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NGD - If I keep it...


paradigm

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Hello,

 

Been a long time since I last posted. More of a lurker than a poster I guess..

I just took delivery of an Epiphone Elitist 66 Custom Riviera - only it has a chip out of the head stock.

The guitar was bought on ebay (yes, I overpaid, I know), brand new and was shipped to me in Australia.

Other than the chip in the head stock, the guitar is mint. I mean REALLY nice.

I have contacted the seller expressing my disappointment and I am waiting to hear back as to what they are going to do about it.

What would you do - would you keep it? Have it repaired? Send it back for a replacement? I'm in this thing for about $3k AUD so I want this issue resolved, and I think for that sort of money I should get an undamaged new guitar.

What do you think - am I being overly sensitive about this?

 

Anyway, I took some bad pics on my mobile phone just for now.

I'll post them up when I figure out how to post pics in this forum again...

 

Cheers,

 

Ian

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I'll post them up when I figure out how to post pics in this forum again...

 

Cheers,

 

Ian

 

 

Hi Ian,

 

sign up for a photobucket account, and upload your pics there.

 

once they are in the libary, and you're viewing the photo, you'll see a yellow box to the right with some links. Clikc on the bottom one (img). you'll see COPIED..

now, just "paste" the link to a post in the forum and you'll see the pic here.

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@Sleeko,

 

Yes the guitar arrived like this - saw it as soon as I opened the case.

I think this must have been done as the guitar was put into the case, as I can't see how this could have happened with the guitar in the case - it fits pretty snug in there. Doesn't really move around much.

The sender in Japan has asked me to file a damage report with the post office....what the hell is that going to achieve I wonder..? Most likely nothing.

If I do get the sender to take it back and send me another guitar, I am afraid that I will have to pay for another round of customs fees, GST tax etc etc. It cost me over $700 AUD just to get this through customs. Not so sure I want to do that again.

It may just be cheaper to keep the guitar and have it touched up / repaired locally.

I'll contact the seller again to see if I can get more answers out of them.

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Hello,

 

Been a long time since I last posted. More of a lurker than a poster I guess..

I just took delivery of an Epiphone Elitist 66 Custom Riviera - only it has a chip out of the head stock.

The guitar was bought on ebay (yes, I overpaid, I know), brand new and was shipped to me in Australia.

Other than the chip in the head stock, the guitar is mint. I mean REALLY nice.

I have contacted the seller expressing my disappointment and I am waiting to hear back as to what they are going to do about it.

What would you do - would you keep it? Have it repaired? Send it back for a replacement? I'm in this thing for about $3k AUD so I want this issue resolved, and I think for that sort of money I should get an undamaged new guitar.

What do you think - am I being overly sensitive about this?

 

Anyway, I took some bad pics on my mobile phone just for now.

I'll post them up when I figure out how to post pics in this forum again...

 

Cheers,

 

Ian

 

I think what I'm going to tell you is *very* important:

First thing is to determine if the guitar is a "good one". Does it play good and sound good? This is what is really important. Because if it is indeed a good one, DON'T SEND IT BACK. Negotiate the best discount/refund you can and keep it.

You could end up in worse shape by the time you're done. Look at it this way. If it came perfect and it was a good one, played great and everything and THEN you put a ding in it, would you feel compelled to sell it? Down the road a great guitar is still a great guitar, dings and all.

 

I know a lot of guys would be quick to say "if it's not perfect, send it back". But you can end up making a big mistake.

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Hi Ian,

 

Go ahead and file a claim. I think WMachine is right, they will most likely try to offer you some sort of cash settlement, which you could use to have it fixed. I think it would be pretty easy to fix it too. if you can find a GOOD finish repair guy, you'd never know it was ever there.

 

OTOH, if you ship it back, would they send you another?

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Man, that chip is nothing - nothing at all.

 

Of course it may bother you loads but I have far worse chips than that over several of my guitars (not caused by me I hasten to add) and I still bought them.

 

How does it play?

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@Megafrog, thanks for the compliment, yeah she is a great guitar.

 

I've decided to keep the guitar rather than go through the hassle of trying to get a replacement.

Aside from the chip, I love everything about this guitar.

It plays amazing, the neck is just about as perfect as I've felt - a lot thicker than I thought it would be, given it is described as a 60's slim taper. It's thicker than the late model (2015 - 2017) ES335's that I was contemplating getting, and feels only slightly smaller than than some of the 2016 Les Paul Traditionals that I tried in stores, - and it sounds awesome. The 1962 Sheraton reissue I previously had definitely felt like a 60s slim taper neck, which is what I was expecting on this guitar. I was quite surprised at how full it feels in the hand.

 

So I have found a guy here in Melbourne who does some really good refinishing work, and I have a rough estimate of costs for the repair.

Now I just have to try and get the seller to to give me some money back, which will hopefully pay for the repair so it won't have to come out of my pocket.

 

Once it is all repaired I will take some decent pics and post them up.

 

Now, to find myself a nice Casino to go with the Riviera.... :)

 

Cheers to all the folks on this forum, I really enjoy being a part of this community!

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@Megafrog, thanks for the compliment, yeah she is a great guitar.

 

I've decided to keep the guitar rather than go through the hassle of trying to get a replacement.

Aside from the chip, I love everything about this guitar.

It plays amazing, the neck is just about as perfect as I've felt - a lot thicker than I thought it would be, given it is described as a 60's slim taper. It's thicker than the late model (2015 - 2017) ES335's that I was contemplating getting, and feels only slightly smaller than than some of the 2016 Les Paul Traditionals that I tried in stores, - and it sounds awesome. The 1962 Sheraton reissue I previously had definitely felt like a 60s slim taper neck, which is what I was expecting on this guitar. I was quite surprised at how full it feels in the hand.

 

So I have found a guy here in Melbourne who does some really good refinishing work, and I have a rough estimate of costs for the repair.

Now I just have to try and get the seller to to give me some money back, which will hopefully pay for the repair so it won't have to come out of my pocket.

 

Once it is all repaired I will take some decent pics and post them up.

 

Now, to find myself a nice Casino to go with the Riviera.... :)

 

Cheers to all the folks on this forum, I really enjoy being a part of this community!

 

[thumbup] I was watching some repair videos on YouTube dealing with this subject. The results are amazing.

Just be glad we are not piano players. What would we do if we got a chip in one of those? Send it back? LoL [scared]

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