Advice Needed: Buyer returned vintage "Project" Saxophone severely bent / altered condition
Summary: stderek shared a negative experience with selling saxophones, noting issues with buyers who expect excellent deals and may retaliate if unsatisfied. This has discouraged them from selling on eBay. They provided details about shipping precautions they took and are seeking advice from others who might have faced similar challenges.
Hello everyone,
Looking for some quick confirmation and advice from the group on a damaged return. I am a Top Rated Seller and recently sold a vintage 1956 Buescher Elkhart Alto Saxophone.
The Listing Context: The item was explicitly listed and marketed as a "Project Horn" in "as-is, unserviced vintage condition for restoration." My original listing featured clear photos showing the plastic protective neck cap in position, proving the integrity of the horn and the linkage before it left my hands.
The Return:
Timeline: Sold on May 12, 2026; arrived back as a return on May 22, 2026.
Return Reason Selected: The buyer opened an Item Not as Described (INAD) claim, solely stating that the item "smelled musty" (which is expected for an unserviced 1956 instrument in its original heavily worn case).
The Return Packaging: Interestingly, the return box arrived in excellent condition with zero signs of transit impact or rough handling by the carrier.
The Damage: Upon opening the box, I found that the plastic protective end cap (body plug) was broken into two pieces. Crucially, these pieces weren't even near the top of the horn or the neck receiver compartment—they were loose elsewhere in the packaging. Because the top of the horn was left completely unprotected, the chrome-plated octave key mechanism pin (the linkage extending out of the top of the body receiver) was returned severely bent out of alignment, rendering the mechanism entirely non-functional.
Because the saxophone was exceptionally well-padded inside the case, the external shipping box was flawless, and the broken cap pieces were completely separated from the top of the horn, it is physically impossible for this to be transit damage. The sheer severity of the bend on that sturdy, chrome-plated linkage indicates it was done deliberately and maliciously while in the buyer's possession before they packed it up.
I have already verified that the serial number matches my original item, and I have filed an official "Report Buyer" claim for returning an altered/damaged item.
Since I am a Top Rated Seller, my plan of action is to navigate directly through the active return request screen, click "Refund the Buyer," and utilize the sliding tool to deduct the maximum 50% partial refund due to the severe physical damage and loss in value.
Does this plan of action sound correct? Will my account be automatically protected against the INAD metric defect and any potential negative feedback fallout once the partial refund closes the case?
Thanks in advance for any insights!
stderek
OP2 weeks agoUnfortunately, I've had some bad experiences with several saxophones in particular. It appears to me that some saxophone buyers are looking for an extremely good deal - and when they don't get one - they find ways to "punish" the seller. It has made me hesitant to sell saxophones on ebay. I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences.
tobaccocardyahoo
·4 months agoYour description of this as a "project" does nothing to protect you.
I know nothing about shipping saxophones but I do know that shipping many guitars and other instruments in their cases has led to endless discussions among musicians as to which is "the most guitar-busting airline".
I would be loath to ship many instruments in their case.
stderek
OP2 weeks ago · EditedI just want to note that while it was in the case - the case was shipped inside a box with a minimum of 2 inches of padding on each side.
simba6
·4 months agoAs a TRS you can hold back the 50% . The buyer can still leave feedback and it's still an INAD.
It's strange that a buyer would damage the item since they did not claim any of that damage in their case. Some packages to get dropped hard. The buyer almost always wins in cases like that.