Shipping Damage: Lost For Words

[fretno]

one thing I learned here "Because I purchased the Reverb Safe Shipping Insurance it will cover the damage"


will do for sure

 

[Auspuff]

Realistically couldnt you just list that bass for $150 bucks less than you did originally?....I'm sure it would sell, a lot of people dont really care about a few dings, mostly when it plays great and it means getting a good deal.

Refinishing the whole thing seems a bit excessive and will def cost more than $150.

True that.

Fender gets big bucks for beating 'em up, at the shop.

 

[mikewalker]

So Anyway, my sympathy to the OP. It's tough to have to sell something twice.
And I can't believe what constitutes 'damage' to a bass considering the primary function of an instrument. Not a word from the buyer about how it plays/sounds.
I'd have taken it to my next gig and wouldn't have given it another thought.

I kinda think that it's all this dreamy "resale value" / "investment" fantasy that has seized the world...

Maybe just buy quality things you actually want to USE for a lifetime? Or is everything just a fleeting 'novelty-to-the-next-novelty-to-the-next-novelty-to-the-next-novelty-to-the-next-novelty...' for us now? ...Our disposable culture, eh?

 

[Auspuff]

I kinda think that it's all this dreamy "resale value" / "investment" fantasy that has seized the world...

Maybe just buy quality things you actually want to USE for a lifetime? Or is everything just a fleeting 'novelty-to-the-next-novelty-to-the-next-novelty-to-the-next-novelty-to-the-next-novelty...' for us now? ...Our disposable culture, eh?

Man, you just described the Southern California real estate market, to a Capital-T!

 

[joker820]

Realistically couldnt you just list that bass for $150 bucks less than you did originally?....I'm sure it would sell, a lot of people dont really care about a few dings, mostly when it plays great and it means getting a good deal.

Refinishing the whole thing seems a bit excessive and will def cost more than $150.

Poly finishes are tough In general, but hese satin finishes are a nightmare. There's no repairing them.

 

[forrestlaw]

I'll look him up. I just emailed a few local places here in Houston. If they want to pay me to get it repaired then I'll get the entire body stripped and painted a color that Fender doesn't offer.

What places in Houston did you contact? I assume Heights Guitar Tech was one of them? Just asking in case I ever need refinishing work as I'm also in the Houston area.

 

[Kyuuga]

If the buyer says the damage has happened in the case in transit, surely the huge pieces of paint chips would be in case too ?
Real shame for OP to have this trouble.
Hope it all works out with no loss to you.

I've read the whole thread and haven't seen anyone mention this.

If the bass was damaged in shipping (some comments mention the straplocks could've caused that - plausible theory) then there has to be debris of the chipping in the case.

With a hole that huge the wood & paint had to be in there.

If the buyer really wanted to sort things out fairly he'd immediately take pictures of that after he received the instrument and claim shipping damage - caused by the seller, obviously.

The whole thing is really weird and it's tough to sort out but I'm certain of one thing: the buyer is VERY suspicious and judging by the OP's story he hasn't done anything to prove he's collaborating.

 

[Tewest86]

What places in Houston did you contact? I assume Heights Guitar Tech was one of them? Just asking in case I ever need refinishing work as I'm also in the Houston area.

So far Pace Guitar Repair.

 

[Tewest86]

Realistically couldnt you just list that bass for $150 bucks less than you did originally?....I'm sure it would sell, a lot of people dont really care about a few dings, mostly when it plays great and it means getting a good deal.

Refinishing the whole thing seems a bit excessive and will def cost more than $150.

Yes, I guess. But it’s hard to sell a pristine bass let along one with gouges. I will get low ball offers of $1100 for a 2019 Fender Elite V. I would just keep it the.

 

[ole Jason]

I feel like you'll be hard pressed to get that repaired w/ the metallic finish for $150. As someone else mentioned Pat would charge $500+. It also looks like the biggest ding is all the way into the wood.

 

[LBS-bass]

I've read the whole thread and haven't seen anyone mention this.

If the bass was damaged in shipping (some comments mention the straplocks could've caused that - plausible theory) then there has to be debris of the chipping in the case.

With a hole that huge the wood & paint had to be in there.

If the buyer really wanted to sort things out fairly he'd immediately take pictures of that after he received the instrument and claim shipping damage - caused by the seller, obviously.

The whole thing is really weird and it's tough to sort out but I'm certain of one thing: the buyer is VERY suspicious and judging by the OP's story he hasn't done anything to prove he's collaborating.

Nope, because that debris would still be on the floor or somewhere around if he damaged it after the fact, and he could just as easily put it back in the case and take a picture.

 

[Heroinsheep]

OK so perhaps a bit off topic... But looks like you guys are good detectives
So my AVRI suffered some weird damage that I can't explain which kinda reminded me of that indentation on the blue bass mentioned. It appears to have happened inside the case... The other option is that someone like a backliner/stage dude gave it a nice kick... I never dropped the bass. I don't care for small dings but this was like *** how could this happen inside a case or without me noticing... And perhaps a question that can be relevant... Are these things fixable?

 

[fretno]

Someone dropped that on a hard corner of a desk or somesuch ^^

 

[Heroinsheep]

Someone dropped that on a hard corner of a desk or somesuch ^^

Yeah I deep down I knew that... probably a corner of some lighting/soundgear case? or the stage itself... fkkin pothead backlinersss.... :-(

 

[Kyuuga]

Nope, because that debris would still be on the floor or somewhere around if he damaged it after the fact, and he could just as easily put it back in the case and take a picture.

Fair enough, good point. Still, my point applies: if it really had been shipping damage, he should've noticed the debris IN THE CASE when it arrived. Easy point to prove. And he didn't. So something suspicious happened after.

 

[Ryan L.]

I feel like you'll be hard pressed to get that repaired w/ the metallic finish for $150. As someone else mentioned Pat would charge $500+. It also looks like the biggest ding is all the way into the wood.

Yep. I contacted Pat about a refinish on one of my Elite 5’s, and to completely refinish it in burgundy mist with matching headstock, and replace the Fender decals, it would have been over $500. That was with me taking it apart and putting it back together.

 

[KeithGibbons]

OK so perhaps a bit off topic... But looks like you guys are good detectives
So my AVRI suffered some weird damage that I can't explain which kinda reminded me of that indentation on the blue bass mentioned. It appears to have happened inside the case... The other option is that someone like a backliner/stage dude gave it a nice kick... I never dropped the bass. I don't care for small dings but this was like *** how could this happen inside a case or without me noticing... And perhaps a question that can be relevant... Are these things fixable?

Do the right thing and always blame the drummer.

 

[JOME77]

Yes, I guess. But it’s hard to sell a pristine bass let along one with gouges. I will get low ball offers of $1100 for a 2019 Fender Elite V. I would just keep it the.

My feelings exactly!

That's a beautiful bass and IMO the new dents would de-value the bass much more than $150.00.
I'd get estimates from reputable luthiers and push it back on Reverb. And stay firm, stating that you don't want a patch job. You want the instrument back to it's pre-shipment condition.
That is, after all, why you purchase insurance.

 

[Potomuss]

push it back on Reverb...That is, after all, why you purchase insurance.

THIS. And as a seller in good standing on Reverb, I would love to know how well they back you.

 

[keith1r]

No. Experienced sellers get paid when UPS confirms receipt of the item. This is typically when it is scanned onto the truck before leaving the drop off location. No waiting for delivery, signatures, etc.

I’ve sold on Reverb. As soon as the buyer paid I created the shipping label which generated a tracking number. As soon as the funds were in my account a few days later I then dropped it off at the UPS store