Looking for help with SG value

[Clump]

I took a chance and bought an SG Faded on ebay. The seller had 1 lousy picture and added a second better one (that turned out not to be the actual guitar) late in the auction. Mine was the sole bid. I got it for $535.09 shipped.

The description was a 2003 faded with crescent moon inlays in mint, flawless condition with the gig bag.

The guitar arrived last night via UPS. I'm shocked it made it from CA to MD in 1 piece. I have never seen such a poor packing job - it was put in a dry cleaning bag and folded up in re-used cardboard with some newspaper packing. I knew i was in trouble when I saw the package. When I got it open I found no gig bag, just a dry cleaning bag.

What I got is a 2002, made in July. It does have an ebony board and crescent moon inlays. It appears to be authentic. It is in no way mint and flawless.

- There is moderate worming on the back with several small dings.
- There are several dings on the edges of the body.
- The pick guard and area above it have quite a bit of pick scratches. Nothing deep, but lots of scratches. No dings in the face.
- The pick guard screws and pickup poles are rusty.
- The knobs will need to be replaced - 2 have missing reflectors and the other 2 are chewed up around the edges.

I'd say this is probably normal condition for a 2002 that's been played. Not beat up, but certainly not flawless.

The neck seems straight and the pickups work. The pots work and aren't scratchy. The strings are ancient and badly need to be replaced, so I didn't do more than try it. It's also filthy. If I keep it I'll clean it up and restring it.

I'm attempting to negotiate with the seller. He insists that the guitar is worth what I paid (it might be) and doesn't seem to understand that the problem is the false description. It also seems that the 2nd picture shows a clear intention to defraud.

So, what is a 2002 faded with ebony board in this kind of condition worth? I'd like to keep it, but won't if the seller doesn't refund some money.

Sorry this got so long and thanks for your help.

 

[dynabite]

 

[HOT-BRIT]

I would say that is a good price, the ebony board faded SG are the best of the faded model SG's, the guitar is ten years old and what you state about the condition it is in good condition for a guitar of that age, with just normal wear and tear. Regarding the strings every one knows when you buy a used guitar you will need to fit new strings and set it up to your personal taste, I even do this when I buy a new guitar, I would say the only legitimate complaint would be the lack of the gigbag if it was stated in the description that it came with a gigbag and you did not receive it, it may not have been packed the best way, but it arrived with out being damaged in transit, so that is not an issue to claim any partial refund. So to summarize the only legitimate claim for a partial refund would be for not getting a gigbag if it was described in the listing as coming with a gigbag, if I was not stated in the dscription as coming with the gigbag you can not expect one, if I see a guitar advertised that I'm interested in and there is no mention of a case, then I always ask first before bidding if it will come with one and base my bid amount on this information, now if you want to return the guitar for a full refund Ebay will allow you, but you will be responsible for return shipping costs

 

[Clump]

@Hot-Brit -

Doesn't the gross misrepresntation merit some penalty to the seller? Using a different picture and representing it as the actual guitar indicates an intent to defraud, at least to me. I'm not complaining about the strings, but a real evaluation is impossible without changing them and I can't change them until it's resolved.

Since ebay links don't seem to work very well, the item number is 270745789046.

I'll post some pics this evening.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

@Hot-Brit -

Doesn't the gross misrepresntation merit some penalty to the seller? Using a different picture and representing it as the actual guitar indicates an intent to defraud, at least to me. I'm not complaining about the strings, but a real evaluation is impossible without changing them and I can't change them until it's resolved.

Since ebay links don't seem to work very well, the item number is 270745789046.

I'll post some pics this evening.

the only thing you can do is return it for refund but you will be out return shipping costs, you got a good deal with shipping included, the ebony board fadeds are great players, it seems that you like it, I would set it up, give it a polish and enjoy it, you can report the listing to Ebay explaining that one of the photos was not of the actual guitar, But they will tell you that you can leave appropriate feedback and return it for a full refund, but return shipping cost is your responsibility i have been using Ebay since the 90's and have a lot of knowledge about it, after a couple of thousand of transactions. you decided to bid based on infomation the seller provided because you thought it was a good deal, so just enjoy it!

 

[dynabite]

Here's the 2 pix from ebay:

 

[KRaZeE]

Here's the 2 pix from ebay:

Looks like poop. I'll tell you what...send it to me, consider it a lesson learned and you'll feel much better not having to look at that ugly thing every day.

 

[Clump]

Looks like poop. I'll tell you what...send it to me, consider it a lesson learned and you'll feel much better not having to look at that ugly thing every day.

You're right up the road from me. I'll deliver!

 

[Clump]

Pics

Here's the packaging, again I'm shocked it's not a 2 piece.


Head stock


Board


Body


Not bad for a 9 year old guitar, but not nearly as described. It seems like prices on these are all over.

 

[KRaZeE]

Not bad at all. at the packaging. Two piece? I'm surprised it didn't show up as a 5 or more piece! And...my offer still stands.

