Official Luthiers Forum!

I must have the worst luck when it comes to buying on ebay...
I just received a Brazilian fretboard blank. $35.00
It was cracked before it was shipped. This seller tried to supper glue it and then waxed the entire board to fill everything in.
Why Me???????????????????

Thats what they make feedback for - not going to help you now - but you could help others by giving them a heads up to this guys practices.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Definitely leave feedback. I typically try to stick to the people on there that I know an dtrust. Like Brian Hawkins and Bob C, etc

Send it BACK! You didn't bargain for a "repaired" piece of Brazilian. If the guy has the slightest integrety and even a little smarts he'll give you your money back. I HATE EBAY!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I had a similar problem with a large antique dealer who conveniently forgot to mention that the camera I was high bid on had been in a basement and was moldy. I knew it as soon as I opened the box. You could smell it and see the mold on the case. Unfortunately, cameras don't hold up well in wet moldy basements. I wrote the dealer and told them they couldn't claim ignorance since most antiques don't do well in wet moldy basements. They tried to blame it on me saying that I didn't ask enough questions. They finally sent me back my money (less the ebay listing)fee when I threatened to post a description of the problem with their company name anywhere I could find a online forum to post it on. They tried to tell me that was illegal, but as far as I know telling the truth online is not illegal. I think it's called free speech. Despite this one problem, I have never had a problem with anything else I have bought off ebay, including a few tonewoods. I always ask a lot of questions and I don't buy from anyone without a very good feedback score.

I have had problems with ebay, but for the most part most people are honest and want to make a fair exchange.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

The thing I have found most on eBay is that tonewood dealers may have a completely different grading criteria that I am familiar with.

I've bought some stuff that was pretty good and some stuff that was useless. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I would try diplomacy before giving bad feedback. These people can be real nasty when you leave bad feedback. I've seen where people have left negative comments and the seller is given the opportunity to reply and drag your name through the mud.

Walter,
Did you pary for it through Paypal?

FYI...Look into "Square Trade", I used them once for a misposted comment issue that they resolved. Square Trade is eBay's mediatorial agency for situations like yours.

Hope things work well for you

1.) Don't post feedback until the transaction is completed. In this case it's not over yet.

2.) Contact the seller right away and tell him (or her) that you are completely unhappy with the item and why, and request your money back. Don't be angry, don't rant and rave and don't threaten. just be as matter of fact as possible. Most sellers will work with you.

3.) If direct communication doesn't work, them mediation is not likely to help much, but it does get ebay involved.

4.) Finally, if communication doesn't solve the problem, then you can consider giving up and posting funky feedback. Even then, if you simply state the facts without name calling, it becomes hard for a bad seller to get any mud to stick to you.

I've been very lucky in my dealings on ebay, both buying and selling, but then I've also been very careful. I don't assume anything.

I always read and reread the description very carefully, first to make sure the item is really what i want, then a second time to determine if the seller is a psychopath. If I find anything, anything at all negative in the way the seller expresses himself, I don't bid. If I see less than 100 percent postive feedback, I look down the list to see who complained and why.

If you'd like to see some good strategies for bidding without getting screwed, you might want to check out the ebay FAQ I put together. I include a link to it in every one of my auctions.

By the way, it's not rational to hate ebay because of a few skunks. If you have failed to get satisfactory results, it's probably because you didn't do your due diligence as a consumer. It's a pretty good community all in all.

Just sign me decklund(399)

Dennis E.38483.2920717593

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D..

Excelllent post Dennis! Walter, when it comes to buying guitar wood from someone you do not know on ebay, it is a good idea to post a question here on this forum asking about the seller. I think everyone here would not want to see a fellow member get taken to the cleaners on a bad deal.
                                           

Thanks guys for the sympathetic advice...
If it were not for bad luck...I wouldn't have any luck at all!!
Regards, WalterK