it's unbelievable to know of the Billions of dollars a year being robbed, in the OTC, penny stock market. and like this; the basic rule book of how to get away with it, is far,, far, all too simple. It really is! Which, the common consumer is compromised due to the concept that our authorities have a sense of control.

BBB?, yeah that does but hardly nothing.

Ebay does little, not to say they do not put some effort, but, ya gotta understand too, in 99.99% of the cases, their hands are tied by their own attorneys advisement.

I can hand ya auctions of buy it now sales in many different categories, ( recall, I've been with ebay within months of concept or publication on the web, as 'The Auction Web' ) but, especially collectibles where I personally know 100's of online people who've reported certain scam artists to eBay, and they remain, with yet, 100% positive feed back, go figure?

we're in the wild west of internet and it'll be years, before we get control, undoubtedly if we're willing to accept the compromises of what we have today.. I expect but very few like myself are wanting it, but unless something's done,, word of mouth (text) is our best defense.