Ebay problem - advice sought
tabira
856 Posts
Dear Stutters what would you do..Sold a second issue copy of Tribe "Message from the Tribe" in Mint condition. Buyer now complains that the serial number of the vinyl inside corresponds to the first issue and not to the second. His argument is that first issues are less value than second issues cos the sound quality is less good. That's the first time I've ever heard of a seller getting stung for selling an original as a second issue. Am I being taken for a ride or does he have a point?thanks in advance
Comments
"I have 3 sealed 1st copies and 2 open copies. Also have 2 sealed 2nd copies and 5 open copies. Absolutely 2nd vinyl is higher sound quality than 1st one due to re-mastered. This transaction is 200% bad for tribe collectors."
Now I thought that I was a bit nerdy keeping just one spare copy for my favourite top 3 LPs, but this guy takes it to a new level. I just wanted to reply - WTF are you doing buying more copies anyway? Do you give each one name? Do you talk to them? Isn't 13 enough!! Life is short, just get laid and don't worry about it! - But i'm under the gun of a neg feedback so I have to tread carefully. I'm prepared to take the neg though if he's not being reasonable. It'll be my first.
I cant get past this...why?......wow....for some reason I think the buyer is lying..or is sick there's no reason to have 13 copies. Have this fool youtube himself demonstrating his point...show both copies, play both copies...LOL
You made a listing error, and at the end of the day that's all that matters.
If you stated in your description it was a second press and it turned out to be a first press, than you obviously made a mistake. Don't take it too heavy, every once in a while (1 in a 100?) things like this happen. Take the loss (probably only a few bucks) and sell the record again. Just smile and move on.
Return and refund and then resell as a first press. You'd probably sell it for more to someone who isn't a anal-retentive Tribe hoarder.
Anal retentive indeed. In fact it was a partial listing error - I listed it as an "original 70s issue" but with the comment "Not sure which cover came first - this or the black one - so bid accordinly". I've only learnt since that this cover was the second issue. My error or bad luck depending on how you interpret it was to not notice that the serial number on the cover (second issue) wasn't the same as the serial number on the vinyl (ist issue). I guess that this LP was packaged in the transition from one issue to the other when they had a surplus vinyl but not enought of the old covers. At the end of the day, I would be pleasantly surprised to buy a second issue cover with original vinyl in it. it's the same as buying a liberty blue note and finding a New York pressing inside. So if this guy wants to return it, he pays for shipping and takes the risk. I ain't budging an inch more for him.
How you handle it is up to you, but if you're going to sell on ebay with any regularity I strongly advise an attitude shift. This isn't the place to make a stand for your principles, just give him a refund and sell it to somebody else.
The price of shipping will likely be less than the price of a neg deducted from your future auctions.
Just so you know, this guy can't be trusted. He sells records with "scuffiness" as VG+ and I will not buy from him.
I agree. Question for you - whenever I've had to return Lps I've always accepted to pay for the return shipping and to get a refund just for the Lp+outward shipping. Is that the norm or not?
See this has always irritated me - sellers that mess up and then say "oh just pay to send it back to me and I'll refund you".
So, I'm paying money for shipping just to find out a seller failed to describe/grade/package a record correctly, and at the end of the day I have nothing to show for it? Awesome. And that's assuming the seller doesn't pull the "it never arrived, I'm still keeping an eye out for it" trick when you send the record back.
Partial refund is my preferred solution personally. I think if you offer that, you're less likely to get the neg you fear.
The times where I find there's more of a conflict is over damage to the LP that you assume - in good faith - the seller wasn't aware of.
I offered it but he wants the full refund and has hit me with the neg - promises to revise it when he gets the refund. He's even insisting on me paying the pay pal fee.
edit: I had stated no returns on the auction because the LP was perfect - I mean microscopically perfect - so I couldn't envisage a justification for returning it - but I've made an exception to that now that he points our the listing error. Even this 13 copy-owning anal retent couldn't find fault with the grading
meaning it's true that the first pressing is less value than the second?, or that Tribe collectors are the worst type? or both?
Stop talking to soulstrut and start talking to ebay. If this guy was serious he'd be willing to deal on an exchange/partial refund without leaving the neg. F*ck him where he lives.
1) This was a first pressing disc in a second pressing jacket? The odds of that happening are pretty unusual.
2) The only way to know it was a first press disc is by the serial #'s in the dead wax? I'd say 999 out of 1,000 dealers, including myself, would NOT know this.
3) This dude claims to have more than 10 copies of this LP? He's a nut.
Tell him this is the one rare variation he does not have and is worth much more than what he paid for it. Then refund all his $$$.
When I had this experience, the communication took quite long and passed the deadline for him to open any further paypal disputes.
I don't know if he would be able to open any other disputes in this case.
get him to send the record back at his own expense and then refund him if and only if he removes that neg first. when you get the record back you pull the trigger on that ebay complaint.
you are actually in a stronger bargaining position but he is dictating terms to you. he wants his money back, more than you don;t want the neg (which you already have). he blew his wad by throwing that neg out there prematurely. game played badly.
get that record back if you can, i am one soulstrutter who would definitely settle for a first pressing.
I'm not so sure - once had the misfortune to buy a sealed blue note with NY sleeve but a liberty pressing in side. It definately wasn't a reseal. Just last week I saw the reverse on ebay - an RVG new york label for auction in a liberty sleeve. The seller never even noticed and put nothing in the description about it. I also have a prestige LP with the California sleeve but a New jersey label inside. I guess that when labels switched addresses and pressings they used up the existing vinyl + covers before making more - and if one ran out before the other, which probably always happened, that led to temporary mismatching.
sounds like bullshit to me
10 copies of this lp?
also sounds like bullshit