Would this put you off as a buyer?

[LBS-bass]

The seller already has the other bass listed as coming with the case. If he changes things to accommodate you, what about the guy who is interested in the other bass who also started texting him about that one? Now he's got to do something with that sale that's not going to make anyone who buys that instrument feel like they got a fair deal.

If had something listed and knew people were reading what was offered, the last thing I'd want is some bad blood because I made a change to my listing to accommodate someone else.

 

[GodPlayedBass]

Also keep in mind that we're talking about a bass. Super sensitive instrument and i wouldnt tell you to buy one if you cant buy it under conditions that make you feel completely comfortable.

 

[ModuMan]

While I think it's perfectly okay to ask for the other case, I guess I would have worded the request differently. Meaning, ask if it is possible to make a deal for it. Not just straight ask for it.

That said, they can sell the items however they like and if they don't want to do that then that's their business.

Chances are you will find the bass again. Personally, unless the case is really unique I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[yodedude2]

I'm not expecting to be treated like royalty but at that price point at the very least a " hey I appreciate the offer but I'm really sorry I can't do that" would have perhaps made me say, hey I get it, didn't hurt to try, I'll go ahead and grab it anyway

agreed. but i wouldn't take their response personally. just two ships passing in the night.

 

[40Hz]

The demeanor of the reply makes me want to take an antacid for my G.A.S and move along


Am I unreasonable?

Doesn't matter. Them’s the breaks.

Time to move on.

 

[Admiral Thrawn]

Mind sending me the link?

I'm dying to see this bass!

 

[DJ Bebop]

I guess we just have different business practices, as I said I personally have no problem improvising to make a deal, I also welcome offers.

I guess I have a soured opinion of the seller to begin with as he is one of the dealers that set everything at 100-120% of fair market value and then they sit for months or years

Ironically he made me an offer once of 50% my asking price on a reasonably priced instrument

And that's how folks make money. Buy low, sell high

 

[SactoBass]

So I was looking at a bass on Reverb and a large volume seller has a bass I like priced at $2700, the bass is within a fair price range for what it is although on the high end, one of the downsides for me is it has a non original damaged case. The sellers price is firm, no " make offer" feature

The same seller has another bass of the same make, model and vintage with a nice original case but the color and condition of the bass is less desirable so its priced at $1800

* I had mistakenly suggested he has hundreds of guitars listed, most of his inventory are pedals, he has 18 guitars listed in total*


I had emailed him and said I would be interested in purchasing your $2700 bass if you would swap out the case with the case from the other listing.

He replied with one sentence that he " wouldn't be willing to do that "

Me personally, to make a sale, I would be happy to, in my opinion the condition of the case really has no bearing on value of the instrument it's more the fact I already have several basses with worn broken cases.

The demeanor of the reply makes me want to take an antacid for my G.A.S and move along


Am I unreasonable?

No, the seller's response that he wouldn't be willing to do that would *not* put me off as a buyer. I thought his response was just fine. You asked, and he answered. Just because his answer did not align with what you wanted to have happen does not mean he was rude or off-putting. He simply declined.

Since you are the one with the money, you are in the driver's seat. *YOU* get to decide whether to go ahead with the deal anyway, or look elsewhere. That's a good position to be in!

 

[FSGrind]

It doesn't sound like the seller needs the money. How expensive are cases? $100? Would I lost out on a $2700 sale over $100? No.

 

[Hounddog409]

So I was looking at a bass on Reverb and a large volume seller has a bass I like priced at $2700, the bass is within a fair price range for what it is although on the high end, one of the downsides for me is it has a non original damaged case. The sellers price is firm, no " make offer" feature

The same seller has another bass of the same make, model and vintage with a nice original case but the color and condition of the bass is less desirable so its priced at $1800

* I had mistakenly suggested he has hundreds of guitars listed, most of his inventory are pedals, he has 18 guitars listed in total*


I had emailed him and said I would be interested in purchasing your $2700 bass if you would swap out the case with the case from the other listing.

He replied with one sentence that he " wouldn't be willing to do that "

Me personally, to make a sale, I would be happy to, in my opinion the condition of the case really has no bearing on value of the instrument it's more the fact I already have several basses with worn broken cases.

The demeanor of the reply makes me want to take an antacid for my G.A.S and move along


Am I unreasonable?

You are more concerned about a freakin case than the bass??????

Who cares about a freakin case?

You are being unreasonable.

 

[bizzybass]

for a sale?
in a heartbeat
especially since I always factor a little wiggle room in my price, unless its unobtanium priced fairly people ALWAYS want to haggle IMHO

So I was looking at a bass on Reverb and a large volume seller has a bass I like priced at $2700, the bass is within a fair price range for what it is although on the high end, one of the downsides for me is it has a non original damaged case. The sellers price is firm, no " make offer" feature

The same seller has another bass of the same make, model and vintage with a nice original case but the color and condition of the bass is less desirable so its priced at $1800

* I had mistakenly suggested he has hundreds of guitars listed, most of his inventory are pedals, he has 18 guitars listed in total*


I had emailed him and said I would be interested in purchasing your $2700 bass if you would swap out the case with the case from the other listing.

He replied with one sentence that he " wouldn't be willing to do that "

Me personally, to make a sale, I would be happy to, in my opinion the condition of the case really has no bearing on value of the instrument it's more the fact I already have several basses with worn broken cases.

The demeanor of the reply makes me want to take an antacid for my G.A.S and move along


Am I unreasonable?

