Scam alert: "1924 Gibson A-2 mandolin" on Knoxville CL

[FL Dawg]

More pictures...

Another look at the absolute mess of the binding


Large dent in the top


Binding separation and seam separation near the neck joint


Top is uneven between the cracks


There are more issues that I didn't take the time to photograph, like inside the mandolin glue is gooped all around the back/side kerfing, making me think the back has been off (this must have been when the label was moved way down from the normal position, you can barely see the edge of it through the f-hole).

[jim_n_virginia]

frets on the florida removed but never scooped ... Geez ...

an scumbag like this needs a face to face confrontation!

[jim simpson]

You mention that the label might have been moved lower. Who is the maker?

[Scott Tichenor]

Had some interesting emails back and forth with Danny this a.m. This little gem was one of the emails, copied and pasted exactly, a response when I asked him if he'd be sending the $900 he took for this mandolin per the agreed upon 48 hour window of return.

"If he wants to send the mando back and pay for shipping both ways yes i will take the mandolin back and send him his refund.I am not stupid enuff to send $900 dollars to him with him still having the mando"

[Scott Tichenor]

8:30 a.m. meeting tomorrow with my attorney (he's a musician on the side--totally understands what's going on here) to draft final legal documents, copies of which will be sent registered USPS to Sevierville Sheriff, Danny Spurgeon, the State of Tennessee Attorney General (surprise--I'm friends with the Kansas Attorney General--he lives in my town, also friends with the runner-up in the 2004 AG race, another musician friend). I have very good legal support. We are in contact with and keeping the Sheriff department there in the loop. Reasons to suspect he is currently committing other crimes on eBay, Craig's List and possibly other areas on the web that have already been reported or he is in the process of committing new crimes.

[Chris Biorkman]

Woohoo! Good luck, Scott. Thanks for looking out for people on this site.

[FL Dawg]

I can't believe that Danny Spurgeon wouldn't trust me to return this mandolin. I answer my phone, use tracking numbers when I ship stuff, and answer my emails. I would also feel really sorry if I sent someone a mandolin that was in terrible shape and they weren't happy.

Danny, I can't wait to send this mandolin back to you. I don't want to own it and I don't want it in my house. I don't want to rip you off. I just want to be done with this situation.

You haven't shown that you are a reliable person when it comes to buying and selling... I don't want to have to wait weeks for my money and call your house and your mom's house and leave messages that you never answer.

I willl put my good name on the line right here on the forum for everybody to see. I will pack up this mandolin and have it ready to ship back to you, insured with a tracking number. The same day I get the refund I will go down to UPS or FedEx and ship the box and post the tracking number right here on the forum for everyone to see. There is an all night FedEx right around the corner from me You and everyone else can follow the package right to your house and see that I am a man of my word.

[Ben Milne]

u could send it back C.O.D>?

[Rob Gerety]

The usual procedure in a normal case is to return the goods then get a prompt refund. This is not a normal case. Still, if it was me, that is what I would do.

[Chris Biorkman]

I remember this guy posting a while back. He was a huge jerk.

[AlanN]

Oh Danny Boy
The time will soon be coming
When you must meet your Maker fair and square

Oh Danny boy
Oh Danny boy
Glad I won't be there.

[thistle3585]

Can you return it freight collect so that UPS wont give it to him unless he gives them a cashiers check? I would think that if he issues a fake cashiers check then he's just elevated his crime to a federal offense. If he doesn't refund the money then it further burys him in regards to commiting fraud.

[lenf12]

Can you return it freight collect so that UPS wont give it to him unless he gives them a cashiers check? I would think that if he issues a fake cashiers check then he's just elevated his crime to a federal offense. If he doesn't refund the money then it further burys him in regards to commiting fraud.

He could refuse delivery from UPS. Why would he accept the shipment? He already has FLDawg's money which is all he really wanted in the first place. Danny has dug himself a very deep hole with serious criminal repercussions. His day of reckoning will be coming sooner rather than later. You guys have my profound sympathies

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[EdSherry]

FL Dawg -- You might contact someone at the police / sheriff department or district attorney where he lives, to see if they'd be willing to have you ship it to them, to be delivered to him only once he hands over to them a cashiers' check or money order for the amount he owes you. Just a thought.

[delsbrother]

Won't he just claim shipping damage? I tried to file a claim against a seller like this on ebay, and that's exactly what he did. The claim got bumped to the shipper, who agreed with me that the damage to the instrument was years (if not decades) old. This resulted in an endless loop of blame which only benefited the seller - eventually I gave up (the dispute was over a much smaller amount of money than that being discussed here).

Was any of his description of the item sent to you in writing?

[mrmando]

Gee, fellas, don't give him any ideas!

[Scott Tichenor]

Here's a little bit of wisdom from Danny in one of his previous posts from this forum. Thought this would be good to start off the day. I've worked problems like this before and these guys like to think eventually this will all go away and everyone will forget about their crimes.

"I have cabin in br mtns and i would rather live their than in in city in the wourld so i guess i will be country intill i die.Were i live i do body piercing by GLOCK!!!!""

From his public MySpace page: Danny wants to buy your quality mandolin
And another public MySpace

Just sharing things that are on the web for all to see.

[Yellowmandolin]

I hope that mandolin doesn't belong to the fine man behind him...

[AlanN]

Ronnie M appears to be photoshopped in there.

[MikeEdgerton]

He was, it's the same image as above.

[Yellowmandolin]

Phew! Glad I was mistaken!

[mrmando]

I don't think Danny knows PhotoShop from a hole in the wall. Look closer at the photo in post 42...

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Ronnie M appears to be photoshopped in there.

No photoshop. The pic was taken in Cherokee, NC in June of 2008. Danny is holding Ronnie's Loar.

[AlanN]

Yeah, see that now on zoom. Freaky.

[MikeEdgerton]

Wow, why blank him out in the first shot?