Consignment and Used Classifieds

[bassman28]

I have a small bass consignment shop with all used basses. Some mine and some are consignment. My dilemma is I have my personal basses in my store along with the others so I'm not allowed to list either in the regular classifieds. Looks like I'll be limited to listing in the TB Bazaar section which seems to be bigger dealers and new basses. I wish there was a section for small buisness owners that deal in only used gear. So many small bass shops have closed up because of stock overhead,advertising,rent,buisness expenses,ect while trying to supply affordable basses to players without deep pockets. I understand not to clutter the individual seller ads but maybe let small used bass stores use the regular classifieds and limit the number of listings for those businesses with a slightly bigger fee then the individual price. Like alot of the other sites that allows listings for buisnesses and individuals in the same sections. The more bass choices the better plus not many people venture into the TB Bazaar section for used. Just a suggestion. Thankyou

 

[Stumbo]

Seems to me that I read personal sales by resellers is allowed.

 

[bassman28]

Seems to me that I read personal sales by resellers is allowed.

My problem was my personal basses are for sale in my store so I can't post anything from my store if even if its mine. My last 2 ads were removed by the moderator. So I don't know how to remedy that.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I don't want to discourage from selling here, and I understand your dilemma, but I gotta ask. Do you have a shop on Reverb?

I have much better luck selling on Reverb than on here.

I don't know is Bazaar results are included in the classifieds search, that could be an idea to look into if not.

 

[bassman28]

I don't want to discourage from selling here, and I understand your dilemma, but I gotta ask. Do you have a shop on Reverb?

I have much better luck selling on Reverb than on here.

I don't know is Bazaar results are included in the classifieds search, that could be an idea to look into if not.

Thankyou for the response. I do have a shop on Reverb. I like using Talkbass also because I have become friends with alot of the TB members and have built a trust with so many on here through sales and trades. The only downside of Reverb is you can't do trades on their site but other then that I've had great experiences. The alternative being the TB Bazaar section but it doesn't look like theres much traffic on that classified forum. Legally 95% of the basses in my shop are mine because I've started buying used basses instead of consignment, its just easier for me to sell them without having to contact an owner of a bass to ok a price.

 

[bassman28]

I always run across some really cool basses but unfortunately I will no longer be able to make them available to anyone on here unless you check out my store. I will continue to buy basses from my friends on here but no longer sell. It's a shame,I wish I could have conversation with the powers that be to find a solution for a small buisness that wants to sell used personal basses. The Bazzaar page just has no traffic (dominated by a handful of buisnesses) and with limited income and cost for that page to post in not really an option. Maybe something can come up with something from my previous post on here that can limit the amount of postings or/and a fee for store owners with used gear. With the traffic on the regular classifieds it would be cost effective. Thankyou

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

I don't want to discourage from selling here, and I understand your dilemma, but I gotta ask. Do you have a shop on Reverb?

I have much better luck selling on Reverb than on here.

I don't know is Bazaar results are included in the classifieds search, that could be an idea to look into if not.

I have the same dilemna as the OP. Even though some of the members have many more transactions than I do ( I have seen members with 300+ transactions on TB that are NOT treated as commercial). Being limited to post on the TB Bazaar would be ok, if there was any action there, but there is none. One by one the people who post there drift away, because it doesn't do much for them.

Reverb is an ok place to market your products, but it is also very expensive for the seller (6-7% fees) and for the buyer (Reverb is collecting state sales tax).

It sure would be nice to have a more viable place for small sellers to sell on TB.

 

[bassman28]

You are absolutely right 2ndBassGuitar. I am a small shop so I've never tried cornering a market. I just always run across some cool basses and was passing them along to Talkbass friends which most of them will vouch for me. Frustrating because I love dealing with the members on this forum. Plus finding basses I like for my personal collection. Oh well

 

[Chef]

I do look at the bazaar.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

I do look at the bazaar.

Chef - then you are one of the few. That area does not work. I have been on the Bazaar for a year now. Most members never go there. And the “sponsors” realize that and get disgruntled and stop posting (and paying). Small sellers like us provide a service to the members of Talk Bass. I sell products in Canada that the big chain up here do not carry.

I am being told to make a suggestIon on how things can change. Only so I can be told no? This is not a new issue and it is being ignored. TB should be happy that we are speaking up. The worst that can happen is when clients or partners just give up and go away. And many already have.

 

[Chef]

The staff are discussing this in the staff section.
And again, I can see posts in the bazaar section with hundreds, or, thousands of views.
So to say people go there just isn't 100% accurate.
That it could be different or improved is a valid point that we're working on.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Chef - then you are one of the few. That area does not work. I have been on the Bazaar for a year now. Most members never go there. And the “sponsors” realize that and get disgruntled and stop posting (and paying). Small sellers like us provide a service to the members of Talk Bass. I sell products in Canada that the big chain up here do not carry.

I am being told to make a suggestIon on how things can change. Only so I can be told no? This is not a new issue and it is being ignored. TB should be happy that we are speaking up. The worst that can happen is when clients or partners just give up and go away. And many already have.

With all due respect, you just marked a bass sold yesterday.

And just a thought regarding sales in general. For the most part, I am assuming that people browse the classifieds looking for used gear. I don't know percentages, but I'd wager a good chunk of what's in the Bazaar is new.

