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  #1  
Old 10-18-2018, 08:56 AM
JackB1 JackB1 is offline
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Default How to leave honest, not so great, feedback on reverb?

OK so I just bought a guitar and the condition wasn't accurate and it was packaged poorly (thin, ripped box...little protection) and it had some physical
marks that weren't disclosed. The seller was willing to refund my money, but nothing else. I don't want to have to ship it back and just want the guitar I thought I was getting. I tried communicating all this, but the seller only says "if you aren't satisfied, send it back for a refund" . I am keeping the guitar, but now how do I proceed with the feedback? I am afraid if I am honest and give a not so great feedback, he will do the same to me in return.
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Old 10-18-2018, 09:12 AM
Brent Hahn Brent Hahn is offline
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Originally Posted by JackB1 View Post
I don't want to have to ship it back and just want the guitar I thought I was getting.
That's clearly not going to happen, is it? And justice will not be served.

Not saying this is entirely on you, it's clearly not, but part of buying on Reverb and eBay is using your spidey-sense to get a vibe on the seller. Same thing with Craigslist -- when a guy says "Meet me in a dark alley and come alone" you know something's up.

So take your lumps, send the thing back on your dime, and chalk it up. And if you want to, leave negative feedback. What's he gonna do, say, "He paid me in a timely manner and then sent the guitar back for a refund, but he's a bad dude?"
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  #3  
Old 10-18-2018, 09:17 AM
jfitz81 jfitz81 is offline
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You're in a tricky spot, through no fault of your own, it seems. My first thought is that you shouldn't keep a guitar you aren't happy with, even though returning it is a hassle and maybe an extra expense.

That said, if you get a refund you will no longer to be able to provide feedback about the transaction on Reverb. (Unless they've changed policies. There was a thread on this a few months ago started by the great Toby Walker.)

I don't know about "feedback retaliation," except to say the seller would have a fair point if they criticized you for complaining but not accepting their refund offer.

If you decide to keep the guitar, your feedback might well help future potential buyers. You have to decide whether that's worth keeping a guitar you're not satisfied with. For me, I don't think it would be.
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Old 10-18-2018, 09:34 AM
JackB1 JackB1 is offline
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the big flaw with Reverb's feedback system is that it's like the Uber system. You give good feedback cause you want to get it in return. Give someone one or two stars and be prepared to get the same in return. Kind of pointless isn't it. Folks shouldn't be able to see their counterparts feedback until they give theirs as well. This cat and mouse game is useless.
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Old 10-18-2018, 10:20 AM
BT55 BT55 is offline
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Default How to leave honest, not so great, feedback on reverb?

I’ll play devils advocate. If the guitar is not as advertised I’d contact my credit card company and start a claim with them. They’ll reverse your payment and put the transaction on hold. That would put the onus on the seller to pay return shipping.
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  #6  
Old 10-18-2018, 10:35 AM
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He offered you a satisfaction guarantee, but you were satisfied enough to keep it. Give him four stars, and move on.
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Old 10-18-2018, 10:48 AM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
I don't want to have to ship it back and just want the guitar I thought I was getting.
What kind of resolution did you want exactly?

Since you still wanted to keep the guitar, an appropriate way to work this out could have been to negotiate a partial refund settlement. It sounds like the seller may not have been interested in doing this, however, which sometimes happens. He may feel that the sale price was reasonable. In this case, suggesting that you return it for a refund was appropriate. If I were the seller, in the interest of good faith, I would have offered to pay 50% of the return shipping.
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Old 10-18-2018, 11:09 AM
vindibona1 vindibona1 is offline
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Be honest. In your feedback say in a straight-forward manner that the guitar's condition in your opinion did not come in the condition as listed. Also state that the seller offered you an opportunity to return it for a refund. Nothing more need be said. Granted, your expectations weren't met, but other than the inconvenience of sending it back there was obviously no risk in the purchase.
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  #9  
Old 10-18-2018, 11:11 AM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vindibona1 View Post
Be honest. In your feedback say in a straight-forward manner that the guitar's condition in your opinion did not come in the condition as listed. Also state that the seller offered you an opportunity to return it for a refund. Nothing more need be said. Granted, your expectations weren't met, but other than the inconvenience of sending it back there was obviously no risk in the purchase.
Agreed. Keep it free from emotion and just state the facts.
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  #10  
Old 10-18-2018, 11:58 AM
Edgar Poe Edgar Poe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JackB1 View Post
OK so I just bought a guitar and the condition wasn't accurate and it was packaged poorly (thin, ripped box...little protection) and it had some physical
marks that weren't disclosed. The seller was willing to refund my money, but nothing else. I don't want to have to ship it back and just want the guitar I thought I was getting. I tried communicating all this, but the seller only says "if you aren't satisfied, send it back for a refund" . I am keeping the guitar, but now how do I proceed with the feedback? I am afraid if I am honest and give a not so great feedback, he will do the same to me in return.
In my mind you have two options.

One, return the guitar for a refund, as the seller does not want to discount the sale.

Two, keep the guitar and don't give negative feedback, He offered to take the guitar back. He is in no way obligated to discount his price.

Ed
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Old 10-18-2018, 12:04 PM
Song Song is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JackB1 View Post
OK so I just bought a guitar and the condition wasn't accurate and it was packaged poorly (thin, ripped box...little protection) and it had some physical
marks that weren't disclosed. The seller was willing to refund my money, but nothing else. I don't want to have to ship it back and just want the guitar I thought I was getting. I tried communicating all this, but the seller only says "if you aren't satisfied, send it back for a refund" . I am keeping the guitar, but now how do I proceed with the feedback? I am afraid if I am honest and give a not so great feedback, he will do the same to me in return.

Feedback is an option, not a requirement. Do not leave feedback until the seller does.
"The ability to leave feedback goes away after 45 days." reverb
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  #12  
Old 10-18-2018, 12:46 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Song View Post
Feedback is an option, not a requirement. Do not leave feedback until the seller does.
"The ability to leave feedback goes away after 45 days." reverb
I wouldn't bother to give feedback.

Or you could say, "Despite poor packing, the guitar was almost as good as described. He was willing to refund my money." What it doesn't say says a lot.
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Last edited by The Bard Rocks; 10-19-2018 at 06:03 AM.
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  #13  
Old 10-18-2018, 02:09 PM
RustyAxe RustyAxe is offline
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Here's the thing ... many buyers will accept the guitar, find a flaw (real or imagined) and then try to renegotiate the price with the seller after the sale. They don't hate it enough to want to return it, they want to keep it a lower price. For the seller the best option is to insist the buyer return the guitar if not satisfied.

IMO the online buying game isn't worth the candle. I just don't do it. You've been offered a remedy ... he isn't trying to cheat you.
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  #14  
Old 10-18-2018, 02:31 PM
beatcomber beatcomber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RustyAxe View Post
Here's the thing ... many buyers will accept the guitar, find a flaw (real or imagined) and then try to renegotiate the price with the seller after the sale. They don't hate it enough to want to return it, they want to keep it a lower price. For the seller the best option is to insist the buyer return the guitar if not satisfied.

IMO the online buying game isn't worth the candle. I just don't do it. You've been offered a remedy ... he isn't trying to cheat you.
Yup, that's probably what's going on in the seller's mind.
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  #15  
Old 10-18-2018, 02:38 PM
jhmulkey jhmulkey is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beatcomber View Post
If I were the seller, in the interest of good faith, I would have offered to pay 50% of the return shipping.
If the guitar is physically not as described, then the seller ought to pay 100% return shipping since it's 100% their fault. Seems like a partial refund makes a lot more sense.
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