Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: lbpesq on October 01, 2010, 07:30:21 AM
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Sometimes it's funny how life unfolds. After many years of buying all kinds of stuff, including numerous guitars, on eBay with no problems, I got burned twice on the same day. Yesterday I received delivery of two items I had recently won on the Bay.
First was a 1963 Harmony Jupiter H49 guitar. This is an instrument I have been seeking for about 5 years. It is roughly an elongated slightly larger Les Paul shaped hollow (VERY light) guitar with a wonderful art deco tortoise shell pick guard and matching pickup rings. The listing described it as original owner, mint condition, the best example out there, ready to gig. I paid close to top Blue Book value with the buy it now.
It arrives and I find it is far from mint. Lots of dings, scratches, and chips. A couple of gouges on the fretboard. The electronics don't work at all and two of the six pots are free spinning.
Next I also received what was purported to be a Rickenbacker Ric-o-sound unit. This is essentially a stereo to mono Y splitter that sends the output of each pickup to a separate amp or separate channel. These little boxes also work great with Series Alembics with stereo 1/4 jacks. Rickenbacker stopped making the about 5 years ago and they have become rather rare and valuable. Of course one can make a Y splitter for substantially less than these go for, but I wanted a real one to go along with a Ricky 380L Laguna that I have.
It arrives yesterday and it turns out it's not a real Rickenbacker Ric-o-sound, but merely someone's version of the original. Doesn't even say ric-o-sound on it.
I've written to both sellers asking for a refund (or at least a substantially lower price on the guitar). We'll see what happens. Does anyone have experience with eBay's buyer's protection program? Am I likely to get relief from eBay if the sellers flake out?
Bill, tgo
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Ebay/Paypal does a pretty good job siding with the buyer...so the wind might be at your back,
It sounds like you have a good case in both auctions.
Sellers have a much harder time finding justice when a buyer asks for a chargeback (even if the seller has done everything right).
Elwood
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Agreed, PayPal should back you since both would be considered substantially different from what was advertised. You may end up out return shipping charges. I'm not sure how they handle that. I'd send them back freight collect...
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Might want to do some screen captures in case the sellers decide to change the listing text as an afterthought.
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I'd try and work with the sellers directly first. But, keep in mind you only have 45 days from your payment date to open a case (see eBay's policy (http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/item-not-received.html)). There are links on that page for opening a case as well.
And do save the images and descriptions like Dave suggests.
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If you paid with paypal open a claim right away. They will side with you on both claims most likely and they will put a hold on the funds usually right away. You can still negotiate with the seller but having the claim out there usually moves it along. Paypals first resort is to ask the both of you to work it out yourselves, but they still put a hold out there for you just in case.
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The seller of the ric-o-sound responded right away, apologized, told me it was sold to him as a ric-o-sound and that he would take it back for a full refund. I guess I'll eat the postage on this one - it's not that much and he was very reasonable. I haven't heard a word back from the guitar seller and have opened a claim. By the way, they've changed things a little. Paypal no longer handles the claims. eBay does it now. I wonder what happens if the seller never responds and just disappears. I believe eBay will still refund the $, but what happens to the guitar in that case?
Bill, tgo
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If the seller disappears and you get a refund, maybe the guitar can just 'disappear' too. ;)