After the OP asked whether a thousand dollars off would be a reasonable amount to insist upon, Russ wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by russchapman
$2k is a bit low. I'd say $2300-2600, depending on your enthusiasm.
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Then Steve replied:
Quote:
Originally Posted by DenverSteve
It totally depends on how much you like the guitar and what the original deal was. A cleated center seam is not a major issue, but you should have been advised of it prior to purchase. I didn't read the original listing but if it said "excellent condition for a 13 year-old guitar" that's different from just excellent condition. Yes, the dings should have been disclosed as well. To me a center-seam repair and a few tiny dents in the finish would be worth about $500 if the guitar is otherwise a keeper. If you're ambivalent at all, arrange to send it back.
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Last but not least among the folks posting on this thread, Scott wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by hairpuller
Before jumping the gun, as we tend to do nowadays, I'd call the shop and explain the situation. They may be flabbergasted (waited 4 months to use that) that these issues were not disclosed, and very apologetic.
They may try real hard to make things right. I'd hear them out.
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To add to what these three gentlemen wrote, I would say that the issues that have arisen with this guitar are not unexpected with a guitar that's had enough upheaval in its existence to require a neck reset.
I also think it's a bit of an overreaction to demand the name of the shop RIGHT NOW so the rest of us can shame them throughout the Twitterverse as a business entity to be shunned and exiled into the outer darkness forever. So I salute you for your discretion there, BH, for resisting the impulse to join the "cancel culture" that seems to be the de facto default setting for our increasingly harsh and judgmental 21st Century mindset.
What it really comes down to is exactly how the ad was written. We already know that the guitar as delivered did not meet the expectations of the OP. But a thousand dollar refund is almost certainly unrealistic, because the shop probably has more than that in the guitar. It's one thing to trim their profit margin a little bit, but to expect them to surrender it all and actually lose money on the transaction is something else entirely.
So what I would do is call the shop, ask for the manager and/or owner and say: "Hey, this top cleat and this finish crack weren't mentioned in the ad. To me that means it isn't in excellent condition. What can we do to to make this right?"
Then listen from there. If both parties aren't able to reach a mutually agreeable solution, then return the guitar.
Hope this helps.
Wade Hampton Miller