What would you do? vintage fender/ebay deal-Misleading?

[smcd]

Originally Posted by topo morto

Does he even have the cash already? I didn't think paypal funds were released until positive feedback was recieved or 21 days, whichever is the sooner.

That's not how it works. Maybe with sellers with a bad history, but for all others, when you receive the money, it's yours.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by Bassbubble11

100% feedback or not doesn't mean anything. If I sell an item for somebody with my eBay account it is MY responsibility. There is plenty of reason to not be nice. This guy took you for over $1700.

100% feedback means a lot, actually. Especially if you have over 500 transactions. It means that you completed over 500 sales on ebay with complete success. That's a lot harder than you think.

But it is the seller's responsibility to describe the item accurately, and take ownership of what he says. In this case, he really stuck his foot in it. It's ok ot start out nice, but given the slightest provocation, start a dispute and let ebay handle it.

[PEERLESS]

I HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A BASS I DIDNT LIKE ONLY TO LOVE IT LATER.. GREAT FANTASY, BUT EVERYTIME YOU LOOK AT IT, YOULL REMEMBER HOW DISAPOINTED YOU WERE WHEN YOU GOT IT.. PAYPAL WONT ASK IF HE SPENT THE MONEY, THEY WILL DEDUCT IT REGARDLESS.THE LONGER YOU WAIT, THE MORE CHANCES OF PROBLEMS.

[DiabolusInMusic]

Originally Posted by Mind Eroded

OP, you took a gamble on a vintage jazz presumably to flip it for profit as your end goal, judging by your history on this site. With those profit margins in your mind, you thought you got a great deal, turns out it was just an OK deal and the buyer's remorse is settling in. The Description might not be 100% accurate but seems alittle nit-picky to me to get hung up on some of the real or perceived 'flaws' on this 40 year old instrument. I don't see any gross or material misrepresentations on behalf of the seller here(assuming pickups are indeed original) which would warrant any refund. That's just me(sorry.)

This is exactly the kind of risks you assume buying vintage guitars sight unseen on ebay, although many here will probably disagree with me.

goodluck with whatever decision you choose to make on this bass.

I realize OP already responded to this, but you have got to be kidding me.

What kind of profit margin do you think he will have on a $1700 70's Fender plus shipping costs when he goes to sell it? That is already on the top end of the scale, that is a collector's price.

Just because some people ask $3000 for them doesn't make them worth it. Just do a little market research.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

What kind of profit margin do you think he will have on a $1700 70's Fender plus shipping costs when he goes to sell it? That is already on the top end of the scale, that is a collector's price.

+1

That is the most I'd pay for this bass if it was in better shape and had more original components. I think perhaps A-Step-Towards actually wanted to keep this one, but only he can confirm or deny that for us. Either way, it's kind of beside the point. It's a scam, intentional or not.

[narud]

Originally Posted by smcd

That's not how it works. Maybe with sellers with a bad history, but for all others, when you receive the money, it's yours.

thankfully they stopped recently, but thats how it was working. they started this thing where if you didnt have 25 positive feedbacks as a seller, you were considered a new seller and a potential risk. didnt matter if you were a member for a decade with nothing but positive feedback.

i found this out last year. at the time, i had around 22 feedbacks as seller. my account has been 100% positive for over 10 years. i sold a few items and was told the funds were going to be held until i received positive feedback. the only money they would release would be for shipping and to get that, i would have had to buy the postage through ebay. i called paypal and ebay and they would not release the funds. i refunded the payments and sent invoices to the buyers and had them pay that way. luckily they werent too annoyed. i guess they received enough complaints though because they recently stopped this practice.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by narud

thankfully they stopped recently, but thats how it was working. they started this thing where if you didnt have 25 positive feedbacks as a seller, you were considered a new seller and a potential risk. didnt matter if you were a member for a decade with nothing but positive feedback.

i found this out last year. at the time, i had around 22 feedbacks as seller. my account has been 100% positive for over 10 years. i sold a few items and was told the funds were going to be held until i received positive feedback. the only money they would release would be for shipping and to get that, i would have had to buy the postage through ebay. i called paypal and ebay and they would not release the funds. i refunded the payments and sent invoices to the buyers and had them pay that way. luckily they werent too annoyed. i guess they received enough complaints though because they recently stopped this practice.

Ah, ok... I was wondering where people got that idea. I'd never experienced it, as I passed 25 transactions yearas ago.

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

+1

That is the most I'd pay for this bass if it was in better shape and had more original components. I think perhaps A-Step-Towards actually wanted to keep this one, but only he can confirm or deny that for us. Either way, it's kind of beside the point. It's a scam, intentional or not.

