So, tell me about Ebay...

jfh2424 · #1 05-24-2010, 08:22 PM

I am trying to sell a couple of basses in the classified section with no luck. I have a third bass to sell too.

I am considering putting them all up on Ebay as I am not really getting a lot of bites.

Is Ebay still a viable option for sales? I remember quite a few posts a while back saying it wasn't great, but I haven't heard anything lately. Anything worth looking out for?

Thanks!

John

pica · #2 05-24-2010, 08:34 PM

I've never had any problems selling anything on ebay. Although I've had better luck selling basses on CL. You don't have to deal with boxing and shipping, if it's a local sale.

A-Step-Towards · #3 05-24-2010, 08:37 PM

This sounds bad i guess, but buyers here are way more knowledgable then ebay. They know alot of right questions to ask .

Ebay has more suckers and people waying to pay bigger bucks for stuff, TB is middle ground people expect a honest and fair deal.

Craigslist is like the front line, its hell, full of flakes and low ballers. But i have had great sales on craigs and here.As for ebay , i have never sold on there, never will.

stflbn · #4 05-24-2010, 08:43 PM

If you're not getting bites here, then you have them priced to high. There's thousands of visitors here every day and when somethings priced right for that given week, month, day things move.... often within minutes or hours.

In my experience, (unless you have something rare, unique, or extremely personal) after ebay fee's paypal fee's, shipping, etc it's almost always 'as' profitable or more profitable to sell something here.

However... you're not going to sucker someone into running up a bid here. (unless you have something rare, unique, or extremely personal) and it's something that someone decides they just MUST have.

Also, you have no feedback here from buying or selling on Talkbass, so there may be a lack of trust issue working against you.
And, you show no location.
And, you've filled out none of your profile but sex: Male

All that 'can' work together to test the trust of potential habitual buyers here.

Honestly... I was considering your Dynabass 5-string earlier, then saw that one sold on ebay earlier today for $232 (which is low), then I couldn't find where you were located, then I saw you had no profile info filled out, then I saw you had no feedback. Combine all those things and it spooked me. However... I'm the paranoid type that worries about all kinds of crap like that.

I've seen instruments sell here from sellers with no photo's at all, and no feedback, and no profile info and things have gone fine. I've just haven't got the trust factor for that.

:: shrug ::

.

IMHO.

twangman · #5 05-24-2010, 09:01 PM

As Pica stated, I too have had better luck on CL, plus no fees, and no shipping and all that. I think you should try that first, then use ebay as a last resort.

jfh2424 · #6 05-24-2010, 10:24 PM

I didn't know there was a profile info. I will look into it.

I have bought two basses here on TB. I didn't know there was a way to register this stuff.

Yep, I guess I am not a super knowledgeable seller about how this whole place functions.

Thanks for the heads up about that.

About the Peavey Dyna Bass, I guess Ebay is not the answer. I would not take $232 for that bass, that's for sure. Seems kind of ridiculous.

By the way, how do you find out how much specific basses sell for on Ebay? I am curious.

John

stflbn · #7 05-24-2010, 10:30 PM

Need to make sure that the sellers give you good feedback then. Get some good feedback and all your info filled out and you've started building some credibility here.

Don't be surprised if Talkbass buyers want to know phone numbers, possibly work numbers and other reliably contact info either. When dealing with unknowns on the internet you simply cannot be to safe with your money as a buyer. As a seller you "must" do everything you can to prove who you say you are, show the goods AND bads of what you're selling, and most important here on Talkbass... price your item 'to sell' if you really want to sell it. Yes, you may move an overpriced item, but it likely will take time and many bumps of posts (not days or weeks).

.

smcd · #8 05-24-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh2424

About the Peavey Dyna Bass, I guess Ebay is not the answer. I would not take $232 for that bass, that's for sure. Seems kind of ridiculous.

That's the going rate. 4-string Dyna's usually sell for around $180 on ebay. What you'll take and what the bass is worth on the market are often 2 different things.

Like it or not, ebay is the venue where market value is determined.

Fetusyolk · #9 05-24-2010, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcd

Like it or not, eBay is the venue where market value is determined.

true- most stores that get involved in the used market use eBay solely as their price determiner. the value of an instrument is dictated by what people will pay for it- and the big chains (the ones that 'set the standard') know about eBay too

A-Step-Towards · #10 05-24-2010, 11:38 PM

Get feedback for sure i know i bought 2 thinsg on here and realized i should have gotten feedback and now cant remember who it was.

