Shipping Damage: Lost For Words

[TexasEdition]

I'm very sorry this happened to you and I know we are only hearing one side of the story, but I think your case is sound. I could not imagine something like this happeneing to me; I would be irate beyond belief to say the least.

I recently had an issue with $300 worth of electronics on eBay, but it was resolved due to used error. This was my first eBay issue in 15 years and over 1,000 feedback.

I think you've handled this with great restraint. I hope it works out for you in the end.

 

[74hc]

Out the Buyer, lest someone here end up dealing with them.
I would.

Yes! Your fraternal brothers and sisters on TB are worth more than buyers on Reverb.

 

[keith1r]

Will Reverb completely cover the costs to return it to the condition you shipped it in?
If so, get 3 estimates and send it to them. If you have it in writing that they will pay and they refuse, you should sue them in small claims court

 

[Tewest86]

I really don't want to put out his name because I'm not 100% he did it. I have all his information including his FB profile. However, there is no damage to the package and I packed the bass myself. I laid the bass on my couch and wiped it down with a micro fiber towel. I then took another look over everything before putting it in the Fender case. Once in the case, I wiped down the chrome pieces. I then shut the case and put it in the original box. I taped everything up and dropped it off at UPS the next day.

I read Reverb's Safe Shipping Insurance and it just stated that repair can't be more than the cost to replace the instrument. I will go get an estimate next week and send to Reverb. They said that they will review the estimate to make sure it reasonable. Then they will pay me. I update you guys on what Reverb does.

 

[James Collins]

I hope it works out. I never really sell online, but I have bought a lot of stuff. I think you are practicing proper restraint. Maybe the buyer damaged it, but maybe they didn't. In situations like this the buyer should be entitled to a refund and the insurance should leave the seller in the same position they started. I am excited to see the refinish!

 

[Tewest86]

I'll just take it as a lesson learned. From now on, I will take a video/photo right before shipment and verify as much as I can.

Maybe it's a sign for me to keep this bass. The new colors for the Ultras are too bland. I will get this repaired to the original color and maybe see about a hard finish. I'm not sure of the correct term for it. This satin is a ding magnet. I just pressed my finger nail in it and it left a dent.

 

[gwangi]

I'm not luither or repair guy but I'm guessing that to repair that damage I'm guessing all the hardware will come off and the neck and then the body will need to be sanded down and wood putty in the damaged areas on the body and then repaint the body, I'm only guessing so please don't scream at me.
This whole situation really sucks and I hope this really works out for you.

 

[Tewest86]

I'm not luither or repair guy but I'm guessing that to repair that damage I'm guessing all the hardware will come off and the neck and then the body will need to be sanded down and wood putty in the damaged areas on the body and then repaint the body, I'm only guessing so please don't scream at me.
This whole situation really sucks and I hope this really works out for you.

From what I got from the shop just looking at pictures, the will have to refinish the entire body. Yes, all hardware, electronics must come off. He said because it’s a metallic paint, they have to refinish body so repairs won’t show. Fender used a blue metallic paints with satin finish.

 

[Iridescentone]

Assuming this scratch here...

View attachment 3592671

is the same as this here

View attachment 3592672

How is the big ass gouge not visible in this one?

View attachment 3592673

I don't think it's far enough to not be seen in this photo.

As for the string-thru-toploaded thing, I don't think it holds any water. The break angle matches the top loaded one better, it's not as steep as the string-thru one.

Take a closer look at pic #3. The long ding, and the accompanying little paint chip right beneath it, are just barely visible where the shadow meets the lit area. Same body.

 

[Auspuff]

Paint it red.

Too many Tobacco Burst, and Black, basses out there, anyway.

 

[Iridescentone]

To all those asking for the serial number...couldn't he just take the neck from the good bass, slap it on the damaged body and say "see!? It came like this!" ? If I recall correctly the serial number is on the back of the headstock, no?

Yes, and if he's cunning enough he'd prolly also swap pick guards, in the event that the seller might be able to present high-res evidence of distinguishing play wear on his original guard.

It's apparently water under the bridge at this point, but the saga is still kinda fascinating. Lots of circumstantial evidence piling up as the story unfolds. All of it seems to point to the buyer substituting a previously banged-up bass for a nice clean identical one he spotted on Reverb.

 

[Iridescentone]

If the buyer swapped the pick guard, the pattern of the screws would be different. I only can see two screws on the buyer's pics and they match up.

That's a good point. Still, it doesn't actually prove that the guard wasn't swapped, especially if the buyer is devious enough to have thought that aspect through. Pretty strong evidence though, so good eye.

