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ebay.. my luck ran out. Advice needed

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jiminyshiznit

jiminyshiznit

Sep 2, 2011
45
15
Portland, Ore.
#1
I've always had great luck with ebay.. I've always received what I expected to receive, and have actually been pleasantly surprised by an exceeded expectation numerous times. This time was different.. while the bass is far from a train wreck, the condition simply does not match the description. The seller said some very specific things, like "frets are like new".. they're not shot, but they're far from new. There's years of wear, but plenty of life left.. how hard is that to disclose/describe? Then there's the "few very minor dings, but they're barely noticeable, and none are through the finish" .. they're very noticeable, and many are through the finish. Next was "none of the usual 'buckle rash' that you normally see" .. well, maybe, but there are dents, nicks and scratches all over the back of this thing... no "buckle rash" though, so I guess that one's my fault. I actually think once this initial frustration wears off, I'll really dig the hell out of it, but still.. I bid higher than I would have on this thing because of the description, which made it sound like it was near mint. I don't mind paying a little extra for something that's in spectacular condition. The photos didn't reveal any of this, I guess due to angles, etc.. he did a great job of showing it in it's best light and didn't show any of the warts, nor did he mention they were there... while I should have asked about every square inch of it, by the time the frets are like new, there's no noticeable dings and no buckle rash, it's easy to fill in the blanks with goodness... the description was simply wrong. Had he disclosed any damage, I'd have thought to probe further..

So, the question is, would you just chalk all that up to "lesson learned" and eat the amount you feel you overpaid for what you thought was an extremely clean bass? Or, would you... ??? I wrote the seller a note to let him know what I think, but I'm curious if y'all have any thoughts or advice. I think this thing has plenty of mojo and will be a bass I come to love, but I wouldn't have bid nearly as high if the description fully disclosed the actual condition of the bass. I guess I feel a little duped and a little stupid... :eyebrow: any words of wisdom?
 
#3
Do not just chalk it up to anything... The item doesnt match the description and you are protected even if you have to file a complaint with eBay and PayPal...

Document everything now. Take detailed photos and do it fairly quickly. This is the reason there are protections in place on eBay.
 
#5
"Lesson learned" - no way! I'd teach the seller a lesson on not writing a proper description. Contact him, tell him what your problems are. He has 2 choices, offer a partial refund, or accept a return. Is this an expensive bass? A rare bass?
 
#6
If I was in your shoes, I would email him about the inconsistencies between his ad and the actual condition of the bass. While I normally assume that the sale is pretty much as "as is" in understanding, there are limits. I have received items that were damaged when they were advertised as brand new, and sellers are usually accommodating with a small refund etc. It wouldn't hurt to email at the very least.
 
#7
How much more did you bid based on the expected condition? I'd offer up a partial refund for that amount. It's going to cost you money to ship it back and get a full refund, so you're going to be out that money. You're really just wasting money shipping it back and forth if the dollar amount your after is relatively small.
 
#8
I'd start with asking the seller for a partial refund. Unfortunately, things can get ugly if you try to escalate things into a complaint about item condition.

Nine months ago or so I bought a pair of nice AKG headphones listed as "New Other", and described at "like new". The things were filthy and reeked horribly of smoke. I tried to return them, and the seller wouldn't budge. I filed a claim, and after waiting weeks Paypal comes back and tells me that I can't file a claim for an item not matching the described condition.

This shocked me as I've repeatedly heard that Paypal almost always finds for the buyer. Guess not. Luckily, I had paid via credit card, and the CC company got me my money back.
 
#9
I have asked for a partial refund on a "mint" guitar with a dent in the neck and the seller said he was going to file a fraud charge because he said I was trying to scam him. He know perfectly well he sold me a less than perfect guitar. I'd be careful how you word it if you ask for a partial refund. Do all correspondence through ebay's messaging! Let him or her be the one to make a partial refund offer. Ebay will stand behind you if you do it right. Let him know that you are prepared to file a claim with eBay if need be. I believe he or she even has to pay for return shipping. eBay protects buyers way, way better than it does sellers, in my opinion, so you should come out fine as long as you are careful. Good luck!

But as Handyman says above ^ it doesn't always go to the buyer either.
 
#10
Handyman said:
Nine months ago or so I bought a pair of nice AKG headphones listed as "New Other", and described at "like new". The things were filthy and reeked horribly of smoke. I tried to return them, and the seller wouldn't budge. I filed a claim, and after waiting weeks Paypal comes back and tells me that I can't file a claim for an item not matching the described condition.

