I purchased a $350 guitar on e-bay (OK, so that's not alot, but it buys quite a few bottles of wine) where the seller sold AS-IS, claimed that he was not an expert on musical instruments, and that he lets the photos speak for themselves as to the condition. He promised to answer any questions, and technically did so.
The pictures FAR from revealed the true condition of the item. It was a 12-string guitar with a bridge that had popped off and been messily reglued. The photos were taken from such an angle that the defects were not apparent. It can only be played as a 6-string, and can never be repaired to make it what I thought. The seller has a 99+ rating with thousands of 'satisfied' buyers. Only a couple of buyers left similar feedback to mine, that the pictures do not tell the story. His feedback on me was 'read the words AS-IS'.
By the rules? Yes. Fair? No.
I consider e-bay to be one giant garage sale, unless the item is advertised as brand new, in box, and returnable if not satsfied. and even then... caveat emptor.
Tom C.
