Is my bass in danger? - Page 2

drurb · #21 12-15-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CQBASS

I am plenty upset, especially because I really like the bass. Here's a couple pics of the seam (#2). It appears that when the seam pooped the varnish took some wood with it. That and the fact the I live WAY out in the middle of nowhere and all these things add up to a huge and unfortunate hassle have got me pretty cranky. I'm going to call ideal today and begin the process.

Gosh, I really feel for you-- truly. Please let us know how you make out.

CQBASS · #22 12-15-2005, 12:54 PM

I've been in contact with Steve through email today and we're working on it. Between the seams and the bulge and the fingerboard issue, that being that it's either shrunk or was put on wrong leaving a gap up to 5th position I'm pretty aggravated with the bass. It's a drag because it's sounding pretty good at this point and I'm getting comfortable with it. Steve has offered to send me a fingerboard blank and put in $250 towards repairs. I have a feeling that repairs will be far beyond that, but I'll have to wait and see after I get it over to Bob Beerman. I told Steve that if the repairs are going to be alot or if the bass is structurally unsound then we're going to have to take more drastic measures. He has been really good in getting back to me about all this and hopefully we can come to an agreement. I could have done without the initial suggestion that I bring to bass to NY for them to fix it, being that that's the guy who sent it out like htis in the first place, and that I'm in NC, but whatever. We'll see what happens.

CQBASS · #23 12-17-2005, 09:38 AM

Update: Steve at ideal has also offered to refund my money (- shipping) if upon bringing the bass to Bob Beerman I find it isn't worth it. I don't think I should have to pay for shipping, but I'm going to wait and see after Bob looks at it. Basically I'm saying that Steve has been really good about working with me on this (- shipping). I'm going to try to get it fixed first because I really like the bass and I don't want to deal with shipping it, but of course if it needs alot of work it's going back to NY and staying there.

greene · #24 12-19-2005, 09:53 AM

Since this transaction is being discussed openly on this forum now, I think its only fair to mention what I sold this bass for in the first place. I have already sent the new ebony fingerboard which as everyone knows is a $200 item more or less, and I've agreed to make a contribution of $250 towards a repair. After all of that, it would mean ..... this bass was sold for $400 - which I think most anyone would agree is quite a price for a 30 year old Wilfer ply ... in fact its so good that if you'd like to send it back right now without even bothering to take it to Bob ... we can call it even.

CQBASS · #25 12-19-2005, 10:08 AM

Steve, I don't quite understand your math being that I bought the bass for $1500, but that's OK. I don't want this to be any kind of bad blood at all. We're in the midst of a plan for all this to work out so let's see. I've said only positive things in this thread about our interactions and only posted here because of a legitimate concern for my bass and my options. No worries, eh?

greene · #26 12-19-2005, 10:28 AM

But Chris you didn't buy it for $1500 - I quoted you $950 by mistake and told you that since I quoted you that price, I wouldn't change it and I didn't. Now you have a new fingerboard which would cost you $200 and my committment for another $250 and that would mean you will have paid $400 for this bass.

I will gladly ... gladly refund all of your money if you'd like. You see, I'm not in the bass business to be in the bass business. I'm in it to liquidate the large double bass inventory that my late father left me with so getting a bass back is not really part of my agenda and selling the Wilfer for $950 should indicate that.

I don't want any bad blood either and thats why I don't usually conduct my business on this forum however once that's being done I have no choice but to participate to insure that I don't get mischaracterized and readers don't come away thinking something happened here that didn't.

Bottom line is that I will happily refund all your money - just send me the bass and the fingerboard when you get it tomorrow - but check your records ... you only paid $950 for this 30 year old E Wilfer 5/8 laminate.

CQBASS · #27 12-19-2005, 10:37 AM

Steve, please check you records. You quoted me $1500 and then said the bass should have been $2200 like the other Wilfers. I'm looking at the receipt in front of me. $1500 plus shipping. However this is neither here nor there. I like the bass, I want to make it work. It's all good. Chris

greene · #28 12-19-2005, 10:42 AM

I'll check my records nevertheless the offer still stands ... I'll gladly refund all your money - just wait until the new FB arrives tomorrow and pack the bass up and ship it back to me ...

Aleph5 · #29 12-19-2005, 10:57 AM

950-200-250=400? Huh?

Even $500 for this type of bass that needs a few hundred more put into it would still be a good deal, of course. As for the shipping, it's a fact that has to be dealt with. I think in these type scenarios an even split is fair. Even from $1500, maybe it will be a good bass fixed for under $2500 total, but it's not what the buyer bargained for.

Hope all is resolved amicably.

drurb · #30 12-19-2005, 01:19 PM

Well, Steve is agreeing to refund all of the money. I'm not sure one can ask for more than that. Perhaps, he'd work out a split on the shipping.

I do find the math funny, though. Say the bass was purchased for $950. That's $950 for an intact bass. If something is wrong and the dealer responsibly kicks in for the repairs (as Steve has), how does that reduce the effective price to the buyer? If I buy a brand new car for $20,000 and it needs a new $2,000 transmission right away that the dealer supplies, I don't figure I got the car for $18,000.

The shipping issue aside, it still seems like Steve is standing by his product and is willing to take good care of his customer.