re ebay etc: should sellers tell buyers if they have replaced rubber backs with velcro?

tampaxboo

for the second time in as many months i have bought a pedal from ebay described as 'good condition' which has had the rubber back / rubber feet removed and replaced with velcro.
the most recent has also had the battery cover missing.

this would be fine if i wanted them for velcro pedalboards, but i don't.
i leave mine as they are so i can use them on the floor or on a table top (with keys). velcro on a table top skids around, so now i'm back to ebay to find some cheap replacement rubber feet.
battery covers fall off and are taken off, but worth mentioning in a listing if missing i think.

am i very fussy to want feet and battery covers? in both cases pedal described as good condition but no photos of backs of pedals in listing (possibly because sellers thought that buyers seeing those parts missing may bid less or not at all?)

so i'm curious what the collective wisdom of fretboard will have to say about this.

as a seller of pedals, do you feel it is worth mentioning or not?
as a buyer, do you expect pedals to have these parts or not?

Legionreturns

I always mention if I've replaced the feet with Velcro, but then I usually keep the box and the feet. I can see how that would be annoying. 

JezWynd

If it hadn't been mentioned in the listing I would return it. Like you I don't use velcro. If it arrives with unannounced velcro it's okay but if the pedal has been altered, ie. base mat removed, then that should be clearly stated so that I can avoid purchasing.

TheBigDipper

Yes. I always tell people and (nearly always) still have the feet and box too. It makes it easier to sell and keeps the price up. 

stickyfiddle

I don't mind velcro on pedals, so it doesn't bother me as a buyer, but equally I would always mention it as a seller because you never who might care as a buyer. 

I'd be pissed off if a battery cover was missing though - that's clearly not "good condition"!

Babones

Yes, a quick photo helps too.

I'm amazed by the amount of people who slap velcro on before they even decide whether they'll keep the pedal, or for a "project that didn't happen"

"Mint/As New!" Oh, did it come with scuzzy velcro?

rico

Generally I expect velcro but it is always nice of a seller to mention it. 

bbill335

the little rubber feet like those on ehx pedals are no big deal. You can buy a sheet of little rubber bumpers for a couple of quid. If someone's ripped the bottom off of a boss/ibanez pedal, it's pretty drastic and worth mentioning.

Ro_S

seek photos or request details before buying.

a missing battery cover - or a removed rubber backing - should be mentioned, though, cos the item is clearly not complete.

DesVegas

Yrs, it is important to mention it

ICBM

I would call one with a non-disclosed missing rubber mat or battery cover 'significantly not as described', especially if the mat also carries the serial number etc like a Boss. And send it back, unless a substantial discount was offered.

The little round feet don't really matter, they often go missing anyway.

Teyeplayer

A bit of velcro is to be expected I always feel on a secondhand pedal, certainly nothing to get fussed over -definitely not to the degree that it’s something to cause me to return it. However, if a pedal is listed as ‘new’, ‘like new’ (etc) and has apparently ‘only been out the box to test’ well it’s bull and a misleading listing, at which point it’s a definite return.

bbill335

Teyeplayer said:

if a pedal is listed as ‘new’, ‘like new’ (etc) and has apparently ‘only been out the box to test’ well it’s bull and a misleading listing, at which point it’s a definite return.

There was a time when people would just refund you a few quid for stuff like that but then eBay decided that it only wanted full return/refunds and now it won't help you when you just want a partial refund.

Ro_S

Teyeplayer said:

if a pedal is listed as ‘new’, ‘like new’ (etc) and has apparently ‘only been out the box to test’ well it’s bull and a misleading listing, at which point it’s a definite return.

"new(other)" condition category on ebay is explicitly defined as unused 

steer

They should definately mention it. Not to do so is naughty..

clarkefan

That stuff pisses me right off.  Years ago I bought a Boss pedal with all the rubber off the bottom ripped off, guy actually argued crap with me for a week or two, "hey it's a used item man get over it".  Ebay sorted it.

Now whenever I sell a pedal on eBay I show a photo of the insides of the pedal, with the bottom in the same shot, side by side.

I can't understand why *so* many sellers "forget" to show the bottom of the thing.

JDE

As it’s so quick and easy to list on eBay on my phone, I take a picture of all six sides of a pedal - covers my arse, and takes a minute to do. But I would obviously disclose it in the description. I have been surprised with the condition of a few things I’ve bought tbh. 
Several times I have had people message me after I’ve sold them a pedal “where’s the power supply/how do I power it/does it not come with a plug” so now I’m pretty accurate with what it does/doesn’t include and the physical description. Just saves everyone’s time. 

Chalky

I take the view that if its described as used or secondhand then its going to be USED, i.e. Functional but very likely velcro/rubber feet missing/evidence of being stomped on and used as a pedal/etc.

If you are more picky, i.e. you want a pristine product for a secondhand price, then ascertaining the condition is just as much your responsibility as the sellers.  Thinking that what the seller means by "great condition" is the same as what that means in your head, is silly and lazy.

JDE

Chalky said:

If you are more picky, i.e. you want a pristine product for a secondhand price, then ascertaining the condition is just as much your responsibility as the sellers.  Thinking that what the seller means by "great condition" is the same as what that means in your head, is silly and lazy.

I get your point, but then you have the flip side of the coin - used but excellent condition pedals being described as “new.” If someone sells me something they’re describing as “new” I want it to be new. I don’t care if you’ve only used it for five minutes, used is used. 
I’m not sure “great condition” would indicate to anyone that it’s rubber feet are missing and Velcro has been added, unless it says “great condition, with Velcro” which is what I say when I sell stuff. I mean I know we are talking about a guitar Pedal here and not a car or something, but leaving off info like whether it’s been velcro’d is very definitely the sellers responsibility not the buyers.

Sassafras

Depends on how cheaply I can get the item.

punchesjudy

If I was selling a pedal I'd definitely mention it. And have a picture.