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Favorite selling platform?

Where is your favorite place(s) to sell gear?

  • Craigslist

    Votes: 27 20.8%

  • Offerup

    Votes: 1 0.8%

  • Facebook Market Place

    Votes: 12 9.2%

  • Consign at music store

    Votes: 9 6.9%

  • Sell directly to music store

    Votes: 9 6.9%

  • TalkBass Classifieds

    Votes: 72 55.4%

  • Ebay

    Votes: 12 9.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 29 22.3%
  • Total voters
    130
#21
I find the best ones financially are the 'bootsale' platforms that don't charge fees, don't require shipping and the final sale is up to the buyer whether you actually want to sell the item to a prospective buyer or not. For those of us in the UK, these tend to be things like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Shpock. I've sold quite a few items, bass related and otherwise and usually for a good price. Often better than I would have gotten on ebay.

Unfortunately, the downside with these 'bootsale' platforms is the dealing with people with haggling techniques some people try. I've lost count the number of times I've had to fend off ridiculously low ball offers, or straight in with "what's your best price?". Several times I've had people asking offering a lower price because they have pay for public transport to collect it. I also refuse to post via these platforms as there's little, if any seller/buyer protection.

I do sell some items on ebay too, normally smaller mass produced items that I know will hold a certain value that I don't mind posting, or if they haven't sold elsewhere.
 
#22
Most successful selling platform: TalkBass. I'd prefer to sell locally via CraigsList to avoid shipping costs and associated trepidation. Despite being the largest city population-wise, the CL market is pretty lousy despite the discounted pricing and the "try it before you buy it" standing offer.

Riis
 
#24
I have sold a very expensive Bass here on Talkbass, overseas with no problem at all. I have given up on ebay mostly due to fees. I have had some interesting experiences with craigslist and some smooth transactions as well. In the end it can be a crapshoot. I do my homework and try to create some sort of communication to get e "feel" if this is a good thing.
 
#25
I do most of my selling through Talkbass, some on eBay.

I've sold a few amps locally on Craigslist to avoid shipping costs. The last amp I sold there was several years ago; it took a few weeks to sell and out of about three dozen replies, only two were legit. Not the best sales environment for sure, so I only use it if I have to.

Never had any luck with Facebook. I think the audience on Facebook might be too limited, what with the algorithms and all.

I've bought a few pedals from Reverb, but things I've heard make me skeptical about selling there.
 
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#26
I've sold a handful of Fender basses, all on Craigslist, and one boutique bass on consignment. I've made a profit on all, except broke even on one that was a boat anchor. For me CL is best... no fees, player tries out the bass, knows what he/she is getting. 100% of sale goes to me, happy customer. Win-win.
 
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#27
Back in the day I sold a lot of stuff on EBay, but rising costs of shipping and EBay fees has led me away from that site. Haven’t used it in probably ten years. I have used CL all along, and FB more recently. I found that if you offer shipping on FB you have a much wider market and greater selling success. Pretty obvious I guess.

I had a local music store that was doing consignment sales for a reasonable 10% fee, but COVID ended that deal. I’m not flipping anymore, because every beginner thinks their Squier Affinity is worth $400 now.
 
#30
I used to do consignment in local shops... but the past couple of years they seemed to have raised their cut while pushing their own inventory over the consignment stuff.... I get it, it's their business... But I am not here to put inventory on their wall for 300 people to try and then be talked into something they make more money on...
I recently picked all my stuff up from a place.. there were scratches and other marks from people trying the basses.
Of course the owner denied that.. So I took them home and sold them on Craigslist for more money than I was gonna get from the store anyway... and faster too...
 
#32
Axtman said:
Throughout the years I have used a bunch of platforms to sell music gear. What is your favorite places and why? Are there places that you don't recommend and why?
Click to expand...
In the good old days of the 80's, early 90's, I used to consign stuff at Ed's Music Workshop in Peterborough, Ontario. It's now Closed. The owner, Don Skuce passed away. He was an amazing guy. RIP.
 
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#36
I've had pretty good luck buying and selling on Craigslist and Facebook. You get people who say they will be there at a certain time who don't show up or call, but if you plan to meet them at home when you will be there anyway, you lose nothing
 
#37
Gorn said:
The ebay hate is gonna be strong in this thread, and I think it’s justified now more than ever. The buyer is king. Facts don’t matter. Evidence doesn’t matter. The buyer will win in a dispute. I’ve done well here. Craigslist is good for local cash sales.
Click to expand...
I'll add that ebay's seller dashboard is pretty bad, too. I've given up selling there because of the interface and general unfriendliness to anyone who is simply trying to sell off a few items.
 
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#38
I voted CL, but that's mostly because it's been the best of a frustrating lot. I will say lately I've had pretty good luck - I sold a bass and a piece of electronics quickly and relatively hassle-free.

I do sell some stuff to Guitar Center, but that's generally if I want something gone quickly, because that's the tradeoff you make with GC: you will get less money, but you will get it today, and you won't have to deal with a lot of nonsense like "can I have a discount because I have to drive across town", "I can pick it up but only between 3:45 and 3:48 on this Thursday", "do you want to trade for my pile of magic beans and a rusty hubcap off a 1958 Studebaker", etc.
 
#39
I am very lucky to have a great brick & mortar buy/sell/trade store close by and that has become my go-to because shipping just kind of sucks, anymore. (And the owners are great people and I'd rather farm the leg work out to them because I'm burned out on online sales...)
But the classifieds here have been a great resource for many years (pre-dated and will probably outlast the local store).
Reverb gets honorable mention. Maybe CL in some cases.
 

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