Please give me a clue :-) why it didn't sell

[funkythumb]

My ebay auction ended this last weekend with no bids.
I put up my beautiful Roscoe SKB 3006 with bubinga top and ebony FB and ash body, made in 2006 up for sale.
NO reserve, it could of sold for $2,275, my starting price. I paid $2,700 for it.
I know that Roscoes have a horrible resale value but I'm seeing comparable Roscoe basses sell for about the same.
It's a shame, a great bass like a Roscoe can't fetch more on the used market.
My bass is less than one year old and in like-new condition.
I wouldn't sell it if I didn't need the money.
I've sold lots of basses on ebay and have a feel for what will sell and what won't. Sometimes, it just takes time and right buyer to come along.
I had 20 people watching and nada!!!!
What gives?

[Tony G]

Roscoe, while getting bigger, isn't as well known as some would think. While I'm sure you have a killer bass, ebay isn't the best place to sell such a bass. I would suggest getting a supporting membership here and posting it in the classifieds, as well as posting an ad on bassgear.com.

[funkythumb]

good advice. I actually did put it on Bassgear a bit earlier. I think I might go ahead and get that supporting membership and try here.
thanks :-)

[Jazz Ad]

You expect way too much.
Unless it's a brand in very high demand, 85 % of the new price is way, way too much.
For a luthier bass, you will be lucky to get 60 % of the retail price.

[Bass Thunder]

In general, the economy is getting soft and the holidays are coming up. Also, the market for 6-strings is smaller than that for 5-strings.

Wait a couple weeks and relist but you may have to wait for the new year, or re-think your reserve.

I've noticed lots of ebay items with low bidding prices lately - great if you're a buyer, bad for sellers.

Good Luck

edit: You say "no reserve" but have a minimum bid of $2,275. Maybe try a reserve so people can bid on it and generate interest. Using a reserve costs more, but the high minimum bid didn't work out here.

[Jeff Moote]

I also have a Roscoe that did not sell recently on eBay. I wouldn't worry too much about what you did wrong, etc... It's a high end bass that will only sell to a niche market. You had a lot of watchers, but the majority of them probably couldn't afford it and just wanted to see if it'd sell anyway.

I agree with the above posters that you might sell it easier here. Also, your price is a bit high, but given the condition it's in you should definitely be able to clear 2000 and if you hold out possibly get your asking price.

I'd love that bass myself, but I'm selling a Roscoe for the same reason - I need the money

[funkythumb]

Good advice. Thanks everyone.
:-)

[BassfromSpace]

Bumpy bizzle for a great bass and luthier. I love keiths basses and havent played anything else on stage since '97. I dont think i ever will either! (unless its EUB). I too also tried to sell a SKB recently and was told and almost made fun of for trying to ask what i thought was fair for the bass as well as keiths great work!!! I wasnt selling for money though, i was selling because i wanted a different roscoe...lol. Anyway until the bass community wises up and realizes the value of these basses we can only take the hit, like others hear have explained the luthier basses just do that. O also sell it for what you think you should get, dont get lowballed IMO this is the reason most of the resale values on the luthier basses has dropped.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by BassfromSpace

I too also tried to sell a SKB recently and was told and almost made fun of for trying to ask what i thought was fair for the bass as well as keiths great work!!!

I wouldn't say we were making fun of you. I know it seems unfair, but that is simply the value of basses on the used market - and not just Roscoes. Asking upward of 75% of new prices on a custom bass originally priced in the $3k+ range is not realistic given the used market.

This sucks, but it means that Roscoes originally priced in the mid 2k range now sell for well under 2k and the really fancy ones worth up to 4k+ when new definitely won't sell for much more than $2600-2800.

I recently purchased my SKB 3005 which is about as expensive as they come short of a wedge neck or super expensive top, and I went into that knowing that if I ever want to sell it I'll be lucky to get more than 50%. That's fine too, because it turned out as well as expected and I'll be keeping it for a long time. On the other hand, I've never lost much/any money on a used Roscoe because they have a fairly stable market value. They may not always sell fast, but if priced fairly they will sell.

[JOME77]

+1 on the comment submitted by other Roscoe forum regulars.

The bottom line is that as long as owners are willing to sell their Roscoes for $2K and less, it'll be hard to see the resale value rise.

The market is nothing more than a reflection of what happens in the real world.

Personally I've at least seen the listing prices for used Roscoes start to go significantly higher. Not that they are selling for those prices but that's where it starts.......

[T. B. Player]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

I also have a Roscoe that did not sell recently on eBay. I wouldn't worry too much about what you did wrong, etc... It's a high end bass that will only sell to a niche market. You had a lot of watchers, but the majority of them probably couldn't afford it and just wanted to see if it'd sell anyway.

I agree with the above posters that you might sell it easier here. Also, your price is a bit high, but given the condition it's in you should definitely be able to clear 2000 and if you hold out possibly get your asking price.

I'd love that bass myself, but I'm selling a Roscoe for the same reason - I need the money

+1,000,000 - Right on the money (pun intended), Jeff!! There have been some 6 string Roscoes that have sold on the bay for $1500. If that's what people have seen and have it in their heads that that is what the instruments are worth (and certainly not taking any upgrades into consideration), then that is what it will be worth on the used market.