Also somewhat possible....the two screws that can be seen in the buyer's pic simply ended up in the same position as they reached the natural end of their downward travel during a pick guard swap. (not crazy about this hypo, but throwing it out there anyway)

 

[Iridescentone]

I suspect that the damage wasn’t done by the buyer. That looks like a period of sustained abuse. More like a neighbour, children, mad wife, drunk friend......

Hmm...

Then, if the damage was not done by the buyer, that would seem to leave only one other possible suspect. No?

 

[fretno]

Imagine.. giant kick in the nuts when your girlfriends beloved Minihound knocks over your new bass within 5 seconds of taking it out of the case. Blame and cheat your way out of it ? Or.. ups packer monkey decided to see who’s getting a new instrument since he ripped it open with a forklift anyway. Luckily he had time to tape it back up. What are some other solid possibilities???
So to me that looks like an impact not like it was rolling around in the case with an object. To the seller I feel you took it in the rear here but you have helped the team here learn alot. We still have to see how ‘verb wraps it up right? All the best.

 

[Spidey2112]

Imagine.. giant kick in the nuts when your girlfriends beloved Minihound knocks over your new bass within 5 seconds of taking it out of the case. Blame and cheat your way out of it ? Or.. ups packer monkey decided to see who’s getting a new instrument since he ripped it open with a forklift anyway. Luckily he had time to tape it back up. What are some other solid possibilities???
So to me that looks like an impact not like it was rolling around in the case with an object. To the seller I feel you took it in the rear here but you have helped the team here learn alot. We still have to see how ‘verb wraps it up right? All the best.

I'm thinking Minihound and Packer Monkey could be the name of a new prime time police series, possibly after the holidays.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I recently sold a bass through Reverb. I also had it list here. It is a Fender Jazz Elite so it came with a hard case. I placed the bass in it's hard case and used all the original packing material that I had when I bought the bass brand new.

However, here is the issue. I get a message from the buyer that the bass had this extensive damage that was not there when I shipped it. I can't imagine a bass getting this kind of damage inside a hard case. I shipped through UPS. Someone from UPS had to have opened the package to inspected and dropped the bass of something. I'm at a lost for words. I wiped the bass down before inserting into its case. I can't believe this.

Below are pictures of the bass when I shipped.

View attachment 3591789
View attachment 3591791
View attachment 3591792

View attachment 3591797

View attachment 3591793

I hope it was insured.

 

[James Collins]

Take a closer look at pic #3. The long ding, and the accompanying little paint chip right beneath it, are just barely visible where the shadow meets the lit area. Same body.

Are you suggesting that perhaps some minor flaw was worsened by shipping temperature and humidity and that God is at fault?

 

[JohnnyBottom]

The strings being tuned is bothersome for sure. If I received a damaged bass would I bother to
tune it up just for shts and giggles to see how it sounds. Or not touch a thing, hoping to get a refund, and take pics and put back in box. Also in this case any packing pics or videos is meaningless. i guess that would help if reveb says it wasnt not damaged in shipping though. Sucky situation for sure.

 

[Tewest86]

Hmm...

Then, if the damage was not done by the buyer, that would seem to leave only one other possible suspect. No?

A period a sustained abuse? My ad pictures were taken 2 days before shipment. Bass was bought brand new in September. Why would I take pictures of a new bass then two days later ship the bass with a huge ding that’s not in any photos and not expect the buyer to notice and not expect to ask for a refund? Then after all that make a post here about it? Yeah, seems plausible. What would I have to gain? Refunds are super easy with Reverb. I’ve asked for a refund before.

I’ve actually had something happen like that before. I sold a bass but dinged it between selling and shipment. I notified the buyer and told him I’m not selling anymore because I damaged it. It asked for pictures and decided he still wanted it. I then knocked of some money from it and still sold it to him.

I’ve had a Marco that I sold here that the battery compartment became damaged. Buyer wanted a refund. I refunded the money and paid for shipping back to me. I replaced the batter compartment and resold it.

I had a Mike Lull that I sold and listed it as 35” scale. When the buyer received it he realized it was 34” scale. I was told it was 35”. He showed me how to measure it and it was 34” scale. I refunded the bass and changed my listing to reflect the scale length.

I posted all that to show I’m an honest seller.

 

[TomB]

Right. It seems like damage that would accumulate over a decent period of time from multiple "accidents" unless, of course, it was intentionally done. The only "reasonable" ding is the big one on the bottom. And that is only if the hardshell case and shipping box were impaled, otherwise, something is fishy.

I have had shipping boxes impaled, and seen damage of a similar nature. UPS should send a claims agent to inspect the situation assuming the buyer hasn't altered the shipping material. Wouldn't Reverb require that of the buyer?