From: "Peter Hurd"
Subject: [CB] EVER EBAY...
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 16:55:28 -0700
Dear Bassophiles,
I appreciate
ALL of your insights and comments about the scam seller of the Selmer
contra-alto clarinet, and the fact that some of you have followed up by
contacting Ebay and warning about the pending fraud.
In the main, I have
had truly good luck buying instruments on Ebay. I have been stuck with
a couple of bad instruments ( oboes which had the upper joint bore
reamed oversize by some surely well intentioned idiots), though I have
also found some instruments of sublime (i.e., priceless) quality
which more than compensate for the few "disaster instruments".
However, I have a cautionary tale
about an Ebay experience (legal advice appreciated here...). I
bought a late model Loree oboe on Ebay in January 2004. During the
auction, seller represented the serial # as "LX18"- I checked the IDRS
stolen instrument list- no LX18. When I received the instrument, I saw
that the "8" in fact appeared to be a "0". It took two different
attempts with a jewler's loop to discern the that last number was a
"9". The numbers were not worn, simply poorly executed to say the
least. I went back to the IDRS list and found LX19. I notified the
police and the original owner. The Ebay seller refused a refund.
It turns out the pawn shop the seller bought the oboe from had
entered "LX10" on the police card they had filed. The oboe was stolen
in Illinois, "sold" in Ohio, resold in Ohio, and sent to Washington.
The original owner was compensated (indemnified) by their insurance
company. I still have the oboe , now 8 months after "purchasing" same.
A complete mess ! I can not believe that Ebay does not require:
- posting the serial number for ALL musical instruments IN the
auction title !
- posting a photograph of the serial number amongst the auction
photographs!
- Sellers being liable in full for selling "hot" instruments
This to me just seems common sense, and would save an
untold amount of grief...
Cheers,
Peter
---------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim
Subject: [CB] Busted
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 22:11:23 -0400
Contra Alto too good to be true.
All bids auctions voided, the seller is no longer a registered
user. Good work all.
---------------------------------------------------------
From: sande hackel
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 09:12:56 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] EVER EBAY...
Do you think the insurance company, having paid a claim,
would go after the seller of the hot oboe?
sande hackel
----------
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 09:36:51 -0400
Subject: Re: [CB] EVER EBAY...
From: Michael C Grogg
I doubt it. It would cost more in administrative hours to
pursue that it would be worth. That would be a police matter
anyway. And the seller would claim they didn't know it was stolen
in the first place. Unless you could catch the original thief in
the act, the chances of anything substantive happening are very remote.
Michael
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:45:59 -0700
From: tubadave
Subject: Re: [CB] [CB Digest]
Has anybody checked out this near mint SELMER BASS SAXOPHONE?
It's too bad I have to drive (afford) a vehicle. If I had lived in a
city with great public transportation, I might actually consider this
bad boy. lol #3741642819
The horn is in Dallas (per auction info).
BTW, on another subject. It looks like ebay has acted upon my
report concerning the Contra Alto Bass EEb, seller no longer is
registered.
David F.
***End of Contrabass Digest***