Quote:
Originally Posted by Asgard
I bought an accident-free car from a dealer that was two years old. A few months later, during an inspection by my workshop, a well-repaired damage to the body was found. The workshop employee said that because of that I paid a good 2000 euros too much. It's just damage.
If I buy a new statue and put the money for a new statue on the table, then I want a new statue.
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And you should certainly be entitled to one. I guess we then ask what constitutes 'new'.
In the collectables world, as Indomitus suggested, once it's left the factory and the seal is broken, many collectors would argue it loses its 'new' status, regardless of condition. I can appreciate that perspective but I also tend to agree with Silas' logical view that nothing has physically changed or worn on a statue that's only been opened for inspection. The notion that the cutting of packaging tape seems to trigger a loss in value - that's kind of weird to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asgard
Ok, the car was damaged by the manufacturer. The sheet metal damage was troweled and repainted 
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I like this game.
I'm assuming a factory repair before distribution. If the vehicle hasn't been compromised as a result of the repair, is of acceptable quality, remains fit for purpose and is still subject to the usual warranties, then I would suggest it qualifies as a new product.
It made me think of the production line photos we see sometimes where statues have been tagged to identify defects as part of the QC process. I don't know what actually happens but if they're re-sanded, re-painted and put back in with the ones that pass, is there a difference?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cammilletti
I have to side with Asgard on this point.
The body did have some minor scratches on her neck just from taking the puddin choker on and off. The scratches are invisible once she is assembled but we can see she was assembled multiple times.
Also my statue room is always kept clean and i clean all my pieces regularly. I also have a UV blocking film installed on the window of that room which is also temperature controlled and I dont smoke.
The first thing I did when I realized she was a return was smell her hoping she didn't have anyone's personal home smell on her like perfume, cigarettes or even food. It could have been exposed to the sun while displayed or in a super hot/humid room.
My piece is sold out and goes twice the price on the after market so I decided to bite the bullet.
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That's fair enough if there's also visual defects - there's definitely argument for compensation/exchange in that instance.
It's interesting comparing your experience here with Asgard's car example:
You both happily paid a price for a product you saw or believed you would receive.
You each discover a defect in your item when you're within your rights to expect the product to be defect-free.
Despite the issue potentially affecting the product's future value, you appreciate that the use of the item is not impacted by the defect (making assumptions about the car here).
I get the feeling that if Asgard was aware of the issue at the time of purchase, the original price wouldn't have been as acceptable, whereas it may not have phased the next person.
In your case, you had the option and, although being particular about your statues, chose to accept the condition without recompense (for various reasons). There are no doubt plenty of collectors on here that would've pushed back.
As another sample scenario, I was chasing a sold-out statue and contacted my usual retailer on the off chance they may have an ex-display piece that they'd be willing to sell. I was in luck and they did provide a discount because it was 'used'. However, if they had have replied saying they had an ex-display piece in perfect condition but the price remains at RRP, I would've still gone through with the purchase.
It basically comes down to a question of perceived value, which will always be subjective. There's really no right or wrong answer to these kinds of discussions. That's why I think disclosure is the only fix. It avoids any risk of misrepresentation and allows all parties to make informed decisions. If you're aware of the condition upfront, you decide whether you want to pay the stickered price, walk away or choose to negotiate.