 

[DalyTek]

Condition looks good for the price you paid, I think.
I would try to dispute a discount though.
He said "Beautiful, mint condition, flawless legend status guitar!" which it is not mint condition. He also stated it comes with a gig bad, which is clearly not there.
I don't think he is pulling anything with the crappy pics. They look like the real guitar, just very poor quality pics.

Attempt to resolve a discount with the seller. If he does not want to work with you, you have a couple choices: return it for refund, file a claim with PayPal, or just eat the minor loss and slap him with a nice negative feedback.

I'd keep it and play the hell out of it. It's a nice axe!

 

[HOT-BRIT]

it looks great!
I would say it is in very good condition for a ten year old guitar,

 

[tmb1958]

i don't see the problem, i think you got a great deal on it. crappy packaging, just make a note not to buy from that seller again, be glad it showed in one piece. no gig bag, who gives a f--k.
do i smell buyers remorse? why invent a bunch of bad vibes on what should be a beautiful new guitar day. you're giving your guitar negative mojo.

 

[Clump]

Thanks all. No buyer's remorse. It's just obviously not as described, which pisses me off. The seller has gone silent now. I guess I'll see how the ebay dispute process works.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

thanks all. No buyer's remorse. It's just obviously not as described, which pisses me off. The seller has gone silent now. I guess i'll see how the ebay dispute process works.

it is a faded SG with ebony board,it arrived in good condition
how is it not as described?
You are making a big deal over nothing!
You saw the listing and decided to bid even though there was a lack of quality photos, i believe when you bid only the first poor quality photo was posted, it ended up to be in good condition, not broken and not a fake, so stop bitching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your attitude is totally unreasonable!
Now you want a partial refund to reduce the cost of the guitar whn you know there is nothing wrong with it!!!!!!!!!
This exploitation and extortion!!!!!!!!!
You should be ashamed of your self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then you come on here looking for support, because you know what you are doing trying to exploit the seller is wrong!!!!!!!!!!
What is your ebay user name?

 

[Clump]

it is a faded SG with ebony board,it arrived in good condition
how is it not as described?
You are making a big deal over nothing!
You saw the listing and decided to bid even though there was a lack of quality photos, i believe when you bid only the first poor quality photo was posted, it ended up to be in good condition, not broken and not a fake, so stop bitching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your attitude is totally unreasonable!
Now you want a partial refund to reduce the cost of the guitar whn you know there is nothing wrong with it!!!!!!!!!
This exploitation and extortion!!!!!!!!!
You should be ashamed of your self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then you come on here looking for support, because you know what you are doing trying to exploit the seller is wrong!!!!!!!!!!
What is your ebay user name?

What do "mint" and "flawless" mean to you? Before I bid I exchanged emails with the seller. here it is:

Yes is in "Off the showroom" condition, I'm the second owner and has less than 50 hrs. on it!
________________________________________
From:
To:
Sent: Sat, May 7, 2011 5:36:35 AM
Subject: RE: Gibson SG
Hi,

I'm still interested. A couple of questions -

Mint to me means no marks, dings, scratches. Like new. Does that describe it?

Are you the original owner?

Any mods?

Do the electronics all work properly? Any static in the controls?

Thanks!
Charlie

My expectation is that people tell the truth. When they don't it pisses me off. You don't know me and I (Thank God!) don't know you. Your leap to me trying to exploit this poor lying bastard seller is pretty amazing. As I said in my first post on the subject - it may be worth what I paid. The value is not the issue, the grossly inaccurate description is. I guess in your world it's OK. It's not OK with me. Finally, I don't give a shit what you think. Thank you.

 

[circusboy28]

It sounds like a great deal to me - on a very good guitar. From the look of the photos that you took Clump there doesn't seem to be any marks, dings or scratches that have damaged the guitar at all. It is in FANTASTIC condition for a nine year old guitar, those Faded finishes mark & wear very easily so it probably has been only lightly played.

Your thread is titled "looking for help with SG value". People are telling you you got a great deal. The description is not grossly inaccurate, calling the seller a "lying bastard" is harsh. Given your attitude I wouldn't want to do business with you either. If you "don't give a shit" what fellow forum members think - then don't ask.

Maybe try enjoying your new guitar instead of looking for issues. Sheesh.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

What do "mint" and "flawless" mean to you? Before I bid I exchanged emails with the seller. here it is:

My expectation is that people tell the truth. When they don't it pisses me off. You don't know me and I (Thank God!) don't know you. Your leap to me trying to exploit this poor lying bastard seller is pretty amazing. As I said in my first post on the subject - it may be worth what I paid. The value is not the issue, the grossly inaccurate description is. I guess in your world it's OK. It's not OK with me. Finally, I don't give a shit what you think. Thank you.

when you you have to resort to profanities and bad language is the point you have loosed your case and all credibility on here

 

[Clump]

when you you have to resort to profanities and bag language is the point you have loosed your case and all credibility on here

Yep, my "bag language" caused me to "loosed" my case.

Anyway, I'm done with this. Thanks to those who helped.

To the easily offended I apologize for my "bag language". I don't want to "loose" more credibility.

 

[dynabite]

In the bay pix, the jacks don't seem to be in the same positions ?