How many Basses do you Return per Year?

[jw23mind]

I think these days being able to return an instrument is the only practical way of even trying the majority of available instruments out there. I'd much rather be able to reliably go to a local music store to try in-person, but that's no longer the case. As to the costs incurred, it's super expensive to pay two-way shipping so I'd argue there's plenty of dis-incentive to go crazy with it. Plus the sellers can and do set up return policies to limit the damage to their satisfaction. When I made the change to 5-string, I bought and sold a few as well as a return or two over the course of a year before finding the one. I did feel bad during the process, and was consciously worried that I was seeking perfection to a fault. But in the end, I'm the one who paid most dearly for it with the time and shipping costs, and I did manage to find one I was happy with, so for me it was all worth it and nothing to beat myself up about. I think if you are a retailer benefitting from the internet market and being spared the costs of brick & mortar, then absorbing some degree of handling costs is just the reality of doing business. Glad that's over though!

 

[jd56hawk]

I recently bought a brand new Sterling short scale bass and its a great bass but I just don't think its worth the price. It was an impulse buy and I've hardly touched it.

I'd like to return it just based on price. However, I feel kind of guilty. This is the 2nd bass I'm returning this year so far. For clothes, I buy and return all the time and don't feel a thing but for some reason I'm conflicted. I also don't want to be labeled a bad customer since I'm a regular there.

Any thoughts on this? How often do you return basses?

You're feeling guilty even though everyone else is making money if you return it?
Hell, every bass I return gets returned in better shspe than when I bought it!

 

[Jefenator]

I almost always buy used, often from someone across the country; returns really aren't practical in that situation.
When there is a minor technical issue I fix it myself. If I fail to bond with a bass after an extended period (say, a year or two) I resell or consign it. I don't mind taking a slight loss because it's fun just to try stuff. I think of it as a cheap, long-term rental.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I’ve never returned a bass or any bass related gear.

I wouldn’t count sending back anything purchased online that was significantly not as described.

Over the last 20 years I have returned two guitars that I just didn’t want. The thing is the return policy was specifically so I could check the instrument out on my gear without tying up store resources checking it out. I knew I didn’t want to keep them within a day but like you felt guilty returning even though it was what closed the sale to begin with.

Easy solution - just take store credit and buy something else from them instead.

Also I think 2 returns if you only ever bought two things from them will be viewed worse than two returns but they already lost track of how much money they’ve made off you over the years.

 

[lokikallas]

I've "rejected" 2 used basses that were in store pickups from GC, that showed defects or damage.

 

[JimmyThunder]

never once in my life

 

[superheavyfunk]

I exchanged a bass in 2019 for an identical model because it had fret issues out of the box. Never returned one though. It must be nice to have enough money to buy multiple new basses a year!

 

[BadSanta1281]

The psychology of buyer's remorse and the paradox of choice are interesting subjects.

I spent a lot of years in the car business and had to deal with it frequently.

 

[ajkula66]

Unless it arrives defective/damaged/significantly not-as-described, I own it. I've never returned anything - let alone a musical instrument - for any other reason.

The entire "return for any reason" culture that one can thank feebay, Amazon and GC - along with some others - for is one of the aspects that make life miserable for individual sellers doing business online nowadays, not just in the realm of musical instruments.

 

[nickpc]

From the store's accounting point of view, returns are purchasing stock at a premium price. The $750 bass originally cost them $500 to get into the store (example - that's a 50% markup, which is probably high in most cases), but now they have one that cost them $750 to put on the shelf, and they may have to mark it down to sell it again. Plus they're going to have to go through the cost of selling it twice - operational costs of running the store, paying employees, shipping/handling (both on the sale and return), credit card transaction fees (on the purchase AND possibly the refund) - it adds up.

Higher volume and higher margins help cover that (clothing is an example), but on a low volume/low margin product it really hurts the bottom line.

 

[FDR Jones]

As a buyer, I feel I should suffer for my remorse, so I pretty much never return anything. If its music-related, I'll sell it on and take the loss. Stuff like clothes goes to the back of the closet or the Goodwill bin or whatever.

