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Originally Posted by bigsnack  Well, the buyer came by and checked out the bass, and he left with it. This was 16 days ago. I received a PM from him late last night, saying that he wants to return the bass because he is unhappy with it. |
I wouldn't do it. 16 days considering he left with the bass when he came by your place to see it is WAY more time than reasonable.
He could have called you the next day or up to 3 days later since he was local and that might have been fine.
But over half a month? Nope. It's his.
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Originally Posted by bigsnack He is claiming that there is an unacceptable amount of fret wear, as well as that one of the bridge saddles is stripped. I noted specifically in my ad that there was fret wear, in addition to the fact that I thought the bridge had been removed / altered / swapped at some point. I didn't know that the saddle was stripped, and so I have offered to pitch in a little cash so that he can buy a replacement if he chooses. |
Worn frets are pretty straight forward and when you are buying a vintage, 20+ year old bass guitar, wear and tear is expected. And worn frets are one of the MOST common issues I've seen with the NS-2A.
There's a thing called a guitar repair tech that can replace the frets and make that neck like new.
With my 24 year-old NS-2A (which is sitting on a stand between The Black Pearl and The Blue Dream) I decided to get the frets pulled. The fret wear on my bass was so bad it buzzed no matter what you did to adjust for it.
I turned it into an AMAZING Fretless Spector.
As for the bridge. I looked at the original post and that is the stock Spector bridge common on the Kramer/Spector Korean-Factory models (this was not the later Samick model you sold).
And I've got one of those bridges for sale right now. BTW.
What I don't understand is how he thinks one of the bridge saddles is stripped? This doesn't make any since. There are no intonation screws. They're held in place by the two side anchor screws which when tightened press all of the saddles together to hold them in place.
Unless he's talking about one of the saddle height screws. And in the countless NS-2A models I've seen, none have ever had this problem. But if this is the case, the hole can be tapped for a larger screw or if the screw is stripped, it can be replaced.
That's not really a valid complaint to me.
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Originally Posted by bigsnack However, I don't feel like it is my responsibility to accept a return. I can understand being underwhelmed or disappointed with a used purchase (I know that I have been there), but that is exactly WHY I buy used. If I don't like something, I can usually move it for break even or at a small cost, what I like to call a "rental fee". |
I think you should do what you think is right, but this is what buying used gear is about. Sometimes you find a real gem. Sometimes a diamond in the rough. Sometimes you get a lump of coal.
This person has had the bass plenty of time to decide that they didn't want it.
And the issues they claim they have can be addressed and fixed. That's not your responsibility to pay them for or return their money for.
You stated there was fret wear. The bridge issue is just sort of a strange thing and I'd really like more information as to what a "stripped saddle" means.
If you wanted to repair the bass and then sell it. That's one thing. But the guy came to your place. Played it. Paid for it and walked out the door happy... or else why would he have purchased it?
Buyers remorse sets in quickly. Within hours. Not weeks later.
I'd recommend he join this group and learn and take his NS-2A and make it a project bass. When restored these are awesome basses.
And truth be known, I've got over $1200 in my NS-2A now and there's no way I could ever get my money back out of it. But I didn't buy it to flip it. I got it to restore and turn into an amazing sounded and playing bass I could enjoy for the rest of my life.
My bass was made the year I graduated high school, in 1988. So it's a cool thing to have in my collection and it has, over time, become one of my favorite basses I've ever owned.
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Originally Posted by bigsnack I think I have approached this reasonably thus far, but I was hoping to get some feedback from the fine ladies and gents of this group. Although I've been playing for close to 25 years, I've avoided moving gear around due to the possibility of a situation like this. I don't care about being right / wrong, I want to be fair 100%. I appreciate any insight or thoughts, thank you! |
Fair is what your gut tells you. If you want to take that bass back and give him his money back... I think you're being way beyond fair and being a true minch (stand-up business man - my Yiddish slips out more this time of year).
If you say you're not going to refund his money, I also think this is being fair. For he's had a long time to figure out what was what on that bass. And worn frets and a saddle issue... these are things that can be fixed if he really wants to own and play a vintage Spector. The ONE model that I truly feel, ounce for ounce, is the best deal on a used NS-Body Neck-Thru Spector out there.
I would do one or the other. But to give him part of his money back and let him keep the bass would be out of the question. He went into this with open eyes in my opinion. So you can't be at fault if after playing it and inspecting it and taking it home that he comes back over half a month later and says, it's got problems and I want my money back.
Most major retailers and dealers have a 7 day return policy.
Many have a "No Return" return policy on used equipment.
All sales final, what you see is what you get.
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Originally Posted by bigsnack |
