Bought TRD Pro but got TX Baja Suspension, BUT wait... it gets shadier

So I purchased the TRD Pro suspension PTR13-35150, from eBay seller "partsbrokersllc" for $600 shipped. I know, I know... I probably shouldn't have purchased it from eBay, but I took a chance since all dealerships were OOS


I received my package today and open it up to find its a TX Baja suspension PTR13-35120-AA.
Here's where it gets shady. The TRD logos look like it was cut out with an Xacto knife. The boxes look like the labels were removed, and one of my shocks is missing the Bilstein decal all together. I emailed "partsbrokersllc" (see photos for replies)
I've been messaging with @kc1aei and he is in the same boat as me.

I want to see what are everyone's thoughts and input on this.
Thanks!

 

Contact Bilstein and ask them if they remove the labels on refurbished parts.

 

I don’t see a problem aren’t these pretty much the same shocks??

 

My sisters bf works in qa at the bilstein plant here. ill ask him if he thinks its fishy

 

But why were the trd logos cut off and part numbers removed from the box? Shady as shit

Seller should post here and explain since he's a member

 

Thanks, let us know

 

This: My guess is they are refurbished

 

Either send them back and look for something else, or put them on and use them.
Pick a direction that you’re content with and move on.

 

Where he says "red" in his message to the OP, I think that was supposed to be "TRD". It autocorrected to red.

 

Those are in boxes that are identical to the boxes I got from my dealer set. Mine has the same green circular stickers on the ends of my boxes with hand written numbers on them (inspection dates?). I'm convinced yours aren't "fakes". But there's definitely a back story here...

Maybe bilstein unloaded a bunch of overstock but couldn't sell them as a TRD/Toyota branded product?

Or Toyota unloaded a bunch of overstock but didn't want to be tied to them in any way in the future (warranty issues, etc)?

Or they didn't pass inspection and someone pulled them out of the trash behind the factory to sell on eBay?

 

Tell the guy that the number on the shocks and coils are, in fact, the part number of the Baja Kit, not Pro.

Sometimes eBay auto-populates the manufacturers part numbers, based on other info a seller enters when creating the ad-- and it often gets it wrong if there are similar items/part numbers.

eBay may also allow a seller to select from a drop-down list of product numbers in the system for certain things, assuming you already know the brand, style, etc. Its easy to inadvertently chose the wrong thing if you're not paying attention.

That still doesn't clear up the larger story here.

 

I'd be more pissed that he/they sent you the baja kit and not the PRO kit!.....it's like ordering a TRD Off-Road and getting a TRD Sport and having the dealer say..."hey, they're both TRD's so what's the problem"?!!

 

Aren't they nearly identical? Does the Baja kit not have a locker?

 

The baja kit has a stiffer coil......650# I believe instead of the softer 600# coil on the PRO....

 

Looks like a kid did them, not a reputable manufacturer. The stickers on the shocks are worse.

Looks like? Ummm, those are definitely missing.......shaaaaady AF!!
If he's offering to take them back I would jump on that shit before he changes his mind!

 

Weird, I was just talking about this with my shop when it comes to “white body” shocks (basically cheap shocks).
They are basically the same suspension kit from same factory, but just have different stickers.

Now back to your topic; I honestly don’t see anything wrong aside from false advertisement. Hopefully the guy is not selling defected products he got from somewhere and that’s the reason why it’s it’s missing some stickers/decals (factories sometimes removes their branding when getting rid of it).

 

Lots of companies do that (so as not to cheapen their brand) but this guy didn't advertise them that way. Hard to trust after that.

 

Ya, reason why I don’t buy from eBay.

 

Exactly!