I decided to check out the for sale ad on the item in question. As a good friend of mine always says, "you can't have a nickel holding up a dollar". The seller is including a NON-original case that needs to be put on craigslist for 10 bucks for some guy that needs a cheap case for his cheap bass. The other base has the original case with it so if I was a seller I'm not sure if I would switch it out. With this particular bass I would have already found a nice used case with a good smell that fit well if I didn't want to spring for a new one which I may have done that instead. I surely would have I would have offered the buyer a discount on my item so he can go out and buy himself a new case of his choice. Why? .. because he has his bass priced as high as he could during the middle of a pandemic which has had a significant financial impact. I looked at the seller's Reverb store and it seems like he's in business to make money, not just a vintage vintage collector or a guy who bought a vintage bass and is looking to move on. The seller plain and simple "doesnt get it". He could be using that liquid $2,700 to buy low and sell high. I'd play the long game as well and see what the price is in a month or so personally.

 

[bigswifty1]

Am I unreasonable?

IMO yes. Anyone can sell their stuff however they want provided they're not being dishonest.

in my opinion the condition of the case really has no bearing on value of the instrument it's more the fact I already have several basses with worn broken cases.

If you need a case, then find a case for sale that you like and buy it.

As a personal note, all my cases are stuffed under beds, in closets and things and I just use a single mono gig bag for all my out-of-house experiences, but that's just me. Some people like cases, and that's cool.

 

[Playbyear]

This was a recent example on TB. I cant see the $1000 difference for the color. (And this one had a decent original case)

SOLD - 1980 Rickenbacker 4001

 

[9c1ny]

This was a recent example on TB. I cant see the $1000 difference for the color. (And this one had a decent original case)

SOLD - 1980 Rickenbacker 4001

that's Ric for ya

checkerboard binding and a custom color adds a grand on the price of a new one

 

[tr4252]

Based on what I've read, I'm with the o.p. and whoever else has commented on the times this deal is taking place in. The seller is holding a relatively high priced item that the o.p. says he wants to buy. Even if it was B.P. (before pandemic), you'd think the seller would want to interest the guy in some kind of profitable deal on this instrument. I understand about getting tired of "tire-kickers" and being brusque; we all have bad days. However, aren't the words "nibble" and "schmooze" still in the salesman's vocabulary? Because, he may not be able to get $500.00 for it, 2 months from now. I'd think he would try to move it now, instead of hoping for an unlikely return to normalcy in the near future. We've got presidents sending everybody checks and a national emergency; are people buying disinfectants and canned soup or bass guitars these days, maybe I'm missing something? Could he be that short sighted?

Also, If I were the seller, I believe I'd have thought twice about offering a nice bass in such a shabby case, with an edge busted out no less, in the first place. I wouldn't want a guitar shipped in it. All my guitars/basses have acceptable if not pretty cases; to me it's a part of the guitar ownership package, so I'd pass on a purchase like this anyway.

O.p., I'd give up on the seller, grow a thicker skin, and be happy as hell when I found a better deal. Or, watch the item until it goes down to $875.00 (with a nice case), and then offer him $750.00. Good luck!

Tom

numerous edits, I kept thinking "oh, and another thing"

 

[Steve88]

I didnt see anybody mention it, but possibly both are already packed for shipping. So switching would involve unpacking both, switching cases, repacking both, then changing the ads and possibly taking a financial hit on the other listing.

I'm not sure I would want to do that extra work, but I would offer an explanation of that was the situation and go from there.

 

[40Hz]

I guess we just have different business practices, as I said I personally have no problem improvising to make a deal, I also welcome offers.

I guess I have a soured opinion of the seller to begin with as he is one of the dealers that set everything at 100-120% of fair market value and then they sit for months or years

Ironically he made me an offer once of 50% my asking price on a reasonably priced instrument

Just add him to your list of buyers/sellers you ignore. Save yourself future annoyance and stress.

Onward!

 

[ejaggers]

[QUOTE="ejaggers, post: 23783669, member: 152173"
Not because the seller may or may not be rude,
but because even though the seller said "no offers",
it is still good business practice to negotiate on certain items.

Good business practice or blatantly Ignoring the request?

I will say this, I sell my items here on TB on the low side and if say the price is firm I commonly will not even respond or ask if they need help reading the ad.

That might come off rude but on the Contra I find it rude on the other side.

Take that for what it is I come in peace.[/QUOTE]

As I said, "Good Business Practice".

If you don't like my counter offer, turn it down.
If your item isn't worth it to me I walk.

Simple as that.
A transaction is a two sided affair.

057912

 

[kodiakblair]

A case wouldn't put me off buying.
The way the OP has responded to rejection would put me off selling to them.

 

[LBS-bass]

I didnt see anybody mention it, but possibly both are already packed for shipping. So switching would involve unpacking both, switching cases, repacking both, then changing the ads and possibly taking a financial hit on the other listing.

I'm not sure I would want to do that extra work, but I would offer an explanation of that was the situation and go from there.

I sort of did mention this. To me it's a matter of integrity on the seller's part. If I am selling two packages and have described both packages, why on earth would I make myself look shady by swapping cases after I've advertised that each bass comes with a specific case? It may make the OP happy but it's a recipe for disaster for the other sale. Just not something I'd be interested in mucking with, for what to me appear to be obvious reasons. It's my stuff; I can sell it how I want, or not. Not everyone is so hungry for a sale that they are willing to risk their reputation.

But this speaks to a larger epidemic in today's world, which is a lack of compassion or empathy. We are completely unable to put ourselves in someone else's shoes and think about how it looks from their side.