How to determine where to sell a bass?

[Growler]

I'm thinking of selling my bass and I'm not sure where to sell it? So far I can think of three options with any immediate concerns I might have.

1. 1. Local Consignment. There's a guitarshop (not GC) near me, which would save me on shipping costs, though they do take a piece of the sale. I bought a bass from the store that owns the consignment shop so I think they're pretty solid people.
2. 2. eBay. Shipping concerns and other misc fees.
3. 3. TB. Shipping concerns.

While fewer people would see the bass in the local shop, it would save me the headache/hassle of shipping it. As far as shipping goes, I have the hardcase that the bass came in, but what kind of box do you put the case into? Could I go to a local guitar shop and hope they have cardboard box that would fit a hard bass case?

Any tips or experiences would be appreciated.

[Thunderthumbs73]

4. Craigslist. You sell it locally to a local person. And all the plusses and minuses therein.

[MrDOS]

Boxes are hard to find. I have had limited success at local music stores, but you have to be there at the right time.

[NKUSigEp]

Originally Posted by Growler

I'm thinking of selling my bass and I'm not sure where to sell it? So far I can think of three options with any immediate concerns I might have.

1. 1. Local Consignment. There's a guitarshop (not GC) near me, which would save me on shipping costs, though they do take a piece of the sale. I bought a bass from the store that owns the consignment shop so I think they're pretty solid people.
2. 2. eBay. Shipping concerns and other misc fees.
3. 3. TB. Shipping concerns.

While fewer people would see the bass in the local shop, it would save me the headache/hassle of shipping it. As far as shipping goes, I have the hardcase that the bass came in, but what kind of box do you put the case into? Could I go to a local guitar shop and hope they have cardboard box that would fit a hard bass case?

Any tips or experiences would be appreciated.

TB and craigslist are the only way to go man! You deal with low-life scum on ebay - not that they don't exist elsewhere, but seem to swarm auctions in droves on there. And consignment shops probably don't do much if any advertising (I don't even know of any in business still around here) and have a limited customer base, not to mention they take a pretty decent sized cut.

If you're concerned about shipping, just figure that cost into the sale price - like X bass costs $Y dollars shipped in the continental US. Figure it out so that the furthest point from you is what it will cost - and then leave a little room to negotiate too. Don't take a beating on the price, but be fair ya know. Just about everyone with a computer can find out what the going price is on something in a few clicks.

[Eminor3rd]

Originally Posted by Thunderthumbs73

4. Craigslist. You sell it locally to a local person. And all the plusses and minuses therein.

+1

[kjpollo]

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

TB and craigslist are the only way to go man! You deal with low-life scum on ebay - not that they don't exist elsewhere, but seem to swarm auctions in droves on there. And consignment shops probably don't do much if any advertising (I don't even know of any in business still around here) and have a limited customer base, not to mention they take a pretty decent sized cut.

If you're concerned about shipping, just figure that cost into the sale price - like X bass costs $Y dollars shipped in the continental US. Figure it out so that the furthest point from you is what it will cost - and then leave a little room to negotiate too. Don't take a beating on the price, but be fair ya know. Just about everyone with a computer can find out what the going price is on something in a few clicks.

OR you can list it for $x plus actual shipping. Once you get the buyers ZIP code you can pretty easily get a shipping quote from any of the major shipping service co's out there.

[tercesyrev]

Sell on TB, may take a little longer than ebay but . . . no fees and a great target market. I just sold a guitar and made a very strong shipping container out of three egg boxes I got at the local grocery store for free. Egg boxes are very sturdy and have the perfect depth and width. Simply stack them, tape the lower box's flaps to the outside of the upper box, tape the upper box's flaps to the inside of the lower box. Repeat for the third box. Just use some good packaging tape and stuff with bubble wrap. Took a little a bit of time but only cost me $15 vs. $50 + UPS would have charged. Buyer was totally impressed. Craigs List is a good option as well. The fees on Ebay are getting ridiculous.

[nealpolitan]

I agree with craigslist followed closely by TB and then ebay a distant 3rd. Shipping isn't that bad, just time consuming. I've had to make my own boxes ala the above poster a couple times and while the first one kind of sucked, once I knew what to do, it went easier after that.

I sold a bass on ebay a few months back and at that time, the ebay and paypal charges were over 10% of the purchase price (I think it was a total of $40 for a $350 bass + $45 shipping auction). So take that into consideration when pricing locally and on TB.

The consignment shops around here take 20-30% and usually have a minimum charge (usually $50, so it would be 20-30% or 50$, whichever is greater). I have not tried that as I've had good luck selling things on my own.

Good luck!

[Growler]

If I was to sell it via Craigslist, how would the buyer test it out? I've bought/sold things via CL in the past, like concert tickets, and we would normally meet in some public place (parking lot near a Starbucks or something like that). I really do not want some stranger coming over to my house so they can test out the bass in my amp, and I'm not too keen on bringing the bass to someone's house. I just have personal safety concerns.

Any tips on CL?

[nealpolitan]

Sounds like selling and shipping via the classifieds here or on ebay are for you then.

It's good to be careful when dealing through craigslist. Even with guitars and such, I really try and meet in public to make the exchange. I've bought a couple amps and went to the guys houses for those, but only after a lengthy email and/or phone exchange so I could do my best to screen out the crazy.

Good luck

[bongomania]

If you can't find a bass-sized box at a guitar store, I've found most packing-supply places have what's called a "mirror box" that is a good large sturdy flat box; you have to cut the width down to size, but it's a great quality of box, and costs typically like $5. Also bicycle boxes are a good starting point, just cut down the width. Those can sometimes be gotten for free from bike shops.

[McHaven]

Originally Posted by Growler

If I was to sell it via Craigslist, how would the buyer test it out? I've bought/sold things via CL in the past, like concert tickets, and we would normally meet in some public place (parking lot near a Starbucks or something like that). I really do not want some stranger coming over to my house so they can test out the bass in my amp, and I'm not too keen on bringing the bass to someone's house. I just have personal safety concerns.

Any tips on CL?

I've met people at GC or other music shops to test out gear. GC really doesn't seem to mind.