Author Topic: Another bogus "Elan" (Read 197 times)

bsee · « **on:** October 17, 2007, 10:11:40 PM »

Another ebay decal job. haven't seen one of these in a while.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEMBIC-ELAN-4-STRING-BASS-GUITAR-W-CASE_W0QQitemZ200164128988QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

danny_bryant · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2007, 07:29:23 AM »

Yeah, What a goon. I wrote the lady a message and told her she wasnt fooling anybody.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2007, 07:39:01 AM »

$1000 starting bid is pretty audacious for a probable Chinese $150 bass.

artswork99 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2007, 07:55:16 AM »

Use the Report this item at page bottom on eBay to suggest they remove the item as fraudulent. The more submissions from different users the better as they may remove it quicker. I have also written the seller and informed them that this was not an Alembic instrument and hope they were not misled... and suggested that they not mislead others with this information.

effclef · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2007, 08:00:59 AM »

I've reported it to Ebay. Once as a fraudulent listing, once as counterfeit. Hopefully it will be removed.

Don't be quick to blame the seller. My understanding is that the doofus making these is selling them to pawn shops, who then try to resell. Mostly in TX and OK, if I remember previous discussions.

What I am guessing is that some guitar blue-book out there only lists a value for an Alembic Elan. The pawnbroker sees $2000 listed and eagerly gives the scam artist the money, without seeing or knowing what a true Elan looks like.

I think Mica should buy one of these and have it analyzed for fingerprints!
EffClef

artswork99 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2007, 08:09:28 AM »

Agreed EffClef and is why I wrote to the seller in an informative manner (get to them with kindness - you get more flies with sugar than with salt).
I also submitted both types earlier this morning to eBay.

Here is Mica's thread in regard to Fake Alembics with mention of these counterfeits:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/403/1169.html?1027269907

(Message edited by artswork99 on October 18, 2007)

juggernaught · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2007, 08:11:25 AM »

I love it how they show that the battery cover says fender on it

juggernaught · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2007, 08:14:23 AM »

Damn my eyes, that's the case

artswork99 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2007, 08:21:44 AM »

Hi Devon, I was going to ask you if you just woke up out there in NM

juggernaught · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2007, 08:38:26 AM »

Of course I did!

artswork99 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2007, 09:06:43 AM »

Below is the response from the seller:

I do apologize for listing this as an Alembic if is truly isn't. I'm not an expert in this area and was going strictly off of the label. Someone else said it was a Fender, so I have revised my listing as such. It was not my intention to mislead anyone.

This seller was easy to locate and I have spoken with her. A very nice woman indeed and I was told that her husband was sold this several years ago. They were cleaning house...

I have suggested removing the name on the headstock as she told me she was taking down the listing and going to relist it as unknown for $100.

danny_bryant · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2007, 11:54:51 AM »

I didnt mean to be so hard on the lady guys but you gotta call them like you see them.

bsee · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2007, 12:58:51 PM »

Maybe so, but there's this benefit-of-the-doubt thing. If you were ripped off by some mom and pop dealer or pawn shop that sold you this bass as an Alembic for $1000, how would you feel getting accused of the crime that victimized you? Unless it's obvious that the person knows what they have and are trying to slide one by, I believe it's best to start with a friendly query to assess the situation.

Of course, when some ass responds to such a friendly informational query with a load of attitude, I sometimes regret the decision. I'll still play it that way, though.