How many Basses do you Return per Year?

[Maxdusty]

While it's not illegal nor against some stores' policies (they create them after all), according to page 35 of the Bassists' Moral Code and Ethics, it's imo prone to abuse by those who habitually do this and treat the stores like some kind of lending library. I'm not saying this is the case all the time, sometimes there are legitimate and excusable reasons. Some stores charge a restocking fee for returns other than defective ones, I've heard of some really scummy ones getting around this by damaging the bass on purpose! (A store owner recounted a case where he had inspected a bass beforehand and lo and behold, it was returned with a defect he was pretty sure wasn't there before)
This is tough for store owners, especially the small independently owned music stores who have to now sell the returned item as an open box, or in some cases they box it up, re-sell it as new despite the heavy pick marks on the pickguard to unwitting buyers. It hurts us all. Please don't do it.

 

[shaggy45]

I’ve only ever returned one.

my fedex driver had converted it into a headless before I got it.

 

[Pings Bass]

Never in my life! But I've only ever bought two new basses, and one used retail. All others have been private party used, as-is.

If you bought new from a retailer with a generous return policy, there's no need for guilt if you avail yourself of it. That's part of the deal both parties signed up for.

 

[Swerve]

Don't feel bad at all. This is the nature of online ordering and not being able to try things before you buy them. If it's not excessive I don't see the problem. Instruments are highly personal things and relying solely on pictures and descriptions doesn't always work out.

I've only returned a non-defective online bass order once, because it didn't live up to my expectations. I also had to eat the return shipping costs which was no small amount. And I actually ended up ordering a more expensive bass from the same retailer afterward that I still have and love.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I've never returned gear, I always buy from craigslist, so I see it, play it, test it, pay for it, and it's mine. No regrets. If I don't like it after a time, I will sell it again on craigslist, usually at a discounted price to just get it out of my space.

 

[Todd Hamby]

I’ve never returned a bass and I’ve bought a lot of basses.

 

[Maxdusty]

I've never returned gear, I always buy from craigslist, so I see it, play it, test it, pay for it, and it's mine. No regrets. If I don't like it after a time, I will sell it again on craigslist, usually at a discounted price to just get it out of my space.

A good suggestion for those who aren't sure if a bass will work out for them, buy used and you can re-sell it for pretty much the same price you bought it or in some cases even for a little more if you got it at a good deal.

 

[Killing Floor]

Never. But I’m pretty deliberate when I shop for an instrument and seldom buy one online. Even the last 2 (P Bass and Telecaster) Mod Shop purchases I booked through a store so I had some confidence that if it was defective I wouldn’t have to take it.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I’ve returned 1 bass when I was shopping for a new bass a few years ago. It was a Gibson Sg bass I got used from guitar center. After 3 days with it, there were a few things that I just couldn’t hang with at the price I paid for it. Afterwards, I got a 1971 epiphone 5120 bass used from GC, that after a few weeks I wanted to return as well (feedback was making it useless with my band) but the return window for vintage gear is only 3 days. I ended up listing it locally and made $200 over what I bought it for. Good thing they denied me that return!

 

[JimB52]

Zero to date.

 

[jazzyvee]

I don't buy basses on a whim, I do a lot of research before buying so that I only buy what I am confident will suit me and i've never returned a bass.
I have however returned a couple of bass and guitar amps and many domestic goods because they either didn't work as described or the quality was just way below what I expected.

 

[Thumpin6string]

ZERO

 

[el murdoque]

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

I've never returned a bass.
But I work in retail. For a small business, returns suck. But they are necessary - no return policy means less sales.
Both myself and the people working for me don't like people that take certain services for granted.
We do, however, often go out of our way for people that don't do that and are truly thankful.
Accompany your return with a handwritten letter where you express that you're terribly sorry to return two basses this year and a small token of appreciation (a box of chocolates, a jug of moonshine or whatever is the custom in your neck of the woods) and you will most likely stay in their good favor.

 

[Old_Noob]

Just my own personal ethics. If I purchase something that is the wrong size, not as described, is poopy quality, etc., etc.--I have no compunction returning stuff. With Amazon orders I frequently do because poopie is so mis- advertised. However, if the product is otherwise fine and I just don't "like" it...well, then I take my lumps and sell it on the secondary market. I have a hard time returning something that is exactly as advertised simply because I made a poor purchasing decision.

 

[Sixgunn]

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?

This thread has made me realize I never return ANYTHING. Basses and music gear included.

 

[Hardbassjunkie]

I've never returned a bass.
But I work in retail. For a small business, returns suck. But they are necessary - no return policy means less sales.
Both myself and the people working for me don't like people that take certain services for granted.
We do, however, often go out of our way for people that don't do that and are truly thankful.
Accompany your return with a handwritten letter where you express that you're terribly sorry to return two basses this year and a small token of appreciation (a box of chocolates, a jug of moonshine or whatever is the custom in your neck of the woods) and you will most likely stay in their good favor.

This is not a small business. It is a giant retailer.

 

[el murdoque]

This is not a small business. It is a giant retailer.

Then you're just a number.
As long as that's a positive one, no problem.

 

[3bc]

Returning something defective in some way, ordering a guitar where the the frets were janky, something like that, I wouldn't feel bad about. Buying something from the store that I had the opportunity to test drive and confirm I wanted it, and then returned it, I wouldn't personally do that. Maybe on an amp or something that you're really unable to put through its paces in a real world setting, if it turns out to be not enough amp or something like that I wouldn't feel bad about returning. Just regretting a purchase is my problem, not the store's, IMO. Having to take a bath on reselling that instrument might help my think twice about my next impulse purchase.

 

[lug]

The "cost of doing business" is always passed on to the consumer. In essence, everyone who has returned a bass has cost me monies. You can ease your conscience by each sending me 1 US dollar. Thank you in advance.

 

[Lownote38]

I've only returned defective basses, and then gotten a replacement. That's because I don't buy a bass unless I'm sure I like and want it.