1. I have found what I was looking for or I have sold the item advertised. How do I cancel my ad?

2. How would you recommend handling the sale of an instrument online?

3. What should I do if there are errors in my classified ad?

4. I saw something I wanted in last week's classifieds, but it's not there now. Help!

5. Why are the last three digits of an instrument's serial number shown as "XXX"?

6. I had submitted a telephone number in my classified ad. Why is it not there?

7. I bought something through the classifieds, and it was misrepresented or the seller took my money and never delivered the item.

8. I sold something through the classifieds, and the buyer's check bounced.

9. I submitted an ad, but it did not appear. What's up with that?

10. Why do you not run ads promoting eBay auction items?

11. I have received an e-mail from someone wanting to buy my item, and the transaction terms are a bit strange - they want me to take a check for quite a bit more than the item costs, then send them the balance with the item. What should I do?

I have found what I was looking for or I have sold the item advertised. How do I cancel my ad?
If you need to change or remove your ad, please send an e-mail to classifieds@trombone.org. Please include your e-mail address and a brief description of the ad to speed the process.

How would you recommend handling the sale of an instrument online?
As musical instruments and accessories are valuable commodities, it is recommended that you excercize great care with every transaction. Here is a sample transaction:

1. The buyer and seller have agreed to the selling price and the length of the trial period. The buyer sends the seller two payment items (check, money order, certified check, etc.), one for the instrument and the second for shipping. The seller deposits the shipping payment and holds the instrument payment until the end of the trial period.
   
2. The seller ships the instrument using the shipper of his or her choice, being sure to get delivery verification and a tracking number. Insure the item for full replacement value, and have a written appraisal on hand (just in case).
   
3. The trial period starts the day the instrument is delivered based upon the tracking information provided by the shipping firm.
   
4. The buyer must contact the seller prior to the end of the trial period if the instrument is to be returned. If the seller is not contacted, the seller deposits the instrument payment and the buyer owns it.
   
5. If the buyer decides not to purchase the instrument, the buyer pays shipping (with full replacement value insurance) back to the seller and the seller returns the payment to the buyer (using certified mail, just to be safe).
   

What should I do if there are errors in my classified ad?
Please send the information by e-mail to classifieds@trombone.org Please provide your e-mail address, the item description and the changes necessary.

I saw something I wanted in last week's classifieds, but it's not there now. Help!
The classifieds are updated on Mondays (with some exceptions), and an archive of past classified ads is not kept. If all else fails, place a "Want to Buy" ad.

Why are the last three digits of an instrument's serial number shown as "XXX"?
As a security precaution, we automatically change the last three digits to protect the privacy of the seller.

I had submitted a telephone number in my classified ad. Why is it not there?
Due to several instances of harrassment by telephone, we decided to limit the method of contact for Online Trombone Journal Classifieds to e-mail only. We have also discovered that, like e-mail addresses, unscrupulous individuals will often cull phone numbers from classified ads and use them for unsolicited sales calls. In respect of your privacy, we feel it is best not to list a telephone number in the ad.

I bought something through the classifieds and it was misrepresented or the seller took my money and never delivered the item.
It is recommended that you contact the U.S. Postal Service and the district attorney of the seller's area. There is a possibility that the non-delivery could fall under Federal Mail or Wire Fraud statutes as a felony. As stated in the Classifieds policies, the Online Trombone Journal is not responsible for the transaction of money, or lack thereof.

I sold something through the classifieds, and the buyer's check bounced.
You can contact the bank on which the payment is drawn to see if the funds are available. We recommend using money orders or one of the online payment services for personal protection. As stated in the Classifieds policies, the Online Trombone Journal is not responsible for the transaction of money, or lack thereof.

I submitted an ad, but it did not appear. What's up with that?
There are several reasons your ad might not have appeared:

1. If you did not receive a automatic confirmation of your ad, the ad was not transmitted - please resubmit the ad through the "Submit an Ad" form.
2. If your automatic confirmation or Classified Ad Publication Notice is returned as "user unknown", the ad will not run. While there are many reasons this could occur, ads without valid contact information will not be published.
3. For an ad to start on Monday, it must be received by Midnight Central time (US) on the preceeding Friday. Ads submitted after deadline will not run until the following week. The confirmation e-mail will contain the start date of your ad. If you received the confirmation, the ad was submitted before deadline, but the ad did not appear at the scheduled time, please send an e-mail to classifieds@trombone.org.

Why do you not run ads promoting eBay auction items?
As a rule, we do not run classified ads promoting eBay auction items. The Online Trombone Journal's free online classifieds run for four weeks, while eBay auctions last no more than 10 days. This results in a classified ad running for several weeks or more with invalid information.

I have received an e-mail from someone wanting to buy my item, and the transaction terms are a bit strange - they want me to take a check for quite a bit more than the item costs, then send them the balance with the item. What should I do?
This is a variation on a very old confidence scheme. The "buyer" wants to send you a cashier's check the item, but the check's already been made out for far more than the purchase price. The buyer asks you to just send a check for the balance along with the item, and sometimes offers you a "fee" for cashing the check. Your check is deposited immediately and your account emptied, then the cashier's check is returned as fraudulent. The item is gone, along with a large amount of your money. If you receive e-mails offering such a transaction, contact your Internet Service Provider, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation immediately. If you are outside of the United States, contact your local law enforcement agency.