Receiving a Bass heavier than advertised

[ImTheOnlyOne]

OP either mixes units or failed at reading a scale.

The weight was stated as 9.4 lbs. (lbs in decimal form)
On my postal scale it weighs 9.14.47. (lbs in decimal-ish form)
Close to 10 lbs (implying either OP's misunderstanding of how decimal numbers work, or is a mis-transcription of lbs and oz from the postal scale)

From a different point a view, barely a rounding error

 

[toastw]

If you weren't staring at the numbers on the scale, could you tell the difference just by holding it?

 

[MCS4]

If it was a custom builder guaranteeing they would get the bass under a certain weight, it might be an issue. For anyone else a difference of approximately a half pound or so is something I would chalk up to a understandable measurement error or variance between scales. I think weights are an important thing to get roughly correct if you are going to list them, for those folks (which now include myself) for whom weight has unfortunately become a factor, but more in the sense of determining that a bass is closer to 8lbs versus 10lbs, or whatever, as opposed to more fine gradations within a single pound. Certainly not "false advertising" in my opinion and I doubt it was intentional.

 

[sunbeast]

I'd have been immediately suspect of a 5-string Fender Jazz that weighed that much under 10lbs to begin with personally. As another poster said, if weight is a big concern with a 5-string then Fender (and particularly a Jazz body) is simply the wrong choice. As far as having grounds to return it, yeah probably via Ebay/Reverb rules, but 1/2 a pound is a fairly minor discrepancy and probably chocked up to either an inaccurate scale or the way the bass was balanced on the scale (assuming the seller wasn't using a hanging-type scale).

 

[mdogs]

If it is so “rare,” the weight should not be that big of a deal. But, a “rare” Fender 5 string… only one I can think of that and even that is not all that rare.

 

[LHbassist]

The question is this.. is it a deal breaker if it weighs a bit more? We're not talking about pounds here, it's what? A half pound? Even a pound is do-able, all you need to do to get rid of some of that weight, is install lighter tuners.. if you like the bass.
My two Sire five string V-7s are not the same weight- see photo, same hardware- red one is Ash maple neck- The blue one is Alder/Ebony. I play both on gigs. I can tell you this, when I'm playing my blue one, I don't sit there saying to myself, Man, I wish I would've brought the red one, this extra .81 oz. is killing me! Oh, I'm 74, bad back, some calcified artery related stuff in my legs- and sit on a stool to play now. I use a Lekato neoprene wide strap- 22 bucks on Amazon. It really helps with any bass I play.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087QDYBCC

 

[yodedude2]

O.P.: "On my postal scale it weighs 9.14.47."

more specificity neeeded here, please break this out in units ~

 

[J Wilson]

It's only a deal breaker if it's a deal breaker to you.

I wouldn't lose my mind over a 1/2 pound, be we can't decide for you. It's up to YOU.

 

[Benko]

It happened to me, specifically ask for the weight several time, confirmed twice and the bass arrived with 2 full LBS more! (and communicated weight was already not light)

Seller said he just asked ChatGPT the weight for that model (Jeeeez...really??).

Then seller took no responsability for his deception and ghosted/blocked me. It was my worst transaction experience in the past 5 years.

Mistake can happen, we are not buying from stores but doing peer-to-peer transaction, but if you shared some information it has to be correct otherwise be ready to work a compensation

 

[Pocket Dave]

Digital postal scales measure pounds, ounces and hundredths of an ounce.

So, 9 pounds, 14 ounces and 47 hundredths of an ounce is about an ounce and a half under 10 pounds.

OTOH, fractional definitions are commonly used to express weight in pounds with one decimal point. 9.4 pounds = 9 4/10 pounds.

Yeah, it’s confusing. Best to confirm with the seller up front.

Is it false advertising? Who knows. Is it posted in error? Yes. Return it? Depends. What’s your level of discomfort? It’s an 8.07-ounce increase over what’s advertised.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

O.P.: "On my postal scale it weighs 9.14.47."

more specificity neeeded here, please break this out in units ~

9 oxen, 14 head, and 47 pence.

 

[logdrum]

His scale could be off. I would not return it. It is a 5 string, many 4 sting Fenders could be as heavy.

Also if they use a luggage scale, those only get close to accurate after a certain weight is pulling down on the spring. Next time ask for a picture of the weight ( that's what I did when I sold) and I even stated what the elevation of my town is. even though it will minuscule difference/ I also told them I was using a scale from Harbor Freight not something fancy

 

[birminghambass]

Meh. I had a buyer complain that my 9.2lbs advertised bass was NOT 9 lbs 2oz. In this case 9.2 on my scale was almost 9lbs 4 oz. TWO WHOLE OUNCES!!! IMO if a few oz are that important then buying basses on the Internet is not for you.

 

[BobKos]

I bought a Warmoth body used that was advertised 4.6lbs. It came in at 5.6 lbs. Given the very precise advertised weight and the fact the real weight was written in the neck pocket (illegible in ad pics), I felt miffed and reached out to the seller. He was pissed that I felt the need to bother him with such a trivial matter. I could have filed an eBay claim to be a dick but I didn't. I built the bass and it actually turned out to be a nice bass. But it taught me a big lesson.

I also bought an EBMM Reflex that was claimed 8.5 lbs. Impossible I thought. I contacted the seller who was a retail store and specifically asked for a re-weigh. He came back 8.6 lbs FOR SURE. I bought it and it came all the way from Hawaii at 9.5 lbs. UGH! I reached out to him and he just refunded me $100 on the deal with no prodding. So all is well.

 

[rayzak]

My G&L Tribute Jazz Bass weighs 12 lbs... on the dot. It's so heavy it has it's own magnetic field and gravity. It has a couple of headless Steinbergers as moons, in orbit around it.

I had an early Korean Lakland Skyline JO that I saw in the shop. Took it off the wall, sat & plugged it in and fell in love. Was so pumped, I didn't even realize it was that heavy until I actually got it home and strapped it on! Still don't think I can throw a baseball ever again

 

[sunbeast]

It happened to me, specifically ask for the weight several time, confirmed twice and the bass arrived with 2 full LBS more! (and communicated weight was already not light)

Seller said he just asked ChatGPT the weight for that model (Jeeeez...really??).

Then seller took no responsability for his deception and ghosted/blocked me. It was my worst transaction experience in the past 5 years.

Mistake can happen, we are not buying from stores but doing peer-to-peer transaction, but if you shared some information it has to be correct otherwise be ready to work a compensation

Haha I've asked for weight on a few Ebay/Reverb listings where the seller just searched for the weight online too!

 

[Thumpin6string]

I read it as 9lbs 14oz also. ???

All I saw was 9.14.4, whatever that means. I figured that maybe it was some type of typo.

 

[monsterthompson]

Was the weight discussed and stipulated as a deal maker/breaker for the transaction?

I wouldn’t be bothered by this issue but everyone has different concerns or considerations. As others have stated this could be a measurement or calibration issue with the scales in question. It could be an honest typo.

 

[monsterthompson]

All I saw was 9.14.4, whatever that means. I figured that maybe it was some type of typo.

On my postal scale it weighs 9.14.47.
Close to 10 lbs.

If you read the very next sentence in the OP you get a contextual clue that the “14.47” part is meant to be ounces, hence “close to 10 lbs.” it’s not as clear as it could/should be.

 

[Thumpin6string]

If you read the very next sentence in the OP you get a contextual clue that the “14.47” part is meant to be ounces, hence “close to 10 lbs.” it’s not as clear as it could/should be.

That was what was confusing but doesn't matter. He is obviously not happy