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Where does a sellers responsibility stop?

I have a ethics question that I need some input about. I just sold my pre amp to a buyer who made a local pickup. The pre has always worked flawlessly. He demoed it and then we took it out of my system. I started to remove the top to take out the tubes and pack them as they were when I purchased the unit. He said not to bother and so we packed it in all the original boxes.
He called me 3 hours later and said that the pre amp doesn't turn on. I told him that it had never had a problem like that before but, he was welcome to return it. He seemed really miffed at me like I cheated him. Now the problem is, I will be refunding his money but, how will I know that he didn't drop or short out or whatever the unit ?
Did my responsibility stop once it left the door?
agaffer
budrew
467 posts
 
Boy, what a bummer. It could be something simple. Did you walk through any trouble shooting with the buyer? If you offered a refund he shouldn't be miffed; a refund is generous. You're not a dealer where follow up service is expected. In the used market it's buyer beware. The problem is, the buyer could have done anything with the preamp once he left your house. You have no idea way to know what happened. After you refund his money your stuck with a broken preamp, so i guess it's seller beware too.

I once had a guy return a CD player because it wouldn't play through the digital out. When he returned it I plugged it in and it worked great. Turns out he was using the digital out direct into a home theatre preamp that didn't have a DAC. He just didn't know what he was doing. Turned out OK because I still have that CDP and love it.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I was working when it was being demo'ed. He saw it working. He took it away WITHOUT letting you do what you thought was proper. (removing the tubes)
I say he is out of luck.
The problem IS his.
IF you feel like being a 'nice guy' and looking at it at his place, then go for it. But you are not responsible.
He antics and anger don't mean squat.
How do you know the rantings are not a put-on to return something he damaged? In fact the angrier he is the more likely he screwed something up himself. IMHO
driver's avatar
driver
746 posts
 
I would take it back provided it still worked in your system & was in the same condition as before. If there are any signs of abuse I would refuse the refund but maybe like in Budrew's situation, the guy didn't know how to hook it up. Then again maybe it's tube related & that gets into a gray area.

If everything's OK you won't have any problem reselling if it's the LS5 because you can reverse the SOLD on the ad.
kurt_tank
1,188 posts
 
If he came to your house and demo'ed it and then he took it with him, I would say your responsibility ended at the front door. It worked fine until it was out of your sight.

It would be different if you had shipped it to him. Then it is your responsibility until he confirms it works at his house.

I think you are being more than generous in taking it back.

Those are my two cents worth anyway.
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