Frustration on trying to get an PRS/too many bad People

Reynewan

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Joined
Mar 7, 2018
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168
Hi

Today was a very bad day for me..I was in contact with a guy, who offered me suddenly
a PRS Core Line for a very good Price, who send me pictures and was calling me at Night.
Then the contact was lost, although Ive told him, that I will respond within 10 hours.His Phone was dead most of the time. As soon as he appeared, he disappeared.
Then suddenly he called me yesterday(Friday) at night, that someone was going to test the guitar at Sunday and I have to be quick. I´ve him told via Phone and wrote him officially that I will be there to pick up the Guitar on Saturday, as fast as I can. Ive told him that I will buy it for sure even without testing.
Well, Ive booked a Drive went on nearly 200 Miles and the he wrote me suddenly seriously, that he sold the Guitar for 15 Bucks(...)more to a guy, while I was on my way to him. Result: Lost Weekend Day, 350 Miles of driving, and a lot of frustration and anger.. Anyone of you with similiar experience?
 
The guy sounds like a compulsive liar to me, and was probably doing the same thing to someone else at the same time. If you made connection with this guy through eBay, or reverb or any of those internet sales sites, report him. Otherwise forget him. Or at least give us his address so that we can arrange for personal meet and beat, oops I mean greet.
 
Hi

Today was a very bad day for me..I was in contact with a guy, who offered me suddenly
a PRS Core Line for a very good Price, who send me pictures and was calling me at Night.
Then the contact was lost, although Ive told him, that I will respond within 10 hours.His Phone was dead most of the time. As soon as he appeared, he disappeared.
Then suddenly he called me yesterday(Friday) at night, that someone was going to test the guitar at Sunday and I have to be quick. I´ve him told via Phone and wrote him officially that I will be there to pick up the Guitar on Saturday, as fast as I can. Ive told him that I will buy it for sure even without testing.
Well, Ive booked a Drive went on nearly 200 Miles and the he wrote me suddenly seriously, that he sold the Guitar for 15 Bucks(...)more to a guy, while I was on my way to him. Result: Lost Weekend Day, 350 Miles of driving, and a lot of frustration and anger.. Anyone of you with similiar experience?
So many red flags in this story. You've been had, bro. There was never any guitar. It was just some f#ckwit's idea of a laugh
 
.

That occasionally happens. Been there. Gotta carry on. Next seller will be cool and it'll work out.

.
 
I don't think he ever had the guitar. I've seen low life's do this before just to troll people. It's a sad state of affairs for good people. Like they said above, just move on. You don't have to fret about loosing a guitar, he never had it anyway.
 
Like Wakestar wrote here, I believe it too, that this Guy is a compulsive Liar, who did the same with other Persons.
I wrote my Post yesterday impulsively, after I´ve returned Home. This Guy is not worthy to be frustrated longer because of him.

Nevertheless, I get more and more the insight, that buying used music Equipment can be a a risky and sometimes a filthy business.

Naively spoken it has partly less with musical-solidarity to do. Fakes, some weird Characters and consistenly cheating People on E-Bay or Reverb.
 
Lost Weekend Day, 350 Miles of driving, and a lot of frustration and anger
Frustrating for sure, but be glad that the lesson you learned only cost you this. There are much more expensive endings...

Anytime a "seller" encourages me to "act fast" because they have another buyer lined up, I say goodbye. It's a hustle one way or another.
 
Frustrating for sure, but be glad that the lesson you learned only cost you this. There are much more expensive endings...

Anytime a "seller" encourages me to "act fast" because they have another buyer lined up, I say goodbye. It's a hustle one way or another.

Concur. Typically because they need the cash and will hold the item for you if you'll meet them or forward the money on their terms. The red flags of a scammer/hacker/con artist.

Happened to me once in 2002, a 2nd time eBay experience. Guy from Canada saying he owned an '86 PRS Signature said he'd pull the auction from eBay and deal with me offline. What did I know back then? Said he'd forward the guitar to me if I paid $400 Western Union to him to check the guitar out, and could pay the rest ($800) if I chose to keep the guitar.

