Everyone...I NEED SOME GUIDANCE....

[johneek]

A great story...mostly because there are clearly good guys and bad guys. John, I am so thankful for your honesty and integrity. You're a terrific example!

[leftybass]

Well, after more 'wrangling' that I'd rather go through and hoop-jumping to no end, I have managed to get my money back for the purchase of the Ric Prom Bass, which actually belonged to our own Abbott Steiner...aka 'sinisteric' here on the Forum.

Paypal came through FINALLY, but I likened the negotiations and the overall event as a root-canal or medieval torture, even though I was in the right entirely in wanting my money back......it went on for FAR too long. Too much tap-dancing....

I had to turn over the bass to my local law enforcement and it sets there in the evidence room very safe for now (inside a case I provided, for the pawn shop sent it w/o a case..Abbott still has the original...)

The next step is to determine when Abbott can get it back, and if I have to deliver it myself to Charlotte I will. Other wheels are still turning insofar as what to do next in relation to prosecuting the wrong-dooers, but the main thing is that Abbott will get the 4001 he bought new in 1980 back in his hands, and I got my $$$$, and the seller doesn't win on either level. On we go.

[ajish4]

"EXCELLENT".

Sorry you had to go through that John, but I've very happy both parties made out ok.

[jps]

Great news, John. It may have been a lot of trouble, but in the end all parties will get their just dessert!

[johnallg]

I can't believe all the seeming unrelated events and situations that had to come together for this to come to this point. And it all hinges on the existence of this forum and the positive power of the internet. AND GREAT PEOPLE OF PRINCIPLE.

[jwilli]

John, if you have to travel all the way down to Charlotte and you need aplace to stay, there is a nice Holiday Inn Express there. Just kidding, I'm right down the road and you know that you can stay with us!

[rikk]

I just found this post and I have to add how good it makes me feel about humankind. Hopefully Abbott gets his bass back soon.

[dswp]

Great news John. (As I type on the same keyboard that hit the BIN button).


All this took place in less than 30 days. I think that things moved rather swiftly myself.

[leftybass]

Great news John. (As I type on the same keyboard that hit the BIN button).


All this took place in less than 30 days. I think that things moved rather swiftly myself.

Yes, and to top it off Abbott has the bass back already... He had taken a trip North and stopped by the Sherriff's Office here last night and picked it up on his back thru to Charlotte.

So, that chapter is closed as well, almost one year to the DAY that it was taken from his home in a burglary. Kinda neat about that. Today 12/7/07 is exactly one year ago that it was stolen.

[nukebass]

I haven't been pawn shop hunting since I moved here. Now I know at least one to avoid.

[rikk]

I love happy endings!

[ben_brown]

Everything sounds great John! I'm glad all turned out for the best. I am curious though what will happen to the Pawn Broker.
Someone should hang a sign over the business to let everyone know what kind of person(s) they are. Another happy ending!

[rick_ovic]

John & Abbott, this is a tremendous ending to what could have been a disaster.

John, I know I was instrumental in causing you to hit the BIN button, and I felt really bad once I saw that you had unwittingly purchased a stolen guitar. The manner in which you went about resolving this with Abbott is a credit to your integrity. Don't let this episode scare you off of hitting the ol' BIN button in the future. Your turn will come again! So, what are you gonna buy with your Paypal refund?

Abbott, I'm really pleased that your beloved bass has been returned to you. You must be over the moon!

[sinisterick]

Well, here I am and loving getting my bass back. I'll post some pics soon. The bass has a few more nicks and scratches (none due to John i'm sure) but it's still in excellent condition. Boy, I missed that tone and that neck. O.K, I don't miss how much it weighs but I've found with basses, in general, the more they weigh, the better the tone, sustain, and neck stability. Yes, the first chapter is over, John getting his money back and me getting my bass back. I consider myself extremely fortunate to actually get it back and still in good condition. I also consider myself extremely fortunate that John bought it as I may have not gotten it back otherwise. Of course, I believe anyone on the forum would have returned it. Perhaps we should buy any stolen Rickenbackers we find so that we can get them back to who they belong to! Related to this, my bass along with description and serial number was in a national database and I'm wondering if we can get access to the stolen Rickenbacker list and have it posted on the site in addition to the registry. The next chapter for me will be pushing the police to prosecute. I can tell you that, like many larger cities, law enforcement here is extremely under-staffed and under-budgeted and given this they too often decide a "minor crime" such as this has to take a back seat to the major crimes. I will do my best to not let the police drop this case. If there is no arrest, I will be calling the various media as I'm confident that they would be interested in a story about how the police will not enforce the laws on a pawn shop that knowingly sells stolen goods. They know this is a story of concern to everyone in their audience as businesses that operate this way are a major contributor to home break-ins. In addition, as the investigation continues and I get more info, I will be contacting Ebay and Paypal in the hopes of them discontinuing their relationship with Bob's pawn. Hopefully I can also have his pawn license revoked too. Finally, I will be looking into civil remedies too. Bob's pawn holds alot of assets (being a real estate broker, I looked into property records) and along with the fact that I have hard evidence of the crime, I think I may be able to find an interested attorney.

[sinisterick]

By the way, first thing I did after plugging it in was to put Beatles Hello/Goodbye on the stereo and play along. It seemed appropriate in an odd way. So rusty, so much to re-learn-I've hardly played in the last year. Time to dig out the Rush, Beatles, Yes, Rennaissance etc... it will take some time to get back up to "Cinderella Man". For now, i'll stick with "New World Man" and " Distant Early Warning" as examples. Maybe one day I'll master "Sound Chaser" O.K, I may be asking a little much-never been that good. I do love playing though and that's what counts for me.