Seller gave wrong weight

[acolwe]

How long was the instrument in your possession, and did you ever actually handle the instrument?
This sounds like a complete nothing burger.

It's been several months. Not expecting anything at this point, per response below.

 

[acolwe]

Do you think that extra 1.5 pounds is going to prevent you from selling it?

If not, I don’t see a particular reason for sweating the original seller about it.

It may. We'll see. I never buy basses over 10lbs, for example. Wouldn't have bought this one for that reason if I'd known. I only messaged the seller to let them know that they weight was wrong. Didn't ask for anything else.

 

[acolwe]

buyer received the bass and apparently didn’t find the weight subjectively objectionable, held on to the bass for some time, all of which seems to me to effectively have ratified the purchase, whatever it ends up weighing… only had an issue when the weight was objectively measured when buyer decided to sell the bass for reasons other than the weight… idk, i think it’s buyer’s bass all the way.

Also, IMHO I think “buyer beware” is the overarching theme with used gear, and buyer assumes the risk of guesstimations being off, if it is obvious that specs given are guesses. IMHO Buyer would have the burden of telling seller the sale is contingent upon seller obtaining accurate weight measurements, if weight was a deciding factor, which then gives seller the option to comply or move on to another buyer who’s ok with the uncertainty (ie ok with assuming the risk). I can see that at some point a margin of error on guesstimating should not go beyond reasonable limits, but without clearer communication up front, you're left to argue what you each think is reasonable… which argument should have taken place immediately upon receipt of the bass by buyer.

The sale is not in question for sure. It's my bass. The misrepresentation of the weight was the issue I wanted to bring up so the seller knows. Indeed, buyer's beware is the TB deal. But false info on an ad is false info beyond the buyer's control. So was wondering if many others experience that as well and how they've dealt with it.

 

[elgranluis]

Ive bought more than one bass (in person and also in the classifieds) where there was something wrong with the bass.

The way I think about those deals is simple : lesson learned. “Now I know exactly what to ask next time”

Now this particular scenario where the OP cant feel the difference in weight between 9.5 and 10.5 lbs UNTIL the bass got weighted… I think for all practical matters the bass was 9.5 lbs for the last few years, and everyone agreed on that , until someone put it in the scale.

 

[birminghambass]

I don't give exact weights any more. I've had a buyer complain that my advertised 9.2 lbs bass was actually closer to 9.5 lbs and that he never would have brought it. Less than 3 oz difference. Ridiculous. At this point I'm shocked there hasn't been threads about how certain strings weigh more than others.

 

[2F/2F]

Never list weights.

Never sell to anyone who asks about weight.

Never have a problem of this nature.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

Several months. I am not expecting anything at this point, just curious about other people's experiences and responses to similar issue. "Nothing burger"?

Yep, nothing burger.
If you claim to only purchase instruments of a certain weight and literally don’t even notice for several months, then message the seller and post publicly about misrepresentation, again after months. Your burger is made from nothing. It’s like buying a blue car, putting 5000 miles on it then getting upset it isn’t red.

 

[g-dude]

Weight doesn’t matter.

Balance and your strap matters far more.

I have basses that weigh more than my Les Paul that feel lighter.

The strap I use with my Alembic Essence 5 makes it feel better than the strap I use with my Höfner.

 

[pb9717]

I have two scales. One is a fishing scale that I hang the bass on. The other is a digital kitchen scale. I balance the bass on the strap pin.

Taking readings from both, at various temperatures, relative humidity, and phases of the moon, I then average more readings from various zodiac signs, especially if there’s a pbass rising indicator.

These data points get entered in to a spread sheet and graphed over time.

String changes are noted. Funky old greasy flats weigh more than fresh rounds.

Each year I strain out the denatured alcohol from my string soaking tube and weigh the finger meat and dirt.

Outstanding.

 

[pb9717]

Weight doesn’t matter……to some. Once you get used to nice light basses, wearing a boat anchor becomes a non starter. I don’t care if it balances like a triple beam. That sucka weighs 10, 11, 12 lbs…..I wont even consider it.

Also, It aint brain surgury, but you do need a good ol’ digital kitchen scale. Works perfect everytime.

 

[Swerve]

You contacted the seller after several months about the weight being off by 1.5lbs??

Bro talk about second-hand embarrassment.

 

[MindinAction]

Weight makes a big difference to me due to a shoulder injury. My goal is 8.5 lbs or lighter. That is the TOP limit for me. I always ask the weight. I think it's a normal spec to ask about, and I've been clear about my needs with sellers. I've ended up with a couple of basses that were a few ounces over the max. I wasn't ecstatic, but I didn't think it was worthy of complaint or a bad review. I've never bought a bass that was so different from what the seller said that I'd return it.

