Replacement Fender Flare Opinion

I had a car slide in to me on ice on the Friday before Christmas. He hit the rear fender flare and took out the TPMS/valve stem. The damage was minor so I cut the guy a break since it was so close to Christmas. I was able to find a new painted flare on eBay to replace the scratched up one. The first one was delivered cracked. The seller was cool and sent me another one and said to keep the cracked one. I got the 2nd one and it was cracked during shipping as well. I’m trying not to be a jerk and make them replace it a 3rd time since I know it was the shipping companies fault but at the same time I paid $200 for a new, unbroken part and have yet to receive it. Based on this pic would you install this or do you think it would just crack more and wind up looking just as bad as the damaged one on there now?

First pic is the current flare and 2nd is the new, cracked one.

 

ugh, no good deed goes unpunished.
I'd like to be Johnny nice guy, but repairs simply cost too much to let folks slide,,, no pun intended.

To actually answer the question: your best bet is find a local salvage yard where you can look at it before you buy and not have to deal with shipping.

 

I would say leave it.

However since you bought the part, that’s why they have insurance, you shouldn’t be stuck with a damaged part because they either chose not to have insurance or are too lazy to file a claim.

 

It is unusual to have 2 parts have the same damage in shipping unless the seller doesn't package things correctly. I would ask to have the shipper insurance pay for the damage but be aware that if the part is not packaged well they will decline. At that point it's up to you if you ask the seller to refund or not. I personally would not put the broken part on my truck but you have to decide what is right.

 

Try JB Weld on the inside of one of them and see how it looks.

 

I would try cleaning up your existing flare and polishing out the damage to see how bad it really is?

 

Man, I tell them it arrived cracked. Maybe they need to package it better or something.

 

They're not really doing you a favor telling you to keep a broken part. Thanks? Now I get to chop it in half and wedge it in my garbage bin!

Have them send a return label for the broken parts and ship a new one....properly.

 

Yep. You all have made me see the light. I didn’t pay for a cracked piece. I’ve asked them for a refund.

 

Sad fact with most shippers is this: Yes, they insure the item damaged, but unless it is considered a TOTAL LOSS, they will cover costs of reasonable repair.
Meaning, the shipping company (depending on their policies) would reimburse you cost of repair but not replacement.
I've been thru this twice and sadly found this exact verbiage in their "damaged goods, warranty and claims" policies

 

What's the cost of a reasonable repair on a $200 part? Are they going to pay for me to take it to a body shop and have them plastic weld it back together? Hopefully eBay will make it right if the seller doesn't. We shall see...

 

I sure don't know. Check your shippers claim policy. I.e fedex, ups, freight etc etc.