Ebay Dispute: Need a few professional opinions

[GeJiangSi]

Hello hello!

Here's the low down...received the kit and found a few surprises...

-The snare arm has a CHUNK broken off of it.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m90/jamesgardner22/DSC03073.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m90/jamesgardner22/DSC03074.jpg

-The shell has an abnormal hole in it and a patch of the wrap has been torn away.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m90/jamesgardner22/DSC03072.jpg

-The bass drum pedal is missing the spring assembly.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m90/jamesgardner22/DSC03075.jpg

All of this was NOT mentioned in the listing, or shown in pictures. Here it is.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160377543610&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I'm even further bummed because they were the parts I needed to complete the cocktail kit that was a gift from my father...I would like to keep the drums but feel as if something should be negotiated.

SO, here is what I need help with...I would like a couple of appraisals on how much the value of the drums depreciate with this amount of damage. I payed $665 on an eBay auction, what is it worth INCLUDING that damage?

If you need any more info, let me know.

Thanks,

James

[amosguy]

What questions did you ask before the sale? Not faulting either of you, but looking for more info before feedback.

[vintagemore2000]

I would like to chime in also. as with my fellow forum member amosguy. from the link you gave us from the auction, i see you did not ask any questions from the seller, also have you contacted the seller to acquire about the things you are not happy about, i also am a seller on eBay, but i would have photoed the items you are in question about, your seller has 100% feedback so his reputation is good, try contacting him first to reach a satisfactory end for both of you.

[GeJiangSi]

I did not ask any questions before the sale. The listing appeared to be fairly thorough, and the seller had 100% feedback. I figured you don't get that from posting misleading items for sale...so I bid with confidence.

I have contacted him since, and he has replied. He knows I am an unhappy buyer, and he acknowledged that he would like to make me happy on the sale, but did not know what I wanted him to do. I sent an email stating that I would like to send pictures of the damage so we can go from there. We both seem to want to come to a fair conclusion, but he has not gotten back to me in a few days.

I figured if I got some feedback on how much the damage/missing pieces are worth, it would be a good starting point for negotiation.

[AZBill]

My two-cents probably aren't worth much as far as Luddy stuff goes, but the vintage (there's that word again) Gretsch cocktail kits I've seen close on fleabay, bring high $$; maybe my reply is really a question. Don't these kits command fairly high prices, anyway? And, by the looks of your kit, it's got more peices than any Gretsch cocktail kits I've seen, that have sold for more.

I agree with the additinal questioning and perhaps picture requests that could have been submitted, due to the many pieces involved.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing your course of, if any, action.

[backbeatkeeper]

Ebay is all about the buyers now, when it comes to disputes. Email the seller first and let them know your concerns, address only the issues that you feel were not mentioned and/or what is making you unhappy with the purchase. If you paid with PayPal, you can start a dispute.

I bought a cymbal from a person a while back. I asked if there was any holes, dents or flea bites, to which the replied no. Their auction also said no refunds. I emailed the person and addressed my concerns. I got a very nasty email back. Long story short, I opened a dispute and won. They got the cymbal back and I got every penny back.

Try to be nice, if that don't work, have the facts and open a dispute. Sellers are only ignorant if they want to be in my opinion.

BBK

[MastroSnare]

Overall it does appear that the seller made an honest attempt to describe the drums, but in the listing he says "The snare tilter works fine as well as the swing arm on the cocktail drum.".
Isn't that the part with the chunk out of it? It could be that the chunk was facing down and he didn't see it.
To me, none of the damage seems insurmountable, it looks like it could be a nice setup.

[GeJiangSi]

Thanks for all of the input guys, I really appreciate it. However, my question remains unanswered.

I agree with backbeatkeeper in that the guy should have described the listing better. Those are some major cosmetic and mechanical flaws that should have been described. They are easily noticed and shouldn't have been overlooked. End of story. A buyer shouldn't have to question about MAJOR flaws like that. He mentioned other things that were wrong/missing, why not those things?

