Am I the jerk here? Reverb return

[DOMIT]

OP sent their offer before asking about the weight. Pretty sure Reverb states that sending an offer represents an agreement to purchase the instrument as-listed if the offer is accepted.
That's what the OP did incorrectly.

Personally, the only transaction of mine that would get hung up over a 2-pound differential would be if I ordered a quarter-pounder with cheese from McDonald's, but that is neither here nor there.

If I ordered a quarter pounder with cheese and it was two and a quarter pounds I'd be pretty happy...

And I've broken 7 bones in my spine... an 11 pound bass is not a significant burden.

 

[ebo]

Resell it here on TB. Call it the boat anchor that no one could stop talking about and you’ll get top dollar.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I sold a bass online where one of the PUs didn't completely work.... it didn't go in & out of phase or something. I honestly never noticed it. Anyway, it was an issue to the buyer and they wanted to send it back.

I worked with them over the next couple of weeks offering a number of solutions to avoid having it sent back to me. They were eventually able to fix the issue. I paid for the component to fix it (even offered to buy a new PU) and even sent some extra $$ so the buyer could take his electronic/fix-it buddy out to lunch. Everybody was happy, especially me.

I did this because I didn't want to have to resell/reship the instrument. Maybe your seller thinks the same way. Get an idea of what a heavier bass is worth to you (if anything) and make an offer. If they accept it, fine. If they don't, send it back.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Manticore]

OP states the advertisement noted the seller was selling for someone else and the bass was not his. OP bought it before inquiring about the weight. I doubt there are many (if any) outside of music, or outside of TB for that matter, that would think two pounds could possibly make a difference. If weight is a deal-killer it would be incumbent upon OP to inquire as to weight before agreeing to buy it.

 

[LBS-bass]

If this was AITA on reddit, I would go with an ESH (everyone sucks here).

OP, once you made the offer and it was accepted, you committed to buy. There nothing else it was contingent on. If you had questions, you absolutely should have asked before you made the offer.

The seller definitely should have given an accurate weight. 9 pounds feels very different than 11 pounds. I personally would say a 2 pound difference is not “about”. It’s also possible that he didn’t have a scale to give an accurate weight, so it really might have just been a guess. Though at that point he should have said that.

I think you should be entitled to a return, but be required to pay for return shipping.

Exactly. This was a colossal misunderstanding. The OP made an offer before he asked a dealbreaker question. Not a smart move. The seller ballparked the answer to the dealbreaker question, probably assuming that since an offer was made it wasn't really a dealbreaker question. Also a questionable move, though in light of the offer perhaps a little more forgivable.

Nobody here is 100% blameless but the real problem is that people no longer want to accept their own role in a misunderstanding like this because laying blame is more satisfying.

That said, I stand by my suggestion to just be nice about it, because nobody is blameless here. A little forgiveness goes a long way toward smoothing things over when a miscommunication happens. Saying, hey, I messed up too, is a great way to get people to treat you more kindly.

 

[DOMIT]

Yes, but Reverb agreed it was misrepresented, even after the fact.

The buyer is always right. That's Reverb's take on it. I know a guy who sold a bass on there who the buyer returned because it wasn't "Pepsi Blue." (nowhere was that mentioned in the ad, or in any discussion with the buyer.) I'd never sell anything of Reverb.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I'm gonna go against the grain and say you should have asked the weight before you made the offer.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Another vote for you made an offer before you asked. I think its on you.

 

[Egg250]

If you are not satisfied and the weight will prevent you from playing it (2lbs is huge) you are not the jerk. You are a dissatisfied customer. I don't see this as a minor issue, such as an included strap or a busted zipper on a gig bag.

 

[denton57]

9 lbs vs 11 lbs... deal breaker for me.

But... you did make the offer before confirming. You couldn’t have backed out to my knowledge even if they said 11 lbs after your offer was accepted. Sucks, but you should keep it and lesson learned. Sell it and move on.

I recently learned a lesson myself on the seller side. I wouldn’t have done what the other party did, but it is what it is.

