Dear softies,
Recently, I created a carousell account to supplement my soft posts (trying to sell my guitar away/trade for a strat style guitar). While my unpleasant experience stated below happened on carousell, I fear that it might happen to softies. Do read on to understand why.
I encountered this user David (@Img1999) who claimed to be selling a black Squier 70s vintage Stratocaster brand new at $398. I decided to contact him to enquire if he was willing to trade his squier for my ESP ec1000 with a $550 top up on his side. (I had purchased it from davis for $1.3k, but had decided on a negotiable 2nd hand value of $950).
David rejected my offer and insisted on a 1 – 1 trade. He claimed that his guitar cost about $700 dollars new (which contradicted whatever he had established in his post on carousell). He sent me a musiciansfriend link for my ec1000, and claimed that my ec1000 cost 980 at his “warehouse”. In the process, he claimed that Davis Guitar was overcharging. He also concluded that the markup margin between our guitars was negligible (Which is ridiculous. Even if he was right about the prices, the difference would’ve been 280 dollars, which is pretty hefty).
I then proceeded to check up the 70s vintage squier on musiciansfriend and was shocked to see a retail price of $330+, cheaper than that on his carousell post! When I pointed this out to him, he tried smoking some random reasons (refer to chat logs below) to carry out the 1 – 1. I knew these reasons were baseless because whatever had applied to his squier had to apply to my ec1000, assuming that this David is a legitimate dealer who imports from musiciansfriend. The squier cost $330 on musiciansfriend, and if some administrative charges had caused the cost of his guitar to more than double to $700, surely the same should’ve happened to the ec1000s he had “imported”? But nope, $980 he claims.
(If you look at his posts on Carousell, one user actually points out that SV guitars sells another guitar he is selling at a cheaper price. I leave it to you softies/carousell users to decide if he is overpricing guitars.)
I decided to give David an ultimatum. $700 dollars top up on his side. (ec1000 costs $1.1k on musiciansfriend, squier costs $330+. Pretty decent, no?) I also made it clear to him that I would expose his attempt to scam me on soft and carousell (albeit a little personally, I apologise for that but I felt that he deserved it.) I also pointed out to David that it made no sense to claim that his squier import cost him $700 when he posted it as “brand new” on carousell for 398 dollars (negative profit margin here). This guy seriously has to learn his math if he wants to lie or scam me.
I apologise if I was too personal/sarcastic in my conversation with David, but I really felt annoyed that he was blatantly lying in my face. I hope that no softies/carousell users have experienced the same thing, and I urge all users to stay sharp when dealing with David on carousell and, possibly, Soft. Given his huge collection on carousell, I feel that he might have a soft account too to improve sales promotions. While I feel that he was trying to scam me, I cannot generalise him as a scammer. It’s up to you guys to decide!
Thank you for reading up to this point, and have a good night!
Wen
Here are some screenshots of his carousell page to prove my points:
David's 70s squier post:
Carousell user telling David that SV guitars was selling the same guitar for cheaper:
Here’s the chat log:
26/5/14 8:43:18 pm: wenwei: Hello there, is your black squier available for trade?
26/5/14 8:44:29 pm: +65*8500*3383: Trade with?
26/5/14 8:47:27 pm: wenwei: <media omitted>
26/5/14 8:47:35 pm: wenwei: I have an esp ec1000.
26/5/14 8:51:11 pm: +65*8500*3383: My squier which model?
26/5/14 8:51:25 pm: +65*8500*3383: Squier tele?
26/5/14 8:53:05 pm: wenwei: Um the vintage 70s strat
26/5/14 8:53:07 pm: wenwei: Black one
26/5/14 8:53:32 pm: wenwei: You don't mind a top up do you?
26/5/14 8:54:43 pm: +65*8500*3383: You mean top up for mine?
26/5/14 8:57:43 pm: wenwei: Top up on your side. The ec1000 cost 1.3 stock, but my second hand price is around 950.
26/5/14 8:58:59 pm: +65*8500*3383: 1-1 is ok. I'm trying to help you. The price I put is offered price
26/5/14 8:59:01 pm: +65*8500*3383: No markup margin very low
26/5/14 8:59:50 pm: +65*8500*3383: With case? Conditions? Made in?