I believe I payed a fair amount as it was at auction. If it was worth more, the set would have simply sold for more. I was the HIGHEST bidder. I payed for what was listed, and got less.

I know that Paypal offers buyer protection. If I have to, I know I can file a dispute...I don't want to go that route however.

What I am asking is...how much the kit would go down in value due to those few unmentioned flaws? I have an idea of what it is worth to me, but I wanted some other opinions to ensure I was being fair.

Thanks again for all of the input :)

[vintagemore2000]

as I mentioned previously just come to an agreement with the seller he didn't present the flaws very well, try for around $100.00 refund or to get your shipping charge back, then that would make your purchase much more palatable to you, and then you would have $550.00 in a kit that is worth around $800.00 towards a grand. the dispute process with feebay is not fun for either of you, hope this ends in you satisfaction..

[mcjnic]

Here's what I see...

He mentioned A SINGLE missing part of the pedal and stated that it was operable...

This drum comes with a WFL reversible pedal hooked to the side of the drum (see photo). The pedal is missing a part of the bracket (see photo) but it still works.


He also stated that the wrap was not damaged and had no holes...

Wrap is very nice WMP with a little greening. The drum has no extra holes.


He also stated that the swing arm was in good working order...
The snare tilter works fine as well as the swing arm on the cocktail drum.

This is a clear case of deception. It's your call on what you will do. I would flat out return the item and take a full refund. This is not someone I would do business with. He is unethical and that's a line that I will not cross with anyone under any circumstance. Some things are just not worth compromising. There are other drums out there. I would have to live with myself knowing that I've sold out my character for a freekin' drum. Not worth it.

[drumbum3131]

I'm not coming to anyones defense.But....didn't he say "I will describe this kit to the best of my ability". This was most likely the best of his abilities. He also said the tilter and the swing were in "working order" not perfect condition. I just think that he never took it apart. With these problems I still feel you got a great deal. Wouldn't the snare alone go for something like that? Maybe should just ask him to pay for shipping. I've dealt with problems like this before. Send me a PM and I'll tell you how to fix the drum.


And also...does that [pedal really look like it would work perfectly?

[mcjnic]

He also stated that the wrap was not damaged and had no holes...

Wrap is very nice WMP with a little greening. The drum has no extra holes.


That would be enough for me. That wrap is damaged and that drum definitely has an extra hole. If he honestly couldn't see that...well...I don't know how to respond to that one.

[drumbum3131]

I agree...but, was it hidden under something??? How would he know if he didn't take it off?

[mcjnic]

Point taken.

[vintagemore2000]

I repeat again, i would just come to an agreement with the seller for either a ship refund or some cash back, and call it a day, the return shipping for the buyer will be a black hole, you'll be out the dough and no drums, just chalk it up to be a lesson learned,

[kevins]

All things considered, I would start at $100 refund and go from there.
If the intent of the purchase was to harvest parts to refurbish another cocktail outfit, I think that specific questions about those parts and a request for better pictures of those parts would have been prudent.
I shop for orphan drums frequently to get parts I need, and if I can't tell by the pics offered, I always ask for more. If they don't send them, I don't bid.
It's a bummer that two out of the three things misrepresented are the two things you really need off the kit, but would we be having the same conversation if it were different issues that weren't revealed? I mean there's not a single pic of the interior of either drum, no talk about bearing edges, or if the drums are in round. A lot of bases were left uncovered, but still nobody asked, and bid anyway.
It sux, I know, but a better job could have been done by both parties. Again, I would try for $100, especially for the wrap and the swing arm, seems as if the pedal issue was pictured, and he did say a bracket was missing, so a repair in that area was to be expected.
I sincerely don't mean to offend in any way, that's just how I see it.

[drumbum3131]

Okay, Here's an example. I bought an old ludwig tom a couple months back and took the mount off. Little did I know the mount was partially re-drilled at an angle so his tom would be at a better height. This is a risk we are all willing to take when buying old drums...sometimes a 45 year old drum has a couple problems hidden under the lugs or mounts.