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No more ebay(basses) for me!

apollo bass

apollo bass

Jul 22, 2010
46
2
Keithville, Louisiana
#1
Lightning apparently does strike twice!

Many of you read my thread "Screwed on ebay" a couple weeks ago. Well, I took Pilgrim's advice and went looking for a one of the Gretsch short scale Jr Jet Electromatic basses. I found one, with a small nick, used Buy It Now and picked it up for a cool $160. I was elated!

I paid immediately, seller replied immediately and agreed to my request to wait a couple days before shipping so the bass would arrive after I returned from a trip this weekend. All seemed right with the world. Then I got home a few hours ago and found this message...

"I'm really really sorry, but the bass got stolen last night (Friday).
I work near FedEx, but not UPS, and I remembered you said you knew
your UPS driver and he'd leave your stuff where he knows it is safe,
so I wanted to ship the bass UPS. I waited until Friday, because if I
shipped it Friday it would be there Tuesday, and I asked my girlfriend
to ship it along with a guitar I sold on Amazon. She took the big box
with the guitar inside and waited in line a minute and then came back
out to get the bass, and someone had actually taken the bass out of
her car! Made off with the box and everything (the box was a Fender
box from another guitar, so obviously it broadcasted what was in the
box). She called the cops and everything, and they took a report, but
it was a $160 bass guitar, so they didn't/wouldn't do much. Hopefully
it turns up in a nearby pawn shop, but we're not holding our breath.
I'm obviously not happy since I basically had $160 in money stolen!
I'm really sorry about that; I refunded the money immediately. Again,
I'm really sorry."

WTH??? Twice in one month!? I had even received an update from ebay saying it was shipped on Friday so I was looking foward to playing my new bass tomorrow or Tuesday.

I can blame only myself, the seller has a 12 rating with 92.9% feedback but all of the post sale communication seemed perfect. I know, there is the possibility it REALLY was stolen, and I did get my money back (again!) so there's no harm, but after the horror stories following my last episode I'm feeling a bit snakebit. Is there anyone I can trust out there to buy a used bass from?

:mad::help::bawl:
 
#2
apollo bass said:
I asked my girlfriend
to ship it along with a guitar I sold on Amazon. She took the big box
with the guitar inside and waited in line a minute and then came back
out to get the bass, and someone had actually taken the bass out of
her car! Made off with the box and everything (the box was a Fender
box from another guitar, so obviously it broadcasted what was in the
box).
Click to expand...
Even if he's telling the truth, it's a boneheaded thing to: 1) offload to a girlfriend who is ignorant of dealing with musical instruments and 2) leaving an easily fenceable musical instrument unattended for any length of time. It only takes a few seconds when your back is turned. I knew a guy who had his drums stolen on the last day of school when he was loading his car and went inside for another load.

But I have a question: when a new Electromatic Jr. is so cheap (currently $244 at MF) with FREE shipping, full factory warranty and 30-day return privilege, why try to save such a few dollars ($40-50 after adding in shipping) when the difference in risk is so high?
 
#3
Im new to TB, but every purchase I have made on this site's classified's board have been Awesome! Check out the basses for sale section here, there is always an endless supply and the sales always go great! TB'ers rule!
 
#7
apollo bass said:
A good question. (the shipping was only $20) but I think I've learned my lesson and I'll just pony up to Guitar Center of Musicisan's Friend and get a new one.
Click to expand...
... or better yet, your locally owned and operated music store if they carry the line. Here in Seattle some of the local stores have as good or better prices than GC/MF and often include a free setup; one store gives free setups for life.
 
#13
Hey I understand, no money lost, no harm no foul and I agree. It's just frustrating as H to have two deals go down like this in a row, so allow me to vent a little. I've been using ebay for well over 10 years and these are the only two deals that have ever gone bad. Two bad deals in about a month, both on bass guitars---Just seems too ironic for words !
 
#14
Danzig said:
Im new to TB, but every purchase I have made on this site's classified's board have been Awesome! Check out the basses for sale section here, there is always an endless supply and the sales always go great! TB'ers rule!
Click to expand...

TBers are a great bunch, and generally speaking the confidence level is much higher when making a deal here. But caveat emptor; when you can't look the other person in the eye and put your hands on the goods before you pay there is always the chance you could run into a bad deal or a bad dealer, even on TB. It has happened to me, and others.

Props to the 99% who do their darndest to keep it a safe and reputable forum.
 
#15
apollo bass said:
"I'm really really sorry, but the bass got stolen last night (Friday).
I work near FedEx, but not UPS, and I remembered you said you knew
your UPS driver and he'd leave your stuff where he knows it is safe,
so I wanted to ship the bass UPS. I waited until Friday, because if I
shipped it Friday it would be there Tuesday, and I asked my girlfriend
to ship it along with a guitar I sold on Amazon. She took the big box
with the guitar inside and waited in line a minute and then came back
out to get the bass, and someone had actually taken the bass out of
her car! Made off with the box and everything (the box was a Fender
box from another guitar, so obviously it broadcasted what was in the
box). She called the cops and everything, and they took a report, but
it was a $160 bass guitar, so they didn't/wouldn't do much. Hopefully
it turns up in a nearby pawn shop, but we're not holding our breath.
I'm obviously not happy since I basically had $160 in money stolen!
I'm really sorry about that; I refunded the money immediately. Again,
I'm really sorry."
Click to expand...

This ^^ is a lie.
 
#17
I've always been lucky with musical gear on eBay. Some bad communicators and a few nervous moments, but never have lost out.
Been burned a few times on small stuff. Once by a seller from Ohio and twice by sellers from NC. Took my 10 -12 bucks and vanished.
 
#19
You never know though... sometimes crazy stuff happens. I mean, depending on where the guy lives, it very well could have gotten stolen. Yes, maybe he could have gotten more money for it, but he most likely would have said something else instead of making up this extravagant story for you.
 

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