2. speakers
  3. 1020135455

What is the right thing here................

Thanks for pitching in.

I have been buying, selling, and upgrading for about 2 years now. I have done so with very few issues, although, tough for anyone to say no issues. This deal was not made from AudioGon, but I would like your years of experience as help.

This problem is about ethics, more than anything.

I had a set of B&W 801 Anniversary edition speakers.
Great physical shape, with no problems. Used for about a year, I had been running them with a McIntosh MC-352, a Citation Audio 7.1, and until they sold last week, a Jeff Rowland Model 7. They had performed flawlessly the entire time.

I bought them from the original owner, a person (a local dentist) that replaced them with Wilson Slams.

Anyway, he informed me that he had to have the dealer replace a sub driver when one blew in 1994/5. No problem, I suppose that happens, althought I have not experienced this situation.

Someone locally wanted to buy the speakers, and I told them to come look, and listen. He refused to make the drive (an hour, tops) from San Jose to Orinda, DOT. He didn't have a car, then the car he did have was broken down, then he didn't have time, etc. Since I didn't want to lift them by myself, I would not deliver them, which for something lighter, I would no problem. An hour seemed like nothing to insure your $2,500 investment, right?

He wanted me to have a company ship them, so I did. They picked them up, and drove them to SJ. Like any other transaction, I was prepaid, $2,500. Fair for the speakers, with stands, both in great shape.

He called me the NEXT day and told me the speakers were blown, the subs. He said it was blown and there was no way for me to know, it was so minor and that he pushed it over the edge, or some garbage like this. He has a Krell KAS amp (a large amp he explained). When he removed the drivers, he said one was not even the matching driver. I had the grills on the entire time, and have NEVER had a problem with the drivers at all.

The speakers worked fine for a year here, and they worked when he got them. Granted, the different driver thing seems wrong, but, the question is this:

He has asked me to either cover the cost of new drivers or return the speakers for a full refund.

I know what my thoughts are, what are yours?

Trying to be the honest individual I am,
Dan
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porschecab OP
336 posts
 
Thanks so far. The drivers are $600 per pair he says. Odd, when I call B&W, they are $500 each. Maybe he is a better negotiator. Either way, $600 is alot of cash.
I feel that one driver being from the Anniversary series, and the other from the 801F or 801 80 series is wrong.
I might, might being the key word here, be willing to go that route. If I had been given the choice, I would rather refund his money completely, take the speakers in the condition I sold them to him back, and start over. They have no value to me with blown drivers, and $600 doesn't seem fair.

Other opportunities?

D
lakefrontroad
302 posts
 
Hi Dan,

Since we spoke about everything from audio to racing cars, it's clear to me that this is not an, "your an idiot and didn't notice issue", but a slimy or ignorant buyer issue. I think that this deserves a personal inspection at the buyer's home. It's too convenient a problem. Go inspect personally. It's either true or not. Either way, you get to eyeball the buyer and determine whether you trust and believe him.

It's easy enough to make the decision at that time.

If he's being truthful, I'm certain you won't have any difficulty with how to resolve the matter.

Best wishes,

Bill E.
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porschecab OP
336 posts
 
Thanks Bill!! We did have a great chat, thanks!

I like that idea, it may be just the way to go. I am leaning on picking up the cost of one driver. Originally I had thought of depreciating the cost of the used driver (since it did have some value before it blew) and backing that out of the cost of a new one. Can you tell I worked for an insurance company for 15 years and now in Finance?
lol.

Anyway, I posted this just to see if I was that far off base in my logic, excluding that last statement about depreciating the sub.

Thanks to all that have responded and to those yet to do so.

D
justacoder
66 posts
 
Perhaps having him ship the speakers back, giving him a refund, and then examining and fixing the speakers at your lesuire (perhaps just to resell them) is the best thing. This way you wash your hands of this person. What if next week the tweeters blow? Or he notices a 'blemish' that 'must have been there when you shipped it', etc.

$600 isn't fair, as you say. Maybe you can do the same as the first owner, replace the blown driver with a cheaper 'copy', and then inform whoever you sell it to next about this (and likely have to reduce the price a little).

Best of luck.
eldragon
707 posts
 
Just his attitude before purchase 'screams' problem buyer. But it is OK, you kind of knew it, but ignored your instincts BEFORE you sold them your speakers. I would return his money, and take the speakers back. If you partialy refund him, or replace drivers... troubles with him, might not end there?! Good Luck!
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