26/5/14 9:01:07 pm: wenwei: How much does your squier cost
26/5/14 9:01:30 pm: +65*8500*3383: About the price I posting
26/5/14 9:02:06 pm: wenwei: 398?
26/5/14 9:03:05 pm: wenwei: 400. So that's a 550 top up. My guitar comes with a gig bag and some extra locking straplocks from dunlop. MIK.
26/5/14 9:04:37 pm: +65*8500*3383: The brand new my cost is about $700 for esp your model
26/5/14 9:05:05 pm: +65*8500*3383: Selling is $980
26/5/14 9:05:18 pm: +65*8500*3383: Davis overcharge
26/5/14 9:05:21 pm: wenwei: Uh 1300 for mine. It's 1190 at davis now, they have a sale
26/5/14 9:05:42 pm: wenwei: You haven't factored in shipping charges and exchange rates have you.
26/5/14 9:05:49 pm: +65*8500*3383: ESP LTD Deluxe EC-1000 Electric Guitar | Musician's Friend - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/esp-ltd-deluxe-ec-1000-electric-guitar/516629
26/5/14 9:06:18 pm: +65*8500*3383: Ours warehouse is quantity order from
26/5/14 9:07:02 pm: wenwei: Uh, it's 1.1k on that website.
26/5/14 9:07:15 pm: +65*8500*3383: Ya...
26/5/14 9:07:27 pm: +65*8500*3383: We selling only $980
26/5/14 9:07:39 pm: +65*8500*3383: Cheaper than website
26/5/14 9:08:07 pm: +65*8500*3383: Btw how long you bought it?
26/5/14 9:08:12 pm: wenwei: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...ified-stratocaster-70s-electric-guitar/h78854
26/5/14 9:08:23 pm: wenwei: Your guitar costs 330+..
26/5/14 9:08:54 pm: +65*8500*3383: Haha
26/5/14 9:09:16 pm: wenwei: I've had it from the start of the year. Perfect condition.
26/5/14 9:09:27 pm: wenwei: 330+ new.
26/5/14 9:10:07 pm: wenwei: Not even used haha.
26/5/14 9:10:25 pm: +65*8500*3383: You see the price plus tax n shipment. Very cheap right
26/5/14 9:10:42 pm: wenwei: ?
26/5/14 9:10:53 pm: wenwei: Yea. It applies to your guitar too
26/5/14 9:11:02 pm: wenwei: No way it cost 700.
26/5/14 9:11:45 pm: wenwei: Forget the 550 top up. That's a lowball. I'm giving you a good deal now. 700 top up on your side.
26/5/14 9:12:10 pm: +65*8500*3383: Nvm... I can't help
26/5/14 9:12:41 pm: +65*8500*3383: My ccost for new is about 700
26/5/14 9:12:51 pm: +65*8500*3383: The deal is hard for us
26/5/14 9:13:03 pm: wenwei: Lol
26/5/14 9:13:08 pm: wenwei: The website speaks for itself
26/5/14 9:13:12 pm: wenwei: 700? Haha.
26/5/14 9:13:41 pm: +65*8500*3383: The website show the price is about 10% from manufacturers
26/5/14 9:13:43 pm: wenwei: Isn't that the guitar you're selling
26/5/14 9:13:49 pm: wenwei: ?
26/5/14 9:13:59 pm: +65*8500*3383: But they charge administration fee n others
26/5/14 9:14:00 pm: wenwei: Ok
26/5/14 9:14:27 pm: wenwei: I don't want to hear your crap. Whatever you're trying to say, it would apply to both guitars even if true. That cancels the costs out
26/5/14 9:14:34 pm: +65*8500*3383: Why you want downgrade to squier?
26/5/14 9:14:36 pm: wenwei: 700. Take it or leave it
26/5/14 9:14:41 pm: wenwei: I have an extra les Paul.
26/5/14 9:15:46 pm: +65*8500*3383: You try post in carousel. I can't do anything
26/5/14 9:16:24 pm: wenwei: Thanks for wasting my time. I'm making sure that carousell knows you're a scammer who can't even get his math right
26/5/14 9:16:25 pm: wenwei: Lol.
