A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

So I ordered a pair of John Birch Pickups to put in my black Vintage Brand SG. The package got hung up in customs for some reason....over 2 weeks. It was then listed in tracking as being returned to shipper. So, they refunded my PayPal Payment. Lo and behold they showed up in my mail box a week later. The box had been opened and the pickup covers obviously scratched due to inspection (or were they?). The next day the shipper emailed me, saying he got a notice they were delivered and requested either pay in full or return them. I messaged back about the condition they were in. I said send me a label and I will gladly return. He responded by saying I needed to take the package to the local post office and file a claim? He ignored the option of sending a label, implying I need to pay to ship them back. I have never had a package held up by customs, and never received a damaged product from overseas.
I am tempted just to do nothing, since I had no hand in this mess. And have no idea if the packag was mislabeled somehow flagging customs.
Second, I am enclosing some pictures. The front issues are obvious, but look at the back. Is there any reason for them to be so scratched and gouged? Is this something customs would do or do I suspect the maker? You can see the wax leaking out of the screws on top also.
Appreciate some honest advise.

That looks like manufacturer error to me. The pole pieces look like that jackass episode where Steve-O got a tattoo n the back of a Jeep on an off road course.

I don’t know WTF happened on the back… maybe the back was covered in wax and they scraped it off afterward?

Any way you slice it, customs didn’t cause those errors, and it’s unlikely (in my mind that they did the rest either.

In all honesty, I’d tell the guy I’m happy to send them back on his dime, and am awaiting the shipping label.

Milkman wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 1:51 pm That looks like manufacturer error to me. The pole pieces look like that jackass episode where Steve-O got a tattoo n the back of a Jeep on an off road course.

I don’t know WTF happened on the back… maybe the back was covered in wax and they scraped it off afterward?

Any way you slice it, customs didn’t cause those errors, and it’s unlikely (in my mind that they did the rest either.

In all honesty, I’d tell the guy I’m happy to send them back on his dime, and am awaiting the shipping label.

Thanks.....what I was thinking. I may call the local post office and maybe even stop in just to do my due diligence. But no more cash from my pocket. Should have gone the @Buddha Pickups route from the get go. Thanks!

So what do very conservative pickups sound like?

From Reverb.

mozz wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 5:50 pm From Reverb.

pgmlsupostwe5kuqsii5.jpgmmctkbv2txevb1rmr3lz.jpg

Found the link: https://reverb.com/item/38520848-john-b ... d-magnum-4

The wiring is different also. I know the person I dealt with is named John Carling and the reviews, reputation all good.
I wonder if the ones in the link are an older issue, still the gouges on the back. Even if customs did not do it for some reason...why would they be there?

Since the package looked opened, I wouldnt suspect winder to be at fault as for scratches. Seems to be an experienced winder.
Wax from back could have meant they were in a hot place for a while during shipping/customs and some wax oozed.

You may feel slighted for the scratches, but the winder may be totally innocent of wrongdoing.

I would ask for a small discount due to shipping damage, and pay the rest of what I said I would. I would see if they sound good. If they sound good, I'ld be happy with the mild discount, and be very happy to play through them. Otherwise, it would be my problem having ordered a set I didnt like the sound of, and I'ld sell them along.

nomadh wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 5:11 pm So what do very conservative pickups sound like?

I dunno, but an old friend used to be in the "Society For The Preservation Of Wooden Toilet Seats."
Better known as "The Birch John Society."

mickey wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 6:27 pm [
I dunno, but an old friend used to be in the "Society For The Preservation Of Wooden Toilet Seats."
Better known as "The Birch John Society."

We need a rimshot emoji...

22 pole screws, what's with that?

mozz wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 5:50 pm From Reverb.

pgmlsupostwe5kuqsii5.jpgmmctkbv2txevb1rmr3lz.jpg

The baseplate/cover solder seal is really terrible on these...looks like it's been opened a few times as I would expect a winder to get that solder melted/joined better.

I think you're in the right asking for a return. And looking at these pickups on Reverb, I'm having trouble understanding the appeal. They look like pickups he got spec'd and built by an OEM manufacturer somewhere in Asia. But the prices on them are pretty high.

Buddha Pickups wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 8:52 pm

mozz wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 5:50 pm From Reverb.

pgmlsupostwe5kuqsii5.jpgmmctkbv2txevb1rmr3lz.jpg

The baseplate/cover solder seal is really terrible on these...looks like it's been opened a few times as I would expect a winder to get that solder melted/joined better.

