CLOSED

[PhloridaMan]

So, I was looking for a good harmonizer/pitch effect pedal so I picked up an Electro Harmonix Pitchfork on Reverb brand new. Once I got it, I realized it just wasn't what I was looking for. The bass didn't track well and really just wasn't doing what I had hoped. I played with it for a while and it functioned perfectly fine but just couldn't get it to do what I had hoped. I reached out to the seller and they initially would not accept a return so I decided to list it for sale on reverb (at a $30 loss + shipping and seller fees) just to move it so I could try something different. I had never sold on Reverb before, but have sold on the FB Marketplace, Craigslist, Harmony Central and Here with no issues for a long time, so I figured what the heck.

So, fast forward and a couple days later the pedal sold which was last Friday. The buyer received the pedal on Wednesday and yesterday get a message reading "I have to send this back. Switch pops too loud . Cant use it."

Keep in mind, this pedal has a momentary button not an actual clicking switch like most do.

So anyway, I go back and fourth with him and tell him look, I bought this pedal brand new, it functioned 100% for me, I only sold it because I wasn't happy with the way the effect sounded. I told him that I believed there was some sort of user error in play and that I am declining his request for a return and refund.

I went round and round actually suggesting him to try a couple things and maybe there was something that he just missed at which point he admitted to me that he has 2 of these pedals in his possession. This right here threw up a gigantic red flag to me and began to lead me to believe that it's quite possible he already had a damaged one and was attempting to send that one to me in return since these pedals have no physical serial number printed on them and there is not much of a way to track which one is which.

I requested that the buyer send me over a video to give me proof that this issue existed, which he ignored/refused to do.

At that point he filed a complaint, as did I with Reverb. Reverb finally got this gentlemen to send over a video clip of the claimed issue which can be found here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7nKK1c ... e=youtu.be ) and based on the buyers video alone, they sided with him and instantly demanded that I refund and allow the return (to which I declined once again)

When I viewed the video, I see a few issues. First and foremost, he is using a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2+ Power Supply. I have personally used one of these and I too have experienced a popping noise when clicking on and off pedals due to DC bleed. Additionally, though he is using Mogami cables, there is a guitar cable running directly under the rear of the power supply, something that in my experience can also introduce additional noise into the system.

I requested via email in response to the person who I as speaking with at Reverb, that the buyer use the power supply that came with the pedal, and also make sure the cables are routed properly away from the power supply to avoid any chance of interference. At that point, everybody completely stopped responding to me and I have not heard anything since. If they could prove without a shadow of a doubt that not only is this the pedal that I sold, but that it is faulty, I have zero issue taking it back, however I feel there are a few too many red flags and issues here for me to just give in immediately. Maybe I am stubborn but I believe I am 100% in the right here.

Not really sure what to think of all of this. As I said I have never had issues before and have most certainly never sold a broken piece of equipment.

 

[glpg80]

What a shit predicament to be in. Because you haven’t sold much on reverb it seems like you’re getting bulldozed over. You’re allowed to file your own complaints and the fact he has two of them would lead me to have him make a video of both pedals and show your original one was the one that’s broken and not his old one. Maybe have him show a serial number or something? How else do you know he’s telling the truth and not scamming you over?

 

[PhloridaMan]

What a shit predicament to be in. Because you haven’t sold much on reverb it seems like you’re getting bulldozed over. You’re allowed to file your own complaints and the fact he has two of them would lead me to have him make a video of both pedals and show your original one was the one that’s broken and not his old one. Maybe have him show a serial number or something? How else do you know he’s telling the truth and not scamming you over?

I honestly don't even know how he could show serial numbers? There was no serial sticker on the exterior of the pedal. I think there is only one on the box. If there is one on the inside of the pedal backing plate, how do I know he hasn't swapped backing plates? Or if there is one on the board inside, how do I know he hasn't gone so far as to peel and re stick them using a little light heat to get the glue to easily release? There are so many variables here and you never know how far someone is willing to go to bend you over for their benefit.

I try to always be a very fair and honest dude, but I also stand my ground when I believe someone is screwing me.

I believe I am about to become a gear hoarder... Once I own it, it goes into a black hole never to be seen again.

 

[kingpinMS3]

always, always, always sell "as is"

 

[bhuard75]

Another reason that makes me even more apprehensive to sell anything again on reverb and even here with the culture of buyers “buying to try” and the selling mechanisms immediately scorching sellers.

 

[PhloridaMan]

always, always, always sell "as is"

My shop policies mirror yours. Reverb doesn't stand by the seller and their individual shop policies however it seems.

 

[PhloridaMan]

I spoke to Reverb on the phone and they will not work with me at all. As far as they are concerned, the case is closed without letting me have an opportunity to have the buyer use the supplied Electro Harmonix power supply that actually came with the pedal and actually prove that the pedal is the problem and not the Voodoo Lab power supply or his cable routing. I won't even mention the fact that the buyer mentioned he had 2 pedals and they won't even acknowledge that. Totally one sided.

They also said despite my policy of no returns, they allow returns for up to 7 days as part of their "buyer protection" so essentially it tells me that it doesn't matter what your shop policy is.

 

[Riggins1966]

Just another reason I will never buy there.

 

[ClintN667]

I dont use reverb anymore. Yeah it sucks cause you can find anything you want on there but they will let the buyer run all over you. I sold an amp took pictures of the cosmetic issues, took an offer a couple hundred under my asking price, and threw in a set of 4 new JJ EL34's. The guy emailed me wanting to knock more off an already insanely low price since it wasn't as described (it totally was). My shop was listed as is and my item was listed in the guidelines specified with Reverb. I told the guy ship the amp and tubes back and I will refund him. He kept sending me bitchy emails about having to reship the amp back and that I wasted his time blah blah blah. The whole time I'm thinking this guy was just trying to get the price lower. I refunded the money once the tracking number was entered (my mistake) and I got my amp back but no tubes. Reverb support sided with the guy and even went as far as telling them what I paid originally for the amp since I bought it on Reverb. Even though my price was $400 less than what I bought it for it should be irrelevant to the sell. Now I will deal locally with Craigslist or Facebook.