26/5/14 9:16:31 pm: wenwei: Here's my advice
26/5/14 9:16:41 pm: wenwei: Learn to lie properly, and take some math lessons
26/5/14 9:19:31 pm: +65*8500*3383: You wasting my time n know nothing on value of guitar. Go study more n come back to shop.
26/5/14 9:19:48 pm: wenwei: Haha
26/5/14 9:19:58 pm: wenwei: You post on carousell and say it's brand new at 398
26/5/14 9:20:07 pm: wenwei: You claim that you had to get it at 700
26/5/14 9:20:26 pm: +65*8500*3383: You can find end user but not me
26/5/14 9:20:31 pm: wenwei: That doesn't make sense already. Your profit margin is negative.
26/5/14 9:20:57 pm: wenwei: End user? Haha wow
26/5/14 9:21:01 pm: wenwei: That's nice
26/5/14 9:21:03 pm: +65*8500*3383: You price can't attractive me as in I'm supplier. Not user
26/5/14 9:21:25 pm: wenwei: Yea sure, supplier who lies
26/5/14 9:21:30 pm: wenwei: Very nice
26/5/14 9:21:35 pm: +65*8500*3383: Ppl who deal with me well know me. You have no chance
26/5/14 9:21:44 pm: +65*8500*3383: I won't deal with you definitely
26/5/14 9:21:59 pm: +65*8500*3383: Don't be wasting my time
26/5/14 9:22:01 pm: +65*8500*3383: Period
26/5/14 9:22:46 pm: wenwei: Yup. So here's what you should learn to salvage this time wasting situation.
26/5/14 9:23:22 pm: wenwei: 1. Learn your math. Enrol yourself in primary school.
2. Learn to spell properly.
3. Learn to lie before you try lying
26/5/14 9:23:45 pm: wenwei: Maybe that's why you're stuck with selling guitars in an indecent, dishonest manner.
26/5/14 9:31:15 pm: +65*8500*3383: Stupid really
26/5/14 9:31:26 pm: wenwei: Hey don't talk to me when you haven't gone to school!
26/5/14 9:31:30 pm: wenwei:
26/5/14 9:43:17 pm: +65*8500*3383: I Didn't ask you trades or buy. Didn't agreed deal with you anything. You can't n no right to commence in my stuff.
Recently, I created a carousell account to supplement my soft posts (trying to sell my guitar away/trade for a strat style guitar). While my unpleasant experience stated below happened on carousell, I fear that it might happen to softies. Do read on to understand why.
I encountered this user David (@Img1999) who claimed to be selling a black Squier 70s vintage Stratocaster brand new at $398. I decided to contact him to enquire if he was willing to trade his squier for my ESP ec1000 with a $550 top up on his side. (I had purchased it from davis for $1.3k, but had decided on a negotiable 2nd hand value of $950).
David rejected my offer and insisted on a 1 – 1 trade. He claimed that his guitar cost about $700 dollars new (which contradicted whatever he had established in his post on carousell). He sent me a musiciansfriend link for my ec1000, and claimed that my ec1000 cost 980 at his “warehouse”. In the process, he claimed that Davis Guitar was overcharging. He also concluded that the markup margin between our guitars was negligible (Which is ridiculous. Even if he was right about the prices, the difference would’ve been 280 dollars, which is pretty hefty).
I then proceeded to check up the 70s vintage squier on musiciansfriend and was shocked to see a retail price of $330+, cheaper than that on his carousell post! When I pointed this out to him, he tried smoking some random reasons (refer to chat logs below) to carry out the 1 – 1. I knew these reasons were baseless because whatever had applied to his squier had to apply to my ec1000, assuming that this David is a legitimate dealer who imports from musiciansfriend. The squier cost $330 on musiciansfriend, and if some administrative charges had caused the cost of his guitar to more than double to $700, surely the same should’ve happened to the ec1000s he had “imported”? But nope, $980 he claims.
(If you look at his posts on Carousell, one user actually points out that SV guitars sells another guitar he is selling at a cheaper price. I leave it to you softies/carousell users to decide if he is overpricing guitars.)
I decided to give David an ultimatum. $700 dollars top up on his side. (ec1000 costs $1.1k on musiciansfriend, squier costs $330+. Pretty decent, no?) I also made it clear to him that I would expose his attempt to scam me on soft and carousell (albeit a little personally, I apologise for that but I felt that he deserved it.) I also pointed out to David that it made no sense to claim that his squier import cost him $700 when he posted it as “brand new” on carousell for 398 dollars (negative profit margin here). This guy seriously has to learn his math if he wants to lie or scam me.
