A local TB'er ripped me off!!

[mongo2]

I've always heard and read that truss rods are supposed to be relatively easy to turn, and that if it's hard, you shouldn't force it.

That's right, never force it.

 

[FunkHead]

Spoiler: this has no bearing really, but.....

Many years ago I was a high school kid pumping gas after school and on weekends. Over the course of a year doing so you get to know regular customers. One such came in who I knew on a first name basis. I must have served him 30-40 times over the year. After pumping, he said he was short something like 5 or 10 bucks. I naively said no problem, I'll see you in a day or 2, give it to me then. I never saw him again. People are strange and become even stranger with greed.

You are assuming that he purposely beat you out of ten bucks. Maybe he died in a car crash before needing another fill-up. I know I am the exception these days but I always give people the benefit of the doubt. I always have and always will. Just like the seller of the bass. He may have loosened the truss rod 1/2 a turn to remove a little buzz and thought everything was fine.

 

[Ewo]

Got nothing to add, regarding getting a refund.

But if it turns out the bass is gonna stay in your hands (one way or another), you might want to find a _good_ tech and have him/her check it out. Sometimes the truss rod can be pulled out and replaced. Sometimes (StewMac sells a tool for this) fresh threads can be cut on the snapped-off end. Might be salvageable without steaming the fingerboard off.

And +1 to asking Lakland if they can refurb it.

 

[quickfix]

That's how I feel about Reverb....they aren't being terribly cooperative. They make me feel like the one whose doing wrong. They asked for a photo, and after I submitted 3, they insisted that I take the beck to a luthier and get an estimate for repair..

Was this particular buy set up through Reverb?

 

[4string4ever]

You are assuming that he purposely beat you out of ten bucks. Maybe he died in a car crash before needing another fill-up. I know I am the exception these days but I always give people the benefit of the doubt. I always have and always will.

Being a manager, I've made a career out of giving people benefit of doubt. However when no doubt remains, well you're just plain guilty.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

You are assuming that he purposely beat you out of ten bucks. Maybe he died in a car crash before needing another fill-up.

Maybe he knew he was moving out of town the next day, and decided to pull one over on the gas station attendant.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

What's his Reverb name?

 

[4string4ever]

Hang on a minute. Was this particular buy set up through Reverb?

I found the bass here on TB, and then saw it also on Reverb. I'd messaged the seller here on TB before vein aware of it on Reverb, but made the actual purchase through Reverb, my thinking being that it would add a layer of buyer protection.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

What's his Reverb name?

Judas or Bruté is my guess.

 

[4string4ever]

What's his Reverb name?

Bona Fide Music

 

[4string4ever]

Judas or Bruté is my guess.

A few other names I might get banned for saying in public.

 

[4string4ever]

Got nothing to add, regarding getting a refund.

But if it turns out the bass is gonna stay in your hands (one way or another), you might want to find a _good_ tech and have him/her check it out. Sometimes the truss rod can be pulled out and replaced. Sometimes (StewMac sells a tool for this) fresh threads can be cut on the snapped-off end. Might be salvageable without steaming the fingerboard off.

And +1 to asking Lakland if they can refurb it.

I intend on calling Lakland tomorrow, and I also intend to take the neck to Guitar Factory in Orlando. If it can be fixed locally, they'd be the guys to know.

 

[4string4ever]

Bona Fide Music

And on Reverb he has one feedback, member since October.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Spoiler: this has no bearing really, but.....

Many years ago I was a high school kid pumping gas after school and on weekends. Over the course of a year doing so you get to know regular customers. One such came in who I knew on a first name basis. I must have served him 30-40 times over the year. After pumping, he said he was short something like 5 or 10 bucks. I naively said no problem, I'll see you in a day or 2, give it to me then. I never saw him again. People are strange and become even stranger with greed.

But on this site it is different GAS that gets sold.

 

[FunkHead]

Maybe he knew he was moving out of town the next day, and decided to pull one over on the gas station attendant.

Absolutely, but we are dealing with maybe's. I choose to see the good in people until Positive proof is provided otherwise. The Jails are full of innocent people all because of circumstantial evidence.

 

[Sav'nBass]

But I've always been baffled by the belief that someone who creates a free account on TB suddenly becomes inherently more honest than the rest of the planet.

The belief is not that they are more or less honest perse but that their reputation matters to them..

I have bought 9 basses on TB and 3 pedals and some other accessories.. all in all I have done about 60 deals on TB as some of them never received feedback. In all the ones where I was the buyer.. or trader.. there have been two instances where there were questionable circumstances.. One was with a set of strings that were advertised as new.. but were used.. and the other was with a bass that I had to have some fret work done on .. the zero fret was worn on the B string to the point where once I changed the strings I could not play it without a buzz.. and one of the tuners was broken.. Ironically I still have that bass and I have modded it to my total satisfaction... so those issues are moot now.. and even then they were not so bad that I felt ripped off.. Certainly not like this issue. That is too bad.. I hate hearing this kind of stuff.

 

[4string4ever]

Absolutely, but we are dealing with maybe's. I choose to see the good in people until Positive proof is provided otherwise. The Jails are full of innocent people all because of circumstantial evidence.

Well said NYCB.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I choose to see the good in people until Positive proof is provided otherwise.

I would rather lock them up in a safe place, while it's determined if they're innocent.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Everyone be mindful

 

[beaglesandbass]

I don't know, but I can't find his classified ad and my conversations with him now only have my side of the conversation visible. Can't find him by searching his name either.

Sounds to me like he's ignoring you rather than you ignoring him.

You gotta have supporting membership to post an add. TB will have more info on the guy.

Yes, but as a former mod of the classifieds, I can say with certainty that TB transactions are 100% at the user's own risk. I believe it still says that in the Classifieds FAQ as well. It sucks this happened to you, but I wouldn't expect the site to be able to help you if PayPal can't. Paul and company can't give out a user's private info to you or any member of the general public.

From the FAQ

Q: Does TalkBass provide any form of buyer/seller protection in the event of a problem?

A: '''Transactions between TalkBass members are done at their own risk.''' TalkBass administrators and moderators do not guarantee that the transactions members choose to engage in are safe and that the descriptions provided by sellers are accurate. Members who choose to buy/sell gear through the TalkBass Classifieds understand that TalkBass, its administrators and moderators are not liable for any loss that may occur due to the use of the Classifieds Forum. But if loss does occur, make sure you leave the other user negative feedback, to help out the TB membership when dealing with this user in the future.
When paypal gift payments are used, we will not get involved at all, since you have given up your legal recourse to reimbursement by doing so.