It's a gray area on this one. The seller SHOULD HAVE corrected you and stated how many plies it was. He didn't, and we can guess that that he figured would scare off the sale (which I take it he would have) had he been more forthcoming.

That said, the edges don't look bad - just need a little love.

Some food for thought.

Next time there is somthing you want to buy and not sure of the listing, on the bottom of the page there's a line that says.

"Ask a Question."

Looking at his past transactions it's mostly Lionel Train and old amp stuff. And given the fact he said he had a "tech" check out the shell I just don't think he knew the difference between a 3 and 6 ply shell. Or really any extensive drum knowledge to begin with. When you mentioned 3 ply in your message to him he might have had no idea what you were talking about. And assumed you knew what it was. Hard to tell and hopefully a honest mistake. He should refund you everything or if you both can agree on a partial refund and you keep the shell that's another thought. If he trys to just stiff you and ignores further contact put the screws to him through eBay. Most good sellers will work with you and I hope it can be resolved without hassle.

It's a Gretsch snare shell. Gretsch=6 ply. It's pretty much comon knowledge.

He didn't misrepresent, he didn't supply much info at all, he let the pictures do the talking.

You saw something that wasn't there.

Yes - I know that one well. I did not ask the question about 3ply because I sent him the first email stating....again, I don't want to belabour this but ....I'm interested in your 3ply shell....his reply of "go for it" to me anyway at the time meant ya...it's a nice 3ply drum edges are 'mint.' I mean why would I send another email to say is it 3 or 6ply when I already told him I was interested in his 3PLY shell?

Hindsight is often very much more clear, but I have to say most of you folks here would have deduced this was a 3ply shell just by the seller's answer.

I have to disagree with you here. It's not obviously a 6ply shell. And if the silver sealer could lead someone to that conclussion it could be wrong. My late 50's Gretsch snare is 3ply and it has silver sealer.

When I did a search for a 3ply shell for some reason his drum came up. I assumed it was 3ply (wrongly I now know).

Just look at it this way....if you were selling a 6ply shell and someone sent you a message stating they were interested in you 3ply shell.....what would your reply be?? Mine would be --sorry it's a 6ply shell - thanks for looking.....something like that.

[COLOR="Red"]This just in:[/COLOR]The seller has agreed to refund me - here's his note to me posted on paypal:

Hi Gary I did think on this over night. Like I had said I on my part never said it was 3 ply or 6 ply I do not know any info on this matter. Please send the shell back to me and I'll refund not 220.00 but 211.00 as I am charged a fee with pay pal. again

It's better than not getting a refund but I will be out of pocket about $90 after the $220 refund. I paid a fee to the post office $37 when I picked the drums up (Customs and tax etc.). I will have to pay for the shipping back to the seller - $45+. total just over $300 - 211.......$89 in the hole.

I don't know if Paypal will charge me for helping with this. Does anyone here know?

Geez, those fees at the post office are harsh!

Well, I suppose lesson learned. I would definitely take your money back since it isn't what you wanted, Gary. Slightly better than a punch in the neck, right?

Hi Gary,

Sounds like level headedness is prevailing here but I guess the takeaway is to ask specific questions when looking for something specific. i've certainly been bitten there too. It sounds like the seller didn't even know what he was selling though!

Man, you're losing so much with shipping charges plus customs fees, did you consider just flipping the shell? Just a thought.

-Lee

Yes his second note I just received implied he did not think about my "3ply" statement. He said that he didn't even tell his Tech (he runs a music Studio in N.Y.) that I mentioned 3ply. It was all a misunderstanding it sounds like. I usually do ask specific questions....to the point sometimes of sounding like "Columbo" - I drive my wife crazy. But I just dropped the ball on this one.

It's timely that you mentioned 'flipping the drum' because just before I sat down at the computer here I ran the figures and it looks like I'll be out about $103 actually by sending the shell back. If I keep it I will have a shell and badge that's worth about $125 and maybe $175 on a good day. If I put $350-400 or so into hardware = MS Strainer - the new ones run $88 + $32 for the butt end, die-cast hoops, the era correct lugs, heads, snares. I have some wrap too......nice vintage Green and Gold Sparkle to choose from. I'd say off the top of my head I'd be getting into $600 or so....It would be tough to get that out of it these days.

I think my wife's right by saying....send it back - cut your losses.........lesson learned.....hopefully. And it's not a lot of money - at least I am recouping most of it and the seller seems sorry about the whole thing.

I really feel for the people on this Forum that have paid for and not received complete drum kits! What am I whining about.

Just saying..........

I think the resolution was fair although we hate to see one of our own get burned. Mistakes were made by both parties. The original pic on ebay looked like 3 plies to me but also begged for more pics or ply clarification. The seller obviously didn't know 3 plies from fruit flies and should have referred all tech questions and responses to his drum guy. The drum in question could be from as early as 1956 or 57 given the 6 ply silver interior. If the drum is in decent shape, I would do some research before sending it back and personally, I wouldn't hesitate to add a 6 ply snare drum from the mid/late 50s to a 3 ply kit from 1954. New Gretsch kits were sold with that exact combo back then. Sorry for the rambling post. Good luck Kona.