Before I even attempt to comment on this,

Who has the drum at this point?

Did you get any emails from the purchaser stating the parts were not original?

Could any of this have been seen in the Ebay photos and or did the buyer ask any questions prior to purchase?

I'm confused on the snare mechanisim, are you saying they removed the snare strainer?

Also, I think this should go to PM (private message) and you and the buyer should also keep this in PM, so answer these questions then use the PM system

David

Hi David,

I have the drum now!! That's how I know what is different. Everything the buyer complained about where clearly shown in the pics in the auction!! To top it off, the buyer in his first of second email to me after receiving the drum stating the parts were not original stated he knew what the parts should look like!! Because he had a drum just like it!! He did ask questions about the originality of the parts and I responded that they were. And as I stated in the previous post, this was my mistake. And I admit to it!! This is not my main complaint about this transaction. Regarding the snare mechanism, he didn't remove the main mechanism, ie. the strainer. He removed the parts that are extremely hard to find and that make the drum uique in terms of Ludwig's design: the snare adjustment module that has the individually adjustable snares. This module was intirely intact when I shipped the drum. I am also refering to the additional damage that was done to the drum: bashed in snare guard and pushed in lugs/shell!! Frankly David, I think it is pointless to communicate with this buyer as he is buffered from any prosecution because he is in CO and I am in CA. Also fighting Paypal is impossible - I've been doing this for over a 2 months!! Anyway, I don't know how to transfer this to PM. Larry

Since no one is responding, I gues they condone this guys fraudulant behavior!! The person who did this is Supraman!! Brian Sweetman!!

Well maybe Brian should just send you back the part if he took it off the drum before returning it. I always check my emails when I am out of the country. Life goes on no matter where you are. Having sought restitution via Paypal, I know the process takes weeks.

I really do not think that any one condones this type of behavior and calling out Brian, whom I do not know is not the best way to do it.

I think as a seller you did what you could, but not being able to check email and or responding to Pay Pal is a problem you have to accept the action for...

I sell a lot on Ebay and have had things returned on two occasions and this is always a possibility and in some cases the buyer knows that they have the upper hand when it comes to Pay Pal.

We hope that we do not encounter buyers that deal like this, but they are out there and they will have their day at some point when things will come back to them....

So, if he has the part he should ship it back, if the drum can be fixed and or if it is a brass shell it can be repaired then I would do that and not expect this type of buyer to offer any compensation and or help.

You have to chalk this up to things going wrong an both ends and move on with life. Unfortunately since you did not respond Pay Pal looks at you like you really did not care about the matter enough to reply.

If Brian was a stand up guy he would correct the problem and this would not have happened, so if you are stating the fact then he is a buyer that does not have any care for sellers and what they have to go through in situations like this.

I'm sorry that this happened and I would do my best to try and get the drum back to where it should be and sell it again and try and get some money back.

There are people that can fix that shell depending on how it is damaged.

I possibly have the missing part and will have to look for you.

I want to see both sets of pictures...

Also, and finally was it insured on the trip back and could the damage happened on shipping on the way back?

David

Hi David,

My belief is that he planned this right from the start in order to get the parts. He then damaged the drum in order to bolster his case. He asked for pictures of the inside of the drum when the auction was live. The pictures of the inside of the drum that I added to the auction for him clearly shows the bottom rim undamaged. He claimed it was damaged when he bought the drum and that I didn't reveal it. The damage took alot of force. The drum was well packed in an oversized box. So I find it impossible for it to have been damage in transit. It looks more like the drum was dropped by accident or on purpose. But given the total context it seems to me it was done on purpose!! As for chalking this up to experience, I don't believe in Karma, afterlife, "God will get ya," or any of that mythology. The only reason I won't file charges against him is the cost in time and filing. As far as insurance is concerned, I and most sellers leaves this as an option for the buyer. I now require is as part of the shipping process. I would like to show you the pics (Do I do that here? How? Or would you like me to send them to you personally? Email?). It would be great if you have the parts? Larry