Item Returns

[mixed_tape]

Hi all. Question. Someone just bought a guitar of me, and now not even 24hrs later sends me a message asking to return it because he doesn't know how to tune the guitar properly! Am I in my right to say no? And if I do say no, it would mean he could leave me a bad rating.

What should I do?

[2106greencat]

sotr63 - the issue does not appear to be the tuning of the guitar, it is that the guitar is not holding the tuning, which is a common fault with some

[*new2vintage]

It isn't that easy cat - buyers are advised to check a pick up item before paying for it. The buyer has done that but now demands a refund. He may have dropped it and wants to return a faulty item.

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

I checked his feedback, and he does not seem to make a habit of this sort of thing. It may well be an actual fault?? you admit yourself you have hardly ever played it, so if there was a tune holding fault, you may not have been aware of it. Maybe just accept the item back, less your listing fees, fvf, and the $20 you floated him

When you pick up an item, that is the time to inspect it for any faults.

When you pay, you have agreed to the items condition, and accept it as it is. The seller here, is not shop.

Mixed tape says the buyer played the guitar for 20 minutes.

(Strum a guitar once, and you can tell if it is out of tune.)  If he managed to play the guitar for 20 minutes, not find fault, then pay......it sounds like buyers remorse. 

Who knows what he has done to the guitar in an attempt to tune it.......a red dot is not going to change your life.

[2106greencat]

I agree, I am not trying to be argumentative, but I am sorry, you can not tell if a guitar is going to lose it's tune in 15 - 20 minutes of playing. Some may be fine for an hour, then next time you pick it up it has faulted, I am not on the side of buyer or seller, just think it could be a problem the seller was NOT aware of as they admitted to not playing it themselves for longer than 5 minutes at a time. Face it, who knows? who thinks? it is the OP's call, I was just saying for the sake of saving themselves a neg - I (personally) would refund - less said charges etc.

[*new2vintage]

Not everyone wants to experience the inconvenience and monetary loss of giving a refund - especially when there may not be a valid reason. The onus is on the buyer to prove there's a fault with the guitar anyway.

[*new2vintage]

Also as someone else has mentioned cat you can give a refund, include a bottle of whisky and polish the buyer's shoes and still receive a neg.

[2106greencat]

Of course you can still receive a neg, but why 'beg' for one

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

I agree, I am not trying to be argumentative, but I am sorry, you can not tell if a guitar is going to lose it's tune in 15 - 20 minutes of playing. Some may be fine for an hour, then next time you pick it up it has faulted, I am not on the side of buyer or seller, just think it could be a problem the seller was NOT aware of as they admitted to not playing it themselves for longer than 5 minutes at a time. Face it, who knows? who thinks? it is the OP's call, I was just saying for the sake of saving themselves a neg - I (personally) would refund - less said charges etc.

Anyone who plays a stringed instrument, and has a musical ear, will tune the instrument, every time they play it.Whether that is daily or once a week.

New strings, require tuning more often. 

If the buyer believes they should be able to tune it and it stay in tune.........they're kidding themselves.

If the buyers experience is already a negative one, a refund will not make a difference.

Music lesson would probably serve them better than a refund. Or an electronic tuner!:-)

[*new2vintage]

Of course you can still receive a neg, but why 'beg' for one

No one begs for one - that's ridiculous. Why should anyone give a refund when they don't need to because they're afraid of receiving negative feedback ?

[peternt2001]

in such the short time between the sale and the complaint, sounds like the buyer may have made a purchase they couldnt really afford and need the money back. maybe when they got home there were a heap of bills in the mail, or he realized that xmas is closer than he thought, but this is one reason if i was a seller i wouldnt be doing pick ups, when a sale goes bad, who knows what the buyer is capable of.

hope your buyer is ok, and you get it sorted, but from what i have read i wouldnt be accepting a refund, unless they were able to provide written documentation from an independant music / guitar shop / guitar tuner stating there is an actual fault with the guitar