Think the used bass market is soft...try selling a house now.....the words "take a bath" come to mind....

[T-MOST]

Originally Posted by xgabriele

Roscoe, while getting bigger, isn't as well known as some would think. While I'm sure you have a killer bass, ebay isn't the best place to sell such a bass. I would suggest getting a supporting membership here and posting it in the classifieds, as well as posting an ad on bassgear.com.

I sold a Roscoe SKB 3005 (Buckeye Burl maple top/Swamp ash body/Birdseye maple board/Nords DC) back in September. I (starting ) priced it at $2550.00 but paid $2900 for it including the mods/labor and at the end of the week it was on it's way to Portland, OR for $2550.00 (87.9 % of original price)!! At first I thought I over priced it but let it ride to see what would happen. I was very happy that I did. Did I just get lucky? I don't know but in my mind my selling price was fair and obviously so did my buyer. At the same time there were 2 other Roscoe SKB 3005's up for bid. They were also very exotic woods and also listed in mint condition. They were priced higher than mine by $400 - $700 but did not sell. Maybe the market for a 6 is down right now. What I would NOT do is lower the price because it is fair. Just relist it (as many times as it takes) and I bet it will end up selling.

[funkythumb]

Right on T-Most !! Keep the fight brother :-)
I agree. Roscoes deserve better. Sure, I'm selling my bass at almost 85% of new but it IS practically new.
I'm a full-time player but I don't play this bass all the time. In fact, I barely play it one week per month. I'm sure more non-pros have logged on more time with their Roscoes than I have in the 9 months I've had mine.
I use other basses so this one is in great shape and deserves to be sold at that price.
I've got a couple people who are interested. If no one bites, then I'll relist as suggested. I've relisted other basses at the same price and they've sold. It's all about finding the right buyer.

[BassfromSpace]

Originally Posted by funkythumb

Right on T-Most !! Keep the fight brother :-)
I agree. Roscoes deserve better. Sure, I'm selling my bass at almost 85% of new but it IS practically new.
I'm a full-time player but I don't play this bass all the time. In fact, I barely play it one week per month. I'm sure more non-pros have logged on more time with their Roscoes than I have in the 9 months I've had mine.
I use other basses so this one is in great shape and deserves to be sold at that price.
I've got a couple people who are interested. If no one bites, then I'll relist as suggested. I've relisted other basses at the same price and they've sold. It's all about finding the right buyer.

I second that emotion...

[Halftooth]

Originally Posted by xgabriele

Roscoe, while getting bigger, isn't as well known as some would think. While I'm sure you have a killer bass, ebay isn't the best place to sell such a bass. I would suggest getting a supporting membership here and posting it in the classifieds, as well as posting an ad on bassgear.com.

I disagree...ebay has been much better for Roscoes (in terms of final sales price) than TB or BG. Sure you have to pay fees which sort of has an evening effect, but if you have a "fully dressed" Roscoe on ebay, I think you can get $2250 on up.

I think the real issue is that the market for the more standard Roscoes is much softer now than it has ever been. The ones with the Wedge necks, upgraded electronics (Nordstrand & Audere), and heavily upgraded tops seem to drum up the most interest mainly because there's less of them out circulating than the other more "standard" models (by standard I mean the the standard neck and Bart equipped models).

As with anything, the market gets to a saturation point. For the past 5 years or so, I think there was a lot of interest in players wanting to try out a Roscoe who didn't have access to them locally. Now that they've circulated through the system so to speak, the demand tends to drop even though the price of the new ones continues to escalate. The same thing has happened to other brands as well; the trick is to be able to control both price and production so that both markets keep increasing.

[Bass Thunder]

You wanted a clue and so far we have:
Timing;
Market (supply and demand);
Pricing;
Starting Bid.

Sounds like any other ebay auction.

Good Luck

[drumsnbass]

I've been watching the basses for sale here on TB and a lot of them don't seem to be moving all that fast either. Anecdotally, I would say pricing and the economy are against higher priced resales.

Then again, you get the right buyer at the right time, and you get what you want. I paid more for a Zon than I should have, but I love it so much I would pay the same again (or more if need be) if it were stolen.

Timing can be everything.

[T. B. Player]

The Low End's got a fretted SKB 3006 for $1995. Almost bought it...but after playing my 35 scale all day on the 1st, I realized I really need a 34 scale (and I'm not ready to do a special order).

I bet this one will go superfast...

Now, if you want someone that really needs a clue, check out the used Roscoe on the bay for a $3,300 Buy it Now price!

Z

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by T. B. Player

The Low End's got a fretted SKB 3006 for $1995.

I'd go for that one in a second if I had money and wanted a 3006!

One thing that is odd in the description is that it says Bart/Bart, but it has a switch suggesting a Demeter pre.

[T. B. Player]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

I'd go for that one in a second if I had money and wanted a 3006!

One thing that is odd in the description is that it says Bart/Bart, but it has a switch suggesting a Demeter pre.

Shhhh - that's why I asked the question about the purpleheart v. maple fb. If this has a Demeter in it, knowing it's not available anymore as a standard option, this would REALLY be THE bass with the cedar back and a little less "dry snap" to make it sound different from what I have. I just can't come up with everything to make it a "done deal" right now.