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Should I send it back? Opinions, please!

It's obvious the string was not on the bass when the impact occurred. The finish was probably applied after that, so chipping may not happen at all. I think you made the right decision.
I picked up my Sept 1987 jetglo Rick 4003 on Nov 11th 1987. I had a gig that night, so I took my brand new toy. We played one song for sound check. I went to take my bass off and rammed it into a low hanging water pipe chipping a piece of black paint off the end of the headstock. I wanted to cry, but then though what the hell, I no longer have to worry about that first boo-boo. I eventually used a Sharpie to fill in the chip, but I know it's there. It's my identifying mark. Enjoy that beauty.
 
You do what you want. If my wife bought me that bass, I would keep it because it was her gift.
Why would the bass suddenly become not her gift if it was exchanged for a non-damaged one? She didn't do the damage, did she?
Anyway if it was me I sure as hell wouldn't put up with that kind of damage in a 'new' bass like that!!
(-Especially with a bass meant to be a nice, loving gift that a careless company screwed up!)

I dunno, but I don't understand a lot of the posts here? Maybe it's because I'm an independent old geezer, or maybe it's because my folks taught me different when I was a kid? (-You better believe they wouldn't take any crap from any careless businesses! Wow, there'd be some fuss raised, you can bet on that!) So now, when I buy something that's supposed to be new I damn well fully expect it to be in new, undamaged, pristine condition! IMO accepting something 'new' as badly marred as this is like volunteering to be a victim... :spit:
 
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EDIT: I did not read through before I typed below -- good decision

No. I wouldn't. The magic and romance of a gift is going to be affected. Sweetwater is also 2K miles from me. So I won't definitely not ship it. It is functional bass now and it is more memorable that way. And many of my basses have battle scars. And they all play good. To me returning it with just this flaw. it feels like I just got a wad of cash instead. But your decision. Maybe not a pleasant answer but you asked.

My wife never buys me anything musical - big $ items I mean. The only thing I got was a bow, it was used and had blemishes and was her friend who retired after having arthritis.
 
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After my post on page 3, I haven't been able to read all of the other posts. But let me offer you this point of view. You might be looking at the wrong thing before deciding what to do. Why are you looking at a blemish that is one quarter by one eights inch, on a piece of wood, when you should be looking at your wife? How does this make her feel? This is about family more than anything else. Even if the finish does chip off ten years from now. So f!ing what? Play it like you stole it and STFU.
Thanks for the advice. Now GTH.
 
But that is so weak mate! So what you are saying is that anything that your wife buys you that is damaged you would be too frightened to rightfully send it back in the fear of upsetting her. Sorry but I just cannot get my head around that one. Wife or no wife if I buy anything that is damaged and especially if it is new, it gets sent back...End of!
And this is why my wife loves me very much, because I'm kind, and thoughtful, and empathetic. You be you :)

Thanks for calling me weak. You would be in the minority in thinking such a thing of my personality. I have no judgement of you, other than the fact that you call someone weak for knowing his wife and prioritizing love over a possible blemish in an amazing gift she bought me specifically for my career in music... something she sometimes is envious of due to the time and priority it takes in my life. Of course I'm projecting from my own experiences of my wife buying me music gear out of the blue, not the OP, but that's all we have to go on... our own experiences and our own opinions.

The bass that his wife bought him is not "damaged", it works perfectly well.... he loves playing it, and it sounds and plays great. It should have been, and may have been, a blem model, and ideally she may have unknowingly gotten a bit of a discount in the purchase considering it was purchased too long before christmas for them to return it now.
 
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If the price was new, that isn't 'new' and I'd send it back for that reason.

I'd deal with it now because it is not a recoverable position.
It'll always be there and might get worse.
It's B stock, imv.
 
I have not read all of the other posts but I will tell you what I would do.
You love your wife (that is all that matters) and you are enjoying the bass so I would take the strings off and since the mark looks like a threaded tool did I would ask an artist to make it look like a Tornado with your ladies initials inside of it.
Then I would remove the frets and put a finish on it to make a nice fret less bass.

Problem solved.
IQ36ESM
 
Well, just spoke with my wife. I guess I'm keeping the bass! Lol. I told her the issue and she was fine with me returning it. One catch... she bought it a few months ago... lol. I'm pretty sure GC doesn't have a 120 day return policy. So... 2 good things come of this:

1) I don't have to make a trip to GC
2) I'm stuck with a bass I love :thumbsup:

I subscribe to the saying, "things happen for a reason". Hence, I am at peace with the outcome.

Many, many thanks to all who offered advice and insight. One of the many reasons I cherish TB.

Now, time to start woodshedding!

Actually, three good things came of this:

3) You were straight up with the misses.

I see a lot of people (mostly guys) on TB who would rather avoid the confrontation with their significant other. As someone who's been there often enough, and who realized it AFTER a very long-term relationship recently came to a close, I cannot emphasize how much better and smarter it is to be straight with your significant other. You will never know whether they'll be hurt by something you tell them, until you tell them. But withhold information, and see how hurt they are once they find out (cos they always do).
 

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