Shipping Issue.. Venting, but would love some feedback as well.

[DanBass]

So I had a bass for sale - gentleman reached out, and made me an offer I ultimately accepted. He was located in the same state as I was, as he had family about 4 hours from where I was located. I packed the bass up, it was in the case, and shipped it. I pack inside the case, tape the case, pack outside, the whole nine yards. I border on the neurotic when I pack. Again, it was single day transit and arrived the following day. The bass was shipped interstate, but the buyer was intending to make arrangements himself to ship said bass overseas to his home there. Cool, I didn't want to grapple with overseas shipping, so that worked for me.

Now, there was what I thought was a finish crack on the bass, near the nut. It never moved, the bass played beautifully and ALWAYS stayed in tune for the 6+ years I owned it. I never had it checked further, since the bass never gave me any issues. Ever. Heck, when I bought it, it traveled from coast to coast and arrived to me safe and sound. Prior to the sale, I took pics, sent and made mention of it. All was fine.

So I sell and ship the bass this past October. On the last day of December, I get a message complete with pictures. The neck cracked move severely near the small finish crack that I mentioned.

My heart sunk.

Now, the buyer has been nice, and wants $400 to fix the bass. Of course, that's better than the whole amount which I don't have. It is fixable and that is a blessing. But funds are low, below low, hence why I sold what in my eyes was a beyond treasured piece in the first place.

So I have been selling this that and the other thing to raise the funds. Kinda sucks. Adversity builds character I guess.

But wow, 2 months later? Any insurance (over $1000) I had on it is moot as it shipped and was received with nary a word almost 2 months ago. I wonder if this happened when he shipped it from my state to its overseas destination. I will probably never know.

If I was having an item shipped to me and I wasn't present, I would certainly have the box opened and inspected. Wouldn't you?

That said, I feel terrible. I am thrilled he is getting it fixed - it is an awesome bass and deserves it.

I dunno. But I'll make good regardless. Just bouncing my experience off you fine folks.

Kinda makes me never want to sell anything again. At least not a bass.

Thanks

 

[BassmanM]

Sounds like the buyer transshipped it the way he received it from you without opening the box and only opened it at his overseas home later.

I don't know the laws in the US, but I doubt that he can hold you responsible for the damage after two months. Regardless of how you packed the bass, he should have checked it immediately after receipt. The damage may have even been caused by the courier who carried out the transport and who can only be held responsible if the package is checked upon receipt.

Did the buyer know about the crack?

 

[DanBass]

Sounds like the buyer transshipped it the way he received it from you without opening the box and only opened it at his overseas home later.

I don't know the laws in the US, but I doubt that he can hold you responsible for the damage after two months. Regardless of how you packed the bass, he should have checked it immediately after receipt. The damage may have even been caused by the courier who carried out the transport and who can only be held responsible if the package is checked upon receipt.

Did the buyer know about the crack?

He did, yes - I sent pictures - I honestly thought it was only a finish crack, nothing more. I certainly wouldn't have hidden anything worse, it is not how I was raised.

 

[BassmanM]

I assume you are not a luthier, so you did the best you could. Who knows why and how the damage occured. Bad luck for the buyer, but in your position I would not take any responsibility for the damage.

 

[DanBass]

I assume you are not a luthier, so you did the best you could. Who knows why and how the damage occured. Bad luck for the buyer, but in your position I would not take any responsibility for the damage.

Nope no luthier here. Thanks for the comments. I am not sure what to do. But I agree I could push back nicely, I feel like I am not getting the entire picture.

 

[Lesfunk]

Used instruments don't have a warranty.
It's an unfortunate situation but you as the seller don't owe him anything.
If you feel that helping him out is the right thing to do (and very well could be), then do it.
It's your decision to make.
"As is" means exactly that.

 

[QweziRider]

Two months after initial shipping to him? It's his. Sucks, but that's far too long after initial receipt to be bringing you into this.

 

[Maxdusty]

Perhaps if you post your picture of the neck before you shipped it, and the pictures he sent you of the crack, we may be able to tell if it was an inherent flaw prior to shipping. We've got some pretty sharp folks here on TB, I know it's a moot point but might put your mind at ease.
This is the reason why I'm personally hesitant to sell any bass and ship it, choosing to sell it locally-too many things can go wrong from here to there. I know I can probably get more if I sell it online but rather do it the sure way.

 

[DWBass]

I wouldn't send him $400. 2 months after the fact? Umm...no. You sent pics and mentioned it. He agreed to purchase. Sorry.

 

[BassmanM]

Used instruments don't have a warranty.
It's an unfortunate situation but you as the seller don't owe him anything.
If you feel that helping him out is the right thing to do (and very well could be), then do it.
It's your decision to make.
"As is" means exactly that.

Exactly.

 

[nixdad]

You notified the buyer of the crack in advance of the purchase.

It's great that you have a conscience, however, the buyer's expectation that you would still bear any responsibility for the instrument more than a month after he took possession is absolutely unreasonable.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

OP, you sound like a stand up guy but you insured the bass for a reason, and it was on the buyer to check it at that time. Even then, the proper thing to do would have been to file an insurance claim. The buyer needs to understand that you were an individual selling a bass, not Guitar Center with a 30 day return policy.

 

[Lammchop93]

If it had been cracked when he first got it, then yes I'd say pay, or get insurance to step in. But 2 months? No way, that's on him.

 

[DanBass]

You've all been awesome, I appreciate it. Working on those pics, for what it's worth. I don't want a battle, but I am apt to agree with what you are all saying.

 

[DanBass]

 

[bass40hz]

Used instruments don't have a warranty.
It's an unfortunate situation but you as the seller don't owe him anything.
If you feel that helping him out is the right thing to do (and very well could be), then do it.
It's your decision to make.
"As is" means exactly that.

^^^THIS. Rock on.

 

[Lobster11]

I'm going to chime in to argue the opposite position. If it is clear that you (unknowingly) sold him a damaged instrument, I think the right thing to do would be to at least contribute to the cost of repair. Do you know how he came up with the $400 figure? If that's what he was told by a luthier that it would cost to fix it, I would offer to split that cost with him.

Ordinarily I would agree that the statue of limitations has run out after two months, but in this case he has a good "excuse" as to why it took him that long to check it out.

 

[bass40hz]

View attachment 3274947 View attachment 3274948 View attachment 3274949

Thats more than a finish crack or a finish crack that got worse, that bass was abused, dropped or similar, purposely or not...it was...
Rock on.

 

[Lesfunk]

Looking at those pics, that think took a hit at some point after it left the seller.
That's an insurance claim.

 

[Maxdusty]

there might have been some damage underneath the paint, very hard to tell though - and then his pictures, looks like someone wanted to check out the crack and removed the paint with a screwdriver or something to see what was underneath.