Guitar selling issues

juankidiaz · #1 10-24-2011, 11:02 AM

As I have stated in other threads I'm in the middle of moving from guitar to bass.

I listed my Fender Squier Stratocaster in three different websites, on of them being a paid classifieds website a la Ebay.

I had been getting some phone calls from people asking for my guitar: "does it include amp?", "are you willing to lower the price" and other inquiries.

Last week we were on a 3 day weekend and I got from a guy that basically told me that the following week he would be getting some money and was VERY interested in buying my guitar, since his was stolen and he needed a cheap but good instrument for some rehearsals he had scheduled already. I told him no problem, that we would speak the following week whenever he had the money.

I started freaking out a little bit since I have a couple of halloween gigs (october 28 and november 6) and couldn't be left without any instrument for said gigs and to practice the previous days to them.

The next day I got an e-mail notification letting me know that I had sold my guitar on the Ebay type site, which was a good surprise so I sent an email to the buyer to start the contact.

A few days went by and no reply from the buyer so finally I decided to call him last sunday to set up the transaction. Surprise surprise... I ended up talking to the buyers' father. He was a 12 year old kid whom I suspect doesn't know or understand how the website worked and just clicked on BUY without giving it much thought. His father didn't even know or understood what I was talking about whenever I said that his son had bought a guitar online. We talked for a couple of minutes and finally as I had suspected earlier it was dead end.

My classified was of course now inactive and the item appeared as sold. I had already paid the website for the post and this morning I got an email letting my know my charges for completing the sell. I just reposted it, thank God there was a repost option so I didn't have to copy past and upload all the pictures again.

After hanging up with the kid's parent, I called the guy interested on buying my guitar and he told me that he had received more money than he had expected so he went for a Yamaha axe instead.

So my TB friends, that's how I went to having two buyers for my Strat to none in a matter of minutes.

Way dissapointed to day the least since I was counting with that money to buy an Epiphone Thunderbird IV this weekend.

I made some quick math this morning and maybe just maybe I'll be able to move some cash around and use my credit card for some of the value to be able to buy the bass.

Wish me luck!

charlie monroe · #2 10-24-2011, 01:06 PM

Count your blessings. I think it was short sighted to list your guitar two whole weeks before you were willing to let it go.

Instead of your rant, we would be reading one from the buyer.

Sometimes it appears that things happen for a reason. Do yourself a favor, and don't pull that credit card out. Buy the T-Bird for cash when the Strat is sold.

NKUSigEp · #3 10-24-2011, 01:18 PM

^ Agree.

It ain't easy selling stuff sometimes. Unless your giving a killer deal or it's something that's rare/collectible or otherwise just highly sought after, don't be surprised if a piece of gear sits for a couple weeks before selling.

Think about it: you have to have your gear posted in the right place at the right time so that someone WITH the money AND the desire to buy it sees it. There are a lot of factors there. Epi T-birds are a dime a dozen...I'd wait till you have the cash to pick one up.

Warrior_Bass · #4 10-24-2011, 01:22 PM

You'll appreciate it a lot more with cash. If its a credit debt, it will be more of a burden in the back of your mind.

juankidiaz · #5 10-24-2011, 01:30 PM

hey charlie monroe, actually I forgot to mention that as soon as potential buyers started appearing I asked a friend and he lent me his Epiphone SG for a couple of weeks, I actually took it to last saturday's rehearsal and will be playing it on both halloween gigs

And on the credit card ussage, I'm not a big fan of debts, I'm contemplating on using it for less than 50% of the value, I have a few bucks leftover from last month's paycheck so if I end up going for it will be a sound decision.

Thanks for your words friend!

Hey NKUSigEp, thanks for your reply.

Yes I know how hard it is to sell an instrument that isn't at all that special. It is quite the begginers non expensive learning guitar, the reason itselft why I bought it and it has been taken into consideration.

I've already sold a bass+amp+pedal and a drumkit before in my teenage years and am aware that in order no to undersell it you need to be patient. I have considerably lowered the price for the almost 11 month use of the instrument and have always told myself to be patient unless I want to practically give it away.

There are a couple of facts I haven't mentioned though... As some of you may know, musical instruments and pretty much any product imported to south american countries are ridiculously overpriced, and this particular store I've been going to has a 20% off discount ending the 15th of november, so if I were to get the bass it would be quite a good deal than buying it at its normal price, also I'm worried if I let any more days go by it could be easily bought before I have all the money to pay it in cash

Hey Warrior_Bass, as I mentioned before it wouldn't be much of a credit debt since it will be a small ammount that I'd debit for a few months

Thanks to all hey charlie monroe, actually I forgot to mention that as soon as potential buyers started appearing I asked a friend and he lent me his Epiphone SG for a couple of weeks, I actually took it to last saturday's rehearsal and will be playing it on both halloween gigs

And on the credit card ussage, I'm not a big fan of debts, I'm contemplating on using it for less than 50% of the value, I have a few bucks leftover from last month's paycheck so if I end up going for it will be a sound decision.

Thanks for your words friend!

Hey NKUSigEp, thanks for your reply.

Yes I know how hard it is to sell an instrument that isn't at all that special. It is quite the begginers non expensive learning guitar, the reason itselft why I bought it and it has been taken into consideration.

