Important Reminder for Sellers: Setting Clear Expectations in Gear Transactions (A Cautionary Tale)

[bellbottoms]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share a recent experience as a general reminder to those of us who sell gear here on TalkBass. My goal is to help other sellers avoid the frustrations I encountered, especially when it comes to handling expectations for used instruments.

I recently sold a bass that had been thoroughly inspected and set up by a highly reputable shop. I confirmed the instrument’s playability and ensured it was in excellent condition before listing it. Shortly after the sale, however, the buyer raised concerns that I found unrealistic for a mass-produced, used instrument. They expected sub-millimeter tolerances and factory-level precision on a bass that was clearly listed as used, albeit in excellent condition. The demands were so extreme and pedantic that I started to question whether this was a case of buyer’s remorse—or simply bad faith.

While I did my best to resolve the issue, it became clear that the buyer’s expectations were quite different from mine. This experience reminded me how important it is to:

• Document the Condition: Take EXTREMELY detailed photos and videos of the instrument prior to shipping. Having a thorough record can be incredibly helpful if a dispute arises.
• Set Realistic Expectations: Be clear in your listing about what "used" means. If a buyer is expecting a showroom-perfect instrument, it’s best to address that upfront. In my case, I believed the instrument was in excellent condition, but the buyer’s expectations were far higher than typical for a used item.
• Be Prepared for Unreasonable Demands: While most buyers are reasonable, occasionally you may encounter someone whose standards may not align with yours. Having clear, written communication about the condition and expectations can help resolve these situations—or even prevent them entirely.

Selling gear online is a great way to share and find quality instruments, but it’s always wise to protect yourself by setting clear boundaries and thoroughly documenting your items.

Best of luck with your transactions, and I hope everyone continues to have positive experiences buying and selling here on TalkBass!

Best regards.

 

[pcake]

when people ask me unreasonable questions, i back out of the transaction as courteously as possible. i have had a couple buyers - one was buying a camera - that have ridiculous expectations that can't be met, and nothing you tell them seems to register. by ridiculous, i mean impossible due to laws of physics and optics.

while i'm a huge believer in full disclosure, sometimes a potential buyer has unrealistic expectations that can't be met, even with perfect pics and full disclosure.

documenting can help, but places like ebay will generally take the buyer's side, even with documentation, because the average person doesn't understand the documentation with stuff like guitars and cameras, so often the reps don't understand the issue being disputed. that's why i always try and sell on CL, although a year ago CL slowed a great deal for me.

 

[57pbass]

I always include in my post “ please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information or photos.” To circumvent any problems.

 

[bellbottoms]

Good points. In my case, the issues only arose after the buyer received the instrument. Based on this experience, I’m honestly considering not selling instruments online at all anymore. Selling amps, pedals, and other equipment seems like a safer bet since they typically have fewer areas for subjective complaints or minor issues that buyers might bring up. With instruments, there are so many subjective elements—like action, fret condition, and setup preferences—that can lead to disputes, even when the item is exactly as described.

For now, I’ll likely stick to selling gear that’s less prone to scrutiny over minor details and subjective preferences.

 

[enjoi1018]

I’ve sold a few basses online and never had a real issue. But I’m replying to ask this to you all…

Is action and setup considered “quality” to most? Obviously assuming all parts/adjustments function properly, this seems kind of wild unless there was some sort of statement like “the lowest action fretless you will ever play!” attached. What if someone decides to change the strings upon receipt of it?

This story makes me think of selling a car and someone not happy that the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and mirrors were in the wrong position for them.

I mean… right?

 

[Mike Vee]

You're always going to wind up with a weirdo now and then. It comes with the territory.

The same thing happened to me. I sold the most BEAUTIFUL and mint condition white blonde EBMM Classic Sabre on Reverb. Anyone would die to have such a beautiful bass. Beyond mint condition. But the guy was a weirdo, started claiming weird false facts, such as the neck not being straight, headstock damage, warped pickguard, etc. It was all a complete lie. Luckily he missed the return window where the buyer MUST refund, so i DENIED it of course!! Those were some scary days waiting to see if he would notice that policy or not. Luckily, he didn't!

I also once had a guy FREAK OUT like a psychopath because of the foam I used to pack an FX processor. He claimed this type of foam was "very unsanitary" LMAO, what was he going to do, eat it? He sent me massive paragraphs of text multiple times per day talking crap to me. Again, it was a MINT condition Ensoniq DP/4 which anyone would die to have in that museum quality condition.

Let's of weird and dishonest people out there, man.

 

[ultra60]

Selling amps, pedals, and other equipment seems like a safer bet since they typically have fewer areas for subjective complaints or minor issues that buyers might bring up.

Not necessarily. I sold an amp on Ebay. Buyer gets it and claims it does not work. I agreed to have him take it to a tech. The Tech determined it was an internal fuse and it would be $25. I said I would pay that. Next thing I know, the bill is $80 as the tech decided to fix a few other things, lol. I thought about it and just paid. Was not worth the hassle, possible return, negative feedback, etc.