 

[PhloridaMan]

I offered him a solution after I just spoke again to the original company who sold to me. Apparently they will now accept it as a return. Not sure why they changed their mind all of a sudden.

I told him I will return it as defective to where I originally purchased from, will have him ship there with RMA # on box, once I receive money he will get paid back.

He has not responded as of yet but yesterday he would respond within 30 seconds of me messaging him. I am about to say F it and let Reverb close my account.

 

[Meeotch]

Damn, these are all scary stories. Knock on wood, I've had little issue with Reverb. One time a guy made a good offer on an expensive, fairly rare amp I was selling. I was getting ready to accept his offer, then he messages me saying he wasn't in his right mind when he made the offer, and needed to retract it.

I messaged Reverb, asking if buyers are allowed to retract offers. Obviously, there is no option to do this, and you check a box saying you agree to pay when you submit an offer (just like ebay). Reverb said technically no, but that I needed to decline his offer. Obviously at this point, I'm not going to force the sale and risk all kinds of issues, so I declined the offer. No sleep lost on that one, but a taste of BS for sure.

 

[Riggins1966]

Reverb support sided with the guy and even went as far as telling them what I paid originally for the amp since I bought it on Reverb.

that's way over stepping their bounds there. Pure and utter bullshit.

 

[Beandust]

I said over a year ago reverb was shit for many reasons and everyone, said what are you talking about" to me they are worse than ebay by far. Reverb used it's own paypal account to let a seller sell me his gear. He had no paypal
account. I filled dispute because item was bogus and reverb didnt respond and got what they deserved! Lmaool

 

[glpg80]

Why don’t you take it back and show it works fine with a different power supply, post the video showing functionality, and re-sell? You never had a problem with it before so why RMA something you haven’t confirmed is actually broken?

 

[PhloridaMan]

Why don’t you take it back and show it works fine with a different power supply, post the video showing functionality, and re-sell? You never had a problem with it before so why RMA something you haven’t confirmed is actually broken?

Why should I fold unless beyond a shadow of a doubt, it IS the pedal? He has the Electro Harmonix power supply that came with the pedal and I requested that he show me that it doesn't work using that supply. He has declined to do so as of yet. I've been fair and tried to give him an option. I could be a dick and tell him to pound sand completely.

 

[scottosan]

Based on the video I'd take it back and expect another seller to take it back

 

[PhloridaMan]

Based on the video I'd take it back and expect another seller to take it back

As I said, he has made no attempt to try my request to use a different power supply. None. I am trying to be fair, but I have to be fair to myself as well. I know 100% this is user error or a scam. This pedal was perfect when it left my house and it only traveled a couple states over in a bubbled wrapped well packaged box.

 

[napalmdeath]

always, always, always sell "as is"

Claiming it's broke bypasses that. That's what fuckheads use as an excuse for buyer's remorse, or not liking things. Claim it's defective.

I do the same as OP. If I don't like something, I take the loss and move it.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I've had one sale and one purchase start heading way south from deals I made on RT, and that was enough to make me realize that sooner or later I'm gonna get fucked. I got lucky and both situations worked out, but based on those two experiences I've decided to call it quits for now with buying selling used gear. Just not worth the bullshit lately.

Just bought another amp, but decided to buy new. I swore I'd never buy new again because of how much you lose if/when you flip, but given the amount of fucking headaches involved with the last two used deals, I'd rather take the "depreciation" hit if I do decide to flip than have to deal with the bullshit involved with filing claims and everything else involved with trying to make it right on a potential used deal disaster.

Never had a bad experience with Reverb customer service, but never had a bad sale so... I think I was just lucky. Paypal on the other hand is an abysmal cock sucker of a service. My recent bad used gear purchase experience from RT led to having to deal with Paypal and those fuckers gave me a different line of bullshit every time I called about my claim. One day it was "were trying to reach the seller"... when I had already talked to the seller and knew he had been in contact with Paypal just hours before they lied to me. The the next week I see the status of my claim is "closed"...WTF! Called PP and its yet another bullshit story. Basically...We understand you shipped the amp back to the seller, he confirmed receipt of the amp, but we're just tired of trying to get you your refund so we closed you case. Every time I called PP to inquire about status of my refund (six-seven times over 2 months or so), they gave me some other bullshit story until I took it up their food chain and demanded I speak to someone that knew their asshole from a hole in the wall. Unfucking believable those people!

Unfortunately there's a lot of people out there who use RT, TGP, Reverb, etc. to "try before buying" and that shitty fact has led us to all this bullshit in the used market. I save that shit, "trying before buying", for the big box stores because well...they not only allow it but endorse it with 45 day return policies regardless of reason. When I buy/sell used on here or elsewhere, I'm fully prepared to accept the fact that I might not like what I buy, but that's my problem and my choice to buy something I may never have played before. Tough shit...man up and deal with it!

Rant over

 

[scottosan]

Based on the video I'd take it back and expect another seller to take it back

As I said, he has made no attempt to try my request to use a different power supply. None. I am trying to be fair, but I have to be fair to myself as well. I know 100% this is user error or a scam. This pedal was perfect when it left my house and it only traveled a couple states over in a bubbled wrapped well packaged box.

Doesnt matter