The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-11-11 08:04
ok, I just bought this R13 from a fellow clarinet person on this BB from the classifieds.
I didn't realize that the instrument has been cracked (but professionally repaired) and the top and bottom joint don't match. When I looked up the serial # from the bottom joint, it said 1992. The top joint's serial looks like it has been sanded off, but I could make out a number that was referenced to 1973. And it has the register hole that sticks out. None of this was mentioned in the ad... and the guy was really nice when I was waiting for him to send it. And otherwise it sounds alright.
I paid $600 for it and I thought that I might keep it if it was pretty good. But now that I have it, I think I want to resell it again (probably on ebay).
With what I mentioned above, do you think anyone would buy it? Was I ripped off and should I ask for my money back? I'm confused...
--Contragirl
(I'm not trying to sell it to anyone here, Mark! )
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-11-11 09:15
Hmm, I can't say if you where ripped of because I don't know how the instrument plays
But I really think people should mention repaired cracks and especially sanded serial numbers! It sounds like this instrument has been altered a lot, I just don't find it descend to sell it without telling the buyer.
Conclusion, if the clarinet plays great….then I could live with it…. Otherwise, try to get your money back.
Post Edited (2004-11-11 09:15)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-11-11 11:04
My hunch is that it was stolen (2 clarinets with joints that were swapped). You should get your money back as it isn't what was advertised.
1 the crack fix
2 the swapped joints are both individual reasons why EBAY should back you on it.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-11-11 12:30
She said she bought it through the classifieds on the bboard, not through eBay, so she doesn't have that recourse it would seem.
CG, yes, you were technically ripped off if the condition of the product was not disclosed in the ad, although, as they say -- buyer beware. About all you can do is appeal to the better nature of the seller. Benefit of the doubt, the seller may not have known that these are important issues. Of course if David is right and it is stolen, that ain't happening. There are registries of stolen serial numbers in a few places, including through the AFM where you can check and see if either SN was reported boosted.
Just remember if you turn around and sell it (if it was a legit purchase inthe first place) not to visit the sins of the seller upon another. Be upfront about features and condition.
Good luck.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-11-11 14:02
Did you ask about the condition first before buying?
Did you ask about matching ser. #s?
Caveat emptor.
Yes u can sell it on ebay...but disclose the faults up front.
OR...take it to a good tech. and you might wind up with a decent horn afterall.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-11-11 14:19
Quote:
Did you ask about matching ser. #s? I can see where you go with those questions, but SOME things really should be disclosed because some things are GOING to be assumptions. Matching numbers might be something you should ask if your buying a 1967 mustang, but it's pretty much ASSUMED at the upper/lower joint are matching in the clarinet community. You can't sit there and ask EVERY question you can possibly think of (Are the keys worn? Are there the same types of pads all around the clarinet? Are all the rings tight? Is the thumbrest loose? Does every pad give a perfect seal? Does it HAVE every pad?) Some things really are just common assumptions.
In my opinion, it's up to the seller to list what they feel might be WRONG with the clarinet. Mismatched serial numbers is an EASY one to pick out and one that probably SHOULD have been listed.
CG,
Hopefully you agreed to some deal where you can return it if not satisfied. I'd first check whatever stolen serial # lists you can find (since it does seem very odd that one might be SANDED off), and if you think you can turn around and make a buck on it, that's up to you to take the chance. If it WAS stolen, I'd return it, and then perhaps ask Mark or GBK what can be done on the board to warn others of the seller. Also, let the clarinet mailing list know (that's uncensored so just let them all know whatever you think they need to know).
And if it's not stolen, and you can't return it, and you don't think you can make a buck on it VIA Ebay or some other place, and it doesn't sound nicer than your current one, then looks like you're stuck with it and unfortunately got ripped off. Maybe the brannens could do something with it, but with mismatched serial #s that's a toughie.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-11-11 14:35
In my opinion as an eBay seller, you'll absolutely have to disclose everything you know about the instrument and will probably not be able to get $600.00 for it. Buyers want everything to be perfect (at least the ones who buy from me). If it's possible to return it to the seller, do it at once.
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Author: LeeB
Date: 2004-11-11 15:48
It's too bad the classifieds on this BB don't have some sort of feedback system like eBay. That way, others could be warned if this person tries to sell again.
IMO, the threat of negative feedback goes a long way to keep people honest.
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-11-11 17:17
Everything else on the horn seems fine. He replaced a lot of the pads, and the joints match up fairly well, imop. It has a pretty good sound, but it seems too bright for me. It also came with a Chadash barrel.
I am always honest when I sell on ebay. I try not to keep things from the seller.
I am thinking that the horn probably was not stolen, but was maybe damaged. It looks like the keys have been replated, but worn off again. And the bottom joint's keys match the top joint's, so I think they were transfered to the new part. Seeing the pinned crack makes me think that the same and maybe worse happened to the bottom joint.
Yeah, I didn't think of asking about serial #s. Usually if you have an old horn, the parts match!
*sigh* I don't know what to do... maybe I will list it on ebay, see if I can get anything for it.
--CG
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-11-11 17:52
LeeB wrote:
> It's too bad the classifieds on this BB don't have some sort of
> feedback system like eBay. That way, others could be warned if
> this person tries to sell again.
There's a reason why there's feedback on auction sites and little if any feedback on Classified sites:
The immediacy of an auction causes people to sometimes act irrationally, both as buyers & sellers. There is little time to thoroughly investigate the item. There is a real premium on honesty. Part of eBay's fee structure has to pay for close surveilance of the auctions.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-11-11 19:09
You could always sell the Chadash barrel separately from the clarinet and put a standard Buffet barrel on the R-13 if you have one. That might help recover your loss somewhat.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-11-11 23:12
The seller was less than honest with you, Contragirl. Ask for a refund. Now.
- rn b -
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