Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

[millsart]

I'm hoping to get you guys opinion on this and to let me know if I'm being unreasonable in my demands here.

I bought a used effects pedal on ebay that uses a 12ax7 preamp tube. The seller said that the tube and unit worked fine.

When I got the unit it suffered from dropped volume levels and other classic signs of a bad tube.

Dating the unit from the circuit board its several years old and the tubes estimated lifetime is up. This is direct from the owners manual.

I've contacted the seller repeatedly with no responce. I simply wanted him to cover the cost of a tube, about $15 or less

After a week of no responce I filed a paypal dispute. Seller finally responded tellin me that since a tube is a user replaceable part, its therefore not his problem and the sale is final.

he says he spoke to ebay and they told him thats their stance on the matter.


So what do you make of this ? Am I being unreasonable expecting that when someone sells me an item and says it works that it will work ?

The seller never said the tube needed replacment, he said it worked fine.

Its not an issue that I used it for 6 months and then said its going bad, it was bad when I opened the box.


I thought I was being quite fair simply asking him to cover a tube, no ?


Has anyone disputed a charge via paypal before like this ? Do I have any legal rights to demand my money back ?


I don't want to me a jerk about it and I didn't want a full refund, I just wanted a simple cost to be covered.

Sadly the seller seems set on trying to do it the hard way


Any advice you could share would be appreciated as I've never had an issue like this before

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Link? Seeing the original ad would help us to have a more informed opinion.

Based on what you reported, yes, the item should work when you receive it.

 

[millsart]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

I didn't want to link to the actual item to avoid dragging names or reputations into this matter as its not resolved yet. Figured that its the right thing to do dispite the sellers attitude thus far.

it specifically said in the ad though that the pedal works perfectly and the tube and all the knobs work fine.

seller did list in the ad that all sales are final, however, he also has a 7 day money back return policy in his auction terms so thats kind of different lol

Of course he wouldn't respond for that 7 days either convienantly enough either


I simply don't think you can list something as working perfectly and then when it arrives and obviously has a worn part that needed replacment say "all says are final" The listing was deceptive

 

[pinto79]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

When I buy any kind of used tube gear, regardless of what the seller says, I figure that I'm going to have to replace some or all of the tubes. Just like if I buy a guitar, I expect to have to at least give it a polish and a new set of strings. 12AX7 tubes are so cheap anyway.

To make sure that the pedal actually works properly, go visit a local shop and see if they have any used tubes you can try to make sure that the unit is actually working properly aside from the tube.

 

[millsart]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

When I buy any kind of used tube gear, regardless of what the seller says, I figure that I'm going to have to replace some or all of the tubes. Just like if I buy a guitar, I expect to have to at least give it a polish and a new set of strings. 12AX7 tubes are so cheap anyway.

To make sure that the pedal actually works properly, go visit a local shop and see if they have any used tubes you can try to make sure that the unit is actually working properly aside from the tube.

Yes thats a given fact of life with a tube amp and all, but I think this is more about the principle. I really couldn't care less about having to spend $15 or so for a new 12ax7, but its simply the fact that the guy sold it saying it was a good working tube when it wasn't.

You can't say something works fine and then when the buyer pulls it from the box and it doesn't work say its a consumable product and not your problem.

Its a simple case of a guy lying in his product description and not wanting to spend a few measley dollars to make things right. People just amaze me sometimes.

I just sold a wah pedal for several hundred dollars and it worked fine when I shipped it but the buyer says it doesn't work. I'm refunding him $400 for the thing, why ? Because its the right thing to do.

You just don't sell a product thats DOA and stick the buyer with it unless of course you specifically sell it as an item needing repair.


What type of person would do such a thing over $15 I have to ask you ?

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

if it was indicated in the ad that the tubes were in perfect working condition but it came DOA then it's the seller's fault. i hope EBAY does somthing about this. i hate it when things like this happen.

 

[donahue]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Have you put a new 12ax7 in it to see if it works? If so, +1, but a little shady on the seller. I'm an ebay rat, and all I think that would call for is a negative feedback at best. Reason being, as stated above, if that actual component itself is defective thats grounds for dispute, but a new tube is like a new set of strings on a used guitar. As long as the pedal works with a new tube I'd say you're okay. You DON'T DON'T want to start messing around with Paypal refunds and such. I just got done with a 2 month refund nightmare.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Meh....just replace the tube on your own.

If it works without issue then it's likely the tube busted in transition.

What do you expect? It's made of glass and likely shipped inside the unit.

I'd put it on par with whining about a guitar showing up with a broken string.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Unfortunately, there is a difference between what one should do and what one has to do.
If the tube was bad / going out when he sold you the pedal he should have let you know. Most times it wont make much of a difference in the sale.
But, many people figure they dont HAVE to tell you, and they might get a couple of extra dollars out of the sale if they dont.

 

[scottish]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

give him bad feedback and replace the tube. its not worth the hassle to drag it out over 15 bucks and the principle. i agree that you are in the right and he is wrong, but f-it. it just aint worth the hassle

 

[JeffB]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Meh....just replace the tube on your own.

If it works without issue then it's likely the tube busted in transition.

What do you expect? It's made of glass and likely shipped inside the unit.

I'd put it on par with whining about a guitar showing up with a broken string.

This.

 

[stuey222]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Go the bad feedback route after you made sure it is the tube and not the unit. He sounds shady though, I wouldn't buy form him.

If you really wanted to mess with it, you could get a refund, saying it doesn't work and all, but it sounds like you like the pedal and all, so I wouldn't do that.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

I'm hoping to get you guys opinion on this and to let me know if I'm being unreasonable in my demands here.

I bought a used effects pedal on ebay that uses a 12ax7 preamp tube. The seller said that the tube and unit worked fine.