I've already sold a bass+amp+pedal and a drumkit before in my teenage years and am aware that in order no to undersell it you need to be patient. I have considerably lowered the price for the almost 11 month use of the instrument and have always told myself to be patient unless I want to practically give it away.

There are a couple of facts I haven't mentioned though... As some of you may know, musical instruments and pretty much any product imported to south american countries are ridiculously overpriced, and this particular store I've been going to has a 20% off discount ending the 15th of november, so if I were to get the bass it would be quite a good deal than buying it at its normal price, also I'm worried if I let any more days go by it could be easily bought before I have all the money to pay it in cash

Hey Warrior_Bass, as I mentioned before it wouldn't be much of a credit debt since it will be a small ammount that I'd debit for a few months

Thanks to all three for your replies and input, they will all help me make my final decision when the time comes. I'll also let you guys whener I finally sell the darn thing

for your replies and input, they will all help me make my final decision when the time comes. I'll also let you guys whener I finally sell the darn thing

NKUSigEp · #6 10-24-2011, 02:08 PM

Admittedly I forget from time to time that not everyone lives in the USA.

juankidiaz · #7 10-24-2011, 02:38 PM

hehehe it's ok amigo, let me give you the exact numbers so you can really feel my pain

Taking in consideration what the american dollar is valued today in colombia: 1 dollar = 1,897.45 pesos

- I bought my Strat for $207 and am selling it for $158
- Here the $299 Epiphone Thunderbird IV bass (MF price) was being sold at $519 and is now lowered to $482.
- With the 20% discount I would be getting the bass alone for $385

and is why, my friend, I am going out of my mind here

Stumbo · #8 10-24-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juankidiaz

The next day I got an e-mail notification letting me know that I had sold my guitar on the Ebay type site, which was a good surprise so I sent an email to the buyer to start the contact.

A few days went by and no reply from the buyer so finally I decided to call him last sunday to set up the transaction. Surprise surprise... I ended up talking to the buyers' father. He was a 12 year old kid whom I suspect doesn't know or understand how the website worked and just clicked on BUY without giving it much thought. His father didn't even know or understood what I was talking about whenever I said that his son had bought a guitar online. We talked for a couple of minutes and finally as I had suspected earlier it was dead end.

Seems to me that you should have contacted dBay and reported the non-sale before they charged you your fees. It wasn't your fault the buyer flaked out. I suspect the "12 year old" was a fake story.

The buyer should have had his account banned for fraudulent usage, especially since his "12 y.o. kid" used it to create a contract.

I'd still let eBay know what happened. Maybe they can still investigate.

juankidiaz · #9 10-24-2011, 03:33 PM

Hey Stumbo, thanks for your input.

This wasn't on Ebay itself, the site is called Mercado Libre. I did go into the system, left a negative feedback and guess what? After I sent it I noticed someone had done the same not too long ago, also claiming that it was a kid that didn't know better. I guess that account must be on its way out.

As far as having to pay for the non-sell I don't know if this system allows that kind of report, well it was reported as a non-completed transaction but I don't know if that will let me off from having to pay for using the system.

The mail I received this morning talked about "bonifications" but hasn't exactly told me to pay such ammount as it did before since I selected the "silver" option over the normal to improve the selling possibilities.

I'll keep you posted of this also.

Thanks again.

juankidiaz · #10 11-12-2011, 08:17 AM

Hey guys just wanted to keep you in the loop!

I finally didn't have to pay anything for my Ebay style ad, being that the fake buyer got a negative review and the business was reported as unfinished I wasn't charged for it.

Continued getting several calls and questions on my Strat classifieds.

There was this one guy that was really interested in buying the guitar, he did as for a generous price reduction but I told him to come look at the guitar and we would discuss the price.

He left me waiting a couple of times but a couple days ago he finally went to my apartment and I made the sale.

Bought it for 205, wanted to sell it for 156, thought about selling it at least 130, sold it for 115.

I wasn't really in a hurry to get rid of it but selling a 2nd hand instrument is rather difficult in these parts, and don't even get me started on selling at a fair price.

So I just decided to make the best of this bird in the hand and sell it.

And now for the greater news, for those of you who don't read the T-Bird threads, here's a picture of the Mrs with my new bass

Thanks everyone for the advice and taking the time to read my thread, I am officially 100% back to bass!

DeivoxCarnal · #11 11-12-2011, 08:37 AM

yay! Congratulations. Enjoy the neck dive!

Root 5 · #12 11-13-2011, 05:58 AM

The thing that annoys me the most is how unbelievably cheap, people are. If an instrument has a fair market value of $1,000, they'll offer you $400.

Be realistic, people! Or stop wasting someone's time!!

Stumbo · #13 11-13-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juankidiaz

Goog pic for the chicks with basses thread.

Stumbo · #14 11-13-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

The thing that annoys me the most is how unbelievably cheap, people are. If an instrument has a fair market value of $1,000, they'll offer you $400.

Be realistic, people! Or stop wasting someone's time!!

Fair Market is only what someone will pay for it. Check out the housing prices lately? Downward pricing trends affect every marketable item.

People who offer you a much lower price than you're asking are playing the numbers game. If you make a ton of low offers, some offers will be accepted, thus motivating the low ballers to keep making much lower offers than the asking price. Same in every business.