Buying over the Internet: Let The Buyer Beware!

 

We have seen several disturbing situations on the internet where un-scrupulous and some downright criminal sellers have tried to sell banjos that they called Deering that were nothing more than cheap, imported banjos with a Deering logo glued to the peghead.  The actual sellers may or may not have known, but someone who started these scams knew and relied on the trusting nature of their buyers.  

 

I have seen a cheap imported aluminum rim banjo that someone had used “press on” letters to say Deering GDL.  It was being auctioned on Ebay.  We had several weeks of customers calling and asking how much did a GDL cost?  We got curious and looked up the banjo ourselves.  When we realized what was going on, we called the auction company to advise them that there was a serious misrepresentation and were told they have no control over what is sold or represented on their auction site.  You can’t blame them for not being able to police such a huge number or items that are represented on their site, but as banjo shoppers, it is vital that we know what we are buying so we are not the victims of some deliberate or inadvertent deception. 

 

One unfortunate customer called us asking questions about his “Deering” 6 string banjo.  When his description didn’t match anything we make, we asked for a photo.  Someone had taken a used, $100 imported banjo, glued a cut out Deering logo from a catalog to the peghead, heavily brushed some sort of varnish over the logo, distorting the finish and leaving big brush marks and successfully auctioned it on Ebay for $700.

 

We have had several banjos brought in to our shop in Spring Valley, California that were in need of expensive and major repair that were damaged by rough handling and exposure to heat and cold (and water).  The customers proudly showed us their banjos purchased on line for an “awesome deal”.  Unfortunately, they had a pretty awesome repair bill to make the banjo what they were led to believe they had bought on line.   We have seen banjo parts like necks, tension hoops, rims, that have been offered fixed, or re-finished or re-built.  Some of the parts were not even Deering and some were in such poor condition that we could see the problems on the poor quality computer photo.  (Jpg etc.)

 

Buying Deering banjos on the Internet can be enjoyable but AS THE BUYER, YOU ARE COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE PURCHASED.  To avoid an unpleasant situation you must have a complete working knowledge of how banjos are made, what problems are serious and what problems are easy to correct. If you don’t know, don’t risk it!

 

The only safe way to buy a Deering banjo on the Internet is to make absolutely sure that you are buying from an authorized Deering banjo dealer.  When you go to the “find a dealer” tab on this website, you will find dealers in your local area as well as around the world. 

 

IF YOU BUY A “NEW” DEERING BANJO FROM A NON-AUTHORIZED DEALER, YOU HAVE PURCHASED A USED BANJO AND HAVE NO WARRANTY.    When we send a Deering banjo to an authorized dealer, only that dealer or another authorized dealer can sell that banjo as new.  If an authorized dealer sells a new Deering banjo to a non-authorized dealer, the non authorized dealer becomes the first owner and he becomes the bearer of the lifetime warranty; not a new dealer by transfer.  When the un-authorized dealer sells that banjo to the consumer, even if it was never played or even touched, it is a used instrument and no longer carries the lifetime warranty.   This is necessary so that we know how the banjo has been cared for between the time we ship it and the time that our customers buy it.  We have no way of knowing how non-authorized dealers care for their instruments because we do not communicate with them.  This also honors and protects the strong relationship between Deering and its treasured network of hard working Deering dealers. That is why new Deering banjos with the lifetime warranty are only available through authorized Deering Dealers.   

 

While the vast majority of musical instrument dealers are honest and ethical, the occasional mis-representation can cost you the comfort of a lifetime warranty if you don’t investigate the legitimacy of the dealer.   If you are in doubt about the dealer’s authenticity, look at our dealer listings by state or call us at 1(800) 845-7791 and we will look up the dealer in question.  

 

Read through as much of our website as you can to be as familiar as possible with our banjos so that if you do find a good opportunity over the internet, you’ll be better equipped to judge it’s value. 

 

Authorized Deering dealers are not permitted to list or sell any new Deering, Tenbrooks, Vega, Goodtime or any other new banjo made by the Deering Banjo Company, on any on-line auction (such as E-Bay). Any and all Deering products listed and sold on intenet auctions will be considered by Deering as used and sold "as is" and will have no warranty from Deering of any kind.