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Won a guitar on eBay - seller doesn't want to sell - the hilarity ensues

#41
I sold many items on eBay but recently starting to get very unsure I will continue. One of my worst experiences was selling a Bongo to a buyer in France. I was really against selling Internationally but the buyer was interested and with Bongos there's no much of a market.

The buyer ends up winning, I wrapped the bass in three boxes, wrap the strings in paper, bass in plastic wrap. Everything I could do to keep the bass safe from water, dropping, etc. The buy contacts me a week and says that I mislead him on the sale, there was a big gouge on the neck and wanted me to pay $400 to have it repaired.

Now I sold the bass for already a big loss, spent the time to deal with International shipping, really didn't want to deal with another problem. So I started to question the damage and things didn't add up, finally he dropped the request for the money.

Not sure if it was due to customs dropping the bass but the whole experience wasn't great.

Also I've heard of people using the new eBay feedback system to buy an item, pay the seller, then requesting the money back since the item wasn't as described. eBay will reverse the money without contacting the seller, basically getting the item for free. The whole eBay feedback system has changed giving the buyer much more power than the seller.
 
#43
This has happened to me a few times on items I have won off eBay. In your situation it's not hard to wonder why the guy did not set a reserve price of $500 to begin with? :rollno:

At least you are getting your money back hopefully and eBay took your side on the matter. And for sure be sure to leave the guy negative feedback. This is why I typically don't try to buy gear off eBay much anymore and stick to either here, my local music shops or credible online retailers or even my local Craigslist because at least you can most times see and try out the gear before you buy.
 
#44
The latest responses.

"Okay, we will meet in the middle for $437.99

I understand this situation is not a smooth transaction, but accusing me of fraud or finagle is not quite accurate. I have not taken your money, and none of us are at loss. If you had payed me, that would be a different story. However, I understand that because of my ignorance of eBay rules, I have not been 100% Kosher according to eBay policy - I own up to that and apologize for it.

As of now, I will bill you for the $437.99, and am willing to continue with the transaction."

My response:

"I had paid you initially and it got kicked back.
Hey listen it's a bass and a good one and I too apologize for taking it this far.
Music is suppose to be fun and we music lovers are a different breed.
I will pay you and hope you can send me this bass with no ill feelings.
I tell you what once I get the bass I will make you whole by giving you the other $21.

Just send this baby with good vibes and happiness. It's going to a good home.
Deal?"




Lesson learned for me:

It's gear! We love it and we like to have it and we like to enjoy it. Breaking principle for personal enjoyment when it comes to gear should be done and encouraged. Yes this gave me the blues, but what better way to mend it by pouring it into my new bass.

I am now satisfied. Good life now awaits me.
 
#49
That seller is incredibly dumb, flakey and clueless as to how eBay fundamentally works. Unfortunately, if you do enough commerce on the internet, you're bound to eventually run into a knucklehead. I had a wacky transaction once. I bought a Demeter preamp off of a guy in Florida on BassGear.com. He wanted a USPS money order so I got one and sent it to him. My only interaction with him after I sent the money was to request that he pack it well, insure it for the sales price and let me know of any tracking numbers (if applicable). Nothing comes for a couple of weeks and then I get a letter with a personal check reimbursing me for the sales price and a note saying that I "spooked him" and he thought he was going to get screwed or something. I still don't quite understand how I could've screwed him when he had my money and his Demeter preamp still in his possession. I've had very good luck with bass gear commerce on TalkBass. I think there's a sense of community here and that the overwhelming majority of participants are on the up and up. I did have one odd experience on TalkBass, though. There was a guy selling a cabinet I was interested in only it was 8 ohms instead of the 4 ohm configuration I wanted so I gave him a free bump and posted something to the effect of "too bad it's not 4 ohms or I'd be all over it". A TalkBasser who had a 4 ohm one contacted me via a PM and offered to sell his to me for a good price (which _he_ specified ... no haggling involved). So I sent him the amount he asked for via PayPal and a couple of days after that, I got a refund from him with a note that he couldn't sell it for that amount. No big deal, but the tone of his note suggested that he was a bit irritated with me as if I had bargained him down to that price or something ... it was slightly weird. However, he had a pretty good track record of positive feedback on TalkBass so I chalked it up to an aberration of some sort for him.
 