Feedback is key here, also if you post alot on here that helps build credablity.

bongomania · #11 05-25-2010, 12:05 AM

To find out an item's value, there are two main methods:

1) Search "completed items" on Ebay. This shows you what price the same item sold for within the last 60 days. Use the normal search, e.g. enter (dynabass,"dyna bass","peavey bass"), then click the button on the left that says "completed items". You can also select completed items in their advanced search page. Note that green listings actually sold for the price shown, but red listings ended with no sale.

2) Search TB's classifieds for the same item. Some sellers delete the price when the item sells, but some leave the price posted specifically for the benefit of people who want to research used-gear prices later on.

lovechick · #12 05-25-2010, 12:41 AM

I think alot of inexperienced folks fail with eBay because they believe it's a "get rich quick" opportunity or something. A buddy asks me every so often to auction his mid-80s Aria SB Elite for him. I tried explaining prior to our first run that, on a really good day, the bass might get $750. My buddy explained that he paid $900 for it and had difficulty understanding that what he got duped into paying and actual market value are two differnet things. Similarly, my girlfriend's brother asked me to auction his '73 Harley Sportster about 4 years back. My attempts to explain how eBay works fell on deaf ears as the kid was convinced he'd get $8,000 for a bike worth no more than $2,500. (He ended up selling it locally for $1,500.) EBay can work well for the used instrument buyer because, like here in Podunk central Pennsylvania, there is no abundance of used gear shops selling anything of interest to me unless I'm willing to travel three or four hours, and even then, the internet is still a much broader marketplace. Selling on eBay is no different: you're taking advantage of a broader market for whatever piece you're selling and appealing to a greater demand than you could at a local pawn shop or whatnot. Where most get hung up is believing their beloved piece (like a five string Dyna) is in higher demand than it actually is. With that in mind, however, the '78 fretless P should see great action (unless you're simply asking way too much!) because you can't just go into the local mom and pops and pick one up. Good luck!

alangoldstein · #13 05-25-2010, 12:45 AM

ebay WAS good. back in the day.

when you didnt NEED to have PAYPAL / bank account etc.. to use ebay.

ebay bought paypal. paypal gets 3 % ebay gets a piece. its a monopoly.

i remmeber when I could sell something and only accept payment as check, money order.... those were the days.

EagleMoon · #14 05-25-2010, 12:46 AM

Not having the profile info filled out usually spooks me too, plus no feedback, or very low feedback is a deterrent. Depending on what you're selling, Ebay can either be a good avenue to sell something, or a waste of time. There are generally quite a few old Peavey's on Ebay during any given week, so it's a good buyers market but not so good for sellers. I would definitely try Craigslist and maybe lowering your prices on here? A lot of basses haven't been selling lately due to the economy. People just don't have the money right now.

Ian Perge · #15 05-25-2010, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

...Also, you have no feedback here from buying or selling on Talkbass, so there may be a lack of trust issue working against you.
And, you show no location.
And, you've filled out none of your profile but sex: Male

All that 'can' work together to test the trust of potential habitual buyers here...

+1. Lack of Profile Info & Location (especially for someone who's been a member for over 16 months) as well as feedback has kept me away from purchasing several items here. Fill those out, perhaps make a few purchases or sale of low-price gear (strings and such) to make and receive Feedback and I imagine you'll get your listing far more noticed.

Also, realize that the overall economy has effected the Used Instrument & Gear market in a major way - I've noticed that sales both here and on eBay are down in general as well selling for less money overall - most people simply don't have the extra money to put into new or new-to-me gear purchases. It's a positive if you can - I've been lucky enough to grab several higher-ticket items for substantially less than they would have gone for otherwise (and thus out of my spending range) during the downturn in the economy - but I'd certainly say that I'm an anomaly. Right now you have to either be willing to take what "the market" will give you, or hold off on a sale until it recovers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Some sellers delete the price when the item sells, but some leave the price posted specifically for the benefit of people who want to research used-gear prices later on.

I just wanted to point out that both as a Buyer as well as a Seller the final sale price for previously sold items can be of great help to me in both fields, that I certainly appreciate people who have and do leave the price listed, and that it's especially of major value for exotic/esoteric/limited edition items that don't get listed on eBay & their searches. I wanted to mention the above as well so that Sellers who delete their sale prices would perhaps reconsider because of those reasons among others. Pretty please with a tort pickguard on top?

Quote:

Originally Posted by alangoldstein

ebay WAS good. back in the day.

when you didnt NEED to have PAYPAL / bank account etc.. to use ebay.

ebay bought paypal. paypal gets 3 % ebay gets a piece. its a monopoly.

i remmeber when I could sell something and only accept payment as check, money order.... those were the days.