 

[DwaynieAD]

What did you use to weigh it? When is the last time you had the scale you used professionally calibrated?

 

[beaglesandbass]

If you are not satisfied and the weight will prevent you from playing it (2lbs is huge) you are not the jerk. You are a dissatisfied customer. I don't see this as a minor issue, such as an included strap or a busted zipper on a gig bag.

Sure, he’s a dissatisfied customer, and he should be allowed to return it per whatever the shop’s policies are. I think he should pay for return shipping as well. I get that he might not have bought it had he known the weight, but he committed to buy before anything about the weight was asked. That’s on him.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I had never given half a hoot about the weight of a bass before coming to this site. Now, admittedly, I agree that it is nice to have a light bass, but a bass I really wanted weighing 2 pounds more than I’d like would never be cause enough for me to return it.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Sorry, this is just inaccurate. When asked, the seller didn't say "I don't know," he said "about 9lbs." 11 pounds is about 16% heavier. Don't exactly need a lab to know that's a big difference. 11lb isn't "about 9lbs" in any world. And 11lbs is super heavy for a bass.

Let's do some kindergarten math

9 rounds to _____

And 11 rounds to ______

There yah go

 

[skycruiser]

Disassemble bass
Cut body in half
Route out 2 pounds of dense 80's wood
Glue halves back together
Reassemble bass
Done

 

[ColdEye]

And yes you're the *-**** regarding this situation.

The seller provided false information. Crazy that you think the seller is the victim here.

 

[coy garcia]

I had never given half a hoot about the weight of a bass before coming to this site. Now, admittedly, I agree that it is nice to have a light bass, but a bass I really wanted weighing 2 pounds more than I’d like would never be cause enough for me to return it.

I agree...I had never heard of it being an issue until I joined TB. When I got one of my basses in 91 and it turned out to be 7 lbs.. I thought cool and it's light also.

 

[truand85]

This is an ongoing matter here but let’s see what TB says


I’ve been looking for a early 80s Fullerton STD P with rosewood board… found one! Placed a lower but still fair offer. Accepted!

my first very first question before payment and checkout (and perhaps out of order here and my one and only error in the process)

“what’s the weight?”

“about 9lbs, very comfortable!”


Great! bass arrives as described except it weighs 11lbs. From the listings I’ve researched, and the other maple necked Fullertons I’ve put my hands on, 9lbs is actually on the heavy side. 11lbs feels like an anomaly, yes body is original.

Reverb agrees this is an issue of not as described.

Here’s where the karma gets tricky. Listing mentions “raising money for a woman who lost her husband last year”

He was the original owner and was a veteran. Bass is in great player-grade shape actually considering (maybe because it’s 11lbs and tended to sit in the case!”)

seller is pissed and thinks it’s “absurd” that I’m wanting to kill a deal “because of 2lbs” and I acknowledged the bad reverb karma on my end.

arguably this bass plays and sounds better than the other 83s I’ve played… and maybe the heavy body has something to do with that. Idk it just isn’t sitting well with me either way.


Am I the ******* here?

is anybody here interested in a boat anchor? Could be showing up in the classifieds later today.

Ultimately you specifically asked about weight and he gave you the wrong one. You're not in the wrong.

 

[Steve Cooke]

Weight question was asked AFTER the deal was struck. Incorrect weight was given AFTER the deal was struck. Buyer and seller both made a mistake that I think cancel each other. Offsetting penalties. No one is being a jerk, just 2 mistakes one probably shouldn't make while conducting a transaction. I say live and learn, don't push for a return or discount based on the weight issue, since you both contributed to the issue.

 

[lermgalieu]

Let's do some kindergarten math

9 rounds to _____

And 11 rounds to ______

There yah go

And we’re rounding why? Maybe you should let it go. 16%. OP didn’t ask what the weight was rounded to the nearest 10. In which case almost all basses would be “10.” Guess they didn’t teach common sense in your kindergarten.

love,
Mom