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Frustrated Purchaser needs advice

N

nukes_da_bass

Inactive
Feb 19, 2006
2,220
1,967
west suburban boston
#1
Hi,
I'm new here-as a poster.
I bought a custom build from a guy I can't mention because I know hes a TB member and all I want to do is receive my bass.

Made 2/3 down payment 7 months ago- paid the balance two months ago. Balance was paid the day I got a pic in email that stated "your bass is done- here's a bad pic better ones to follow- please pay the balance".

So I sent my last PayPal payment- then he said the neck went bad and he had to shop for another one.

According to my email string, hes had the new neck for a month now. Again he is slow in responding to emails.
Somehow this guy has found the time to do ANOTHER high end Fender clone 5 string build and post it on Ebay as finished and for sale. Its not mine cause the specs are different completely- but I'm bristling with anger and frustration. And the guy has a rep as being a hothead which i did not discover until AFTER I started having him build this bass.
Yes you all know who this is hes infamous around here-problem is, all I want is my bass.
My fear is his business is crumbling around him and I'll never get my instrument or my money. I pulled out all the stops on this bass so its really a lot of money!
Can I take him to court from 1500 miles away?
As I've seen from other people who had stalled interactions with him state before, all my PayPal protections are gone.
I really will give the bass a good review if it deserves it. All I want is the quality 5 string Fender clone he promised.
Now I'll steel myself as you all call me "sucker" 500 times-but any positive ideas would be welcome- I'd be most grateful.
N
 
#3
No insurance. The only research I ever did were his reviews on Harmony Central and the Ebay feedback.
To say I feel stupid is an understatement.
There is a sucker born every minute and I am he.
Believe it or not, I have had very good experiences from Ebay based builders- Steve Wishnevsky built me #38 and its a reliable working mans exotic 6 string fretless.
I guess i will begin flaming this guy by name in another month- I happen to be a highly ethical individual though and do not want to take action til I'm sure its not an issue of extreme procrastination, or maybe hes embarrassed that another neck twisted and is afraid to tell me.
I think its a given that my money is gone. I think he lives build to build and doesn't have any refund capital.
I have considered cornering him politely and simply asking for the bass that's on Ebay now- even though I don't prefer a JJ config of pickups, nor do I want an exotic top.
I know he hangs out here- maybe he will recognize himself and be anonymously embarrassed into action.
N
 
#4
You can start with negative (professional) feedback through the various websites he's selling through.

And I'm not sure if this is an option anymore, but once I had a similar experience with an online retailer. I opened a complaint through paypal. The result was my order got canceled, and my credit card was credited back the amount in question. It took a while, but in the end the result was good for me.

You could always drive 1500 miles and kick his door in as well.
 
#5
Thanks, Sevenyearsdown.

The PayPal advice is heartening. If I don't have positive results by July 1 that's exactly what I will do.

I'll also flame him by name here, and on Harmony Central, and Ebay.

If I wasn't married with kids I'd consider the other option. Family men should avoid assault charges in my opinion.
My biggest issue is that he was drooling for that final 1/3 payment then suddenly the bass developed "issues" once the money cleared. I own three businesses myself- and I consider this highly unethical. He should have deemed the bass worthy before asking for the final payment.
I wish I did better research- I listened to the dude hype about himself mostly.
Clearly there are builders here on TB that are ethical and at least as affordable as UN*******bass is. Measure twice and cut once right?
N
 
#6
You always have the court system, as this would be a case of small claims and possibly a case of interstate commerce fraud IF this is what has happened. There is always the possibility he is being straight, and it has gone awry. Keep us posted, and if we can help, I am sure most here will.
 
#7
nukes_da_bass said:
Thanks, Sevenyearsdown.

The PayPal advice is heartening. If I don't have positive results by July 1 that's exactly what I will do.

I'll also flame him by name here, and on Harmony Central, and Ebay.

If I wasn't married with kids I'd consider the other option. Family men should avoid assault charges in my opinion.
My biggest issue is that he was drooling for that final 1/3 payment then suddenly the bass developed "issues" once the money cleared. I own three businesses myself- and I consider this highly unethical. He should have deemed the bass worthy before asking for the final payment.
I wish I did better research- I listened to the dude hype about himself mostly.
Clearly there are builders here on TB that are ethical and at least as affordable as UN*******bass is. Measure twice and cut once right?
N
Click to expand...

I was only kidding about kicking his door down!

Setting a deadline for either cash or bass is a good idea. Just tell the guy in professional terms what your expectations are, and what he should expect should he fail to meet them given the fact that he's already jerked you around.
 
#9
mikeyswood said:
Is this instrument be built or assembled?
Click to expand...

Both. since its a 5 string with P/J config he said he needed to do a custom route on an existing Jazz 5 body for the P pickup.

Other than that its assembled.
Keep in mind, it was "done" two months ago but the first neck went bad. I actually do appreciate that he was honest about this- I just think two months was enough time for him to buy and attach the replacement.
It doesn't help my attitude that there's a bass of equitable value that he finished and is selling on Ebay.
You have all been helpful and I am appreciating the feedback!
N
 
#15
Sorry, JC - as long as you didn't spit it all over your latest build! Although a coffee stain technique could be interesting if it were done right...

back on T now... I am sure the reason everyone is curious about the 'went bad' thing is because it sounds like something someone would say when they need to buy time or cover up some other more serious transgression.

I want to err on the side that he's made an innocent mistake and is simply trying to buy time to make things right. I, like most, would much prefer full disclosure and more details as opposed to loose and otherwise nondescript excuses. If the builder is ethical and has integrity he'll offer up the truth regardless of how bad it may seem and do what he can to make you happy.
 
#16
tZer said:
The phrase "went bad" seems to be a pretty nebulous one leaving lots of room for interpretation. I'm curious if he gave any more detail behind how it went bad. Did it rob a liquor store or something?
Click to expand...


Funny! He said it 'developed a twist'.
This whole experience makes me want to take a frikkin shop class and assemble my own basses.
My late dad the engineer would be disgusted that I lack the skills.
Maybe it did rob a liquor store!:)
N
 
#17
NUKES...no shop class need to do an assembly, with the TB crowd and a little ambition, we would get ya there, it's really pretty simple until it's set up time. "Don't Fret"(I couldn't resist). We are a heck of a support group too.

No Tony, on my way to Atlanta so it was just dashboard disaster...Windex to the rescue..LOL
 
#18
nukes_da_bass said:
Funny! He said it 'developed a twist'.
This whole experience makes me want to take a frikkin shop class and assemble my own basses.
My late dad the engineer would be disgusted that I lack the skills.
Maybe it did rob a liquor store!:)
N
Click to expand...

Now you're talkin'! (uh, not the liquor store thing...)

I'd send him a registered letter and let him know that you need a satisfactory reply or that you'll be forced to pursue legal action. Email, voice mail, all other passive communication is way too easy to simply ignore - or claim that your computer/phone 'went bad' - but a registered letter is pretty hard to ignore.

You can let him know that you don't want to cause him any more difficulty if he's hit a rough patch and that you simply want assurance that you're either going to get your instrument or your money back - but "no reply at all" is only cool if it's by Genesis.
 
#20
Good God, Tony! I had to explain the loud laugh to the guys here in the lab. :)


If the builder is applying the finish there may be more room for error. I recently had a build cost me months for a color coat that interfered with the primer. Had to sand back to wood and then wait for warm temps to spray again. An absolute nightmare.

If the builder is assembling prefin parts there is most likely more to this story.
 

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