This shocked me as I've repeatedly heard that Paypal almost always finds for the buyer. Guess not. Luckily, I had paid via credit card, and the CC company got me my money back.
Click to expand...

I am absolutely shocked that PayPal didn't find in your favor. In 2010 I bid on and won a Peavey Dyna bass. When I received the item, it was in functioning condition, but cosmetically it was a mess. When I contacted the seller to politely tell her I wasn't happy, she said "Too bad, chump. No returns". When I told her I'd file a claim and leave negative feedback, she said she'd leave me negative feedback in return. (She was unaware of recent changes in ebay policy that disallowed sellers from leaving buyers neg feedback). So I filed a claim, said the item was not as described, and within 2 days ebay/PayPal found in my favor. And I left the seller negative feedback for my trouble (the only time I did so).

I have been told by many people that ebay/PayPal almost always finds in favor of the buyer. Several of those are people that do big business on ebay (not an duffer like me). Yours is the only incident that I've heard where the buyer didn't receive satisfaction since the new policy was implemented.
 
#14
Cool, thanks for all the feedback. I think I've done OK so far.. I basically listed the discrepancies and let him know I bid extra high because of his description, and was bummed to find that the bass didn't match that description very well. One plus is that he has 100% pos. feedback.. I think people hate getting that first ding, so maybe that's in my favor. We'll see what he has to say.. I hope he doesn't go all agro on me. :hiding: In a perfect world, he'll give me a little cash back and I'll keep this thing... it's pretty friggin' sweet. Not "like-new frets and barely-noticeable dings" sweet, but super sweet nonetheless. Every issue with the bass is cosmetic, and not that bad... which is all the more reason to simply disclose everything, and provide an accurate description. If I'd have been led to expect "typical dings and scratches for a 30yo bass" and "frets show wear, but have plenty of life", I'd be fine... that's the bass I received.
 
#16
Depending on the bass, and how bad it actually is, I'd most likely keep it. Whenever I've tried to return through Ebay, Its just a bigger pain that sucking up those few nickels I overpaid.
 
#17
Google "ebay buyers favored" and read the countless horror stories. Then google "ebay sellers favored" and try to find a story. The contrast is stark (and frightening if you're an ebay seller)
 
#18
I do a good bit of selling on eBay and buying and before I could make any suggestions for the seller or for you I would need to see the listing with the photos before making a judgment call either way. First of all when buying anything used remember it’s used…Even brand new gear that’s come right from the factory I have seen with dingers and small scratches. You buy anything not new you are rolling the dice period. If you never want to have an issue buy new so if there is a problem you can return it. How was the seller’s feedback? If the pictures were not so good did you ask for better ones?

I’m not saying it’s your fault or his but I put in all my listings on eBay “if you have any problems whatsoever contact me and I will make it right” I have sold a bass before and actually missed a small dent in the bass and when the buyer pointed it out I gave him a partial pay back but I offer to do that in my listing. Maybe you should stick to sellers that are super responsive to emails and questions, sellers that provide great pictures and offer to email more if you ask and sellers with high feedback scores and sell musical gear all the time not just pawn shops.

I don’t mean to sound like I’m siding with the seller I have been burned buying on eBay and in retrospect I can see where I have maybe not been thorough enough. I have also sold cheap basses to guys that bitch about everything for a 200 or 300 bass...
 
#19
I have personally had the same experience. If you bought it through Pay Pal you are protected. File a dispute with Pay Pal and let it escalate to a claim if the seller doesn't budge. Pay Pal will force him to take it back and probably refund the shipping fees to return it. If you didn't get what was advertised you have a legitimate beef and that's what Pay Pal is for, to protect both buyer and seller. When you don't get what you were told you were buying submit pics ASAP to Pay Pal with an explanation.
 
#20
@Means2nEnd: I hear ya.. "condition" is a very subjective thing and very open to interpretation, too... I guess that's why, if I were selling, I'd err on the side of overly honest... I certainly would use the phrase "like new" very carefully. That's what I like about the classified section here.. seems like people disclose everything.

I'll wait to see what he has to say.. if he thinks I'm high, I'll post up some quotes from the auction with photos that show what I'm gripin' about... maybe y'all will think I'm high, too! As I sit here playing it, I'm falling in love.. i bought it in hopes it'd be my main player, and I think that'll be the case.. I just hope he throws me a bone to make up for the bad description.
 
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