 

[Mike Vee]

I’ve sold a few basses online and never had a real issue. But I’m replying to ask this to you all…

Is action and setup considered “quality” to most? Assuming all parts/adjustments function properly.

This story makes me think of selling a car and someone not happy that the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and mirrors were in the right position.

I mean… right?

Agreed and that can be a real problem to someone who has no idea how to do a setup, they will feel like it's a problem, and even worse they may damage the bass trying to change it - but it's NOT the buyers responsibility. A lot of sellers have disclaimers on their ads about setup because of this.

I always ask my buyers how they want their setup and I'll do it for them before I ship it. But, even if they want i low don't make it too low or it may be buzzing by the time it arrives. I've had this happen and they get all mad, like dude, learn how to setup a bass!!! It's so easy!

 

[alembicbones]

I don't think I would ever again sell a bass directly to a buyer, even on Talkbass. Luckily, I have the Bass Shop here in Seattle to sell any of my items. Yes they take a healthy consignment fee but they deal with any of the drama. IMO it's money well spent. Too many people out there who suck.

Bones

 

[funkymonk13]

Happened to me recently. The buyer was treating our transaction like I’m a boutique shop selling him a new instrument that he’s paying top dollar for.
If selling on reverb, I recommend never listing anything as “mint”, even if it is in your opinion.

Condition is a matter of interpretation a lot of the time, even if it doesn’t seem like it.

**edit. I will say that if you’re buying/selling online you gotta have reasonable expectations when it comes to conflict resolution. If you don’t, then don’t buy/sell online.

 

[57pbass]

I don't think I would ever again sell a bass directly to a buyer, even on Talkbass. Luckily, I have the Bass Shop here in Seattle to sell any of my items. Yes they take a healthy consignment fee but they deal with any of the drama. IMO it's money well spent. Too many people out there who suck.

Bones

I’ve put a few basses on consignment as well. It’s pricey but money well spent.
I also helps the small business music shop.

 

[vinlander]

All my instrument sales occur in person so the buyer can inspect and test drive, I never ship.
Living in a big city help not having to depend on the hassle of shipping with all what can be expected to happen...
Sometimes it does take time however; I had a Peavey bass for sale like for 10 years on marketplace and Kijiji.
I would take the ad down for a couple months then back there sometimes increasing even the price as the market changed.
I finally sold it last year 200$ more than the price of my original ad 10 years ago.
Of course it requires patience and room not having to flip fast.

 

[J Wilson]

The last time I did an online sale was to a guy who if he'd won a million bucks in cash, would cry and carry on like a gut-shot animal that he got paid in 100-dollar bills instead of twenties.

More BS than the law allows and hundreds of dollars in shipping later, No More Online Sales for JW. Remember all these clowns that order a bass from Sweetwater or MF only to try it out and return it, with very little chance they were actually going to keep it and pay for it? They do it to individual sellers just the same way. Ask me how I know . . . . no, Don't Ask, I hate getting that mad all over again.

So for me, it's local or a trade-in, Period.

 

[birminghambass]

This is getting more common on TB I'm afraid. More hobbyist/collectors and less gigging players here. I recently had a guy ask if 9.2 lbs meant 9 lbs 2 oz or 9 lbs 3.2 oz as it could be either one. I told him that if 1.2 oz is a deal breaker then this was not the bass for him.

 

[N4860]

This is getting more common on TB I'm afraid. More hobbyist/collectors and less gigging players here. I recently had a guy ask if 9.2 lbs meant 9 lbs 2 oz or 9 lbs 3.2 oz as it could be either one. I told him that if 1.2 oz is a deal breaker then this was not the bass for him.

Wouldn't you think the hobbyist/collectors would be the ones that don't care about the weight/minor details? I'd expect the gigging musicians to be the ones to really worry about that sort of thing.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

This is getting more common on TB I'm afraid. More hobbyist/collectors and less gigging players here. I recently had a guy ask if 9.2 lbs meant 9 lbs 2 oz or 9 lbs 3.2 oz as it could be either one. I told him that if 1.2 oz is a deal breaker then this was not the bass for him.

On the flip side, there are many weight descriptions that are very imprecise and it seems like some sellers aren't bothered enough to give a relatively accurate figure when it is actually important to many buyers. 1.2 ounces is a low variation, but you should be able to give something within a quarter pound tolerance.

 

[moon-bass]

This may have "old man yelling at the cloud vibes" but I am finding that more and more buyers these days are being less reasonable/high expectations to the point where I would almost call it entitlement. I've had very few issues on TB, but more and more on Reverb, buyers complain about minor issues (like a scratch on a pedal that was clearly shown on the pictures and called out on the description).

More often than not either looking for a partial refund/discount or "free return." the whole "customer is always right" mentality, "try before you buy," "taking advantage of the return policy," etc.

I would never let it stop me from buying and selling online tho.

That being said, I've definitely upped my game when it comes to documenting something before I sell it, as well as when I buy something and unbox it, to the point of videoing something as I box/unbox it. If someone asks me "is it set up low" or some variation on a bass that I am selling, I respond with the exact measurement and picture of the calipers. You're low action might not be the same as my low action.