Being younger and less eBay-savvy, what did I do? Yep. Forwarded him $400.

Never heard from him again. Turns out his real address was in Croatia, and the guy was a money-launderer for the Croats. Someone the guitar forums back then knew as "Testicles Nuclear," because the guy tried pulling the same scam under various aliases for several years on eBay. Not sure what happened, but I think Mr. Testicles was finally busted by cops in Croatia, and sentenced to 15 years, or so the guitar forums said back in 2004.

Concur that if anytime someone pressures you to giving up your money, walk or run away from the deal immediately, before meeting up with the seller. You don't know what the circumstances might be IRL if you were to show up with cash, the guy doesn't have the guitar, but has a weapon. Just saying. Some Craigslist deals have gone bad this way with used iPhones and iPads, more often that you'd like to think.
 
Concur. Typically because they need the cash and will hold the item for you if you'll meet them or forward the money on their terms. The red flags of a scammer/hacker/con artist.

Happened to me once in 2002, a 2nd time eBay experience. Guy from Canada saying he owned an '86 PRS Signature said he'd pull the auction from eBay and deal with me offline. What did I know back then? Said he'd forward the guitar to me if I paid $400 Western Union to him to check the guitar out, and could pay the rest ($800) if I chose to keep the guitar.

Being younger and less eBay-savvy, what did I do? Yep. Forwarded him $400.

Never heard from him again. Turns out his real address was in Croatia, and the guy was a money-launderer for the Croats. Someone the guitar forums back then knew as "Testicles Nuclear," because the guy tried pulling the same scam under various aliases for several years on eBay. Not sure what happened, but I think Mr. Testicles was finally busted by cops in Croatia, and sentenced to 15 years, or so the guitar forums said back in 2004.

Concur that if anytime someone pressures you to giving up your money, walk or run away from the deal immediately, before meeting up with the seller. You don't know what the circumstances might be IRL if you were to show up with cash, the guy doesn't have the guitar, but has a weapon. Just saying. Some Craigslist deals have gone bad this way with used iPhones and iPads, more often that you'd like to think.

That´s so right, what You are saying here..There are some malicious Sc--bags out there..I´ve heard yesterdey from someone else on E-Bay, that the Pictures he had of his Guitar there, were simply Copy-Pasted and used to sell other/different Guitars...
 
Sorry to hear about this situation.

I've never put myself in that situation before

I mostly buy killer deals at pawnshops with a just a very few deals on CL.

I have not traveled more than 25 miles for a CL deal, but I had contact with him several times while on my way to make sure he wouldn't back out.

I don't EVER buy or sell guitars online from any store or any forum.

I HAVE to audition and inspect any guitar I'm going to purchase in person.

I have to know what I'm getting.


I asking vet any sellers and buyer properly.

If I see ANY red flags, the deal is done, and I move on.

There's always the other sellers and buyers, most likely better deals to be had.
 
I buy online almost exclusively, as in-stock dealer selection is low these days. My two best local options are Chicago Music Exchange and Music Gallery of Highland Park - both wonderful shops, but they're no John Mann's Vault...

I buy based on reputation, either of the retailer itself or Reverb score.

- SE Custom 24: ordered from local GC
- SE Holcomb: Reverb shop with 5 stars across 500+ reviews
- Reclaimed Limited CE24: Sweetwater
- Wood Library Custom 24: Reverb individual with 5 stars across 100 reviews

There are good deals to be had on great guitars - if you use the right sellers. I'll pay a little more to someone with a reputation, rather than save a few bucks and assume more risk myself.
 
That´s so right, what You are saying here..There are some malicious Sc--bags out there..I´ve heard yesterdey from someone else on E-Bay, that the Pictures he had of his Guitar there, were simply Copy-Pasted and used to sell other/different Guitars...

While there are greedy malcontents out there in cyberspace yearning to make a quick and easy buck illegally, there are plenty of noobs like myself who should have known better. Lesson learned, albeit the hard way.

