How many Basses do you Return per Year?

[TonyP-]

if you want to look at it positively - after you return it, someone will get a minor discount from an open box buy.

to answer OP question - i can't rememeber the last time returning a new item to the shop. i've returned a couple GC used items because they were flawed and wasn't disclosed, but as far as returning on an impulse buys - can't say that i have.

As it was stated below...You are hurting the store selling it and not helping but only driving up prices.
Its really a immature move on ones behalf.

 

[baileyboy]

How often do you return basses?

Never. I own two and use both. No impulse buying ever.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

More Mel Bay , less Ebay.

Zéro.

 

[JRA]

How often do you return basses?

in my life = never...i haven't had the experience of not knowing what i want/need from a musical instrument.

Any thoughts on this?

- don't know what you want?
- too much time on your hands?
- 'cause you're so hard to please (which indicates that you "got to be good looking...")?
- acquisition/GAS vs. practice?
- excess expendable income?
- keeping up with the joneses?

 

[Slevage]

I’ve been playing for almost 50 years.
Never return a bass.
Sold/bought many.

 

[kulit17]

As it was stated below...You are hurting the store selling it and not helping but only driving up prices.
Its really a immature move on ones behalf.

very true, but i've been on the receiving end of purchasing an open box item. not a huge discount, but its something.... stores typically still have little bit of a profit margin in it so its not exactly not a total loss, but still get a little hit from it originally being brand new. who knows, maybe the "new buyer" would buy other items like a strap, strings or other stuff, that they probably wouldn't be purchasing if it had not been the attractiveness of an "open box buy".

to the OP's point of feeling guilty - yes if plenty of people are doing it would effectively hurt any shops. so the guilt the OP has isn't misplaced. With all the negative comments building on this thread, i doubt any one would come forward now saying they've returned anything.

 

[N4860]

if you want to look at it positively - after you return it, someone will get a minor discount from an open box buy.

to answer OP question - i can't rememeber the last time returning a new item to the shop. i've returned a couple GC used items because they were flawed and wasn't disclosed, but as far as returning on an impulse buys - can't say that i have.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case regarding the open box discount. I've seen people post here many times about buying a "new" bass only to find it was clearly either a return or a floor model.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, never had to return anything....but everything arrived as described and working. I usually bought a bass for a specific reason...never had one, always wanted one, good value, etc. I wouldn't buy something just to see if I liked it, but that's just me.

I've bought several 'open box, scratch & dent' or returned instruments from the online retailers. They all looked new to me and I wouldn't be bothered even if it would have had a finish swirl, small scratch or paint chip. I'm sure returns are part of their business model and they'll deal with customers who exhibit too much buyers remorse on an individual basis.

And I'm still waiting for that $400 scratch & dent Fodera to show up...

 

[Spidey2112]

Is there the exception.

Underwear? I mean, thongs are great and everything... I just expected more for my money. I even ordered extra large and my wife thought I wanted to wrestle.

Please, don't judge.

 

[TonyP-]

Underwear? I mean, thongs are great and everything... I just expected more for my money. I even ordered extra large and my wife thought I wanted to wrestle.

Please, don't judge.

Zero Judgment...

 

[Hardbassjunkie]

Wow, what a response and I didn't even actually return it. Imagine if I did and wrote a post about it. Honestly, nothing is wrong with the bass and I can live with paying for the price I did for it. I just asked a question because in other retail such as clothing (I used to work in high end retail) people returning unworn clothing is not a big deal, no one will ever bat an eye. Seeing the reaction here, I can only imagine how the shop feels.

I will be devils advocate and say that this store has a return policy of up to 6 months. If you return within 30 days you get all your money back and if you return after one month they will charge you a restocking fee, which I imagine will account for the money they lose when they have to sell it used. So, I think that is their way of covering their ass.

Also, I didn't actually get to try the bass in store because we are on lockdown in the city I live. Anyways, I haven't decided yet.

 

[Bass Viking]

Yeah, I’ve returned a couple of basses because they didn’t work for me. A Carvin, and a Kinal from Bass Northwest. Whaddya gonna do about it?!!

 

[TNCreature]

Only 1. I had lost my job while the bass was shipping. The seller was understanding and gracious.

