Diesel 2x15...eBay scam??

[FireBug]

I think I might start a thread to see what speakers would be best suited to this cab. I would need to wait til Monday and see what Mesa has to say about the replacements that they have.

If it turns out that the guy won't pay for shipping back to him then it would be worth it to look into replacing the speakers. You guys got any speaker suggestions?

 

[Fealach]

Pretty hard to blow these. My 400+ never did. Could be he still has the speakers. I kept mine and sold the cab with Carvins, but I sold it for dirt and made it clear they were NOT original speakers. Hard to get those speakers now without buying a cab too.

 

[rllefebv]

Here's something to think about before posting the negative feedback and blacklisting the guy... Did the auction explicitly state that you were getting the original speakers? Did you ask? Do you have a link to the original auction?

Ebay is all about 'buyer beware'. It is very important to do your homework and ask questions about the things that are important to you.

Even though there is a picture implying that there are 2 EV's in there, unless the guy explicitly states it, you may have a tough case to prove...

-robert

 

[FireBug]

The sheer fact that these speakers cannot even touch EV as far as quality goes is grounds for investigation. Especially with false representation. If there was no pic things would be different, but the pic clearly shows, in dead center, that there should be EV speakers in there at $260 a piece. If he had said non-original speakers the thing wouldn't have even touched $300.

I still have the link. I don't plan on posting any negative feedback or blacklisting him UNLESS he isn't compliant. Hopefully, if I can find a good replacement set for the cab, he will cough up some dough and I will get what I paid for.

I just can't figure out how he could say it is in excellent condition when it obviously has a phase problem. Who wouldn't notice this??? I hadn't had it plugged in for 20 seconds (10 seconds for my tubes to heat up) before I knew something was obviously wrong.

Ok. Hypothetically, let's say he didn't know (which is very very hard as it is very noticeable) about the phase problem. If someone gets caught with a counterfeit bill, they are the ones responsible for trying to pass a counterfeit bill. He just got caught trying to pass a counterfeit bill.
Either way, the guy is at fault. We'll see how things turn out after I get in touch with Mesa on Monday about a suitable speaker.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Payment stopped by Amex. Since I don't have a credit card I got my dad to do it on his and he was smart enough to pick Amex. As of right now, the thing didn't cost a dime. It's not like I'm going to not pay the guy, but it isn't entirely in our hands anymore...more like it's up in the air. The guy will most likely notice tomorrow when 500-600 bucks is missing in whatever account he is using.

Im having an on going dispute right now aswell, I got an SKB 8-U Shockmount case, the guy said that it was in sound condition, and only had a few scratches, i get it and one latch has been sheared off, and 3 of the other ones arent working, he didnt reply to me at all, till i went through paypal, and they took the money back out of his account

In the dispute he has so far admitted that one of the latches was indeed not there, and i nailed him asking why he didnt point that out, and how if the latches arent there it isnt in sound condition . . . he hasnt replied, it is in ebays hands now

 

[Low Class]

Payment stopped by Amex. Since I don't have a credit card I got my dad to do it on his and he was smart enough to pick Amex. As of right now, the thing didn't cost a dime. It's not like I'm going to not pay the guy, but it isn't entirely in our hands anymore...more like it's up in the air. The guy will most likely notice tomorrow when 500-600 bucks is missing in whatever account he is using.

By that time I will have sent my dad an email including pictures of the speakers inside, the picture he used on his account showing the 2x15 EV sticker, an explanation of "out of phase" and "phase cancellation", along with the standard 9v battery test I used to confirm my suspicions.

I also suspect that the cabinet was not "barely used" as he stated on his auction.

I just found a price on the B-52 15-120s that are being used in my cabinet. It's not surprising: $99. EV speakers run more than twice this. One EV speaker costs MORE than both the B-52s combined. One site tells me that this B-52 speaker has been discontinued. I found the prices here:
Invalid Link Removed

It is beyond me why anyone would do this to a Mesa cab.

Did you pay with a credit card through PayPal? If so, he may not see the transaction reversal for a month.

 

[Fealach]

Hope I'm not derailing the thread, but...


