Unexpected N(O)GD/happy ending - stolen guitars returned! Update: another happy ending! Update 2!

impmann

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

mart

timmypix said:

... they wanted £630 ... they paid .. £160. ....

That's quite some mark-up, isn't it? 

stickyfiddle

mart said:

timmypix said:

... they wanted £630 ... they paid .. £160. ....

That's quite some mark-up, isn't it? 

Well presumably they need huge markups because 50% of their stock is at risk of being seized as stolen goods…

timmypix

impmann said:

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

Yeah I was very pleasantly surprised by that. I called up expecting to be told to sod off and ring the police, but I'm guessing that's just as much hassle for them as well. I'm now trying to strike the right balance between optimism in hoping to get it back, and pessimism so I don't feel too crushed if I don't.

Hattigol

mart said:

timmypix said:

... they wanted £630 ... they paid .. £160. ....

That's quite some mark-up, isn't it? 

Is the manager the same guy who runs Squealing Pig Guitars, do you know?

Haych

timmypix said:

impmann said:

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

Yeah I was very pleasantly surprised by that. I called up expecting to be told to sod off and ring the police, but I'm guessing that's just as much hassle for them as well. I'm now trying to strike the right balance between optimism in hoping to get it back, and pessimism so I don't feel too crushed if I don't.

Given the type of business that Cash Converters is I'm quite sure this kind of occurrence isn't uncommon, I doubt it's their first rodeo and their response is probably well honed and reasonable as a result.

I doubt they'd want the hassle of involving the police, it'll just be a load of paperwork and bureaucracy for them and the cops that will end up being filed with no further action.

Wishing you the best for a good outcome and a happy ending.

Stuckfast

I had a recent experience with Cash Converters / eBay and stolen property (I bought something in one of their eBay listings which turned out to be stolen) and I have to say they were very helpful and straight about it. However, in this case there was a crime number and an existing investigation.

robinbowes

timmypix said:

impmann said:

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

Yeah I was very pleasantly surprised by that. I called up expecting to be told to sod off and ring the police, but I'm guessing that's just as much hassle for them as well. I'm now trying to strike the right balance between optimism in hoping to get it back, and pessimism so I don't feel too crushed if I don't.

I'm sure if you offer to involve the police they may be more willing to give you *your* guitar back without any payment.

Haych

robinbowes said:

timmypix said:

impmann said:

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

Yeah I was very pleasantly surprised by that. I called up expecting to be told to sod off and ring the police, but I'm guessing that's just as much hassle for them as well. I'm now trying to strike the right balance between optimism in hoping to get it back, and pessimism so I don't feel too crushed if I don't.

I'm sure if you offer to involve the police they may be more willing to give you *your* guitar back without any payment.

Or they might dig their heels in and demand more definitive proof, i.e., a serial number, before entering into a dialogue about returning the guitar.

Tough choice, for sure.  Not saying you're wrong, just that it might become more complicated, drag on and may not end with the desired outcome.

jonnyburgo

Where are all the sellers of these dirt cheap guitars when I'm looking for a bargain? My guess is they know the rogues and wronguns at CC, see some half dead smack head come in with a £4k PRS and think give him £200 ker-ching! 

timmypix

Haych said:

robinbowes said:

timmypix said:

impmann said:

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

Yeah I was very pleasantly surprised by that. I called up expecting to be told to sod off and ring the police, but I'm guessing that's just as much hassle for them as well. I'm now trying to strike the right balance between optimism in hoping to get it back, and pessimism so I don't feel too crushed if I don't.

I'm sure if you offer to involve the police they may be more willing to give you *your* guitar back without any payment.

Or they might dig their heels in and demand more definitive proof, i.e., a serial number, before entering into a dialogue about returning the guitar.

Tough choice, for sure.  Not saying you're wrong, just that it might become more complicated, drag on and may not end with the desired outcome.

This is my gut feeling. I know the police won't help without a serial number so I'm willing to pay what I'll view as a "recovery fee" if it is the best course of action to get the guitar back with minimum fuss, even if it's not the most "proper" course of action.

Of course I could get there on Monday and this regional manager's spoken to his directors and they've shot down his idea of selling it back at cost, but from what I've gathered so far I think that's very much the best case scenario.

SPECTRUM001

robinbowes said:

timmypix said:

impmann said:

To be fair, the guy at Cash Converters is actually playing this very straight with you. I’m actually quite impressed by his attitude on this.
I hope it resolves well for you and well done to CC for being receptive. 

Yeah I was very pleasantly surprised by that. I called up expecting to be told to sod off and ring the police, but I'm guessing that's just as much hassle for them as well. I'm now trying to strike the right balance between optimism in hoping to get it back, and pessimism so I don't feel too crushed if I don't.

I'm sure if you offer to involve the police they may be more willing to give you *your* guitar back without any payment.

I would say that £160 to get it back isn't too bad - and a chance to at least put this one to bed.

Given that you would then be out of pocket, you could always pitch a compromise of splitting the sum, and both being £80 down - on the offer of not going to the police...

duotone

Hopefully the grain/signature from your photos is distinctive enough for them to accept it’s definitely yours.

Fingers crossed it all goes well.

timmypix

Well, I set off to Blackpool this afternoon and here I am home again with my guitar back!

The regional manager at Cash Converters was great - looked at all the pictures I had of it, understood how each veneer is completely unique, and the fact that it had been signed on the back by Mark Holcomb - signature still just visible - and I had pictures of it being signed clinched it for him. To make his bosses happy I had to buy it back at cost (£180), but I view that as finder's fee/lack of insurance punishment.

So, here it is! Utterly filthy, so it needs some TLC at some point this week, and the gigbag's gone AWOL at some point, but it's nice to have it back. 3 down, 3 to go!

Fretboard gunk linked separately cause no one needs it blown up enormously - so grim.

SPECTRUM001

timmypix said:

Well, I set off to Blackpool this afternoon and here I am home again with my guitar back!

The regional manager at Cash Converters was great - looked at all the pictures I had of it, understood how each veneer is completely unique, and the fact that it had been signed on the back by Mark Holcomb - signature still just visible - and I had pictures of it being signed clinched it for him. To make his bosses happy I had to buy it back at cost (£180), but I view that as finder's fee/lack of insurance punishment.

So, here it is! Utterly filthy, so it needs some TLC at some point this week, and the gigbag's gone AWOL at some point, but it's nice to have it back. 3 down, 3 to go!

Fretboard gunk linked separately cause no one needs it blown up enormously - so grim.

Result !!!

Well done - your determination and persistence is quite amazing.

danishbacon

Congratulations that’s awesome

Kittyfrisk

Bloody hell, you deserve your own TV show. Be better than some of the shite that is presently on 
Remind me never to piss you off :-D

Boromedic

Wow mate, glad you got it back and I'm enjoying the whole saga to be fair. Here's to you finding the rest in the near future. Take care 

richardhomer

You’re the sort of person who if you fell out of a tree would fall into a new pair of pants! Congratulations - so glad it’s all turned out so well for you.

mart

That's really good news, very pleased for you!