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Disappointing ebay bass delivery

#41
Did you buy a new or used bass? I'm assuming used. Sounds like you had "new bass expectations" in which case your first mistake was to not spend the $$ and buy a new one.

If you were the seller how much of a refund would you offer? I'm thinking a $90 refund on a $400 item sounds fair. Pressing for $150 just because you have the seller at a disadvantage is greedy.

I agree that the seller didn't act with integrity. They should have packed the item sufficiently and shipped it in a normal fashion. The damage to the bass is less than the damage to your expectations however.
 
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#42
I have that basses predecessor, the SR480, and the finish is a challenge to keep in decent shape unless you just want it as a wall ornament. If it bugs you, get a full refund, and don't buy an SR480 / SR500, that finish WILL leave the instrument. Either that or get your hands on a perfect example, and before you actually use it, coat the body with a matte urethane seal coat to keep the finish in place...

These are wonderful instruments, but the finish is way too delicate.
 
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#45
Screw that - you paid $400 for a $400 bass, then guy instantly turned it into $250 (or less).

That mark will turn people of in the future, big time, and it will always annoy you - you didn't pay to be annoyed.

If there is anything certain in the world, there will be more Ibanez SRs.
 
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#46
Keep the bass, They're great and very versatile. I love my SR500.

Try to get some money back from the seller for the improper packaging and subsequent damage. Enjoy the bass. It will chip and scratch as you own it. The SR500 have notoriously soft wood and weak finishes. The electronics and components are great for the price.

I made a thread on refinishing mine: "NBD" Ibanez SR500 Stain and Refinish (PICS) | TalkBass.com
 
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#50
acoustic58 said:
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That damage in that area of the bass with that type of finish is not an easy or cheap fix. You originally bought the bass because of the condition it was in. It is no longer in that condition!

I'd recommend you get a quote from a reputable luthier to fix the bass. Its going to be a lot more than the $90 the seller is offering and also a lot more than the $150 reimbursement others on this thread have mentioned. I can't imagine that a proper repair would be less than $300 and I suspect the seller isn't going to go to those levels of reimbursement anyway.

Just return it, get your money back and move on. There will be other great deals out there.
 
#52
In my immediate post-auction communication with sellers, I always include the standard "PLEASE pack it well for a long bumpy ride to Colorado" to remind people that, well, it's a long bumpy ride and damage will occur if you don't use common sense and extra cushioning when packing. That reminder seems to have worked well so far.

21 days? There is no shipping on the planet that takes that long, unless Slow Boat From China, Inc. is still in business. The seller took his good old time getting the bass to the shipper, plain and simple.

OP, you have the upper hand here for a significant discount refund or a full refund including return shipping fee. There is no right or wrong, only what's right or wrong for you.
 
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#53
The cardinal rule of shipping anything is to never send out a package that you wouldn't be happy to receive yourself. I've actually dressed down a couple of TB'ers for weak packing. OP, at the very least you must be VERY critical with your eBay seller, both directly and in your feedback, about the shortcomings of the transaction. The upside is that solid-body instruments by nature are pretty indestructible, so the sound of it hasn't been affected.

Negotiate a more generous refund and be done with it. Even though you had high hopes for this bass, the damage is not catastrophic, and the bass is not a collectable. Live and learn, and don't strap on more trouble than this is really worth.

Of course, YMMV.
 
#54
acoustic58 said:
Thank you for all the comments. 310 for a ibanez sr500 in basically mint condition is a rare find considering they sell for 600 new and most of the sr500's on ebay are much more and covered with dings ( max I will check that one out ). I think if I returned this, I would just buy it new and take care of it. The money is not the issue with me it's paying for someone else's carelessness and always have that dent there as a reminder that I actually paid for this, no matter what it cost.

For me it is the principle. The guy lied about how he was going to ship it, it arrived in 21 days instead of the promised 6 and he didn't have enough brains to pack a guitar correctly that was literally traveling across the country and it now has a dent in it that should not be there. I have to think about this one. Thank you.
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Maybe on Ebay but on TB classifieds and Kijiji/Craigslist you can find SR500s with case for under $300 all day long, and they are not quick sales. I would return it and get another one.
 
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#55
DwaynieAD said:
man i hope you never buy a new bass from fender, gibson, or schecter; you'll have a heart attack. what you described is about the best packaging you're going to get from them.
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That's the exact opposite of my experience. I've bought over a dozen Fender and Gibson guitars and basses in the last 10 years, all brand new, and all have been well-packed and arrived via UPS or Fedex in perfect shape. Have you ever received damaged new instruments from them?
I bought a Strat on ebay from a guy in Denver several years ago and he stuck a UPS label on the gigbag and sent it 900 miles without even a box. It kinda blew my mind that UPS would even accept it that way, but they did. The guitar had one small ding when it arrived, and I see it every time I pull it out of the case. After I left the seller negative feedback for his lack of giving a sh*t about the merchandise he started using a different seller name.
 
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#56
I got an ASAT Bass off the bay at an incredible price ($650 shipped) about two weeks ago that was advertised as being "like new, no scratches" but has one very clear dent right in the front middle (to the right of the neck pickup) that kind of irks me. I really don't care so much about having a bass with a minor blemish as it plays beautifully, but it does at the same time bother me that this happened as I was bidding on a mint item, which this clearly is not. I was thinking that I might resell the bass when I got it and if I were trying to do that, the dent definitely knocks off a considerable amount from its value. In the end though, this thing plays beautifully and I got a great deal on a good player. I would try to negotiate for a small amount of money back but it seems eBay has changed its item not as received format. They used to encourage a dialog with the seller to reach an agreement. Now, that has been replaced with a button that says "request refund". I think I'll probably just not leave good feedback.
 
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#58
To the OP, just out of curiosity, was it shipped in a case or gig bag within the box, or just a box with some plastic? While it can be done without damage if done correctly, I would never trust an unknown shipper's packing skills to send an instrument with no case or gig bag. And I specifically discuss with the seller how it will be packed if not stated. At least it sounds like you have options.
 
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#59
eldorado2001 said:
That's the exact opposite of my experience. I've bought over a dozen Fender and Gibson guitars and basses in the last 10 years, all brand new, and all have been well-packed and arrived via UPS or Fedex in perfect shape. Have you ever received damaged new instruments from them?
I bought a Strat on ebay from a guy in Denver several years ago and he stuck a UPS label on the gigbag and sent it 900 miles without even a box. It kinda blew my mind that UPS would even accept it that way, but they did. The guitar had one small ding when it arrived, and I see it every time I pull it out of the case. After I left the seller negative feedback for his lack of giving a sh*t about the merchandise he started using a different seller name.
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I worked in a warehouse for three years that is an authorized authorized retailer for all those mentioned. Also Jackson guitars, martin guitars, and Taylor guitars, and none of them come from the factory packed with nothing more than the guitars in an ill fitting cardboard box. Ive seen hundreds.
 
#60
Scars are beutiful. Each one tells a story. This is the story of how the bass escaped from a brutal owner without scruples or the sense to pack a box properly. Then a 3000 mile journey in the hands of the notorious samsonite guerrilla package cartel. And then finding its true love in the hands of a caring new owner.

What glorious adventures await the two of you now in the shady bars or stages of the world? There WILL be more scars I'm sure.

Keep the 90 bucks AND the story. Not many other SR500s Has as good a tale to tell.
 

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