That was way before I knew of retailers who also sold used equipment and guitars. Amazing what one can learn after an error is made. Am surprised, but not disheartened because of any shipping foul-ups or necessary returned items that conducting business online with most folks has thus far been successful. I'd say you gotta trust your gut and if something seems too good or even suspect...know when to walk away...that, and website buyer protection helps nowadays...
 
Sorry to hear about this situation. I've never put myself in that situation before. I mostly buy killer deals at pawnshops with a just a very few deals on CL. I have not traveled more than 25 miles for a CL deal, but I had contact with him several times while on my way to make sure he wouldn't back out.

I don't EVER buy or sell guitars online from any store or any forum. I HAVE to audition and inspect any guitar I'm going to purchase in person. I have to know what I'm getting.

I asking vet any sellers and buyer properly. If I see ANY red flags, the deal is done, and I move on. There's always the other sellers and buyers, most likely better deals to be had.

Most of our pawnshops are located in city areas where there is a higher crime rate. Your screen name suggests you're from Texas...yes?

There are several local stores that sell used gear, and sometimes if I might wish to sell something, I'd list the item on eBay or reverb with a detailed description and pics, including any cosmetic or functional issues the item might have. My listings are clear and easy to understand, and do not neglect even the most trivial details. That being said, I usually insist on All Sales Final unless the item upon arrival does not match the listed description.

CL, I've sold some PA speakers and purchased a filing cabinet, that's about it.

In online eBay or Reverb used sales, the things to look for in a listing are the item description and condition, as well as the seller's feedback. Then, the terms of sale and shipping. Sometimes one needs to be diligent in asking the seller the correct questions, because the seller may avoid saying something that you don't ask him about. Due diligence is its own reward.

You folks would likely do the same research if you were buying a car or truck, so standard procedure would also require asking questions when you're not sure you know. I think learning (we were all students once) involves part research and investigation, but I'd never "look a gift horse in the mouth" and not expect some repercussions from the horse if either the horse or I felt uncomfortable about each other. ;)
 
Sorry to hear about this situation.

I've never put myself in that situation before

I mostly buy killer deals at pawnshops with a just a very few deals on CL.

I have not traveled more than 25 miles for a CL deal, but I had contact with him several times while on my way to make sure he wouldn't back out.

I don't EVER buy or sell guitars online from any store or any forum.

I HAVE to audition and inspect any guitar I'm going to purchase in person.

I have to know what I'm getting.


I asking vet any sellers and buyer properly.

If I see ANY red flags, the deal is done, and I move on.

There's always the other sellers and buyers, most likely better deals to be had.



I get Your point and Your purchasing-Strategy totally, but you can´t compare the US-Guitar-Market with the European one.
It´s a pretty different Story here. It starts with the Prices. US-Guitars are generally much more expensive here than in the US((up to 40% with taxes, customs, freight charges, freight insurance) sometimes even more...).
Secondly: In Europe, there is no such an Pawn-Shop Tradition like in the US. Here are far less Pawn-Shops existing, who offer
Guitars in generall and furthermore good or seldom Guitars. That´s the main reason why many Europeans try to get US-Equipment via E-Bay or Reverb for affordable prices.
And then the risks "automatically" rise.. Hope I could explain that difference passably coherent.
Some try get as well Stuff from the UK, because they are a bit better equipped with US-Guitars in my Opinion. But this might change as welll with the Brexit,
when customs will come and rise.
 
Like others, I think the guy was shady from the git. You offer something for sale, but his phone doesn't work till it does?? He knew you were serious and were coming, but took 15 bucks or euros more as the engaging offer?? The whole thing sounds as if you dodged a bullet. Too many of those offers on CList and Facebook market are grain of salt, old pictures depicting it in it's younger not beat to hell state, and just plain dodgy. Add to the fact that most punters on CL want what they paid for it never realizing they are possibly dealing with experienced and knowledgable people that know the price is not going to fly, Maybe some haggling for the price, but they think they can get what they paid, and it usually is never ever the case.
 
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