Should i, or shouldn't I have ...

C.Linton · #1 07-26-2010, 08:06 AM

This is sort of an ethics question, I suppose.
A good number of years ago I bought from a young lady a Hondo Ric copy for about $100, including the HSC. When I got it home and took it out of the case, I found a brand new set of strings in the accessory compartment. Thinking she had thrown them in as a bonus, I put them on the bass. Come to find out later she had left them in the case accidentally and meant to keep them. Apparently she got very angry when she found out I had used them, and even though I offered to give them back, she said no, they were useless now that they had been used. Which I can undertand.
So in your opinion, was I wrong for assuming the strings were a bonus, and maybe I should have asked first before I used the strings, or is it her fault for leaving them in the case ? Or was it just an honest misunderstanding? I've always felt a little bad about it. Should I or shouldn't I have ...?

newwavefrank · #2 07-26-2010, 08:09 AM

I probably would have offered to pay for the strings, not take them off and give them back

Rico_2212 · #3 07-26-2010, 08:10 AM

IMHO it was her fault for leaving them in the case. She should have checked everything BEFORE she sold it. Just my $0.02.

JulienJeff · #4 07-26-2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico_2212

IMHO it was her fault for leaving them in the case. She should have checked everything BEFORE she sold it. Just my $0.02.

+1.
I sold a bass 2 months ago and forgot to take the strap out of the case. When I realized, the day after, I just thought it was my fault and didn't even ask the guy to give it back.

blockinlay · #5 07-26-2010, 08:19 AM

You were not wrong. She made the mistake of leaving them, and that's a common thing to pass along to the new owner of a purchased guitar. If it was a forgotten diamond ring or something of similar value, I can see her getting upset, but for her to cry foul over a set of strings is, in my opinion, not something she should raise a beef over, or you to feel bad about. Just to keep her happy, you might have offered to buy her a set of strings since you had already used them, but that's all in the past now. There's no reason for you to hold onto this guilt. If it will make you feel better, do something charitable.

C.Linton · #6 07-26-2010, 10:42 AM

Well, as I said I only felt a little bad. I do think it was at least just as much her fault as it was mine. Perhaps offering to buy her replacement strings would have been the way to go.
Oh well.
Anyway this was a LONG time ago, it just happened to pop into my mind today for some odd reason, and I thought I would ask my fellow TB'ers opinions.

ggunn · #7 07-26-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Linton

This is sort of an ethics question, I suppose.
A good number of years ago I bought from a young lady a Hondo Ric copy for about $100, including the HSC. When I got it home and took it out of the case, I found a brand new set of strings in the accessory compartment. Thinking she had thrown them in as a bonus, I put them on the bass. Come to find out later she had left them in the case accidentally and meant to keep them. Apparently she got very angry when she found out I had used them, and even though I offered to give them back, she said no, they were useless now that they had been used. Which I can undertand.
So in your opinion, was I wrong for assuming the strings were a bonus, and maybe I should have asked first before I used the strings, or is it her fault for leaving them in the case ? Or was it just an honest misunderstanding? I've always felt a little bad about it. Should I or shouldn't I have ...?

Water long under the bridge at this point, but if it didn't bother her enough to get in touch with you when she realized what had happened and explain that she didn't mean the strings to go with the bass, then she didn't have any excuse to get "very angry" that you had used the strings. I'm sure she's over it now, in any event.

I grant you absolution, my son. Go forth and sin no more.

Gord_oh · #8 07-26-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico_2212

IMHO it was her fault for leaving them in the case. She should have checked everything BEFORE she sold it. Just my $0.02.

yep.

Joey3313 · #9 07-26-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newwavefrank

I probably would have offered to pay for the strings, not take them off and give them back

Yeah, if he actually felt bad, this is what I would imagine one would do.

Realistically, I wouldn't want them back either...If they get used at all, they aren't new anymore.

chrisbass0013 · #10 07-26-2010, 11:29 AM

Although it was her fault i would have picked her up another set

i hate username · #11 07-26-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico_2212

IMHO it was her fault for leaving them in the case. She should have checked everything BEFORE she sold it. Just my $0.02.

Yep, besides it was only a set of strings. How much could they be worth.

Now if it was a pedal or something else more expensive(i have no idea what that could be and still fit in a case) i would have checked with the person but strings, nah.

Jim Campbell · #12 07-26-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Linton

This is sort of an ethics question, I suppose.
A good number of years ago I bought from a young lady a Hondo Ric copy for about $100, including the HSC. When I got it home and took it out of the case, I found a brand new set of strings in the accessory compartment. Thinking she had thrown them in as a bonus, I put them on the bass. Come to find out later she had left them in the case accidentally and meant to keep them. Apparently she got very angry when she found out I had used them, and even though I offered to give them back, she said no, they were useless now that they had been used. Which I can undertand.
So in your opinion, was I wrong for assuming the strings were a bonus, and maybe I should have asked first before I used the strings, or is it her fault for leaving them in the case ? Or was it just an honest misunderstanding? I've always felt a little bad about it. Should I or shouldn't I have ...?

i've found lots of straps,capos,strings,even set lists in with instruments i've bought.....i had always assumed that the seller had tossed/left them in on purpose.....

bassbully · #13 07-26-2010, 12:44 PM

I wouldnt feel bad at all... her loss. She needed to check the case and have taken them out. I would of thought like you they were thrown in as part of the deal. For cripe's sake ....what is she so mad about? It only a set of bass strings...jeezzz!

Stumbo · #14 07-27-2010, 05:58 PM

If you bought a car and there were a couple of extra fuses in the glove box and you installed them because a couple of the ones in the fuse box looked old/oxidized, if the seller called you about the extra fuses and wanting them back, would you return them?

Hey, if the car broke down on the way home, would the seller give you your money back?