MIM Precision Bass - diasappointed!

[mongo2]

But this is another thing, I've never seen:
View attachment 2797604

I saw that in Fenders starting in the '70s.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

The fact that a broken allen wrench was included sends red flags for me....makes you wonder if the trussrod is compromised at this point....no WAY i would keep that bass at that price especially.

It's possible. As I stated in an earlier thread, it's unlikely that the factory uses the wrench in the box, so it would be more likely if it was a return. It might be a red herring, though.

 

[Bassique]

OP: do you buy clothes and wear them and then return them for a refund as well?

That is actually a common thing to do, atleast here in europe, you can return them for free in 2 weeks period usually. Well not actually wearing them for too long but atleast trying them. I would imagine same would go with trying your instrument before you actually decide to buy it? Dont see anything unethical about that, unless you actually use the instrument in a gig or something and then just decide to order another one just for the fun of it.

 

[Lownote38]

That's why I asked for front and back headshots...also a pic of the CNC "hole" under the guard would be nice. I don't know why, but when I saw that snapped Allen key, I instantly thought forgery. I could be completely off base with that, of course.

I've purchased several MIM Fender basses over the last decade, and not one of them came with the Allen key in the first place. They don't even come with a gig bag these days! Usually, if you get a hex key wrench, it's the "T" style. There should indeed be a CNC hole under the guard as well.

 

[Lownote38]

The fact that a broken allen wrench was included sends red flags for me....makes you wonder if the trussrod is compromised at this point....no WAY i would keep that bass at that price especially.

The fact that a MIM Fender bass came with an Allen wrench at all is a red flag to me. Unless you buy a Fender that comes with a case, you usually don't get the tools, cleaning cloth, strap, cable, etc. If you do get a hex wrench, I've only ever seen a Fender come with the "T" version. Never one that would just break like the one with this. I am doubting that this bass is A) new due to the fret ware, and B) completely Fender even.

 

[Lownote38]

I saw that in Fenders starting in the '70s.

I've never seen it on a modern MIM Fender bass, though.

 

[Korladis]

Big difference. You intended to buy a bass. He didn't.

Exactly. Also being straight up with the seller, saying outright that he was going to pick the best of the three to keep.

If the OP had said "I had hoped to keep it if I liked it," my opinion would be totally different.

It's possible. As I stated in an earlier thread, it's unlikely that the factory uses the wrench in the box, so it would be more likely if it was a return. It might be a red herring, though.

Yeah, that's part of why I think they sent him someone else's return.

 

[murphy]

This kind of practice has become normal in the youth culture....especially in Europe....I am told it is perfectly normal and nothing wrong

It is sad....and the reason we have less and less retail stores

 

[Sixgunn]

And i AGREE with you on that point....but why is the bass not an issue?

I will repeat again, working for successful companies that dealt with a certain amount of returns, RE-STOCKING fee....its purpose is to cover things of this sort as well as discourage returns.

Just sayin....if i were sent a brand new bass in this condition, i would be on the phone, email, whatever complaining....its not like the bass was discounted either.

Matter of fact i would raise H##L IF i had to pay a re-stocking fee for this bass!

The great thing about living in the USA is we have a wide range of choices....Guitar Center used i think is a good thing, decent prices and easily returned to a local Guitar Center if need be...serves me well anyway and my local shops are decent overall about setups too.

Its not the same in other countries, i KNOW this well as i have shipped tubes and effect pedals all over the world.

It's not relevant to my point. He said he had no intention of keeping it (whatever the condition). If they had restocking charges, he would never have abused their time and resources in the first place.

 

[Sixgunn]

This kind of practice has become normal in the youth culture....especially in Europe....I am told it is perfectly normal and nothing wrong

It is sad....and the reason we have less and less retail stores

I could be told that, ad infinitum and still would never do it

 

[Axstar]

I saw that in Fenders starting in the '70s.

You know where you don't see it? Squier bodies!