#52
Rockin Mike said:
Am I missing something? Looks like there are lots of Guild Pilots on ebay.
This one for $199 buy-it-now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-DeArmond-Guild-Pilot-Plus-V-5-string-bass-MINTY-SET-UP-AND-READY-TO-PLAY-/370742020199?pt=Guitar&hash=item5651f24867
Click to expand...


DeArmonds Piltos are imports hence cheapers than USA made Pilots. The USA made ones are cheapers than Fender MIMs.

Guild USA are the **** in value for what you get.
And after all these years, the necks are still stable and amazing tone.
 
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#53
I have run into a few transactions like this in the past few years. These people are so stupid, they want to save the extra few dollars by not setting a reserve price, or believe that if they are lowballed because their sale is not well listed or not bid on by many, that they can just refuse to complete the auction. It goes to the mentality of some in society these days.
 
#55
tildeslash said:
The latest responses.

"Okay, we will meet in the middle for $437.99

I understand this situation is not a smooth transaction, but accusing me of fraud or finagle is not quite accurate. I have not taken your money, and none of us are at loss. If you had payed me, that would be a different story. However, I understand that because of my ignorance of eBay rules, I have not been 100% Kosher according to eBay policy - I own up to that and apologize for it.

As of now, I will bill you for the $437.99, and am willing to continue with the transaction."

My response:

"I had paid you initially and it got kicked back.
Hey listen it's a bass and a good one and I too apologize for taking it this far.
Music is suppose to be fun and we music lovers are a different breed.
I will pay you and hope you can send me this bass with no ill feelings.
I tell you what once I get the bass I will make you whole by giving you the other $21.

Just send this baby with good vibes and happiness. It's going to a good home.
Deal?"




Lesson learned for me:

It's gear! We love it and we like to have it and we like to enjoy it. Breaking principle for personal enjoyment when it comes to gear should be done and encouraged. Yes this gave me the blues, but what better way to mend it by pouring it into my new bass.

I am now satisfied. Good life now awaits me.
Click to expand...

Ever since Pawn Stars hit the airwaves, EVERYONE wants to haggle.
 
#57
bigntasty said:
The seller can back out of a completed auction even after you won it with your high bid, with no negative ramifications for them. This happened to me awhile back when I won a porcelain figurine, and I was blown away that the seller had no obligation to complete the transaction. I got my money back right away but the seller had already listed it under a new auction with a (much higher) B.I.N. price. The buyer is no longer protected on Ebay auctions under these conditions.
Click to expand...

You have very little understanding of how Ebay works.

No negative ramifications? Have you forgotten about the Feedback system? I had one person leave me 3 low DSRs and it negated nearly 950 good transactions last quarter. Lost my Top Rated ($300-$350 savings a month) because of one scumbag.

Sellers already have enough negative ramifications. Not that it justifies this seller - but the bashing in this thread reveals to me it is far more filled with buyers than sellers.
 
#58
Robf said:
Also I've heard of people using the new eBay feedback system to buy an item, pay the seller, then requesting the money back since the item wasn't as described. eBay will reverse the money without contacting the seller, basically getting the item for free. The whole eBay feedback system has changed giving the buyer much more power than the seller.
Click to expand...

You've heard wrong. That doesn't happen.
 
#59
Templar said:
Pawn shop ebayers are notorious liars, they've burned me enough times that I refuse to buy from them anymore no matter what they're selling. I don't worry about recouping my money, I just hate having to return stuff.
Click to expand...

I've bought hundreds of guitars from pawn shops on Ebay. They aren't any notorious "liar" to me - just sellers that don't describe their items, nor do they have the knowledge to do so. When I complain about something, they almost always oblige with no issue or push-back.

Individual sellers are more often a PITA.
 

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