Take this thread, by you: For Sale - New Lakland Skyline 55-02

It's a nice bass, I'm not saying it's not. However, it's the same price that other major retailers are selling it for. I have no problem buying smaller things unseen from small retailers or any amount of money in store, but personally for big items I'd feel more comfortable buying from a bigger reputable shop if I am buying without touching the instrument. A shop that has a well known and upheld return policy if needed. Maybe that's just how I feel, but it's a thought.

 

[Chef]

''And just a thought regarding sales in general. For the most part, I am assuming that people browse the classifieds looking for used gear. I don't know percentages, but I'd wager a good chunk of what's in the Bazaar is new.''

Valid point. At least when I'm in the bazaar, I'm shipping new vs used. And I do have the impression most stuff there is new vs used.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

With all due respect, you just marked a bass sold yesterday.

And just a thought regarding sales in general. For the most part, I am assuming that people browse the classifieds looking for used gear. I don't know percentages, but I'd wager a good chunk of what's in the Bazaar is new.

Take this thread, by you: For Sale - New Lakland Skyline 55-02

It's a nice bass, I'm not saying it's not. However, it's the same price that other major retailers are selling it for. I have no problem buying smaller things unseen from small retailers or any amount of money in store, but personally for big items I'd feel more comfortable buying from a bigger reputable shop if I am buying without touching the instrument. A shop that has a well known and upheld return policy if needed. Maybe that's just how I feel, but it's a thought.

As per my comment on the thread, the bass was sold locally and not on TalkBass. I have never sold a bass through the TB Bazaar in the year I have listed on there.

Most manufacturers have something called Minimum Advertised Pricing. So the prices posted are set. You cannot even indicate to give an offer. But of course, you can sell for less.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

The staff are discussing this in the staff section.
And again, I can see posts in the bazaar section with hundreds, or, thousands of views.
So to say people go there just isn't 100% accurate.
That it could be different or improved is a valid point that we're working on.

Thank you to the staff and mods for listening. Hopefully something gets changed where it works for TB and Small commercial Sellers. Speaking for myself, I don’t mind paying more if there are sales that result from the changes.

1st step - change the name...... what is a Bazaar?

 

[paul]

Hi all, first off my apologies for being absent. I keep holding off hoping I'd have something to show you from the "2.0" upgrade to our software. Unfortunately I don't. Although massively delayed it's still being worked on. A better-working classifieds area is part of that, and it might include sponsored ads... although that decision hasn't been made yet. Until then, sure we can do a name change but there isn't a way to automatically include Bazaar threads into a classifieds forum search. Not without rewriting the forum software's search function.

So for now, it is what it is... If you want to advertise a shop on TalkBass we do sell banner ads, though their price tag is more than the $20/month for the bazaar. You can't get 354 clicks on a banner ad anywhere and only pay $20 (ala your 2005 Sunburst Musicman Stingray ad that's gotten 354 clicks in less than a month).

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

Hi all, first off my apologies for being absent. I keep holding off hoping I'd have something to show you from the "2.0" upgrade to our software. Unfortunately I don't. Although massively delayed it's still being worked on. A better-working classifieds area is part of that, and it might include sponsored ads... although that decision hasn't been made yet. Until then, sure we can do a name change but there isn't a way to automatically include Bazaar threads into a classifieds forum search. Not without rewriting the forum software's search function.

So for now, it is what it is... If you want to advertise a shop on TalkBass we do sell banner ads, though their price tag is more than the $20/month for the bazaar. You can't get 354 clicks on a banner ad anywhere and only pay $20 (ala your 2005 Sunburst Musicman Stingray ad that's gotten 354 clicks in less than a month).

Thank you for your reply, Paul. I appreciate your thoughts. I will be patient and see what changes come. In the interim, maybe let commercial sellers sell one or two used items at a time on the regular side?

Jim

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

In the interim, maybe let commercial sellers sell one or two used items at a time on the regular side?

Jim

Sorry, but as we’ve already told you we’re not going to allow items to be sold through the standard Classifieds.

 

[russ_bass]

You are absolutely right 2ndBassGuitar. I am a small shop so I've never tried cornering a market. I just always run across some cool basses and was passing them along to Talkbass friends which most of them will vouch for me. Frustrating because I love dealing with the members on this forum. Plus finding basses I like for my personal collection. Oh well

I don't sell basses and in fact seem to just buy them. I see with what you're asking for and, of course, checked out your link in your description. So I've added it to my browser's bookmark as well as 2ndBassGuitar as I've been there before. I suppose that's all I can do as a consumer. However, it would be useful to have a list of SMALL commercial users in this predicament so I can look for more stuff at their sites that are not being listed on TB. I don't particularly like Reverb, and I realize the challenge TB would have distinguishing a SMALL retailer versus someone who'd pretending to be one ... but just a thought.

 

[bassman28]

My suggestion and its an easy one. Change the title of the Talkbass Bazaar section to Dealer Classifieds or Classifieds/Dealer. Then its self explanatory. Just the name change alone will lead more people to the section. I have been on Talkbass for over 10 years and over 500 positive feedbacks and maybe went to that section 5 times only because the name just didn't draw me there.