Yeah believe it or not I do keep some basses I buy

Anyways he messaged me offering me a partial refund of $305 after I said what members here had said. He stated members here had not seen the bass and didnt know how nice it was.

With shipping I would have $1425 into this thing then.I am not sure I want to deal with it. I will have a hard time ever getting rid of this thing and it kinda pisses me off honestly. I feel bad for the seller having to resell it but I dont wanna take a refund and then deal with trying to get rid of the thing and this bass wont be easy to get rid of.

[topo morto]

Well, it sounds like he has already been gracious enough to accept there are problems with it, so telling him you'd prefer him to take it back should be easy...

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

Yeah believe it or not I do keep some basses I buy

Anyways he messaged me offering me a partial refund of $305 after I said what members here had said. He stated members here had not seen the bass and didnt know how nice it was.

With shipping I would have $1425 into this thing then.I am not sure I want to deal with it. I will have a hard time ever getting rid of this thing and it kinda pisses me off honestly. I feel bad for the seller having to resell it but I dont wanna take a refund and then deal with trying to get rid of the thing and this bass wont be easy to get rid of.

That's the main issue. Having purchased from you and seen many of your FS threads here on TB, I know you to be an honest and ethical bass trader. If you went to sell it, you'd have to fully disclose the issues, and I doubt you'd get a good return on your investment. Or you can spend the dough (and probably more than the $305 offered) to restore it.

Or return it with some gentle advice on how to sell it properly next time.

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

That's the main issue. Having purchased from you and seen many of your FS threads here on TB, I know you to be an honest and ethical bass trader. If you went to sell it, you'd have to fully disclose the issues, and I doubt you'd get a good return on your investment. Or you can spend the dough (and probably more than the $305 offered) to restore it.

Or return it with some gentle advice on how to sell it properly next time.

Yeah he keeps trying to work something out but the fact is I need to just return it and he seems in denial about taking a return and wanting some partial refund, there just isnt really any amount of refund I want as its just not the bass I was expecting or wanting.

[heb9_28]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

Yeah he keeps trying to work something out but the fact is I need to just return it and he seems in denial about taking a return and wanting some partial refund, there just isnt really any amount of refund I want as its just not the bass I was expecting or wanting.

I'm kind of confused. You seem pretty set that you want a full refund (as I would). So I'm not sure what's stopping you from simply opening a case with Ebay/Paypal to get your money back. In those situations, what the seller wants to do (give a partial refund, not accept return, etc) is completely irrelevant. If you've decided you want a full refund, the only guaranteed way to get it is to go through Ebay/Paypal.

Unless you're simply wanting to work with the guy rather than file a claim (which is admirable), I don't know what you're waiting for. IMHO the longer you wait the worse this can get.

[rojo412]

Tell him you'll keep it with a 99% refund. That's the only way I'd let him get away with a partial...

[GreaserMatt]

I've bought 3 basses online, & all 3 of 'em were in (way) worse shape than the seller said they were; Caveat Emptor...

[A-Step-Towards]

I talked with him and have opted to keep the bass for the value I see it being worth $1200+shipping. Thus I took a partial refund, meaning I have $1275 into this bass with the original case. The finish is original although hashed and the bass needs a little work, but I think its worth what I paid and is a decent sounding bass, the truss has been adjusted and set up well.

[narud]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

I talked with him and have opted to keep the bass for the value I see it being worth $1200+shipping. Thus I took a partial refund, meaning I have $1275 into this bass with the original case. The finish is original although hashed and the bass needs a little work, but I think its worth what I paid and is a decent sounding bass, the truss has been adjusted and set up well.

glad to hear you got a deal you were satisfied with. my buddy paid 1200 for a 74 with a rosewood board from guitar center. similar deal as your bass-top coat sanded off with the sealer coat left untouched.

[topo morto]

Sounds like a happy ending

Not an expert but guessing that one of the positives is that you can do a better refinish job yourself now and it should do no harm to the value?

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by GreaserMatt

I've bought 3 basses online, & all 3 of 'em were in (way) worse shape than the seller said they were; Caveat Emptor...

...unless you use eBay and pay via PayPal; then it is definitely a case of Caveat Vendor.

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by topo morto

Sounds like a happy ending

Not an expert but guessing that one of the positives is that you can do a better refinish job yourself now and it should do no harm to the value?

Maybe, the finish is still kinda intact but honestly A refin wouldnt probably hurt the value at this point but I dont think it would really increase it.

Overall for $1275 total I am happy with it, especially with a mid 70s fender case in good shape. A good set up and it should be a player. I had some pickguard screws with some nice patina sitting around from a parted out bass so I already put some new screws in the guard and control plate. I will be selling off the bridge and getting a '75 RI bridge as I want something more period correct but am not concerned with something totally legit and original.