 

[lug]

Yeah, I’ve returned a couple of basses because they didn’t work for me. A Carvin, and a Kinal from Bass Northwest. Whaddya gonna do about it?!!

I'm calling your mother!

 

[SLPimp]

0

 

[mdogs]

Wow, what a response and I didn't even actually return it. Imagine if I did and wrote a post about it. Honestly, nothing is wrong with the bass and I can live with paying for the price I did for it. I just asked a question because in other retail such as clothing (I used to work in high end retail) people returning unworn clothing is not a big deal, no one will ever bat an eye. Seeing the reaction here, I can only imagine how the shop feels.

I will be devils advocate and say that this store has a return policy of up to 6 months. If you return within 30 days you get all your money back and if you return after one month they will charge you a restocking fee, which I imagine will account for the money they lose when they have to sell it used. So, I think that is their way of covering their ass.

Also, I didn't actually get to try the bass in store because we are on lockdown in the city I live. Anyways, I haven't decided yet.

If this is going to be your attitude, why did you ask to begin with. The point of a return policy is NOT, for the millionth time, so you can take a test drive. So much more that I could say, but I will bite my tongue.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I returned a Carvin guitar many years ago, but they didn't include the trem, so I didn't feel bad about it. Also, I hated the tone, so it was going back anyways. That's the only instrument that I've returned. I think I returned a gate pedal to Sweetwater, maybe MF, but it was a djent gate, not a noise gate and wasn't described well on the site.

I used to offer a return policy on items that I sold here, but had someone return saying that it was a pedal they just wanted to try out and couldn't find locally. That policy ended immediately.

 

[CryingBass]

Zero

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Wow, what a response and I didn't even actually return it. Imagine if I did and wrote a post about it. Honestly, nothing is wrong with the bass and I can live with paying for the price I did for it. I just asked a question because in other retail such as clothing (I used to work in high end retail) people returning unworn clothing is not a big deal, no one will ever bat an eye. Seeing the reaction here, I can only imagine how the shop feels.

I will be devils advocate and say that this store has a return policy of up to 6 months. If you return within 30 days you get all your money back and if you return after one month they will charge you a restocking fee, which I imagine will account for the money they lose when they have to sell it used. So, I think that is their way of covering their ass.

Also, I didn't actually get to try the bass in store because we are on lockdown in the city I live. Anyways, I haven't decided yet.

Don't be upset if the responses don't go the way you wanted. Even you are having qualms with the return or you wouldn't have posted seeking support.

 

[satjhmo]

I can't fathom a life in which I would regularly return basses every year. That seems like an odd parallel universe (a) to be buying basses more often than I service my car and (b) having to schlep down to the post office to send it back, pay for the shipping, all that . Since shops are opening up now, the best thing to go and try it in a shop, the old-fashioned way. If you don't like it, they will give it a good clean, and put it back. Things like guitars are more personal, and a lot less convenient to buy and return than many other goods. It's worth the effort to go in person.

Not that instruments should be excluded from e-commerce or anything. I've bought one bass on the internet in my life, and that was a month after going to the shop to try it out. (I bought it from the same shop.)

 

[TonyP-]

very true, but i've been on the receiving end of purchasing an open box item. not a huge discount, but its something.... stores typically still have little bit of a profit margin in it so its not exactly not a total loss, but still get a little hit from it originally being brand new. who knows, maybe the "new buyer" would buy other items like a strap, strings or other stuff, that they probably wouldn't be purchasing if it had not been the attractiveness of an "open box buy".

to the OP's point of feeling guilty - yes if plenty of people are doing it would effectively hurt any shops. so the guilt the OP has isn't misplaced. With all the negative comments building on this thread, i doubt any one would come forward now saying they've returned anything.

I will just say this...
I don't understand it...If you tried it and you like it enough to buy it then great. You bought an instrument. I mean, its not a toaster for Christ sakes.

Now the OP said in a later post He bought it sight unseen...Ok well that gives him a little more creditability, I won't argue that. However He also said the bass is fine and its the price...

Note I not picking on the OP, I will just say this about anything and anybody.
If you think you cannot afford an something and its not a life or death item then don't buy it...Its that simple.
There is a rush to 'purchasing something new to you' and some people are addicted to that. A lot of Europeans would say about Americans. Our need to consume.

Identify your needs, do the research for the right tool for you in order to create, purchase said item....Move on and execute.