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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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Uh, I’m aware people often remove grills. Maybe a photo would reveal of the speakers knocked together during shipment, which actually doesn’t make sense if only one box was open or became open somehow during shipping. How? If the grills were pried off I imagine that would show in the photo. Did he pry off both grills?
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Ouch!
Tough call here, probably good job it is not eBay as they unfortunately side with the buyer no matter what.
Unless they have a very poor track record already and you are a mega seller.
Be interesting to see the photos.
Always sad when damage occurs either accidental or deliberate.

Not always a sure sign that they caused the damage just because it has been two days though, I work away a lot and the wife might sign for my gear but it might be a week before I get home and physically open, inspect and test the gear.

Hopefully you can resolve this with the buyer amicably.
I assume they had good feedback on here prior to this event?
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy OP
5,625 posts
 
He claims both speakers are damaged. I am waiting for him to send me pictures of the damage. He wants to get a price on new grills. I just don't buy his story. I buy and sell on audiogon and have never had a problem like this. My feedback is flawless!
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,315 posts
 
Even if ONE SIDE opened up somehow, how could the speakers still bump against each other (as the other side was still closed)? The story doesn’t hold water, whereas the grills idea is entirely plausible.  Also, if there is no outside damage to the box (and he picked up from Fedex without any objection), then if the inner boxes are contained tightly within the outer, how could they move around at all?
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy OP
5,625 posts
 
His whole story makes no sense. If the outside box was damaged then I would buy it. The inner box fit tight with no movement. They where both original boxes that the speakers came in.
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