NRD!!! And, thoughts on buying/selling on-line

chuck_king · Post by **chuck_king** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:17 am

Yesterday my new (to me) 360 finally arrived. This was the end of a true odyssey, an exercise in frustration and futility.

I bought it from a seller on The Gear Page over a month ago. I sent him my money, and---nothing. After not hearing from him for five days (I had requested a tracking number when I sent my payment) I called him. "Yeah, it's scheduled for pickup this afternoon..." Okay, send me the tracking number. "No problem." Another week goes by. No guitar, no tracking number. I called him again and he sent me a tracking number, but it indicated "Payment Information Received" on THAT DAY, not the day over a week previously when he said he had sent it. And, the status never changed---several days later it still just said "Payment Information Received". (That means that UPS has not actually received the package.)

So, about this time I filed a claim with PayPal, and lo and behold, discovered him trying to sell more stuff on TGP. After some pointed exchanges there, I finally received (through PayPal) a new tracking number, and this one indicated progress of a package! Yesterday it arrived. The guitar is a 2006 but it looks like it just left the factory. So I'm happy that I finally got my new Ric, but sheesh, what a journey.

This whole experience has emphasized to me the importance of communication in any on-line transaction. Apparently the guy had problems with his shipping place, but he never told me about it. Here's a formula for a successful transaction:

When you (as a seller) receive payment, acknowledge it with an e-mail. If possible, give an idea of when the item will ship.

When the item ships, send tracking information to the buyer.

Track the item yourself. If something odd happens, inform the buyer right away and keep the buyer informed of progress in getting it resolved.

Sounds simple, but at least one seller (who apparently does a lot of transactions like this) couldn't do it.

Anyway, here's the new axe:

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:23 am

Congrats on the 360 Charles, and welcome to the forum!

The only issues I have had in buying on line is that my idea of excellent condition or a 9 out 10 has much higher standards than those selling. I have found this in buying a Rick and more recently an amp on ebay.

shackleton · Post by **shackleton** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:45 am

At least with ebay you have a feedback program and most of the time you are buying an item that is in hand, not from a warehouse or has to be ordered. I have a long history on ebay with almost 400 positives and not one negative. I dont sell something without full disclosure and expect the same for sellers I deal with.

shackleton · Post by **shackleton** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:47 am

Oh yeah nice Ric. My fav color for a 360/6.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:49 am

Happy New Rick Day!

chuck_king · Post by **chuck_king** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:44 am

I try to resist the urge to devolve into a gushing fanboy, but I am really, really digging this 360. I had another 360 for a few years in the 90s---it was a nice guitar, but not that special . . . but THIS one is amazing! I don't know if the other was a dog or this is a really superlative example, but this is literally the most amazing guitar I've ever played.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:22 am

360JG = the best Ric.

Good choice.

drumbob · Post by **drumbob** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:23 pm

Nice axe. Good luck with it. I have had good luck buying guitars online generally, but a couple weeks ago, I was watching a 74 Guild M-75 Bluesbird on Ebay. The photos showed what looked like bad frets-grooves-down by the nut. I emailed the seller and he replied that he "had only been playing guitar for 9 years and didn't know anything about frets." Can you believe that sh**? I emailed back and asked him if there were grooves in the frets. He finally admitted there were, but there was no mention of this problem in the auction. I also noticed THREE extra drill holes on the top of the guitar that didn't show up in the photos unless you looked really closely. Again, he never mentioned them. The guy was withholding information about the problems, thereby defrauding any prospective buyer. When I reminded him of that fact, he failed to respond, so that's the kind of guy you want to stay away from!

On the other hand, the guy I bought my Gretsch Anniversary from off Ebay was a total sweetheart, a great communicator and probably the most conscientious seller I have ever come across.

It takes all kinds.