Shipping Damage: Lost For Words

[Ron Finkbeiner]

When I first joined TB I was working as a truck driver for the past 26 years and I just didn't have time. As of March 2019 I am a disabled Veteran and have all the time in the world but no extra capitol. Someday I will stumble onto a decent deal and find a good teacher who can be patient with this 50 year old man. I spend alot time watching bass videos and enjoy the music and talent. I'll never be a Les Claypool or Sting or Geddy Lee but my goal is to learn to play to set my ptsd, anxiety and depression at ease That in itself would be cool with me.

 

[Wraithwrider]

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......

 

[Auspuff]

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......

Aliens?

 

[KeithGibbons]

I had a similar situation about 8months ago.
Sold a Fender Dimension V on Reverb. It was pristine aside from one little chip on the back of the body which I photographed and was very upfront about in my listing. The bass shipped in an SKB hardshell. Buyer sends me pics when he receives it and says there's two big gouges in it and that "it looks like someone used touch-up paint or nail polish to cover up the marks." I was the original owner and there were no finish issues besides the tiny chip. I don't "fix" finishes on my gear and I'm very open about problems. I ended up just giving him a little money back (like $50 or so) and we called it even but I always felt it was really suspect. I also have excellent feedback on Reverb so it was either do that or risk a crappy review.

 

[Resonance129]

That really sucks...
I've never had any basses damaged during shipment. I can't imagine the frustration involved though, and I'm sorry you're goin through all this... I hesitate to sell my only >$1k instrument for this very reason.

It's hard to cast blame at the buyer, simply because there's no way to prove any of the damage was done by them. In the same breath, based off of the OP, his selling record (on multiple reputable sites), his packaging, insurance, etc, I'd say it's just as hard to assume much else...

Unless there WAS flying case candy or a serious puncture in your hard case as others have postulated, the whole idea of the buyer attempting to take advantage of you and Reverb, and trying to get his cash back kinda makes sense (to me, anyway).

Hopefully, that's not the case but, in all honesty, I wouldn't be too incredibly surprised with... Regardless, best of luck to the OP. I'd like to know how this case gets handled as well.

 

[keith1r]

I have only sold one bass on Reverb, but when I did, it was like an escrow. The buyer paid and reverb notified me of payment, but they did not release the funds to me until after a successful delivery was confirmed and the buyer excepted.

I had funds in my bank account before I shipped. I created the shipping label immediately but did not actually ship it until the funds were in my bank account

 

[Deleted member 261632]

I only sell basses with personal collection. Of course, the distance here in Belgium aren't as vast as the ones in the US.

Hope this turns out for the best for the OP/Seller.

 

[Low Class]

Sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately in claims like this the buyer usually wins. I had something very similar done to me here on TB, buyer lied about damage to get his money back cause he didn't like the bass.

 

[Minimalist]

IDK about this. Maybe an independent shipper would repack a damaged parcel, but I wouldn't expect it from UPS.

Well, I do know that UPS does it as well. They are not any different from anybody else.

 

[lfmn16]

I had a hammond sk2 keyboard show up with a broken key and chipped side panel. No other damage. Something must have been poked through the box, not sure how that happened by accident. I also had a synth show up to the buyer with the plastic frame broken. Someone at UPS must have picked it up and intentionally thrown it to the ground as hard as possible because I had that packed in a thick cardboard box, within another thick cardboard box, wrapped in bubble wrap and surrounded by popcorn. There is no possible way that it was damaged accidentally. Fortunately I had Reverb protection and they took care of it to the buyer's satisfaction. I don't think I'm going to ship anything other than pedals anymore.

 

[BASSPHIRE]

I would leave it up to UPS and the buyer. You have proof of before so you should not be held responsible. Your an individual, not and insured wholesaler or retailer. More than likely I’m leaning that the buyer had and accident and decided to not take responsibly for his actions, or perhaps a fault of UPS. But being in a hard case, that’s quite a mishap. Although it’s not hard to believe but it’s unlikely I feel

 

[Hankenstein]

I bet the damaged bass is a different bass that he already had.

 

[petch]

I bet the damaged bass is a different bass that he already had.

Yes, the shenanigans are strong with this one. Buyer needs to show serial number!

 

[iwearpumas]

I call shenanigans. I think there is some funny business that happened after the bass was delivered.

 

[sleddogn]

i've sold nearly 40 basses/guitars on reverb in last 3 years. I've never had money deposited in my account before item ships, has to be scanned into system first....

 

[bassinflorida]

Well spotted thats how it looks to me too...good chance he restrang it, and had a major uh oh moment and did that damage

In one of the buyer's photos it does appear the B, E, and D strings are thru-body. You can see a significant difference in the bend angle from the pics supplied by seller. Seller wins.

 

[Gothic]

Assuming this scratch here...

is the same as this here

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

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.

 

[TheLowDown33]

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?

 

[sleddogn]

If there is a swap in progress, why all the effort for such little reward?

 

[fretno]

is it possible he let the case hit it when closing , are those hits around the latch area ? I know I have dented a bass before when the case lid slipped out of the fingas . So I work in shipping / receiving and I can tell you that for sure UPS and Fedex "rebox" and reseal things they drop all the time , they will reseal so poorly it's a dead giveaway and often things are damaged and missing . However I think this was done by whomever opened it . Humans can get very lowclass so I would not be surprised if that guy did it for a swap on his or did it by accident and now wants out . Sadly ime Reverb will side with the buyer . Best of luck !