NOS? Wheel Center Caps on ebay

[jeepdan]

My wife and I are just getting serious about restoring our 1991 Grand Wagoneer that we have owned since 1992.
Kicking myself for not buying a NOS set of wheel center caps YEARS ago from Team Wagoner.

Anyhow, I just received a set from a vendor on ebay, and I'm very disappointed.
They were advertised as "OEM New Old Stock, not Refurbished" , but they have been terribly buffed and look rechromed.
Two have some unacceptable sharp defects in the chrome and all four have minor bubbling under the chrome in a few small areas.
Seller hasn't replied and I may have to start a case against him.
So, the is too good to be true that the numerous sets selling on ebay are real NOS?

[Full Size Jeeper]

Wagon Master has NOS center caps on their sight for $640.00. They look really nice.

[rang-a-stang]

That's a total bummer. Sad to hear it. Hopefully ebay/paypal help you out with this. I have seen some nice used ones sell in the classifieds here but do not recall seeing NOS.

[jeepdan]

Thanks guys.
Yes, I have talked to Wagon Master.

Hopefully I can get my money back to buy a set from him.

[KaiserMan]

Stock Jeep chrome wasn't great. I've had a lot of defects in some of the NOS chrome parts I've had. Possibly what your seeing? I've never seen buffing marks on any of my NOS chrome though...

[jeepdan]

The chrome is wavy, and has a "very thick" look to it as if it was applied with a brush.
Between the ribs, there is a funky cross grooving from the sanding/buffing operation. And it's slightly depressed in those areas, like they were removing defects (pitting?)



Chrome has several pieces of "sharp feeling" slag/ dirt in it. I'm sure that it will start corroding there first



Another cap, same defects


Thick, wavy chrome, slag/dirt specks, looks worse in person.


And, it may not mean anything, but the Mopar boxes had the labels defaced.



So rechromed?, factory seconds?, am I being too critical? My originals don't look that way.

[babywag]

looks like typical poor jeep chrome to me.
not defending seller in any way but jeep had some really bad chrome parts.
if you're searching for perfect unlikely you'll be happy with even nos stuff

[jeepdan]

looks like typical poor jeep chrome to me.
not defending seller in any way but jeep had some really bad chrome parts.
if you're searching for perfect unlikely you'll be happy with even nos stuff

Maybe, I don't know.
The Mopar NOS Hood ornament, Tailgate switch/lock housing, and Tailgate license plate light housing that I have recently found and bought, are all top grade looking stuff. Nothing like the finish on these center caps.

And, my 91 GW original chrome trim was pretty nice from the factory.
I should know, I spent many hours cleaning and polishing it during the first decade of ownership.

I appreciate the input regardless.
Thanks, Dan

[jeepdan]

To add a conclusion to this thread.
The seller hand picked out two really nice center caps to exchange for the two bad ones that had numerous pieces sharp slag in the chrome.
He even supplied a return shipping label for the defective ones.
So I'm giving him positive feedback on ebay.
After reflecting on the whole deal, I have concluded that they aren't rechromed (and I apologized for that), but NOS factory seconds or returns.
With the growing scarcity of NOS Wagoneer parts, I guess that we can't be too choosy at times