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Giving refunds for a Craigslist purchase?

I might reason with him. I usually sell my stuff at pretty good prices on CL and tell them to let me know if they ever have any problems with it. They never do. I also once bought a HSC for my electric guitar (also through CL) and though it was designed for a Les-Paul shaped guitar, mine wouldn't fit when I got the case home. I contacted the guy and he took it back. I appreciated that and we were both civil about it.

This guy sounds a tad disorganized/inexperienced, so he may be in need of some boundaries from you, but I am inclined to say that I would err on the side of being cooperative. It is a piece you have been trying to get rid of for a long time, and that also changes things, but I would try to hear him out and maybe in the end would offer him $75 or something and then re-list at that price.
 
When you buy on craigslist, everything is sold on an as-is basis with no guarantees. It's in the terms of use, and buying or selling on CL is just understood to be that. For a $100 bass, it's asinine to ask for your money back. And even if you buy a $6,000 Jimi Hendrix relic V or whatever and get burned buying a fake, it's still on you. Again, it's all in the CL terms of use. I'll only take a refund if something isn't as I described it, like the electronics don't work, or something. If you're returning it cuz you don't like it, then you should have bought something new from a big box store.

I may give a refund, but not for this. I've sold on Ebay for years, on TB for a few months, and on CL for years as well. This hasn't ever happened to me in a transaction in those hundreds of transactions, but this is a dumb request.

Oh, and to the OP, I always meet people from Craigslist in public. Most CL users are normal folks, but 'most' isn't good enough for me not to take precautions. I like meeting at guitar center because they really don't care if you buy or sell stuff in their parking lot. Then if they want to try it, the amps are there. Then they don't know where you live. Just a precaution.
 
I'm inclined not to give him a refund because he tried it out, handed me the money, and then took the bass home with him.

I told him I'm busy until the weekend and can't meet now. He said he would call me again on Saturday. If he calls, I'll politely say no refund. This is my first experience selling something on Craigslist. I'll be clearer about a no refund policy in the future.

No. It's his bass. He can sell it on craigslist. Maybe for $120.
 
I had this happen a couple months ago, some guy wanted to buy my cheap ass PA system for $200 including speakers.
I told him it worked and made sound, but the quality was not high.
He sent someone else over, who paid me the cash, and walked off with the stuff without testing it.
Got a call about a week later, guy says it the tweeter is not very good and wants to return it. I said no way buddy, you shoulda tested it before you bought it!
 
For the record, anything I sell here on TB is eligible for a full refund for any reason, within a reasonable amount of time. I sold a 410 cab to a TBer in Nashville that was damaged in transit. I refunded the price and shipping and paid for the return shipment. Then I settled with FedEx, who treated me very fairly.
 
In that particular case, definitely not. And for 100$....ugh.

But recently I bought a POD HD unit from a guy that sold it to me as "100% fully functional, almost never used" - I came back home 15 minutes later and the usb interface was defective... (I don't have a laptop anymore) the guy was nice at first but he quickly became confrontational and a total douche (implied I "dropped it" and that I "misused it"). He postponed a few 'meets' to try and solve the problem, then started talking about how he was burnt many times buying used cars and mixing desks with defective channel strips and that he has absolutely no remorse and that's it's 100% on me... since then I definitely limit my buying to places with a feedback system.

Buyers and sellers do have responsibilities though - as a seller, I thoroughly test anything that I sell beforehand so as to avoid situations like these.
 
In that particular case, definitely not. And for 100$....ugh.

But recently I bought a POD HD unit from a guy that sold it to me as "100% fully functional, almost never used" - I came back home 15 minutes later and the usb interface was defective... (I don't have a laptop anymore) the guy was nice at first but he quickly became confrontational and a total douche (implied I "dropped it" and that I "misused it"). He postponed a few 'meets' to try and solve the problem, then started talking about how he was burnt many times buying used cars and mixing desks with defective channel strips and that he has absolutely no remorse and that's it's 100% on me... since then I definitely limit my buying to places with a feedback system.

Buyers and sellers do have responsibilities though - as a seller, I thoroughly test anything that I sell beforehand so as to avoid situations like these.

That's very unfortunate and one of the reasons I often shy away from buying second hand unless I can check it out over a period of time. While I sympathise with you, it's just a matter of your word versus his in such situations and it's sad he was such a d*ck and didn't tell you about it. :rollno:


In the case of the OP, I think that's an important lesson for you. If you were buying, you couldn't expect such lenience from most sellers. I mean, check out the reaction of most of the TBers to the question. :)

He tested it and paid you for it. It wasn't a blind sale. While it is unfortunate it doesn't match up to his expectations on his amplifier, you can't be liable for buyer's regret. Because that is what it is, nothing to do with the bass you sold him at all.

I dig what some of the guys are saying about karma though. Gotta love the concept. And it's true.
 
Those are some crazy horror stories. You do certainly have to be careful on CL. Hell, even on TB the only real guarantee is community shunning. Paypal has some protections as well. I must just be lucky. Well, lucky and picky. That's why I love that GC doesn't care if you test stuff there. If I'm buying a bass, I just bring it in and say I'm testing amps. Of course, I buy enough crap there they may just be letting me get away with it.
 
I had to refund someone over an iphone because he said the jack didnt work properly. he mentioned before we met that he didnt need the jack since he uses speakers anyways so ***

what a douche. never again. all MY CL sales will be final and I assume all the stuff I Buy off CL Are final
 
When you buy on craigslist, everything is sold on an as-is basis with no guarantees. It's in the terms of use, and buying or selling on CL is just understood to be that. For a $100 bass, it's asinine to ask for your money back. And even if you buy a $6,000 Jimi Hendrix relic V or whatever and get burned buying a fake, it's still on you. Again, it's all in the CL terms of use. I'll only take a refund if something isn't as I described it, like the electronics don't work, or something. If you're returning it cuz you don't like it, then you should have bought something new from a big box store.

I may give a refund, but not for this. I've sold on Ebay for years, on TB for a few months, and on CL for years as well. This hasn't ever happened to me in a transaction in those hundreds of transactions, but this is a dumb request.

Oh, and to the OP, I always meet people from Craigslist in public. Most CL users are normal folks, but 'most' isn't good enough for me not to take precautions. I like meeting at guitar center because they really don't care if you buy or sell stuff in their parking lot. Then if they want to try it, the amps are there. Then they don't know where you live. Just a precaution.

I agree. Shopping mall where TONS of people are around or a music center is the place to meet. NEVER at your home.
 
The other part of the whole used circuit is a lot of folks sell stuff because they're strapped for cash. That doesn't mean they should be able to misrepresent their sales, just that they are probably not going to want to give that cash back. I'm guessing craigslist will have to eventually come up with some protections besides their crap 'at your own risk' warnings. Probably have to register and set up some type of user protection department or something. Not that I see that happening soon, but someday.