Do you think Customs may have opened them? I mean metal objects with wire may raise a red flag? They were stuck in customs for 2 1/2 weeks with no updated tracking info.
Just weird.

Lamf77 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:31 am
Do you think Customs may have opened them? I mean metal objects with wire may raise a red flag? They were stuck in customs for 2 1/2 weeks with no updated tracking info.
Just weird.

i would think that there are plenty of similar objects and that Customs wouldn't have time to open all of them for inspection (let alone reassemble the item). I suspect that they have imaging equipment and technology that would make ihat unnecessary to open for inspection.

Did you send the seller the pictures, or did he even ask for pictures? In my experience, a good seller would try to take part in understanding what happened.

BatUtilityBelt wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:48 am Did you send the seller the pictures, or did he even ask for pictures? In my experience, a good seller would try to take part in understanding what happened.

I sent pictures and asked for a return label. He sent me his address....pretty much expecting for me to pay for the return. I said I am not paying for return shipping, and he requested I open a case with the local post office. I was just on the USPS site and for international items which are damaged you do need to go to the post office to file a claim.
FYI.....3 weeks ago, when you entered the tracking number, it said the package was on its way back to sender due to "mislabeling and being undeliverable". When that happened I contacted PayPal and got a refund.
And as I said, last week, the package just showed up, shoved in my mail box!

I emailed the seller last night....inquiring about the back of the pickups....his reply was:

"The residue caused by getting too warm and expanding, it is only silicon so would clean up.

As to the other damage this is what the claim is for, bad handling by customs probably."

Never addressed the gouges to the back.

So I will go to the post office when I get time and do what I need to do. I agree with Tobijohn, I doubt the Post Office opened the back. Who knows.

tobijohn wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 8:13 pm 22 pole screws, what's with that?

Not entirely uncommon, Carvin pickups have always had that amount of pole screws too. Some info here:

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/ ... hpmmj2.jpg

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:13 am [
Not entirely uncommon, Carvin pickups have always had that amount of pole screws too. Some info here:

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/ ... hpmmj2.jpg

Interesting, so it's like an adjustable rail humbucker...

Lamf77 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:04 am So I will go to the post office when I get time and do what I need to do. I agree with Tobijohn, I doubt the Post Office opened the back. Who knows.

I agree it seems very unlikely customs or the postal service would have done that.

@Lamf77 I know most of you guys on here are much nicer than I am and that's a good thing but I would email him to say either send me a postage paid return shipping label or they are going in the trash his choice and report the situation to both Reverb and PayPal just in case the seller tries to come at you from either of them. In my view this cat is just being a jacka$$ and trying to weasel out of doing the right thing.

So would you buy those pickups used if they were in that condition and if so, how much would you pay for them? If you still would, and the seller is OK with that price, another alternative is to pay him that and just keep them. Whether he's amenable to the price you might be willing to pay depends on how much value he places on his time and the cost to have them shipped back , rebuild them and relist...

tobijohn wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:52 pm So would you buy those pickups used if they were in that condition and if so, how much would you pay for them? If you still would, and the seller is OK with that price, another alternative is to pay him that and just keep them. Whether he's amenable to the price you might be willing to pay depends on how much value he places on his time and the cost to have them shipped back , rebuild them and relist...

This is what I am considering. I am going to go to the Post Office (or hold my breath for them to email me back) and see what happens.

Lamf77 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:47 pm
This is what I am considering. I am going to go to the Post Office (or hold my breath for them to email me back) and see what happens.

If/when USPS, don't forget to bring a book and lawn chair...

tobijohn wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:55 pm

Lamf77 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:47 pm
This is what I am considering. I am going to go to the Post Office (or hold my breath for them to email me back) and see what happens.

If/when USPS, don't forget to bring a book and lawn chair...

Turn around and leave if that is the case. I should be able to send photos and have the seller file the claim. Our local post office has been very helpful so far, but what I've asked of them has not been to time consuming. So we shall see.

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:13 am

tobijohn wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 8:13 pm 22 pole screws, what's with that?

Not entirely uncommon, Carvin pickups have always had that amount of pole screws too. Some info here:

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/ ... hpmmj2.jpg

The Carvin pickups have their pole pieces evenly spaced and in a straight line as it should be . The pickups in question looks like an amateurish attempt to turn a 12 pole into a 22 pole pu.