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Buyer is claiming damage that was done by him!

Hi group,
I sold a pair of mint Harbeths. I shipped them in original double boxed carton with original bonnets covering them. I just received this EMAIL from the buyer. I know that many ruin these speakers trying to pry  the magnetic grills off incorrectly. What is my recourse with this issue?
Thanks  much for your input!

This is the EMAIL I received from the buyer!

Hi. I picked up the speakers from FedEx yesterday. They arrived with some minor dents around the front top corners near the grille on both speakers. When I opened the outer box, I've noticed that one side of the inner box wasn't sealed on top and as a result the speakers came out of the top foam speaker holder. I guess the damage occurred from speakers bumping against each other. The grill cloth is also ripped near the dents. I've sent an email to Harbeth asking how much replacement grills are going to cost. I could probably live with those dents but grills might be replaced at some point. I'm still waiting on my amp to come back from service, so I have not even plugged the speakers in yet. Hopefully the drivers are ok.    
128x128yogiboy
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
It just seems fishy that both speakers have the same damage.


Reminds me of when I go to x-ray some guys hands. Both hands. Broken bones. "How'd you do that?" I ask. Meaning the left one. 
"Punched a telephone pole." (!)
"Okay," I say, "How'd you break the other one?"
"Hit it again."

Some of us, however average we may be in every other way, nevertheless operate at truly exceptional levels of stupidity.

And this guy, not content to break one, goes ahead and breaks the next one the same way, to then turn around and blame it on someone else? And act like they think anyone would actually believe such an unbelievably preposterous story? 

We're talking Gold Medal Stupid here. 
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,993 posts
 
I’ve owned many Harbeths. The grills have to be removed correctly with a magnet. I have seen many Harbeth with ripped grills and damaged wood on the edges where the grills are.

It sounds like the buyer tried removing the grills incorrectly and wants you to pay for his stupidity!!

I was a Harbeth dealer and had a couple customers, (after being told how to remove them) still damage the grills and corner edges.

If I was a gambling man, I’d say that’s what happened...

Oh, and btw, I've done business several times with Brett, (yogiboy) and it couldn't have been better.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
More curious than anything but I did ask earlier if the buyer had good feedback prior to this sale.


Does not change the events but just curious.

And we all make mistakes, it's the subsequent actions that count.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy OP
5,714 posts
 
Yes he does. I am still waiting for him to send me pictures.
bigkidz
3,390 posts
 
Since I manufacturer audio components, this stuff does happen.  I had tubes in original boxes wrapped in bubble wrap that were placed within the audio chassis so not much room to bounce around.  One tube was shattered and the other was blown (looks like the gas leaked out).  $300 down the drain.The exterior box had no visible damage at all.

I doubt the buyer did all that damage but what do I know.

Good luck.
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