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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | This guy apparently didn't want to sell a guitar, or else I AM overly sensitive. I wrote him and asked him if the guitar pictured on his listing was the actual guitar for sale. This is what he wrote back:
"No, the actual guitar in the photo is the ugliest one we had and we used the ugly one so, everybody would get a prettier guitar than the one in the pictures. We sell 200 of these a year. It takes about 8 hours to do the photos and would double the price of the guitar if we did every one seperately.
Thanks again,
Bobby"
I would NEVER buy a guitar from this guy after reading this.
Am I wrong? This was an expensive guitar with a very particular, figured-maple/striped finish. This particular wood can look very different from guitar to guitar, which is why I asked! Geez. (Patch, I know YOU know I can be a bit nutz with the questions, but seriously, that was the only one I asked the guy!);( |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | 8 hours to do the photos?
Are they doing some long exposures on them? Do they have a digital camera? I just took a WHOLE bunch of sexy shots of my 06C (I'll post them shortly) edited them and have them up within an hour! |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think you need to put it in context. If this is a private seller who's selling off a few used guitars of his collection then yes you should ask for and receive photos of the actual product being offered.
On the other hand if this is a mass merchent selling new guitars by the hundreds then by all means I think his action and response was appropriate. Sure, he's exaggerating about the 8 hours and doubling the price. But in principle I would do the same thing, maybe worded a bit more tactfully. |
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Location: Right now? | Dweez,
I look forward to seein your photos of that 06C! I've already drenched my ning page with shots of my newest acquisitions, particularly the '09C and my new old 1119-4 (FABULOUS). As for the seller "Bobby", well, I think what I think, I suppose ... ;) |
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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Gallerinski,
I'm just not willing to shell that much money out to a stranger who expects me to buy a guitar sight-unseen is all. He's got a pretty big store, and so I understand the high volume sales thing, but I just think his response was rude.
I mean, for the sake of customer relations, he could have pulled the first one off the shelf and wrote something like, "if you buy it today this (photo included) will be the guitar you get." Or, "we will try to pick one out as close to the representative photo as possible."
I mean, you know, just to keep us neurotics happy! S&H is a pain in the @ss and I hate doing returns. 5'4" people take even LONGER to get the damn things in and out of that packaging!
What would he have written back at me if I'd told him I wanted to return something for a refund!? |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I would not have been as rude about it, but time is money. How would you have responded if he said there was a $20. upcharge for photos of the actual guitar? Probably a fair price. The other thing to consider, if he's moving thousands of guitars a year perhaps they are not even in his hands and get drop shipped from a warehouse so photographing your specific one is impossible. Yeah he shouldn't have been rude, but I don't fault his stance. |
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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Hmmm... fair enough, all things considered ... thanks for your honest opinion! :) |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | i get a ton of picture collectors.
I tend to blow them off.
usually if someone is really interesetd they call.
but if it is the "bobby" i suspect then good luck |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| The seller's reply bordered on snarky, but as Dave says if he's a high volume dealer (and I suspect it may be a certain Reverend north of Texas), then he probably doesn't have the actual guitar and it's being drop shipped.
Bottom line, if you don't get a good feeling from the seller, regardless of whether it's a private individual or a high volume dealer, then just walk away. I've rarely been disappointed by my first impressions. |
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Location: Tennessee | Oh brother. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Willa, call Al.....good chance he can get you the guitar you want (or even a better one for roughly the same price). |
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Posts: 494
Location: Location Location Location | Willa, you're a 100% correct. I would never buy from someone who responded so rudely. The internet is no place for saracasm, as I guess that was his intent; primarily because sarcasm doens't translate well over the internet, and also sarcasm has no place at all in a question between strangers regarding a sale.
Also, this person has basically said that your question was beneath him. My response to him would be F*ck You.
It was a legitimate question. Many people use stock photos. The guy was an asshole. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by G8r:
Bottom line, if you don't get a good feeling from the seller, regardless of whether it's a private individual or a high volume dealer, then just walk away. I've rarely been disappointed by my first impressions. Well put Serge. I agree. Buy from someone else. Better yet call Al. |
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Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Interesting - If this is the Bobby from OK, I bought two guitars from him and both times the picture on the site was of the exact guitar I received. Supposedly Sweetwater shows every unit, so it can be done.
You posed a very legit question and got a pretty undiplomatic answer, but snarky responses to legitimate questions are pretty common, I guess. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Beat Street Music, who also sells on evilBay, is a volume seller...
When I bought my BC Rich Spaulted Maple Bich 10 from them (now gone), they had photos of two bodies with serial numbers. Since Spaulted Maple is unique, pick the one you want. The rest of the photos were stock, and the wood matched neither of the guitars that they were actually selling. But they were good sellers that let you pick the actual guitar.
I said all that to say, "Ignore this Jerk!"
All he had to say way Yes or No to your question.
If he is a volume seller, unless the particular guitar is unique, you can get it from a reputable internet seller. And get a 30/45/90 day satisfaction guarantee with free return shipping (from the correct distributor).
Keep searching, you will stumble upon your Deal. |
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Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Personally, I would have emailed him back, telling him he really needs to get his head out of his rear, because he just lost a sale. He probably wouldn't care, but I'd feel better for it. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Jerky response to a legit question, IMO. He could have just said that they use a stock photo since they sell so many units. I wouldn't buy from him after that. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1486
Location: Michigan | i know who you are talking about. brother b. in oka,, if he cant sell you a guitar over the internet or on his first phone call to you he will start with the smartass remarks about how he doesn't have the time to do pictures of his actual guitars.he did that to me on a certain guitar that he had made for his store only.he had 8 of these guitars and before i talked to him i had asked one of his employees if they would take a picture of a couple of them because they varied soooo much in the finish and the gal did it but when brother b. found out that she called me and talked to me about some of the units he calls back and started with the exact same thing that willa muse is talking about.when he has to do a bit of work for a sale he starts getting cocky to his potential customer just like harley davidson did to their customers in the nineties.
brother b. you can kiss my :mad: .
he lost a sale and i hope this post might cost him a few more.GWB |
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October 2008
Posts: 489
| The tone of the guy's response tells you all you need to know about dealing with him - i.e., don't.
As for replying to him to tell him why he's lost your business, well then you just become an unpaid consultant.
Best to just walk away. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I'm with Losov. Let them wonder why they went broke. With businesses that treat you well, let them know why they are so good (so they know to keep doing it). |
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August 2007
Posts: 494
Location: Location Location Location | As for replying to him to tell him why he's lost your business, well then you just become an unpaid consultant.
Best to just walk away. +1 |
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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Well, well, lol! Yes, indeed "Bobby" was the um, 'gentleman' from Oklahoma. From now on, I'll just call big Al or one of you guys. Brother Bobby was/is a jerk, but I just let it go ... You know, the thing is, as I've mentioned several times, I am a 'new' player, and I have many questions, and sometimes I do find myself hesitating to ask for fear of sounding like an idiot. But I am also a VERY fast learner (I just recently learned how to play "Here, There and Everywhere" by the Beatles and "Vincent" by Don McClean ~ and I am SO psyched! Go ahead and laugh at me all you seasoned rockers!) Seriously though, I really don't think there is any such thing as a 'dumb' question, especially when it comes to a sale. That guy must do really good business for him to be so arrogant! |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by WillaMuse:
I really don't think there is any such thing as a 'dumb' question. As the owl from Winnie the Pooh once said, "When you don't know something, it's the perfect opportunity to learn something."  |
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A 'proper' response?