When I got the unit it suffered from dropped volume levels and other classic signs of a bad tube.

Dating the unit from the circuit board its several years old and the tubes estimated lifetime is up. This is direct from the owners manual.

I've contacted the seller repeatedly with no responce. I simply wanted him to cover the cost of a tube, about $15 or less

After a week of no responce I filed a paypal dispute. Seller finally responded tellin me that since a tube is a user replaceable part, its therefore not his problem and the sale is final.

he says he spoke to ebay and they told him thats their stance on the matter.


So what do you make of this ? Am I being unreasonable expecting that when someone sells me an item and says it works that it will work ?

The seller never said the tube needed replacment, he said it worked fine.

Its not an issue that I used it for 6 months and then said its going bad, it was bad when I opened the box.


I thought I was being quite fair simply asking him to cover a tube, no ?


Has anyone disputed a charge via paypal before like this ? Do I have any legal rights to demand my money back ?


I don't want to me a jerk about it and I didn't want a full refund, I just wanted a simple cost to be covered.

Sadly the seller seems set on trying to do it the hard way


Any advice you could share would be appreciated as I've never had an issue like this before

Its a tube...... its a wear and tear item. Even though it was adverised as being a good tube, it could easily have been damaged in shipping. What I would do is go buy the new tube. Put it in to make sure there is nothing wrong with it. If the pedal works properly with the new tube..... move on and enjoy the pedal. Sooner or later your going to have to replace the tube anyway!

 

[B Bent]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

I agree with what Pinto said. The tube may have died during shipment. It very well may have worked perfectly for the seller, but a small bump during shipment may have been all the aging tube needed to die.

If it were me I'd just buy another tube for a few bucks and be on my way to enjoying the unit.

 

[Moonsorrow]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Just get a new tube!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Dude, it's on you. That's the risk of buying on eBay. You knew it when you signed up.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

A.) In a perfect world, it SHOULD be right when you get it. The seller should pony up cash or send you a replacement tube.

B.) Just buy the **** 12ax7 and get over it. It's like $7 - $15. How much is the hassle of filing a dispute, nagging the seller, etc. etc. worth to you?

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

give him bad feedback and replace the tube. its not worth the hassle to drag it out over 15 bucks and the principle. i agree that you are in the right and he is wrong, but f-it. it just aint worth the hassle

I would hesitate to give bad feedback unless he is unwilling to make the situation that both parties would agree as being "right" or unwilling to come to that agreement altogether.

For fifteen bucks I see it largely as the cost of doing business.

Very likely it broke during shipping. Odds are a new one will likely break during transport to a gig/rehearsal/studio. It's just what happens when you take a small box that's intended to be placed on the floor and be stepped on and put something small and fragile in it. If this is unacceptable to you then you shouldn't be using it to begin with.

 

[millsart]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

Dude, it's on you. That's the risk of buying on eBay. You knew it when you signed up.

Are you honestly telling me that you think it should be BUYER BEWARE on ebay and sellers can do whatever they want ?

Is that how you sell an item ?



Whats the point of an item description then ?

Why not list everything as being brand new and if it shows up beat up and used just tell them they should of known that going in ?


Why list a product as coming with an A/C adapter ? Just don't include it and if the buyer complains tell them its only a $10 part and to stop whining about it.


If you sell something that you say works, its your responsibility as the seller to make sure it works when the buyer gets it, if it doesn't you make it work.


The fact its a cheap part isn't the issue, its about doing the right thing. I've spent about $3000 on ebay this past month or so buying gear, the price of a tube isn't hurting me needless to say.



Another example, I bought a Pro Analog Supa Quack Wah. Got it and while the guy said it worked fine, the pot was old and scratchy and spray cleaner didn't help.

Contacted the seller and what did he tell me ? Tough luck those things wear out ? No, he covered the cost for me to buy a new ICAR pot which I installed and it worked great. Wasn't expensive but it was about delivering an item in the working condition one sold it.


I just sold my Vision Wah for nearly $400. Guy got it and its not working right. It worked fine when I sold it, it was packed well, and shows no signs of shipping damage.

But what am I doing ? I'm going to refund his money provided I get it back and it doesn't work for me.


I may take a $400 loss being stuck with a pedal that doesn't work. Why ?

Because its the right thing to do and its my responsibility. I sold it saying it worked perfectly and when he got it, it didn't. Simple as that.



I got a new tube, popped it in and it works wonderfully. I'm very happy with the product now but not the transaction.


The very fact its such a small amount for the cost of a replacement honestly is what pisses me off the most.


Take my wah pedal for example, had that buyer said that it seems a $10 part needs replacing and would I be willing to cover it you darn well know I'd jump at the chance to do that.

paypal the guy $10 instead of having to give him a full refund of $400 ? Um yeah, no brainer, and yes its the rigth thing to do.


Given the sellers attitude I'm honestly more inclined that ever to return the pedal to him (with bad tube) and demand a full refund either through paypal or my credit card.

Be a pain for both parties but he couldn't see the fair and easy solution of just covering a tube for me.



I know it seems that many here would prefer to just cover the cost out of pocket and move on with things. I get the feeling some of you think I'm a bit of a fool even raising this fuss, but I really do think its the way its got to me.

If a buyer doesn't take a stand once in a while then these things can continue to happen to everyone.


In a perfect world people would make things right because its the right thing to do. Thats why I'm doing with the guy I sold to, and thats what the guy I bought the wah from did.

Thats how Ebay and transactions in general are supposed to work.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Your opinion needed on bad ebay transaction

This is an awful lot of effort, this thread included, for a measly $15.00 that you can't even prove the seller is responsible for.

Respectfully, give it a rest, man.