Dud Seller on E-bay, UK
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 6:29 am
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I've just been ripped off on Ebay (UK) by a seller called clree. He advertised a mouthpiece as follows:
"Eastman 61/2AL Large Bore Trombone Mouthpiece. Condition is "New". He also posted a picture, clearly showing the engraving, 'Eastman 6-1/2 AL', and showing the tapered end, with no signs of any damage (see attached images, below) What arrived was not a Eastman mouthpiece, but one made by Arnolds and Sons - and far worse was the fact that it was nowhere near 'new condition', having significant damage to the tapered end (see images), including one outward bulge which would scar the inside of the leadpipe if I pushed it in! I contacted him as follows:
"I received a mouthpiece from you today, but it was not as described. For a start, it isn't an Eastman mouthpiece, but one made by Arnolds & Sons. Further, it is not in 'new' condition, as described in your advert, having significant damage to the end, as can be seen in the photos which I have attached. Can you please get in touch. I have not left negative feedback for you, and I would very much prefer if we can sort this out between us.
With best regards, etc"
His response read:
"This was a genuine mistake on the make but I am not sure what happened about the damage for which I apologise. This is the same as the Eastman would you keep it if I were to refund £5?"
His picture clearly shows an Eastman mouthpiece!! How the hell can it be a 'genuine mistake'?
I replied:
"Re. the mouthpiece; if it was just the make was described wrongly, I wouldn't mind, but the damage to the end is likely to have significant impact on the playability of the mouthpiece, and one edge of it is dented outwards at one point, which could well damage the leadpipe on my trombone, so, no - I'm not prepared to keep it for a refund of £5."
He then asked me to return it for a refund, which I did - expecting that he would refund the money I'd paid for the mouthpiece and shipping to me (£21.85), and repay the £3.20 it cost me to return it. Instead, all I got from him was the £21.85. I sent him the following:
"Thank you for refunding the price I paid for the mouthpiece, but I note that you have not refunded the cost of postage to return the item to you. The outcome is that you still have a mouthpiece for sale, and had your postage charges paid in full, for an item which was not as advertised - i.e., 'condition - new' - and I'm £3.20 out of pocket.
It was obvious when I looked at the end of the mouthpiece that at least one of the dents was not fresh (as corrosion could be seen on it), so this had not happened in transit; also, I think putting such an easily damaged item in the post with only a couple of layers of bubble wrap and a Jiffy bag was risking damage to it. When I returned it, with plenty of packing and in a sturdy box, the postage charge was less than you charged me.
In fairness, I think you should refund my return postage, too."
His response?
"I am sorry that your mouthpiece was damaged in post. I have sent many mouthpieces in Jiffy bags and don’t normally have any issues with them. As to the refund of postage eBay won’t allow me refund the postage only the cost of the mouthpiece."
Basically, "Tough."
As I pointed out to him, from the corrosion which had started on one of the dents, it was perfectly obvious that the damage had not happened 'in the post', but long before he sold me the item.
In hindsight, what I should have done on receipt of the item was to take it up with Ebay, pointing out that it was 'not as described'. Unfortunately, as he asked me to return it, there doesn't seem anything in Ebay's system by which I can get them to do anything about him - well, aside from leaving him heavily negative feedback.
I'm WELL hacked off!!
Jack
I've just been ripped off on Ebay (UK) by a seller called clree. He advertised a mouthpiece as follows:
"Eastman 61/2AL Large Bore Trombone Mouthpiece. Condition is "New". He also posted a picture, clearly showing the engraving, 'Eastman 6-1/2 AL', and showing the tapered end, with no signs of any damage (see attached images, below) What arrived was not a Eastman mouthpiece, but one made by Arnolds and Sons - and far worse was the fact that it was nowhere near 'new condition', having significant damage to the tapered end (see images), including one outward bulge which would scar the inside of the leadpipe if I pushed it in! I contacted him as follows:
"I received a mouthpiece from you today, but it was not as described. For a start, it isn't an Eastman mouthpiece, but one made by Arnolds & Sons. Further, it is not in 'new' condition, as described in your advert, having significant damage to the end, as can be seen in the photos which I have attached. Can you please get in touch. I have not left negative feedback for you, and I would very much prefer if we can sort this out between us.
With best regards, etc"
His response read:
"This was a genuine mistake on the make but I am not sure what happened about the damage for which I apologise. This is the same as the Eastman would you keep it if I were to refund £5?"
His picture clearly shows an Eastman mouthpiece!! How the hell can it be a 'genuine mistake'?
I replied:
"Re. the mouthpiece; if it was just the make was described wrongly, I wouldn't mind, but the damage to the end is likely to have significant impact on the playability of the mouthpiece, and one edge of it is dented outwards at one point, which could well damage the leadpipe on my trombone, so, no - I'm not prepared to keep it for a refund of £5."
He then asked me to return it for a refund, which I did - expecting that he would refund the money I'd paid for the mouthpiece and shipping to me (£21.85), and repay the £3.20 it cost me to return it. Instead, all I got from him was the £21.85. I sent him the following:
"Thank you for refunding the price I paid for the mouthpiece, but I note that you have not refunded the cost of postage to return the item to you. The outcome is that you still have a mouthpiece for sale, and had your postage charges paid in full, for an item which was not as advertised - i.e., 'condition - new' - and I'm £3.20 out of pocket.
It was obvious when I looked at the end of the mouthpiece that at least one of the dents was not fresh (as corrosion could be seen on it), so this had not happened in transit; also, I think putting such an easily damaged item in the post with only a couple of layers of bubble wrap and a Jiffy bag was risking damage to it. When I returned it, with plenty of packing and in a sturdy box, the postage charge was less than you charged me.
In fairness, I think you should refund my return postage, too."
His response?
"I am sorry that your mouthpiece was damaged in post. I have sent many mouthpieces in Jiffy bags and don’t normally have any issues with them. As to the refund of postage eBay won’t allow me refund the postage only the cost of the mouthpiece."
Basically, "Tough."
As I pointed out to him, from the corrosion which had started on one of the dents, it was perfectly obvious that the damage had not happened 'in the post', but long before he sold me the item.
In hindsight, what I should have done on receipt of the item was to take it up with Ebay, pointing out that it was 'not as described'. Unfortunately, as he asked me to return it, there doesn't seem anything in Ebay's system by which I can get them to do anything about him - well, aside from leaving him heavily negative feedback.
I'm WELL hacked off!!
Jack