What is the general policy on asking to return a bass purchase?

If it is used, I always sell as is-where is. It's up to the seller to do their due diligence to make sure they are satisfied with the condition of the bass before handing over money. Once the money is in my hand, the transaction is completely done with no further conversation on the matter.

 

I know too many guys that abuse the Musicians Friend policy, so no.

 

I see a lot of ads that say they will only accept returns if the instrument shows up other than advertised. I wouldn't even consider a refund just because someone doesn't "like" the instrument they bought. I always ask if they have any other questions or would like to see any other pictures.

 

if the bass isn’t as described, I think a person has the right to ask for a refund or exchange....

I recently swapped Basses with a guy here on TB. I asked him very clearly if there were any issues with the neck. He answers no....

After we agree to the trade and the bass is in the mail, I see a post here on TB where he describes the bass as having a “distressed truss rod”.... So, I mention this to him and he says I’ll find out when it shows up. Lol. That was a huge red flag.

Anyway, the bass shows up and the neck is very, very warped. He traded back. I actually had UPS Intercept my bass before it arrived to him and return it to me.

I asked. He lied. I should’ve known better.

Anyway, lesson learned. Avoid buying used instruments you can’t play and inspect first.

 

I have always provided a receipt noting a 24hr return window in writing and ask for the same if I'm buying. If the request is refused I move on. - I shop locally and this wouldn't apply very well for out of state/province deals but it gives the buyer a chance to check things out aside from just looking it over in a parking lot.
I would let Paypal or CC insurance policies cover any issues when shipping is involved.

 

On a used bass, no returns unless there is an undisclosed, or undiscovered issue. If the buyer just doesn’t like it, they need to live and learn. It’s a purchase, not a rental.

 

In a private sale, I would expect no returns unless it is not as described.

 

I got lucky recently after buying a bass sight unseen from Edmonton (about 3 hours drive north of Calgary). The guy assured me the bass had been barely played since he purchased it in 2009, and the pictures appeared to confirm his claims. When it arrived by mail a few days later I immediately went to give a quick setup and realized the truss rod's allen head was complete rounded off. This was a neck through bass where the truss rod and nut are one piece (Peavey Cirrus 6) so a repair or replacement of the rod was not economical. I did not specifically ask him about the truss rod condition so this could have easily been my issue alone. He claims he had never removed the truss rod cover and was unaware of the defect - it's possible. Fortunately he was a stand-up guy and refunded my money after I sent the bass back to him (I was out $50 for shipping which I considered to be a pretty cheap lesson overall).

To answer the OP's question, I consider all private/used gear sales final unless there is an undisclosed defect or the gear arrives in a condition not reflected in the photos or description.

 

A bass that is unplayable from the 19th fret up isn’t a matter of standards. It was flat out unplayable. Every note buzzed out and was choked due to the warpage of the neck. When a neck gets like that, you can not simply adjust the bridge. It’s only repairable by a talented luthier for big dollars. You know what I mean. I’m pretty sure the guy was just hoping I was stupid enough to not notice. After 35 years of playing, yeah, I can tell. Lol.

People should be honest, but to some of these folks on here, TB is nothing but a business opportunity. Many of them will, and obviously have, sold or traded without conscience.

 

When I'm buying, I do mentally distinguish between buying new, from a retailer (or direct) and buying used. When buying new, it is understood that the retailer and/or manufacturer will stand behind what you're buying. This is mostly important if something is defective or damaged in shipping. If it's just simply that I don't like it, then I would expect to abide by whatever return policy the store or manufacturer has, meaning I may or may not get a 100% refund. Whether you know it or not, you agree to the seller's terms when you make your purchase.

When buying used, I do differentiate between buying from a store and buying from an individual. Most stores selling used items have certain representations and warranties about the equipment - in some cases, they may certify that something is in good working order and/or authentic - in others, they may just simply sell something as is. If there is an issue in defect or shipping, then you abide by whatever you and the store agreed to - if they certified it as sound and it isn't, they should stand behind it - as is, then it's your problem. If you don't like it, it's kind of similar - some stores allow used returns, some don't, some do on a discounted basis.

When dealing with an individual on used gear, the good news is that you're not having to the retailer's markup. The bad news is that the seller is not a store and doesn't have to handle returns - the onus is on the buyer. Yes, the seller should not misrepresent what is being sold (quality, functionality, authenticity, etc.) - that's fraud and the seller would be subject to legal recourse (if you wanted to pursue it). Similarly, if something is damaged in shipping, both the seller and the buyer should work together to remedy the situation with the shipper who is responsible. However, if the buyer just doesn't like what was purchased, the seller is under no obligation to be accommodating.

 

i never have, and never will, buy an instrument that i haven't laid hands on.. it's not a matter of return policy, it's a matter of seeing five jaguar basses at guitar center, and no two felt or played the same.... and i ended up walking out, because of the five, none of them were "right".. the right one didn't show up until three months later.

 

Yeah. I’m done here. It’s just not worth the risk. Despite the lies, at least the guy didn’t give me a difficult time when I cancelled the deal.

 

I would need to know more about your exact situation. Generally, PayPal is used for payment so if the item isn't delivered as described, the buyer can get their money back. But if it's a case of buying and your wife/girlfriend is upset or general buyer's remorse, no. On the buyer's side you need to make sure you've accurately described the item and covered yourself on terms for return. The buyer needs to make sure they're buying something they want. I used to list a 7 day return policy but had someone return an item and said they just wanted to try it out, never saw one before. That's great for Guitar Center doing a high volume, but I'm selling single items. Anyways, I dropped that policy.

 

I own six basses, all of which were purchased through the internet (two new, four used) before I had a chance to play them. They're all great. I've owned probably 15-20 others over the years, again, some purchased new but most used, through eBay, TB or other forums. There's always a risk involved in dealing long distance, but I'd have never gotten the chance to try so many cool instruments if I insisted on trying before I bought. On the seller side, I've never offered a return policy, but I have always bent over backwards to describe and photograph every flaw, both to be transparent and to protect myself if the buyer comes back with a complaint. I know I've been lucky, though, because sometimes you do everything right and still get screwed.