I also operate on basis that anything I notice more than a week after the bass arrives is on me and not the seller. I think if I were the seller in this case, I'd feel the buyer was trying to get something out of me and I wouldn't appreciate it. ESPECIALLY if I'm being notified months later that I don't know how to read a scale .

 

[Mister Magic]

I don't give exact weights any more. I've had a buyer complain that my advertised 9.2 lbs bass was actually closer to 9.5 lbs and that he never would have brought it. Less than 3 oz difference. Ridiculous. At this point I'm shocked there hasn't been threads about how certain strings weigh more than others.

That's almost a 5oz discrepancy, which is significant imo.

However, if as the seller I made such a glaring misrepresentation of an instrument as in the OP's case, I would want to know about it. Though I would probably offer a concession, I'm not sure I would expect someone else to.

An 11lb bass is a pretty tough sell. If I was going to reach out to the previous seller, I would be clear and direct about why I was contacting them.

My thoughts are that this was just a life lesson you will be apply to endless situations.

 

[winston]

I bought a bass here on TB that was about 14 oz. heavier than advertised.
Seller had good history and regularly posted weights for instruments.
His scale just must have been off, I immediately notified him.
I ended up keeping the bass as it was not particularly common - Lakland Skyline fretless, still under 10#.

I don't need something accurate down to the gram, but...
It's easy enough to check your scale against a couple known weights - full soda cans are a good reference.
If it's not in the ballpark, get a new one.

 

[dfp]

The sale is not in question for sure. It's my bass. The misrepresentation of the weight was the issue I wanted to bring up so the seller knows. Indeed, buyer's beware is the TB deal. But false info on an ad is false info beyond the buyer's control. So was wondering if many others experience that as well and how they've dealt with it.

Ok well, is it misrepresentation, or is it a mistake? Whose idea of “close enough” do you use? My point is IMHO you deal with it before the transaction, and if you fail to deal with it, you live and learn.

 

[iTzPrime]

I am not expecting anything at this late point except to notify them that they misrepresented the weight, whether intentionally or not.

I didn't "decide" it wasn't the weight I thought. The ad said 9.5lbs but it was actually 11lbs. That's not a decision, that's a misrepresentation. And I am selling cause I don't play it enough, just not my thing. Besides the weight it is a great instrument, as I told the seller, too.

This issue certainly is one for any seller if they are misrepresenting the weight of their instruments, whether intentionally or not. They should know. Hence, my message to them. That's that. The sale is done.

As for the reason for this post, I was very curious to see if other people have experienced this or have any thoughts on this.

1.5lbs are 0.6kg. A lot of digital scales depending on surface below and calibrations are likely off by that much. So unless the seller is a professional instrument dealer, I would expect that. Given that you yourself didn't notice. Mate really?

 

[NocoLaw]

I think we owe it to each other to be honest in ads; and it would have been perfectly legit to send it back within a day or two. After months, I agree, I wouldn’t even have contacted the seller.

 

[murphy]

The sale is not in question for sure. It's my bass. The misrepresentation of the weight was the issue I wanted to bring up so the seller knows. Indeed, buyer's beware is the TB deal. But false info on an ad is false info beyond the buyer's control. So was wondering if many others experience that as well and how they've dealt with it.

Happened to me.
Same weight difference.
Sucked it up and within a year put the bass up and sold in local store on consignment.
Decided to not buy a bass I cannot play first...or at least have digital proof of weight.
Shopping at local stores is my number one option if possible.
Every bass I could not play first, I have not kept!

 

[Hawk620]

Several months. I am not expecting anything at this point, just curious about other people's experiences and responses to similar issue. "Nothing burger"?

JMHO of course but it seems to be an issue between you and the seller. Any thoughts or opinions we may have mean nothing. Personally I would not even have brought it up in a post let alone begun a thread about it.

 

[acolwe]

I’ve sold several basses. When asked about the weight, I usually say “I don’t know” because I don’t want to get in a 1/2 pound dispute.
I do currently have a vintage instrument for sale at a significant price. For that one my answer is x.x pounds on my bathroom scale.

Sure. If this bass were 10lbs, I might not be rwitin

JMHO of course but it seems to be an issue between you and the seller. Any thoughts or opinions we may have mean nothing. Personally I would not even have brought it up in a post let alone begun a thread about it.

Ok, well I am curious if other people experience this a lot on TB or not. Hence the thread.