What do I do with this Charvel Bass?

[SUFFERTHEJOY777]

So I like Jackson/Charvel guitars. I wanted to collect red white and blue 575 deluxe basses. I just purchased a red one off eBay, the last one I needed and it was described as "excellent condition". I got it in the mail today, poorly packaged, and its in horrible condition. The sellers name is corn_stac just so everyone knows who the liar is.

The body is all banged up, and someone stupidly tried to repair it. It has been outlined in sharpie. The pickups are cracked. A thumb rest was added. They drilled a hole and put a screw in the neck plate. The nut isn't glued down and it slides around, someone tried to glue it back on and left gobs of glue all over it and now the truss rod cover doesn't fit and is missing. The fret board was covered in either paint or sharpie, and then someone tried to remove it. There is sharpie on the back of the headstock. The neck itself isn't in horrible condition, some dents and dings but Ive seen worse. Over all the guitar need serious attention. I haven't even looked at the electronics yet, or plugged it in.

Im torn on what to do. I can open a dispute with eBay and send it back, and Ill probably get my money back, I might lose out on shipping costs, which was 75 bucks! There is a no return policy with the seller, but eBay would take the money back and give it to me. Id also have to repackage it, in a different box, theres no way I'm shipping a guitar in any condition the way this one was shipped.

But on the other hand, it is the guitar I want/need to complete my collection. Its the right color red, deep metallic. Not the regular bright red. With some work, I can probably restore the bass to "good enough" condition, the right way, but in the end, I will have still paid 275 bucks for a bass in critical condition. Then of course I would be leaving negative feedback.

 

[mark beem]

It's a pile...

Personally, I'd send it back ASAP! I'm sure there are others out there in better shape.

 

[vmabus]

If the seller lied (clearly) they should be responsible for shipping. Not return, though.

 

[two fingers]

Yeah I am not one to faint over a tiny ding here or a scratch there. But that thing looks like it has been dragged behind a truck. The packing was ridiculous. He lied to you in a big way. Unless he agrees to refund all but a hundred bucks of your money (and that includes shipping) I would send it back stat. That bass in my view is now only good for parts and isn't worth nearly what you paid.

Edit: fixed typos

 

[bholder]

Oh geez, go right to the resolution center, you got ripped. Tell the seller you'd be willing to keep it with like a $150 (or whatever) refund due to the bad description, or back it goes. It doesn't matter what the seller's return policy is, what matters here is ebay's policy. They're pretty good about enforcing the rules and taking down unscrupulous sellers these days (at least, compared to what it one was like).

 

[Dash Lashes]

maybe the seller didnt represent it up to the standards you though the bass would meet, your pics do tell the true condition clearly. i'd keep it and voted as such, it looks like a 'real rocker w/ mojo?'. Cool to have around if it were mine. if i got tired of it, i'd give it to a punk kid who wouldnt care about collector condition (8-16yr old?), i hate to see someone get a bad deal either way. sorry for you and for the poor bass.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Wow talk about a bad seller.... Return it ASAP and DEMAND a full refund including shipping.

 

[bholder]

Wow talk about a bad seller.... Return it ASAP and DEMAND a full refund including shipping.

Not via direct communication with the seller - let the ebay folks play the tough guy with the seller - they're usually quite good at it.

 

[JACink]

+1 on sending it back. It's not what you bought, and I think it will always bug you if you keep it.

 

[SUFFERTHEJOY777]

Yep, its going back. I felt rough edges on the sides of the neck towards the nut. The fretboard is separating from the neck. What a nightmare. Hopefully he doesn't try to repost it after he gets it back.

 

[bholder]

Yep, its going back. I felt rough edges on the sides of the neck towards the nut. The fretboard is separating from the neck. What a nightmare. Hopefully he doesn't try to repost it after he gets it back.

I would be surprised if he still is an ebay member after they get through with him. This is a rather (extremely) egregious violation of the rules. I've gotten sellers banned for pulling crap like this.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Yeah return that. Were there not good photos of it? because I would think you would spot the thumbrest or screw in the neckplate, but I have had some rather deceitful photos before, angled to make it look nicer..........girls on online dating sites do that sometimes as well.

 

[bholder]

Yeah return that. Were there not good photos of it? because I would think you would spot the thumbrest or screw in the neckplate, but I have had some rather deceitful photos before, angled to make it look nicer..........girls on online dating sites do that sometimes as well.

Ya think? Of course, the girls all complain about the guys (usually for posting ancient pictures showing them skinny and with hair).

 

[SUFFERTHEJOY777]

yes the pictures were all blurred and dark, I can barely see anything accurately. I took the guys word for it and their word was no good, Im not really quite sure how someone thinks they would get away with it??? Its gotta be the drugs!

 

[AdamR]

If you paid over $100 for it send it back. Thats a mess.

 

[SUFFERTHEJOY777]

Yeah over 100, try 275. I didn't want to pay that much but I haven't seen one in this color before and I needed a red one to have red white and blue Charvels.

 

[godofthunder59]

Yep send it back!

 

[soupofthedave]

I'd 100% send it back. The packing, the damage, the "repairs", everything in general looks terrible. Some parts may be salvagable (upon second looking, probably only the bridge and machine heads), but that thing looks barely playable in its current condition. I'm genuinely curious to how the electronics look.

That seller is an @$$hole. I say get your money back.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

yes the pictures were all blurred and dark, I can barely see anything accurately. I took the guys word for it and their word was no good, Im not really quite sure how someone thinks they would get away with it??? Its gotta be the drugs!

I think some people are just dumb or they hope they land a sucker who is afraid of confrontation. I call out sellers like this every time, sadly it happens with eBay but thats what Paypal is for.

 

[bholder]

I think some people are just dumb or they hope they land a sucker who is afraid of confrontation. I call out sellers like this every time, sadly it happens with eBay but thats what Paypal is for.

Yeah, the distaste for confrontation thing can be a big factor for some of us (I wouldn't say "afraid", I just don't like it). Which is why I suggested having ebay handle that part. But I did get somewhat taken on the "haunted" bass when perhaps had I been more confrontational, I might've gotten my money back. I chalked that one up to my fault for not doing my homework sufficiently first, whether intentional or clueless, the seller listed a high starting price, sure, but didn't force me to make the bid. Unless, of course, when it arrives, I find it is not in the advertised condition. I'm a conflict avoider to a point, but after that point is exceeded, well... ...things can change very rapidly.