"Local pick up only" (Reverb) rant...

[Doug4321]

Thanks! I didn’t know

They should have an option to filter out the “local pickup only” options if they are more than 50 miles away. In practice the local only ones aren’t anywhere near me so I might as well filter them all out. But, there usually aren’t too many so not super annoying.

 

[40Hz]

^These are the main reasons I don't ship anything big and/or expensive.

Same here. And I no longer will ship instruments unless I already know the buyer or they're a TB member.

 

[40Hz]

The other and probably most likely factor is local pickup people want cash / Venmo and to bypass reverb for sale. They’re essentially using reverb as free marketing in hopes someone will see it and be able to come in person.

Maybe. But if Reverb (or EBay) suspect you of doing that they'll terminate your account because doing a side deal to circumvent paying their fees is a direct violation of their TOS. If you're advertising local pickup only and those listings keep disappearing without any sales through Reverb, they'll catch on pretty fast to what you're up to.

 

[DoctorZee]

Maybe. But if Reverb (or EBay) suspect you of doing that they'll terminate your account because doing a side deal to circumvent paying their fees is a direct violation of their TOS. If you're advertising local pickup only and those listings keep disappearing without any sales through Reverb, they'll catch on pretty fast to what you're up to.

It’s an interesting question. When I sell something I typically put it everywhere: Reverb, eBay, Craigslist, Facebook, and TalkBass. So, I have ended tons of Reverb listings as “sold elsewhere,” but not because I’m trying to game the system. At least not by my definition. Never been flagged for it, hoping it doesn’t become an issue.

 

[LowActionHero]

Ya know, it might be less about shipping cost and more about how not-so-gentle they are nowadays, not wanting to deal with claims. might be better to have the buyer look it over and agree to it on the spot, dings and all, than to deal with having to go that route later. Just a thought

 

[LBS-bass]

I want to sell the bass, but no, I’m not desperate to compromise. I’ll make the sale I want eventually.

This.

I think a lot of this dissatisfaction comes down to people wanting to be in control of things that aren't theirs to control.

Seller has something you want, you* see it, you realize you can't have it. You're not in control of that, but your sense of entitlement has just been activated. "It's out there for sale! I "should" be able to buy it!"

Unfortunately, the seller isn't out there waiting for you. The seller's out there waiting for the person who will buy it on their terms, and you aren't in the game. But you know it's out there so it's annoying that the control over all of this is in the hands of someone else.

I hear this underlying subtext a lot in these kind of discussions about what sellers "should" do.

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*You in this case being "any possible person who isn't in the local area" not a specific person.

 

[LBS-bass]

Ya know, it might be less about shipping cost and more about how not-so-gentle they are nowadays, not wanting to deal with claims. might be better to have the buyer look it over and agree to it on the spot, dings and all, than to deal with having to go that route later. Just a thought

I think claims are escalating due to a variety of factors. Scams are rampant. The last time I took a bass to UPS to be boxed and shipped the fees were exorbitant, and I do not have the stamina or will do do all that myself. So my basses will never go up on Reverb to be shipped to anyone, and I'm ok with that. If it takes longer to sell them than average, I'm ok with that too.

Back in the day people would often pawn instruments when they needed fast cash. Now everyone wants a quick sale for full price on the buyer's terms. It's just how the market works; the shipping has become a huge liability in a variety of ways.

 

[DoctorZee]

This.

I think a lot of this dissatisfaction comes down to people wanting to be in control of things that aren't theirs to control.

Seller has something you want, you* see it, you realize you can't have it. You're not in control of that, but your sense of entitlement has just been activated. "It's out there for sale! I "should" be able to buy it!"

Unfortunately, the seller isn't out there waiting for you. The seller's out there waiting for the person who will buy it on their terms, and you aren't in the game. But you know it's out there so it's annoying that the control over all of this is in the hands of someone else.

I hear this underlying subtext a lot in these kind of discussions about what sellers "should" do.

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*You in this case being "any possible person who isn't in the local area" not a specific person.

I wish I could like this post twice.

 

[ajkula66]

I'm done selling off the extra gear I had, but some of the stuff I had listed on Reverb I was willing to ship and a couple of items were listed as "local pickup only".

Never would I ship an instrument where I'm not prepared to take a complete loss on it. I've rolled that dice many a times, but for certain rare/expensive pieces it's simply not worth the risk.

BTW, the person who bought the fairly rare bass that I had listed for local pickup only flew in to buy it from a couple of thousand miles away and was delighted with the instrument, so all was well in the end.

Obviously, YMMV.

 

[P. Aaron]

We don't change minds here. We just babble on, incoherently restating our points ad nauseam. You new around here?

The endless repetition I find beneficial. As a married man, my wife (constantly) reminds me my memory ain't so hot anyway.
Hey, let's start another P vs JBass thread. Them's the best!