I apologise if I was too personal/sarcastic in my conversation with David, but I really felt annoyed that he was blatantly lying in my face. I hope that no softies/carousell users have experienced the same thing, and I urge all users to stay sharp when dealing with David on carousell and, possibly, Soft. Given his huge collection on carousell, I feel that he might have a soft account too to improve sales promotions. While I feel that he was trying to scam me, I cannot generalise him as a scammer. It’s up to you guys to decide!
Thank you for reading up to this point, and have a good night!
Wen
Here are some screenshots of his carousell page to prove my points:
David's 70s squier post:
Carousell user telling David that SV guitars was selling the same guitar for cheaper:
Here’s the chat log:
26/5/14 8:43:18 pm: wenwei: Hello there, is your black squier available for trade?
26/5/14 8:44:29 pm: +65*8500*3383: Trade with?
26/5/14 8:47:27 pm: wenwei: <media omitted>
26/5/14 8:47:35 pm: wenwei: I have an esp ec1000.
26/5/14 8:51:11 pm: +65*8500*3383: My squier which model?
26/5/14 8:51:25 pm: +65*8500*3383: Squier tele?
26/5/14 8:53:05 pm: wenwei: Um the vintage 70s strat
26/5/14 8:53:07 pm: wenwei: Black one
26/5/14 8:53:32 pm: wenwei: You don't mind a top up do you?
26/5/14 8:54:43 pm: +65*8500*3383: You mean top up for mine?
26/5/14 8:57:43 pm: wenwei: Top up on your side. The ec1000 cost 1.3 stock, but my second hand price is around 950.
26/5/14 8:58:59 pm: +65*8500*3383: 1-1 is ok. I'm trying to help you. The price I put is offered price
26/5/14 8:59:01 pm: +65*8500*3383: No markup margin very low
26/5/14 8:59:50 pm: +65*8500*3383: With case? Conditions? Made in?
26/5/14 9:01:07 pm: wenwei: How much does your squier cost
26/5/14 9:01:30 pm: +65*8500*3383: About the price I posting
26/5/14 9:02:06 pm: wenwei: 398?
26/5/14 9:03:05 pm: wenwei: 400. So that's a 550 top up. My guitar comes with a gig bag and some extra locking straplocks from dunlop. MIK.
26/5/14 9:04:37 pm: +65*8500*3383: The brand new my cost is about $700 for esp your model
26/5/14 9:05:05 pm: +65*8500*3383: Selling is $980
26/5/14 9:05:18 pm: +65*8500*3383: Davis overcharge
26/5/14 9:05:21 pm: wenwei: Uh 1300 for mine. It's 1190 at davis now, they have a sale
26/5/14 9:05:42 pm: wenwei: You haven't factored in shipping charges and exchange rates have you.
26/5/14 9:05:49 pm: +65*8500*3383: ESP LTD Deluxe EC-1000 Electric Guitar | Musician's Friend - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/esp-ltd-deluxe-ec-1000-electric-guitar/516629
26/5/14 9:06:18 pm: +65*8500*3383: Ours warehouse is quantity order from
26/5/14 9:07:02 pm: wenwei: Uh, it's 1.1k on that website.
26/5/14 9:07:15 pm: +65*8500*3383: Ya...
26/5/14 9:07:27 pm: +65*8500*3383: We selling only $980
26/5/14 9:07:39 pm: +65*8500*3383: Cheaper than website
26/5/14 9:08:07 pm: +65*8500*3383: Btw how long you bought it?
26/5/14 9:08:12 pm: wenwei: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...ified-stratocaster-70s-electric-guitar/h78854
26/5/14 9:08:23 pm: wenwei: Your guitar costs 330+..
26/5/14 9:08:54 pm: +65*8500*3383: Haha
26/5/14 9:09:16 pm: wenwei: I've had it from the start of the year. Perfect condition.
26/5/14 9:09:27 pm: wenwei: 330+ new.
26/5/14 9:10:07 pm: wenwei: Not even used haha.
