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  3. 136498-4976

what can reasonably be expected of a seller?

Let's get the obvious out of the way.  If the seller posts the item "as-is" & "untested" then that's that and you get what you get.  Right?  But if neither of these is indicated and the item is listed as practically new or unused or immaculate....  or has been in ideal storage for years, then is it perfectly reasonable to ask the seller about functionality, to request the seller test the item to confirm proper functioning?  If the price is really good, is it reasonable to ask about functionality?    I've had 2 situations lately where this has come up.   In the first instance, the seller was willing to accommodate and I did pay for the item and was awaiting confirmation that the item worked properly but was unexpectedly told that he sold to another who didn't need confirmation and my money was refunded.  And in the second instance, I asked the seller to connect the cdp he was selling to a system to confirm that if worked properly as it could be a decade old and had "probably" never been used.  He responded that he wasn't connecting it to anything and didn't have time to sit and play it and that it was already packed.   So, am I just being unreasonable and expecting to much?  What do you think is reasonable?  Thanks.
lcherepkai
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,226 posts
 
I think it's sad that nowadays, one has to be careful not to get screwed over. It would never occur to me to do that to someone else. Anyone I've dealt with has been of the same mind. I guess I've been lucky so far. 

One time I had a CDP for sale and I was (as always) meticulous in it's care and storage. It looked brand new and a couple of times I'd check it out to make sure it worked, and to make sure I really wanted to sell it.

When I got an offer I had almost packed it when it occurred to me to try it out one more time. One channel was inexplicably dead and I could never get it to work. I expect anyone I deal with to do the same for me.
But then, that's me.

All the best,
Nonoise
basement
245 posts
 
That's funny! I had similar experiences with Fedex around here some time ago. 

For awhile, (I was working downtown), I began to notice that most Fedex drivers would drop, throw, slam packages for seemingly no reason, while UPS treated them like...packages?


When I used to visit another forum, many had the same experiences, but with different carriers, sometime just the opposite experience. 


The issues don't seem to be carrier related, but regional. Sometimes even down to an individual. 


But, WHY a human in better than average shape would want to drop or toss a box is indeed strange. 
harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
If you have worries why buy ? As for NOS and new stuff or even used gear claimed to be fully operational but seller refuses to answer to your questions and requests and so you think you have doubts about seller´s honesty ? Go elsewhere.
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harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
^ Exactly. I have bought a few HQ vintage carts off Audiogon (all from famous Russian fellow Victor Simakov) and a few off eBay. All perfectly functional despite their age (most from 80´s). And for reasonable prices as they all have proved to be in excellent working order. Obviously I have been lucky but it was my decision not anyone else´s. I´m grown up and know what am doing, and I actually like to take changes when it´s possible to get famous vintage carts for a good price. For example my superbly performing TOTL ASTATIC costed under 300 euros. Another ASTATIC claimed to be without stylus but to my delight it actually came with sharp stylus. This superb cart was 100 euros + postage. I won´t hesitate buying again from these sellers from the other side of the world some day.
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