I bought a short shifter off of ebay that said it was like new then I got it and its all scratched up and the ball part of it has really deep engravements. They gave me my money back for the shifter and told me to just keep it. My guess would be that they didn't put the boot on it when it was installed? Is it still ok to install in my car or is it trash now?

I will get pictures uploaded soon but they aren't very good.

 

it should be fine as long as its not substancially bent or anything

 

when you install it in your car, put some type of grease on the ball, and in the little boot the ball goes into. the person might not have sone that when they installed in in there car.