26/5/14 9:10:25 pm: +65*8500*3383: You see the price plus tax n shipment. Very cheap right
26/5/14 9:10:42 pm: wenwei: ?
26/5/14 9:10:53 pm: wenwei: Yea. It applies to your guitar too
26/5/14 9:11:02 pm: wenwei: No way it cost 700.
26/5/14 9:11:45 pm: wenwei: Forget the 550 top up. That's a lowball. I'm giving you a good deal now. 700 top up on your side.
26/5/14 9:12:10 pm: +65*8500*3383: Nvm... I can't help
26/5/14 9:12:41 pm: +65*8500*3383: My ccost for new is about 700
26/5/14 9:12:51 pm: +65*8500*3383: The deal is hard for us
26/5/14 9:13:03 pm: wenwei: Lol
26/5/14 9:13:08 pm: wenwei: The website speaks for itself
26/5/14 9:13:12 pm: wenwei: 700? Haha.
26/5/14 9:13:41 pm: +65*8500*3383: The website show the price is about 10% from manufacturers
26/5/14 9:13:43 pm: wenwei: Isn't that the guitar you're selling
26/5/14 9:13:49 pm: wenwei: ?
26/5/14 9:13:59 pm: +65*8500*3383: But they charge administration fee n others
26/5/14 9:14:00 pm: wenwei: Ok
26/5/14 9:14:27 pm: wenwei: I don't want to hear your crap. Whatever you're trying to say, it would apply to both guitars even if true. That cancels the costs out
26/5/14 9:14:34 pm: +65*8500*3383: Why you want downgrade to squier?
26/5/14 9:14:36 pm: wenwei: 700. Take it or leave it
26/5/14 9:14:41 pm: wenwei: I have an extra les Paul.
26/5/14 9:15:46 pm: +65*8500*3383: You try post in carousel. I can't do anything
26/5/14 9:16:24 pm: wenwei: Thanks for wasting my time. I'm making sure that carousell knows you're a scammer who can't even get his math right
26/5/14 9:16:25 pm: wenwei: Lol.
26/5/14 9:16:31 pm: wenwei: Here's my advice
26/5/14 9:16:41 pm: wenwei: Learn to lie properly, and take some math lessons
26/5/14 9:19:31 pm: +65*8500*3383: You wasting my time n know nothing on value of guitar. Go study more n come back to shop.
26/5/14 9:19:48 pm: wenwei: Haha
26/5/14 9:19:58 pm: wenwei: You post on carousell and say it's brand new at 398
26/5/14 9:20:07 pm: wenwei: You claim that you had to get it at 700
26/5/14 9:20:26 pm: +65*8500*3383: You can find end user but not me
26/5/14 9:20:31 pm: wenwei: That doesn't make sense already. Your profit margin is negative.
26/5/14 9:20:57 pm: wenwei: End user? Haha wow
26/5/14 9:21:01 pm: wenwei: That's nice
26/5/14 9:21:03 pm: +65*8500*3383: You price can't attractive me as in I'm supplier. Not user
26/5/14 9:21:25 pm: wenwei: Yea sure, supplier who lies
26/5/14 9:21:30 pm: wenwei: Very nice
26/5/14 9:21:35 pm: +65*8500*3383: Ppl who deal with me well know me. You have no chance
26/5/14 9:21:44 pm: +65*8500*3383: I won't deal with you definitely
26/5/14 9:21:59 pm: +65*8500*3383: Don't be wasting my time
26/5/14 9:22:01 pm: +65*8500*3383: Period
26/5/14 9:22:46 pm: wenwei: Yup. So here's what you should learn to salvage this time wasting situation.
26/5/14 9:23:22 pm: wenwei: 1. Learn your math. Enrol yourself in primary school.
2. Learn to spell properly.
3. Learn to lie before you try lying
26/5/14 9:23:45 pm: wenwei: Maybe that's why you're stuck with selling guitars in an indecent, dishonest manner.
26/5/14 9:31:15 pm: +65*8500*3383: Stupid really
26/5/14 9:31:26 pm: wenwei: Hey don't talk to me when you haven't gone to school!
26/5/14 9:31:30 pm: wenwei:
26/5/14 9:43:17 pm: +65*8500*3383: I Didn't ask you trades or buy. Didn't agreed deal with you anything. You can't n no right to commence in my stuff.
