My new baby

So I posted the picture of the flugel horn I was planning on buying.

The guy was a pro jazz player in France, and I had exchanged multiple emails with him before deciding to purchase the horn. He seemed like a guy that I could trust, and I had actually ran a search on the internet and, indeed, he was a reputable trumpet player/teacher.

Anyway, excited as I was about the horn, I, without thinking too much, sent him the money (about 800 USD). He confirmed the payment, and said that he would ship the horn as soon as possible.

Well, I emailed him the next day to make sure he had shipped. No response.... Okay, I thought, maybe he was busy and didn't have time to respond. Next day, I send him another email... no response. I start to worry. Again, the next day, I send him an email. Same thing. This goes on for a week! At this point in time (actually by the 2nd day), I start thinking that I've been screwed. I send this dude a large sum of money, and I get nothing. For the last week, all I have been thinking about is how I've just been scammed into paying 800 bucks for nothing. I have trouble sleeping at night, think about a trip to France to confront this guy, think of any way in order to either get my money back or get the horn.

Well, this morning, I finally get an email from him. He was apparently in Hungary for a week long gig and did not have internet access the whole time. I was totally relieved. He wrote me that he sent the horn last monday and that it should arrive shortly. With about 7 emails from me, he clearly felt bad for not being able to contact me.

This evening, after returning for work, sure enough, the horn arrives!!! and what a Beauty. She plays as good as she looks (only if women were like that). This evening, I'm drinking and just looking at this horn with joy...

Anyway, I've learned that, unless you decide to buy through ebay and paypal (which protects both the buyer and seller), it's best to use a service such as escrow.com, which ensures that both parties get what they ask for before the actual transaction takes place.

I've lost many hours of sleep over this, thankfully, with a happy ending. But I've learned a good lesson on trading online.

Sorry for the long message, but I couldn't tell anyone about this for the last week (too ashamed, embarrased), and I had to let it out!

Now to enjoying my new horn!

Kazu