There ya go.
Thats the best claim you have. It was sold as something that it clearly isn't when viewed in person.
Thats all you need and the basis of any dispute.

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No no and no

Opened a case with paypal. Requesting to return it fully reassembled in full working order and even added that I would install strings ,adjust, action,intonation,trussrod,etc and pay for return shipping just in order to move on and be done with it. Just wanted to be refunded what I paid. I don't think Im out of line in any way.The buyer thinks I should take responsibility and should have known it was counterfit?? Mentioned to him can't know or assume whats underneath the hood of a car until you open it. He is not making it easy. I'm in a nightmare!

Doesn't matter how hard he makes it really, you have the law on your side. Plus the fact that he knowingly passed it off as counterfeit (save the email where he said that!!) then I say you have a victory on your hands. Just be patient and keep your cool (easier said than done, I know. I'd be livid personally) and most importantly, be as patient and calm with the folks at Paypal as you can. When it really comes down to it, they'll be the ones going after him.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ

I would just like to add that I worked for CBS in that time period and I can tell you flat out, we did not use those type of tuners and we never carved out the center, it was always three pick-up triangulated slots this a wire slot connecting them.

It is without a doubt a fake.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Hard print is a good foundation as well. In the book 'The Stratocaster Chronicles' by Tom Wheeler, page 195 specifically describes the "2 knob, cost cutter Standard of 1983-84, which was dropped when the factory shut down in late 84. Leftover inventory, imports, and reissues were the only available Strats until the introduction of the American Standard in 1987." What you have is a bad fake. Trem is wrong, tuners wrong, guard is wrong, pick ups are wrong, basically it's a project. Don't beat yourself up too much. We who have bought guitars for years have been burnt more than once. The bad thing is that there are very very good fakes being sold. E BAY = beware.

I just want to than all you guys for your support. You all have been a great help and its well appreciated!

Hi Niki, just something worth mentioning i thought, on some of the recent Japanese Strats, i don't know going back how far though, The "Original Countour Body" decal isnt in line with the Sync. Trem. Decal, and is like the one pictured and is a bit offset.

However on all other aspects, i agree with you. Just thought i'd let you know. But lets be honest, no one really has any idea what fender japan are up to haha.

Cheers, ray.

noted and stored Ray, thankyou sir.

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No no and no

Bad news for me today. Paypal said since I tempered with the guitar (meaning that even if you remove 1 screw) you cant return. I explained to them that the only way that I could verify my claim was to remove neck and check under guitar. I have been changing necks & wiring & installing pickups,etc for almost 20yrs! The seller listed it as fender stratocaster parts as-is non working!! I would have sent that guitar back better than how I received it in full working order . so right now I'm out $429.00 . I DIDN'T KNOW YOU CAN SELL COUNTERFET PRODUCTS ON EBAY AND HAVE PAL PAL FAVOR with the COUNTERFIT SELLER! Reading the sellers description, . I call pay pal to appeal.

Take it to the police mate. The seller has commited a criminal offence, paypal are facilitating that by not chasing this up. In effect their harbouring a known criminal, or refusing to act on a crime commited using their services.
Actionable in the USA?

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No no and no

Im going to look into it. Fortunitely for me the sellers address where he shipped is only 2 hours from his home. I wait to see if pay pal accepts my appeal. May have to pay him a visit and EL Ka bong this guitar over his head! Keep you updated with the final outcome. Thanks,Mike

You do that and send the pictures to nikininja@ntlworld.com

I'd like to have something to hang on the wall.

The other argument you have with paypal about his sale is that you didn't tamper with the guitar. You looked at it. He tampered with the guitar before he sold it.

Honestly mate I'm going through similar but from the other side at the moment. I listed a busted PS3 on ebay, listed it as broken. All worked fine except the dvd drive, to the best of my knowledge. Some guy offers to buy it outside of ebay, how much will I take for it he asks. We agree on £50. He pays, I send it. He got the thing today, said it doesn't work, what are you going to do about it.
Streuth the lack of brains with some people eh, it was listed as broken.

What can I do? He's got to have his money back, hasn't he? He's not happy. I personaly think he's decided he's paid too much for it and wants some money back and keep the PS3. Well that's not going to happen.
I'm thinking of giving him the run around till he does get paypal on the case to see how they respond under UK law. Just so I know how this goes for fake guitar victims. Take it to the point of paypal threatening court, then give him his money back, when I receive my ps3 back.

Evil aint I.

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No no and no

Its not like you listed the joy stick broken and the play station doesn't work. You listed the DVD not working! like you said he is probly looking for a couple of bucks back to get a better deal. Fortunitely for you it was off ebay so you don't have to deal with the neg feedback B.S.. let him work for his credit! On my end I keep working on paypal. If it doesnt work out. Then I'll move on. you know comes around goes around. Karma is a $@!&*.