How did you (anyone) get your money returned after buying damaged goods on Ebay through Paypal? I bought an amp this past year that arrived in pieces, I tried Ebay and Paypal's dispute resolution processes and got no help from either. The seller blamed me, as if I was the one who dropped the amp and 3 packing peanuts in a huge box and sent it on its way. I followed the instructions on both websites, etc, and after a while got back emails emails saying (to paraphrase) "Tough luck! HA HA HA!" Is there a magic word you need to know? Secret handshake? Or maybe they roll the dice on every claim, and if it comes up 12 you can proceed? Now I stay local, even though it means I often can't sell stuff, or find what I want.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I dont know yet, my dispute is still on going, ill let you know when i find out tho

If all else fails, im going to the return address that was on the box with a car load of rather large friends and a set of golf clubs

 

[Low Class]

Hope I'm not derailing the thread, but...


How did you (anyone) get your money returned after buying damaged goods on Ebay through Paypal? I bought an amp this past year that arrived in pieces, I tried Ebay and Paypal's dispute resolution processes and got no help from either. The seller blamed me, as if I was the one who dropped the amp and 3 packing peanuts in a huge box and sent it on its way. I followed the instructions on both websites, etc, and after a while got back emails emails saying (to paraphrase) "Tough luck! HA HA HA!" Is there a magic word you need to know? Secret handshake? Or maybe they roll the dice on every claim, and if it comes up 12 you can proceed? Now I stay local, even though it means I often can't sell stuff, or find what I want.

eBay's and PayPal's Buyer/Seller Protection programs are a joke! If you want to protect yourself, always pay through PayPal using a creidt card. If you have a problem you can dispute it with your credit card company which will take the money back from PayPal which in turn will take the money back from the seller.

 

[David Henry]

 

[Plain Old Me]

What wattage were the origional Mesa EVs? I have 2 older EVs in a EV cab that are 200 w a piece but can be reconed for 400 w a piece with a little change in the sound (I assume this would make them identical to the Diesel ones?)

 

[Kael]

Make sure you save not only a link to that page, but also copies of the picture you are referring to, as well as everything on the ebay ad. Cut and paste it if need be. It would truly suck to have all your documentation disappear.

 

[FireBug]

Heres the link. Notice the catch phrase at the top. "In like-new condition"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7351811195&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

 

[Fealach]

Unfortunately, he doesn't actually say anything about the speakers other than that it's an 800 watt cab. He can say he didn't know, and he actually may not have.

 

[FireBug]

Like I said....counterfeit bill. But I just cannot see how he could have had the cabinet and not notice how crappy it sounded with the way it was wired.

 

[8mmOD]

Was this your first ebay purchase? Did you email him and ask him about it before you stopped payment?

You never know, that cab may have been "barely used" by him, but abused by the previous owner who blew the speakers & replaced them with cheapos. He may have just plugged it in, turned it up loud enough to "make your whole house shake" and by simply looking at the cab, concluded that it looks "in like new condition"

I would have asked a lot of questions and not bid based solely on the descrip & pics. he may be a scammer, or he may have sold the cab based on the word of the previous owner.

Regardless, the descip doesnt specifically state "EV speakers". You assumed it had EV's because of the jack plate pic & EV's are the "stock" speakers in that cab. Most people probably would have done the same & the seller may have as well.

But I think that you definately have an argument if the cab doesnt "handle 800 watts at 4 ohms" as stated. Otherwise you are basing your claim on the fact it states "EV" on the jack plate and I am not sure if thats enough to warrant a refund.

Ebay sucks sometimes.


-------------------------------

Hello there. Up for auction is a Mesa Boogie bass cabinet with 2 15 inch speakers. This cabinet has barely been used and you can tell that this is true by looking at it and especially when you hear it. It's in excellent condition with nearly perfect tolex and no dings or dents in it anywhere. The paint has peeled a bit on the handles, but that's not a problem. It doesn't affect the performance in anyway at all and it can always be repainted easily. It has 4 wheels that make moving it much easier than it would be without the wheels.

It handles 800 Watts @ 4 ohms.

You won't be disappointed with this cabinet if a deep low end is what your looking for! This thing can punch it out like nothing else and make your whole house shake! It's a beast!