My sofa bass at the moment is a VM '70s Jazz body paired with a MIM Jazz neck. The Squier body didn't have the weird router guide circle under the pickguard, and it didn't have the universal-slop-fit Mickey Mouse ears machined into the corners of the neck pocket.

 

[Korladis]

I could be told that, ad infinitum and still would never do it

I wouldn't do it for a few reasons.

One, and most importantly, the golden rule. I'm not religious, but I think it's a good moral guideline (even one that I am admittedly very far from perfect at following). If I was selling something, I wouldn't want people abusing the return policy. Therefore I don't abuse return policies myself.

Second, having exactly 30 days to return something is probably a deadline I'd screw up somehow.

 

[Sixgunn]

Second, having exactly 30 days to return something is probably a deadline I'd screw up somehow.

There is that!!

 

[gln1955]

That is actually a common thing to do, atleast here in europe, you can return them for free in 2 weeks period usually. Well not actually wearing them for too long but atleast trying them. I would imagine same would go with trying your instrument before you actually decide to buy it? Dont see anything unethical about that, unless you actually use the instrument in a gig or something and then just decide to order another one just for the fun of it.

Women in the US have been "buying" dresses, wearing them to a cocktail party and returning them for as long as I can remember. It's considered low class by most people but it doesn't stop the posers.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

It's not relevant to my point. He said he had no intention of keeping it (whatever the condition). If they had restocking charges, he would never have abused their time and resources in the first place.

I can see your point with most items, however guitars are personal....some are dead sounding etc.

Some folks are super picky and buy new, ME, i buy used and can live with "fixable flaws".

Its not like buying a big screen TV or other consumer item by the masses.

What should a retailer do with this item when its returned if i may ask?

I know what the companies i worked for would do, offer it as a demo with a discount unless its proven that some parts are indeed not Fender, then who KNOWS.....is it possible someone swapped parts on this bass and returned it?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I wish a subpar p bass was my worst problem

 

[bolophonic]

That is actually a common thing to do, atleast here in europe, you can return them for free in 2 weeks period usually. Well not actually wearing them for too long but atleast trying them. I would imagine same would go with trying your instrument before you actually decide to buy it? Dont see anything unethical about that, unless you actually use the instrument in a gig or something and then just decide to order another one just for the fun of it.

Read the OP's second post.

I didn't plan to keep it in the first place, lol. And for almost 700€ this bass is a joke.

 

[Duder]

I've purchased several MIM Fender basses over the last decade, and not one of them came with the Allen key in the first place. They don't even come with a gig bag these days! Usually, if you get a hex key wrench, it's the "T" style. There should indeed be a CNC hole under the guard as well.

I don't know about MIM, but my MIJ Mustang I got last year (brand new, limited release) came with one. I can't remember if my CIJ Jaguar did.

 

[Sixgunn]

I can see your point with most items, however guitars are personal....some are dead sounding etc.

Some folks are super picky and buy new, ME, i buy used and can live with "fixable flaws".

Its not like buying a big screen TV or other consumer item by the masses.

What should a retailer do with this item when its returned if i may ask?

I know what the companies i worked for would do, offer it as a demo with a discount unless its proven that some parts are indeed not Fender, then who KNOWS.....is it possible someone swapped parts on this bass and returned it?

Still has nothing to do with the fact that he never intended to buy the bass.

I can see your point with most items, however guitars are personal....some are dead sounding etc.

Some folks are super picky and buy new, ME, i buy used and can live with "fixable flaws".

Its not like buying a big screen TV or other consumer item by the masses.

What should a retailer do with this item when its returned if i may ask?

I know what the companies i worked for would do, offer it as a demo with a discount unless its proven that some parts are indeed not Fender, then who KNOWS.....is it possible someone swapped parts on this bass and returned it?

You're so close! It doesn't matter if it's a dish washer, toaster, phillips screwdriver, TV or a bass. I'm talking about people who use deceptive practices to "use" merchandise they never intend to buy.

 

[murphy]

My daughter and her friends in UK do this kind of thing....online buying everything...I told her my opinion and was just blown off....silly old man