As far as expectations go, I expect it to look like the pictures and be able to be set up to manufacturer's specifications. I also expect that (unless otherwise advertised) that I'll have to change the strings and that the bass will need a setup.

Doesn't matter how well it was set up, but I do expect that a bass shipping from one environment to another in non-climate controlled conditions will at least need a tweaking.

 

[birminghambass]

Wouldn't you think the hobbyist/collectors would be the ones that don't care about the weight/minor details? I'd expect the gigging musicians to be the ones to really worry about that sort of thing.

IMO the gigging musician is more likely to see their instrument as a tool and not a decoration hanging in the wall. I've sold at least 200 basses on TB/Reverb/EBay. The very few issues I've had have all fit the mold I referenced. But again, just my opinion. I've been wrong before. Probably.

 

[Salem6127]

You're always going to wind up with a weirdo now and then. It comes with the territory.

The same thing happened to me. I sold the most BEAUTIFUL and mint condition white blonde EBMM Classic Sabre on Reverb. Anyone would die to have such a beautiful bass. Beyond mint condition. But the guy was a weirdo, started claiming weird false facts, such as the neck not being straight, headstock damage, warped pickguard, etc. It was all a complete lie. Luckily he missed the return window where the buyer MUST refund, so i DENIED it of course!! Those were some scary days waiting to see if he would notice that policy or not. Luckily, he didn't!

I also once had a guy FREAK OUT like a psychopath because of the foam I used to pack an FX processor. He claimed this type of foam was "very unsanitary" LMAO, what was he going to do, eat it? He sent me massive paragraphs of text multiple times per day talking crap to me. Again, it was a MINT condition Ensoniq DP/4 which anyone would die to have in that museum quality condition.

Let's of weird and dishonest people out there, man.

Oh man, those "warped neck" claims always boil my blood. Unlike a scratch or scuff, it's ambiguous enough that you can never really prove them wrong. It's such a last ditch attempt to haggle and something music stores in my area love to pull on folks attempting trade ins on their used instruments.

 

[bigtone23]

You're always going to wind up with a weirdo now and then. It comes with the territory.

The same thing happened to me. I sold the most BEAUTIFUL and mint condition white blonde EBMM Classic Sabre on Reverb. Anyone would die to have such a beautiful bass. Beyond mint condition. But the guy was a weirdo, started claiming weird false facts, such as the neck not being straight, headstock damage, warped pickguard, etc. It was all a complete lie. Luckily he missed the return window where the buyer MUST refund, so i DENIED it of course!! Those were some scary days waiting to see if he would notice that policy or not. Luckily, he didn't!

I also once had a guy FREAK OUT like a psychopath because of the foam I used to pack an FX processor. He claimed this type of foam was "very unsanitary" LMAO, what was he going to do, eat it? He sent me massive paragraphs of text multiple times per day talking crap to me. Again, it was a MINT condition Ensoniq DP/4 which anyone would die to have in that museum quality condition.

Let's of weird and dishonest people out there, man.

As a seller, I err on the side of under promise, over deliver. I take lots of good photos and disclose any issues, no matter how small. I also believe in making sure the written description is thorough, to cover my ass.
I haven't dealt with many weirdos, but have received many messages about how the item is 'better than described.'

"Mint" is a loaded word, "beyond mint' is theoretically impossible. Mint=100% condition. Excellent still implies that it's like 95%+ condition, which gives room for minor things like pick scratches, maybe a small ding on the tip of the headstock. Mint really should be banned from describing the condition of anything used. Maybe only when it's NOS in it's factory sealed box/package, but even then it's condition won't really be known until it's opened up. It could have a small scratch from the factory or it's condition deteriorated while in extended storage.

This may have "old man yelling at the cloud vibes" but I am finding that more and more buyers these days are being less reasonable/high expectations to the point where I would almost call it entitlement. I've had very few issues on TB, but more and more on Reverb, buyers complain about minor issues (like a scratch on a pedal that was clearly shown on the pictures and called out on the description).

More often than not either looking for a partial refund/discount or "free return." the whole "customer is always right" mentality, "try before you buy," "taking advantage of the return policy," etc.

I would never let it stop me from buying and selling online tho.

That being said, I've definitely upped my game when it comes to documenting something before I sell it, as well as when I buy something and unbox it, to the point of videoing something as I box/unbox it. If someone asks me "is it set up low" or some variation on a bass that I am selling, I respond with the exact measurement and picture of the calipers. You're low action might not be the same as my low action.

As far as expectations go, I expect it to look like the pictures and be able to be set up to manufacturer's specifications. I also expect that (unless otherwise advertised) that I'll have to change the strings and that the bass will need a setup.

Doesn't matter how well it was set up, but I do expect that a bass shipping from one environment to another in non-climate controlled conditions will at least need a tweaking.

On the flip side, as a buyer, I keep my expectations lower than the pictures and description provide. I also ask questions about things that have been overlooked in the pics or description. I have my reconciliation with my expectation when the item is in my possession. I'll overlook set up things, but will not accept undisclosed issues with more serious things like neck/truss issues, bad electronics, etc...