As someone who runs an online store, however; I really don't care if someone returns something for any reason. The stuff I sell, by its nature, always comes back in new condition though, I don't have to deal with "open box" etc.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I never return basses. I haven't sold a used bass on eBay in almost 10 years. The eBay/Paypal/shipping rates on a transaction make it impossible to get what a used bass is worth. I always buy new and have had good luck with MF, SW and AMS. If I ever do sell one of my basses, Reverb looks like a much better venue to sell these days, than eBay. Selling local (trading journal/craigs list, etc) is not an option in the rural area I live in... there's no market for used basses around here.

 

[Gaolee]

It takes forever for me to decide to buy anything. Then I keep it. If anything ever gets sold, it gets sold locally. I don't remember the last time I bought or sold anything, with the exception of a cymbal I just bought. Does that count?

 

[CaptainWally]

I'm going to buck the trend here.

I don't see any issues with returns within policy for good faith purchases.

Egregiously exploiting a return policy is indeed super cheezy and uncool. But businesses know what they are doing, and they are not obtuse to the abuse. It's built into their business model.

 

[xsnrg27]

In today's society I can see this from multiple perspectives with covid and the lack of being able to play or testing instrument it is much more likely that you might return it because of issues/dislike. This is especially true in todays online driven retail sector. (For example lately i have had to return clothes that I normally wouldn't because I was unable.to try them on.)

As someone mentioned previously, I could even see needing to return something if you lost your job suddenly and it was between a vanity item and essentials.

Can't condone returning multiple bases simply on buyer's remorse.

But I also think that retailers know and expect a certain amount of returns per year this is something they calculate and are able to calculate pretty accurately.

 

[Bassclef46]

Prices are also where they are - and steadily climbing - for a reason too. Casual returns contribute to the prices we all have to pay. So it’s not just “all about you” either.

Lol. That’s just comical. I guess people should think of what matters to you the next time they spend $1000 on something. But let’s take that a step further and think about you when retuning that $20 Amazon order too. Lol

 

[Bassclef46]

Ok, I will say it...

If you are one of those people who keep returning instruments for something other then a defective issue then you are just a jerk in plain English. (That is putting nicely in TB talk)

Is there the exception.
Sure
Just bought a bass and lost Your job a week later...Ok I can see that. Meh...Not the Coolest but I get it.

Using the 30 day return policy like a free rental is not cool at all.
Grow the F up...

man online retailers LOVE people like you. You don’t question the rules you just follow them blindly. Online retailers know people can not try a bass before buying it. How is someone supposed to know if they like it if they don’t get to try it? I suppose they should just buy it blindly and accept the outcome regardless of how it feels sounds or plays.

I think not. These store put return policies in place so that as a buyer you feel 100% satisfied with your buy. Not so you can lose your job and have an excuse for a return. It’s there so you can try it, and if you are not happy return it. And then get something else. It’s not just about defects

 

[Corevalay]

Ok, I will say it...

If you are one of those people who keep returning instruments for something other then a defective issue then you are just a jerk in plain English. (That is putting nicely in TB talk)

Is there the exception.
Sure
Just bought a bass and lost Your job a week later...Ok I can see that. Meh...Not the Coolest but I get it.

Using the 30 day return policy like a free rental is not cool at all.
Grow the F up...

With all due respect... this is just a ridiculously silly opinion. There's a 30-45 day return policy specifically there so you can return the bass if you aren't digging it. It's not like this guy is buying 20 basses per month, it's his 2nd return in a year. Why would you ever blame the consumer for taking advantage of a policy introduced by the retailer? With so much buying online and not in person, it's a way for consumers to try a purchase without seeing an item in person. The retailer knows this, and they know in the long run it grants them more business.

Again, why would anyone ever be mad at someone who simply does what they are allowed to do?

 

[singlemalt]

On the rare occasion that I buy anything new, the return policy is part of the equation. If I don’t love it, back it goes.

That’s part of the deal if you pay retail. Maybe that’s why the retailers trumpet their “no risk return policy”. You pay for that.

I’ve returned a few bits of gear to retailers simply because I changed my mind. It’s not a big deal.

Buying used is my normal MO. I get a decent deal, keep it for as long as I like it, and throw it back up for sale.

 

[dalkowski]

Never.