Questionable Damage Claim

[daneiac]

Guy just shot me 4 photos showing busted neck on guitar he received today I sold him..looks phish but no way I can dispute it only to possibly arouse his anger..filed insurance claim and could not find buyers email address to add to claim form thanks to eBay hiding or not revealing emails since a few days ago..should the buyer open a case? Should I refund him wholly? Although USPS might pay for just repair cost? If anything at all..should I just pay for return although USPS says not to ship package until investigation u s complete?.. This guy might be getting a free guitar that might be repaired for a few bucks and the photos looked staged? At least pics of box damage..it was a reverb.com guitar box bubble wrapped guitar a plenty and immersed in foam peanuts 45x21x9 inch box..it seems improbable

[sg51]

Did he file a case, or just ask a question.

If he filed a case, you can choose between:

1. Make peace with a full or partial refund.

2. Repond "return for a full refund".

If all he asked was a question, your choices are still pretty much the same, but you can work on it informally.  If you do chose to refund in full before any case is filed, ask buyer if he would like his money back. If so, cancel the transaction "buyer's request".  That will automatically refund buyer and get your FVF back.  I think it also blocks feedback.

[missjen831]

If you filed an insurance claim then the buyer needs to hold on to the guitar. Shipping it back to you voids the insurance. If he hasn’t opened a return request, I wouldn’t tell him to return the item for a refund just yet. 

[daneiac]

So. Far, he has just sent photos of the broken neck and box.. He volunteered it was a great packaging job as I always do..

[daneiac]

No "buyers request" yet..I have responded if he thinks neck could be repaired just to get some friendly banter rolling along..maybe he was just gonna use it as a wall hanger and cracked neck showing on backside will not show anyways..

[sg51]

Why do you find the claim bogus?  Were the pics of your guitar in a broken state?

[daneiac]

Never said it was bogus..but I've shipped maybe 30 guitars all packed as well as this one over past 15 years and have never had damage cause of the overkill I use packing them..it is very hard to break a neck in shipment singing the body is easier but I've never even had that happen..0 complaints always overpack

[jonathankirkland]

You said the photos look staged. How so? Would you mind posting them here so we can see?

You have me very curious about all this now with your description so far so I'd like to reserve judgment until you can maybe show us the pictures and describe to us what you find odd about them.

[coolections]

I am not saying you do not pack correctly, but I am saying that the neck could have easily been broken during shipment. File you  insurance claim, get your $$ back and refund your buyer.

[daneiac]

The buyer is being very cordial about it..we are working well together..will try to post photos once I figure out how to extract them from eBay messages..feeling better about this cause the buyer has a good attitude

[robot-hands · Accepted solution]

With the humidity swingingly wildly over the country the last few weeks if you didn't de-tune the guitar it could have easily cracked the neck.

Been there, done that.

[daneiac]

Always detune guitars in shipment..even guitars I own that are not being played regularly are destined here

[daneiac]

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