Hello, Just want to have my say. Eds generous offer of $1900.00 For a 6 1/2 Black Beauty priced at $3900.00 let me know from the start this was not a transaction that would ever take place.

And me taking the drum apart for him because he wanted to see if the inside of the drum was rusty, Clue brass does not rust.

Then, The reply that the throwoff was wrong and the tone control was added which it was not. and his next offer was for $1000.00.

Long and short that did make me mad. And not like he is stating, close to the asking price.

I am getting rid of current new stock and old parts that I have saved because they are hard to find. I figure I will not need them anymore. But I am not selling Gretsch Progressive jazz kits with no mods for $800.00. Some Items on my Website I will back down 10-20%. I have some kits in unbelievable condition. They will just go to my home when I close.

Thanks

Steve @ www.drum-station.com

Thanks for that Steve...

It's unfortunate that what started as a "heads up" on some very nice drums turned into a "bash the seller" free-for-all for some.

It's cool to post findings after investigation on your items, but the 'tudes could have been left out and the same message conveyed.

Sometimes it's not what one says, but how it is said that carries the most weight..... sad really.

I know a few people that have used your services, and all were very pleased with the results.

Kev

I'd like to weigh in as well.

I've found Steve to be quite honorable and forthright. He provided me with some valuable information that helped me with a purchase decision. I would be totally comfortable with a future tranaction should the opportunity present itself.

Actually... if Steve wants... I can post right here in great detail all the e-mails he and I sent sent back and forth from the beginning regarding this drum..and let the forum members decide for themselves....I would be more than happy to do this..to show you what the real story is about Steve and the way he conducted his business dealings with me...and also his refusal to answer any and all questions about any possible issues with this particular drum..but I highly doubt he would want to do that..(go ahead..prove me wrong Steve..I'll post the e-mails..the true story)..

But...he is somewhat unpleasant to deal with..so..if you ever had a actual problem with a drum order...who knows what would be the outcome..I wouldnt count on it going in your favor..

And Steve...I'm sorry to have to inform you...I own 2 1920's BB's...and yes they do rust..just get a little sweat on em..so Steve needs to watch what he is saying...as being accurate or not...I can post the rust marks and photos of the rusted BB metal if the forum members want proof..

But here is my side of the story...

1. The drum was priced on Steves website for $3900-..which really is a pipe dream for a 15" drum..I think he was looking for a sucker..it was up on his site for years..he never found one..

2. I offered the realistic price of $1900- to which he accepted..but with caveats..he insisted on taking off the hardware..and put non original hardware on the drum to replace the original hardware..very creative move Steve..that hardware was probably worth 1K or more..I was willing to do this...but not pay $1900- for it anymore..so I decided to make another offer..

3. But..I needed to know more about the drum before I plunked down this kind of cash or made my 2nd offer....and nicely asked for a verbal detailed description of the drum..especially if there were any issues..but all I got as an answer for an 80 year old SD was...e-mail after e-mail...was "it's just fine..just fine.." No details at all..not even one..

Well..I dont know about you..but any dealer that is unwilling or unable to provide accurate details for an instrument of this high a price and caliber..this raised my red flags..and just so the forum members know..Steve finally... a few e-mails later after more prodding...only then.. did I find finally out (after I saw the actual flaws in the new photos he sent...and BTW..he sent these only after I told him No Sale... if he didnt come clean with the drum descriptions) that the drum had 2 big dents..and a few other issues as well that needed to be professionally addressed ...but never were..no matter how many times I requested this important information.

4. So the original price of the drum was $3900-..and on my 1st offer Steve immediately accepted this offer for over 50% less..but with conditions..

So I'm thinking..this guy may go a lot lower on this drum..perhaps much lower than even $1900-...what else could I think..he had already dropped down 2 G's right off the bat..on the 1st offer...

5. But things go wrong..Steve finds out that he does not have the correct replacement hoops and cannot include them in the deal..but offers no solution or counter offer....so now the conditions have changed..I will have to locate a pr. of period correct hoops to go on this drum..and that could pose a problem...monetarily and.. if they are actually avaliable.

6. So I figure..this guy went down 2G's already on this drum...it looks like he wants to move it fast..so why not just offer him 1G for it incomplete and with the 2 dents + extra holes etc. (did I mention this...extra holes too...and just so the forum members know..it would have to be sent to Italy for repairs and that is about $100- each way...and what ever the repairs would actually cost..probably at least $200-..and lots of down time..) So that's at least a $400+ expense right off the bat for me..plus the hoops..so maybe $600-..

So I offer him 1G for it..and think to myself..if this guy wants to move this drum as he appears to...he will counter offer and we will meet in the middle somewhere..thats the way deals are made..I've been in the antique instrument biz professionally for 16 years..and it's all about what a guy wants to sell it for today..to have cash in hand..

You meet in the middle.

But you have to make offers to find out how low the guy is willing to sell for..and you dont offer high..if you want a good deal..

7. So....

Steve then proceeds to blow a gasket..siteing the reason..that he didnt like having to remove the top head off the drum to send me photos of the interior and take a whole 10 min of his time to do this..WTF...is he trying to sell this drum..or just lazy? Anyone in their right mind sends the potential buyer lots of photos and a clear cut verbal description and makes the sale..end of story...but not this guy...

No counter offer..No just saying $1900- is as low as I will go..Nothing..but a barrage of insults/attacks and incorrect assumptions as unprofessional as you can get.....infantile really..one of them being that I never intended to buy the drum (totally not true)..

So this angered me too..no one likes to be insulted like this..so the gloves come off....and I answered in kind with the same insults right back at him....and called him the worse drum dealer I ever dealt with..(true).

8. So we have all had our fun here..Steve tries to defend himself and make like I'm the bad guy..I try to prove that I'm not...it really does not matter..

9. If Steve wants to man up..I'm still interested in the drum..but I will not pay $1900- for it with extra holes and dents and missing parts...for a 15" BB..if you want to meet somewhere in the middle I'm still game..are you going to man up...and sell me this drum for a fair price? If so contact me privately ASAP..before I have a change of heart..

15" BB player drums...no one wants em...14" BB's yes..so lets get realistic in this...it's a bad economy...you are going out of business..you have a serious buyer..it's a no brainer..

But I stopped trying to figure out people a long time ago..

Does it really matter? Let it go. Don't do biz and move on. We are aware enough to have an idea what went down. Let's keep it cool and up.