Help Needed with sale of bass

[Thunderbird]

Hi Guys I need a bit of help I bought a bass from a very well regarded basschatter and it was absolutely perfect but I rarely played it as it just was not for me so I sold it on basschat a couple of months ago in the same condition as it was when I bought it for the exception of having a full set up and check over by a very well respected luthier who said the bass was perfect. So my problem begins here the guy who I sold the bass to about 2 months ago has just contacted me and said there was a problem with the frets on the bass and that they were low and he has had to have it refretted at a cost of 230 now I know there was not a problem with the bass and am unsure what to do as why has the buyer taken so long on telling me about this and getting work done without contacting me? I do not want to cause any bad feeling with the other guy but I have to take my luthiers word and the previous owners word over his and the fact the I knew the bass was spot on.Any one here who knows me will know if some thing is not spot on I wont sell it but I do not want to pay out some money that for something that I was all OK what can I do?

[Hobbayne]

[list=1]
[*]Was the buyer a well established basschatter, or a fly by night chancer newbie? In which case 'Caveat Emptor'
[/list]

Edited November 1, 2016 by Hobbayne

[Thunderbird]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1478001142' post='3165825'][list=1]
[*]Was the buyer a well established basschatter, or a fly by night chancer newbie? In which case 'Caveat Emptor'
[/list]
[/quote]
The buyer is a new basschat member

[ambient]

Rather expensive for a re-fret ?

And contacting you after 2 months !

Just ignore them.

[Thunderbird]

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1478001385' post='3165829']
Rather expensive for a re-fret ?

And contacting you after 2 months !

Just ignore them.
[/quote] I know I am in the right but feel bad even though I have no reason to things like this make me feel down have never been in a situation like this before

[cheddatom]

he did the work without consulting you first. You have no obligations

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1478001497' post='3165834']
he did the work without consulting you first. You have no obligations
[/quote]

+1 Tell him to go take a running jump.

[ambient]

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1478001487' post='3165833']
I know I am in the right but feel bad even though I have no reason to things like this make me feel down have never been in a situation like this before
[/quote]

I'm the same. I always insist on people collecting basses that I sell in person. They can come over, and spend as long as they want to, trying the bass out. I've even in the past changed the strings whilst the guy was there, simply because the ones fitted were too light for him.

There has to be a cut off though, and I'd have though that 2 months was well past that, and I'd have expected to have been contacted prior to any work being done.

[machinehead]

I know what you mean. Something like this would make me feel low as well.

In this case, I think you're perfectly fine to either ignore him or tell him that you know it was OK when you sold it. Plus, he should have asked you within days of the sale and not spent the money before agreeing it with you.

Frank.

[ambient]

Martin at the Gallery only charges £200 for a re-fret. He's one of the top luthiers in the country. So the £230 is definitely expensive.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1478001641' post='3165844']
+1 Tell him to go take a running jump.
[/quote]

+2 Long walk, short pier.

[Grangur]

Unless there are significant dips in the frets the question of whether the neck needs a refret is never clearcut. If the frets are simply worn and re-dressed down to half their original height deciding on the question of a refret is down to the owner.
It also calls into question the integrity of the luthier, who could be a little over eager to get the refret work.

In your situation I would be miffed if asked for some recompense for the work as I would have done it myself if it had needed doing. I don't doubt you too would have found a more economic option.

As others have said, the time to contact you was before the work was done. Now its down to him. I hope he's happy with the work.

[stingrayPete1977]

I have a 1957 Morris Minor, the rear end is rotted out of it, can I get the car rebuilt by a specialist and send the bill to Shanghai MG Rover or BMW (who has the Morris rights?) after I have got the work done without even asking them first?

The timescale isn't such an issue to me although it adds weight to the sellers side of course but that said a message like " Hi mate I bought the bass off you a couple of months ago but only just got around to using it and I cant get it set up right, took it to my bass guy and he says it needs a refret and it will be £230, what do you think?", I would still say the OP has no need for any involvement as it was a used bass but that should have been the first port of call from the buyer, missing that step out removes the OP from the situation 100%

Edited November 1, 2016 by stingrayPete1977

[Guest bassman7755]

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1478001307' post='3165827']
The buyer is a new basschat member
[/quote]

Sounds like a scam to me, this sort of thing happens all the time on ebay for instance, people buy stuff and then try and get partial refunds based on fictitious defects. The onus on the buyer to check any goods in a timely manner, leaving it a couple of months makes any claim they have null and void IMO.

[skej21]

IF the bass did require a refret, the buyer should've taken the following steps.

1) Contacted you in a reasonable time (legally distance selling regulations are only 14 days for items bought online so maybe a grace period of 30 days is fair).

2) Explained what they thought the issue was, backed up by a quote from a luthier.

3) Allowed you to counter his thoughts with the paperwork that gave the bass the all clear from your luthier when it was in for a set-up pre-sale.

4) Discussed a compromise (maybe pay half each etc).

By taking no reasonable steps to solve the issue with you and simply pursuing his own idea of an outcome and expecting you to pay, I would feel completely guilt free and point out in your response that you may have been accommodating had you been given an opportunity to independently diagnose and resolve any issues in a timely manner.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1478004215' post='3165872']

The buyer would receive a very short and terse response from me.


[/quote]
Carefully delivered with a boot to a certain area known as the arse?

[Thunderbird]

Thanks for the comments guys the buyer is asking me for part of the cost

[Thunderbird]

Think I will but will try to be polite

[Geek99]

Tell him To get stuffed - if i buy something from here the first thing I do is look it over. If it looks okay and plays as well as one can expect for its age / stated condition then the sellers duty is at an end. Two months is way out of the ball park

Caveat : unless police are later involved in any ownership issues

[mentalextra]

Again, issues with 'low post count newbies' allowed on the For Sale section

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1478006088' post='3165896']
Again, issues with 'low post count newbies' allowed on the For Sale section
[/quote]
Newbies selling top boutique basses for four figure sums - with 0 posts on the forum always gets me to scroll through the for sale section with a sigh.

Edited November 1, 2016 by Hobbayne

[Guest bassman7755]

In the event you do agree to pay towards some work then make it clear you will only pay the repairer directly.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1478004487' post='3165878']
I would at least require the old frets back. Tell him to FO.
[/quote]

And a copy of the receipt plus the luthier's number to give them a call, then I would tell them to FO anyway

[RockfordStone]

sounds like a scam or a chancer to me.

you wouldn't buy a car, drive around in it for 2 months, change the tyres then expect the seller to pay for the tyres.

if they were bad enough that he had to have them replaced, he would have spotted it when purchased, and if as you say it was said to be perfect when you had it set up he's either trying to scam you or a tool... or both

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1478006776' post='3165905']
In the event you do agree to pay towards some work then make it clear you will only pay the repairer directly.
[/quote]
[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1478006828' post='3165906']
And a copy of the receipt plus the luthier's number to give them a call, then I would tell them to FO anyway
[/quote]

I would advise very strongly that you do NOT do this, in fact that you do and say absolutely nothing that might imply that you felt any responsibility or liability at all.

If this guy really is a scammer (for £230? sounds more like a newbie or an incompetent to me) then he'll know how to parlay your tacit admission into complete liability.

Just say, as politely as you think appropriate, that there was nothing wrong with the bass when he bought it, and it sounds as if he's been scammed by a dodgy luthier.

Ball --> his court.