Would this put you off as a buyer?

[DJ Bebop]

Absolutely. And when that's the case, you just walk away and wait for the next opportunity.

That's it!

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Other option is to buy both basses and sell the bass and case you don't like...

^I have done essentially this to combine instrument parts on more than one occasion. As long as they're both pretty good buys, everyone wins!

 

[2F/2F]

He gave you his answer as clearly and directly as he could. You have no reason to complain. You have your answer. Now either buy the bass, or don’t. The end.

 

[murph7489]

Ha ha this is a good thread...my take is this; it's a simple asked and answered...he wasn't rude, he was direct, I like that...just get to the bottom line, I don't have time for a negotiation. I like that he answered quickly and gave a direct answer..convo over..simple.

If I were selling it probably wouldn't swap cases either. I might tho offer to get another case for a cost, for 2700 I would probably go out of my way a bit to make it happen..again that's my style no fooling around, no waiting around for a sale, make it happen...just like that convo, get it done.

I don't think it was wrong to ask for the case though, I always say if you want something ask..just ask, the worst they can say is no, and it that happens no big deal I've lost nothing and I move on because I've heard no before and it didn't kill me yet....so that's murph-dogs thoughts

Edit for one more thought;
If I wanted a bass bad enough that I was ready to drop 2700 on the instrument, I would say fine, here's my info ship as soon as possible then I would be online looking for the proper case for my new bass because if I'm spending that kind of loot on a bass, I am sure as S&*T going to go the extra mile and spend a few bucks on a case worthy of that bass...

 

[elgranluis]

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 read though 3 or 5 pages , cannot find the listing. A difference of A grand , can’t you buy a case and get the bass refinished for less than a grand?

 

[Omega Monkey]

But if you want him to devalue another item that he's selling, I would hope that you offer an increase in your offer over the listed sale price.

I'm not a pricing expert on these (I looked up both basses), but he's probably asking a bit too much in the first place for both of them. Old does not equal "valuable". The main bass in question does look pretty nice, but honestly he might have better luck just not even listing the case and/or having it as an unpictured extra (with the info that it's non original and not in great shape).

On the other hand, there's literally an identical bass, from the same era roughly, with an original case (a little beat up but not too bad) that DOES have a make an offer button AND free shipping. Albeit it doesn't seem to be in as nice shape cosmetically as the one in question. Which is to say it's not like this is a one of a kind, and another one will eventually come along. So if you think the bass you found is worth 2770 by itself (forgetting the case for the moment), tell the guy you would buy it for his asking price BUT you expect it to immaculately packed for shipping and arrive exactly as pictured and described without one thing out of place or different. On the plus side, these guys (it appears to be a buddy duo) seem to have quite a number of higher end instruments, so one would hope they are well versed in packing things well because 1 or 2 mistakes on a $4000 guitar and having to eat that cost will teach you real quick.

Anyway, good luck in your quest, wherever it leads.

 

[gregbackstrom]

Not a totally unreasonable offer, but also not unreasonable that the seller turned it down. He'd have to take more than just one hit: He loses the nice case for the same $2700 deal he's already firm on, but he also now only has the crappy case for the $1800 instrument that he'll also probably have to drop the price for because he's now forced to include the crappy case on that one.

So you get the better bass + a new case for $2700 (hit for him) he gets a crappy case and a less valuable instrument he'll likely have to sell for less too (another hit for him).

Depending on the demand for the $2700 deal, I'd have turned you down also.

OTOH, if you offered to compensate him extra for the good case, keeping in mind the additional loss it would have caused him on the other instrument, I might have been willing to deal.

As for the curt response, he probably got 45 offers just like yours and probably worse that morning before you sent your offer in. He was probably already fed up and understandably so.

L

I didn’t get “curt” out of the seller’s response. He just said that he wouldn’t be willing to do what the buyer wanted him to do. I guess he didn’t apologize or ask for forgiveness, but there doesn’t seem to be much “tone” in his response.

 

[gregbackstrom]

Go

jesus the misinterpretation in this is staggering

he never explicitly said ' no offers ' , the listing lacked the " make offer " feature. So not exactly the same and the ad also said " open to trades" , that should open up a whole new avenue of speculation and wonderment.

I guess I'm in the minority right now thinking essentials / money > basses as we head towards a 20% unemployment rate.

I'll find someone who is happy to take 5 minutes to swap a $75 case and revise a listing for $2700 worth of inconvenience to feed their family

Good! You should go do that and leave the seller alone.

 

[Nev375]

I didn't find his response rude in the slightest and had I gone ahead and bought the bass anyway I would never give the guy, the transaction or my feeling about the transaction another thought. I'd just enjoy the bass for what it is and probably look for a better case for it and keep the original in the closet.

 

[swink]

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

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

Note to the OP:

I've been thinking all night about this...
These two quotes are "Windows for negotiation":
"Not be willing to do that" is an indication that the seller is in for "willing to do something else"
"An openings bid of 50%" indicates you can make a deal within the 75-80% range.

If you weren't such a negative person that only listens to what he wants to hear.... That bass was already at your place with a happy buyer and a happy seller.

 

[Lizooki]

Neither were unreasonable ..... except maybe you. "No offers" but you did. Meh, no biggie.
Either way I see no harm no foul, just basic business.
It's his job to get as much as he can, your job to get the best deal you can.
Either have the option to say yes or no.

As for actually swapping the cases. You admit the nicer case was with a lesser bass.
He's probably counting on the case adding to the value of the lesser bass, so making a deal would cost him even more money.

 

[mcnach]

anyone want their $2700 vintage bass shipped in this versus a clean vintage G&G case?

I would buy a good case for my $2700 bass, myself, and not care what it comes with. It's like not buying that car I like because the tyres fitted are not the ones I like.

 

[bassstrangler]

I'd try again with a little more tact. Be firm and very descriptive with what and why you want it and give the seller some incentive. It may work it may not.

I once gave someone a great incentive...I sent them them a text of a picture of 6 one hundred dollar bills. They immediately accepted my offer after refusing it. This was a local Craigslist deal...But hey it worked.

 

[LowEndOperative]

[QUOTE="bassstrangler, I once gave someone a great incentive...I sent them them a text of a picture of 6 one hundred dollar bills....[/QUOTE]

I recently considered doing that on FB Marketplace for an SVT610HLF but the sale never materialized. Just as well, for I was able to snag a Heritage 810 in great condition for only $150 more.

 

[Mark Ambler]

Just ask him how much he wants for the better case, put the ball in his court.

 

[Watchootognbout]

For ME,spending $2700.00 on a bass instead of car repairs at this time would be the height of foolishness.
But you can do what you want.

 

[Mark Ambler]

For ME,spending $2700.00 on a bass instead of car repairs at this time would be the height of foolishness.
But you can do what you want.

But in these times, whatever keeps you sane.

 

[BassBrass]

You have seen him in action. Makes a less than 50% offer and then sells for top dollar.

AND is what I call a non-communicator. (too early to call rude, totally impersonal, yes) probably has an unpleasant smell. Dismiss and move on. 8 pages of this, what is goin g on?!!

 

[LowEndOperative]

anyone want their $2700 vintage bass shipped in this versus a clean vintage G&G case?

Is that the case for the bass you were looking at? If it were me I would message him back and ask if he would cover the damaged area with a few wind-arounds of good duct tape or anything else that would ensure protection from shipping damage, because at that point I would reckon that case’s only usefulness as such, to keep it safe during shipping.

 

[dalkowski]

Congratulations for having >$2K to spend on a bass in late March, 2020 AD.