I contracted (verbally) to buy a 1970 XKE Roadster for $27,000 from Peter Greatbatch, in LA, who was selling his car which he had almost finished restoring.
I live in Miami, so I hired XKE "Jaguar Guru" Don Westerdale from Santa Paula, CA., to inspect the car for me.
That evening, after the inspection, I got a call from the seller telling me that he had sold the car to someone else.
The next day, Don Westerdale, sent me an email that he was returning my check, which I found strange, as he had supposedly done the inspection for me and earned his fee.
I later had a friend in LA contact Don Westerdale and learned that he had purchased the car himself, finished the work on the car in about a week, and resold it for $40,000.
What a pair of creeps.

Submitted by david42581@yahoo.com on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 20:50

Hello, I am in Jupiter and also had a bad experience with Mike Cummins of Jaguar Central (Ontario, CA). In my case I had the car inspected, Cummins agrees and signs a list of repairs to be made before the delivery. When I get the car 75% of repairs not done, and car is not even running. Long distance transactions are hard. If I had to do it again, would have held some money back, but I had trust, not anymore. Like you said, to sue this guy would be more than its worth. Will you be at the Delray Concouse 11/01, I will have my car there, maybe we will meet.

David

Submitted by michael@kan.com on Thu, 08/21/2008 - 13:43

Yale,

The best you can dowithout losing tons of money suing this bastard is doing what you are doing now, let the rest of us know what a crook he is.
Sorry for your loss, but you are doing a worthy job letting us know about the crooks in the business / hobby.

Submitted by moskco@aol.com on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 18:45

Patrick

The Seller was Peter Greatbatch, heavy British accent, and has owned and restored Jags before. Found out he also did some restoration work for my inspector. He did a beautiful job on this one, but was getting a divorce and needed to sell. IÔÇÖd be interested to know who bought the car from Don Westerdale.

Submitted by moskco@aol.com on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 18:45

Patrick

The Seller was Peter Greatbatch, heavy British accent, and has owned and restored Jags before. Found out he also did some restoration work for my inspector. He did a beautiful job on this one, but was getting a divorce and needed to sell. IÔÇÖd be interested to know who bought the car from Don Westerdale.

Submitted by moskco@aol.com on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 16:49

I'm in Miami and he is in LA. If it were here IÔÇÖd have already filed a lawsuit against him. Since I only had a verbal contract with the Seller, it would be hard to go after him for breach of contract, but as far as the inspector, he had a fiduciary obligation to me to inspect the car and he is also guilty of interfering with a contract, which does not have to be in writing. I still haven't given up on this and may still go after him. I would also go after the seller as he can also be held liable as a co-conspirator. You know the old saying ÔÇ£What Goes Around, Comes AroundÔÇØ. To me reputation is more important than a few bucks.

Yale

Submitted by NE08-35179J-J on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 16:25

Yowza Yale,
Could be wrong but, doesn't the fact that you hired this gentleman to inspect the car give you the first right of refusal over the "inspector"?
The contract written or otherwise was for him to inspect the car for your purchase. Purchasing the car for himself is at odds with the original agreement. Returning the money after the fact doesn't change the fact that he did not perform and that he did use his position to enrich himself at your expense.
Hate lawyers but sometimes it worth using one.
Yours, Bob Lovell

Submitted by NE08-35179J-J on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 16:24

Yowza Yale,
Could be wrong but, doesn't the fact that you hired this gentleman to inspect the car give you the first right of refusal over the "inspector"?
The contract written or otherwise was for him to inspect the car for your purchase. Purchasing the car for himself is at odds with the original agreement. Returning the money after the fact doesn't change the fact that he did not perform and that he did use his position to enrich himself at your expense.
Hate lawyers but sometimes it worth using one.
Yours, Bob Lovell

Submitted by SC38-21185J on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 10:50

I have purchased parts from Don Westerdale in the past, but will now scratch him off my list...and I'll do my best to keep others in the Texas clubs from buying from him.
I agree with you...what a creep.

Hard lesson to learn though. Trust NO ONE to inspect your car unless you are also there. If the car passes inspection, and you want it, pay the man right then and there. Then, never leave your new property in someone else's garage as things can go missing and there's nothing you can do about it. Immediately have a tilt-back wrecker take it to a storage place until you can have it shipped. Many of the better transport companies (like Intercity) have storage buildngs all over the place and will store your car at no charge untill you have it shipped.

Or if you think you're feeling lucky, you can drive the car back home. I never recommend this option simply because you don't know the car nor how reliable.

Patrick

PS: I hope Don Westerdale reads this.