This is all true, but on the flip as both a Seller as well as a Buyer PayPal does eliminate the time for a check to clear, the need to go out and physically deposit a Check/Money Order (especially myself, who moved into a city 5 years ago with no local bank branches until a few months ago and until then had to work out a complex "Mail check marked 'For Deposit Only!' to Mother-In-Law to deposit in local bank" system, and that PayPal's charge for instantaneous deposits, payments and other banking methods was easily worth it. As a Seller it also gives the Buyer *another* payment option, and while for a Seller there's a large difference between 3% of a $500 midrange bass vs 3% of a Sadowsky/Lull/MTD/USA Spector selling for above $2,000, I've found that giving a Buyer another option for anything is never a bad thing.

**JxBass** · #16 05-25-2010, 04:07 AM

eBay has gotten more expensive over the years but that comes with success. I've been able to find items there that I couldn't find anywhere else. It's also been a great place for a small business person to open a virtual store, often specializing in items of particular interest to them and their customers.

I've bought and sold a lot of music gear at eBay over the years, much of it pretty high-end. The experience has been very positive and I've interacted with very nice buyers and sellers.

smcd · #17 05-25-2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alangoldstein

ebay WAS good. back in the day.

when you didnt NEED to have PAYPAL / bank account etc.. to use ebay.

ebay bought paypal. paypal gets 3 % ebay gets a piece. its a monopoly.

i remmeber when I could sell something and only accept payment as check, money order.... those were the days.

ebay is better than ever today. Buyers using PayPal have 100% assurance that the item purchased is as advertised. This in turn increases the number of buyers willing to bid on an item.

95% of my ebay experiences have been good.

lamarjones · #18 05-25-2010, 07:47 AM

I still sell on ebay, a lot. 90% more than I do here or CL.

the only time I sell here is when I have something nice that should remain in the TB realm, or in my mind it should.

the only time I deal with CL is as a secondary means to ebay.

I also offer international shipping to Japan and Europe, as those people are buying way more than anyone in the states.

That said, you have to know your fees, as what you price on ebay needs to reflect what you expect to get on CL or even here. CL=absolutely no fees. Here=shipping and paypal usually. Ebay=shipping, paypal, ebay fee(almost equivalent to paypal fee).

All of this doesn't take into account that a) my feedback on ebay is great, as it is here b) I know very well what everything I sell is worth c) I think they major problem here is pricing and/or demand for what you are selling.

you can't even begin to compare the number of watchers on ebay to here or CL.

SurferJoe46 · #19 05-25-2010, 09:13 AM

Since I live over 50 miles from the nearest town with stores of any size (including GC) it isn't much trouble for me to buy something when I visit 'the big city' to do my gear buying.

I have a site sniffer watching CL for me here and if the word 'Bass" or "Fender" comes up on a local CL listing, I get an instant notification in an email toast-up so I jump over to check it out.

I don't like the horror stories of E-bay, but will consider a CL for sale listing in a town not more than 100 miles away if I'm going in the same direction anyway for other purchases. I also don't like the IRS watching transactions on E-bay.

Shipping, hidden damages, insurance, Pay-Pal, commissions, general mistrust and deceit of sellers and a very one-sided transaction system is enough to keep me away from things E-named.

My being so far away from merchant's venues doesn't drive me to E-bay at all and I will never buy something that I cannot touch, play and look all over first.

I also don't see the 'Podunct, Pennsylvania" (no insult intended) situation where I would HAVE to use E-bay as my only available option. That doesn't cut any ice with me.

Chasarms · #20 05-25-2010, 09:18 AM

I have purchased and sold dozens of music items on ebay. My FB is more than 200. I have never had a bad experience as a seller or buyer.

As a buyer, I actually prefer ebay. While I have never had a bad experience using TB class, there is a certain security associated with ebay that you don't get here. I don't mind paying a modest premium for that.

As a seller, I do typically attempt to sell here at TB classified first, but it also has its hassles. The ridiculous trade offers and low ballers can very annoying. My ebay method is simple. I never pay extra for having a reserve. I set the starting bid at my bottom dollar price. I also set a buy-it-now at a reasonable "stretch" price for that person that wants it and doesn't have the stomach to wait out the auction. Most of the time, it sells somewhere in the middle. Almost always, I end up getting a little more on ebay than I could have gotten on TB. I'm not sure it covers the extra fees, but at least partly.

I wouldn't trust craigslist with a 9 and a half foot pole.