Don't miss out on this Mesa Boogie!

 

[seakamp]

Sucks a lot but it looks like you just got hosed. I've been burnt on eBay once before myself, just as you have now. You will never be burnt ever again Now you know what questions to ask. A pretty good lesson learned really and it probably didn't cost too much hopefully(at least the cab is partially useful).

 

[LoGruvz]

This guy has excellent feedback on eBay so I don't think he intentionally tried to hose you. He was just listing what was on the spec's. My guess is he never checked it out and just sold it on eBay or else he would have noticed the out of phase OR maybe he did and and just tried to pass it hoping no one would notice. I have been on eBay since it's inception and am a Power Seller - my experience is that you will have a hard time getting your money back. Even tho the credit card stopped payment it is still in limbo as they investigate it. I have been around with AMex before and they will go back and forth between buyer and seller untill eventually they will say they don't have enough evidence and the original deal stands.

Always ask many questions before bidding and ask for detailed pics of the inside of the equipment.

I also noticed you have no feedback so you must be a first time buyer on eBay which won't help your cause.

Good luck!

PS - I am curious - how much was the shipping?

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

First of all, I'm sorry that this happened to you...it really sucks..

Based on the guy's feedback rating (I didn't read the actual feedback), I'd speculate that he didn't get the cabinet new and just passed along what he probably bought cheap from someone who took the speakers out... At least I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happens.

Looking at the auction, I'd guess by looking at them that the speakers weren't EVs...perhaps this is because I knew that they weren't before looking, but to me, they don't look like EVs (the frame edges are too thin and the domes are too large). EVMs have a particular visual presence that my eye picks up on... But, I'm old and anal and have been studying these things for years...

I'd like to offer some unsolicited suggestions on where to go with this...

1. Looking at the B52 link that was posted, the cast frame speaker below the ones you have look like a cast frame Eminence...perhaps the stamped steel frame speakers you have are Eminence too. Is there a small silver label either on the side of the magnet or stuck to the inside of the frame that has a larger number starting with 15 followed by some numbers and a smaller sized number starting with 67-then four numbers? If so, it's an Eminence and you can get the Thiele-Small parameters for it by writing to [email protected] and giving then the Spec No. (the one that starts with 15). That will help you/us determine if the speakers are a good enough match for the enclosure.

2. If the seller is cool about the whole thing, ask for a partial refund of the $400+ that you spent on the cabinet. Assuming that he didn't purposely swap out the speakers himself, he may have bought the cabinet as-is and shouldn't have to give it away...the Mesa cabinet itself has significant value (both to you and future owners).

3. I know that you wanted an EV loaded Mesa cabinet, paid for one and that's what you should have. But how does it sound with the properly wired B52s? Would you be happy with it for now if you got it for a lot less than $400? Try to keep an open mind on this one...it may sound pretty good how it is and there might be a price that you and the seller can agree on that may help you both put this behind you...

How ever you approach it, be sure to be calm, polite and stick to the facts. As one who has received gear that is substantially less than described and one who has sold equipment that was damaged in transit, I've learned that the resolution goes much easier if the tone is kept polite, respectful, factual etc (as long as the other party is responding in kind of course...).

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

I just looked at the seller's feedback... They seem to do little selling and mostly buying. I saw a purchase of one bass cabinet and some auctions for two different guitars and a guitar amp...mostly car parts and stuff like that.

Their feedback rating suggests that they're responsible and their lack of buying and selling music gear suggests (to me anyway) that they too may have been hoodwinked into buying the Mesa used without really knowing what was inside.

The bass cabinet that they bought is an Ampeg 610HLF, which would have meaty low end...probably better than an out of phase 2x15 with unknown speakers... pehaps that's why it was sold off... they liked the Ampeg better.

So, back to my previous post...go smooth and easy at first and see how they respond...and take it from there.

Good luck and please let us know how it works out...and if you need further help with speakers for the Mesa cabinet.

And remember, the seller could be one of us here on TalkBass...but having written that and suggesting that you cut them some slack, I'll say that it's neither me or anyone that I know (AFAIK).