Resale....why such a hassle??

[soulman969]

Two factors seemed to being influencing pricing the most.

1) As previously mentioned the glut of used gear on the market in large part caused by the second.

2) New gear with 0% interest financing which seems to have taken the place of deeper discounting.

It may be tough for some to come up with $1200 cash for that new bass or guitar but $50 per month for 24 months won't raise many question from a spouse who shops on her own credit daily. Then all the buyer has to do is promise to put the one the new gear is "supposed" to be replacing up for sale thereby adding one more used whatever to the over supply and peace is maintained.

So yes. Prices have weakened and the selling cycle can be much longer unless a seller is willing to take a big hit.

 

[tradernick]

I tend to sell used gear to Long and McQuade!

I'm moving in the same direction for sub-$1000 stuff. I'll give away 15% and won't have to worry about all the hassles.

OP, I've never seen one of your FS threads but there are definitely people here and elsewhere who just have no idea how to price things and think they're going to get 80%+ of retail selling used online. Just ain't gonna happen.

Still, most of what I've bought over the past xx years has been from here. Just gotta find the right people to deal with.

 

[Darkhorse1]

Methinks your expectations are too high, OP. Value is ultimately set by the buyer. You don’t have to sell, but complaining about it when the buyer has spoken is on you.

I’ve never had a problem selling equipment when I want to move it but I try to price it at a point that will make it reasonably attractive. Might not what I’d like to get for it but the point is to sell it.

 

[tradernick]

Who’s to say what a lowball offer is?
Buyer vs seller may have a different perspective.

The only way to handle this is to set a limit below the asking price. For me it's 80%. I won't offer less than 80% of an asking price. I therefore can't offer on way overpriced stuff.

If someone is selling a bass for $1000 and we all know it should be $700, it's still pointless to offer $600 which wouldn't be a lowball if the bass was priced correctly. IMO. The seller probably won't understand. I'm sure others would say 'Why not explain that he's overpriced and make your offer at $600'.

 

[Darkhorse1]

The only way to handle this is to set a limit below the asking price. For me it's 80%. I won't offer less than 80% of an asking price. I therefore can't offer on way overpriced stuff.

If someone is selling a bass for $1000 and we all know it should be $700, it's still pointless to offer $600 which wouldn't be a lowball if the bass was priced correctly. IMO. The seller probably won't understand. I'm sure others would say 'Why not explain that he's overpriced and make your offer at $600'.

 

[Darkhorse1]

Just purchased a 2006 Warwick German Corvette Standard 4 string, here with a nice soft/hard case and CONUS inc. The bass was in outstanding condition, the asking price was fair...and a great seller. All I could ask for. I guess that great condition, a fine seller rating and a reasonable price are all I need to meet my list of conditions vs further negotiation.

 

[Siggy]

My motto: "Buy High, Sell Low"

 

[Altitude]

+100000000

Yes, selling gear is a pain and you tend to take big losses. On the flip side, i see alot of people overpricing their gear for sale. It will be a used pedal and they only knock off 10% from the store price. Might as well just get the new one and benefit from a warranty and being able to assume the unit works well.

+1. I see classifieds here all the time for used Sire basses in particular, where people want new retail minus 20 bucks or something. I want to ask WTH on those threads but criticizing pricing runs against TB policy. But I don’t get it at all.

I think we have unrealistic buyers and sellers, both in spades.

 

[J-Mags]

Both new and used online markets have changed everything. Readily available and currently-produced instruments are worth less, where in past, prices would reflect: "That's a FENDER P-BASS, the industry standard," now, it's are obvious that they're everywhere and a buyer can hold out for a good price.

On the other hand, anything where there's a finite number out there often has really high asking prices especially if it's from before 1980. None of that "this is garbage, no one's gonna want it" from sellers. That Hondo II is worth something! But sellers and buyers really don't know. I was looking at a former budget model that is well-respected but no longer produced. Ultimately, I happened upon one at a local retailer for less than 1/2 the price someone was asking on the TB classifieds.

And as always, if you want a decent mid-grade instrument that's about 15 years old, it's more likely that seller will price reasonably and buyer will be willing to pay.

 

[Walking]

I agree that if the asking price for something used is too high, I won't bother engaging the seller because they are in denial as to what kind of loss they will take, and there is no point arguing. As to being a seller, I follow the customs from decades ago--price a little above what you want so the buyer can feel good about negotiating down a bit. I consider it part of the ritual that both the buyer and seller understand.

Perhaps due to the nature of the gear I sell, I often sell to old timers like myself who appreciate the gear more. I often have a good chat with these guys and have found the actual sale itself enjoyable. I suppose its all the screwballs one has to deal with before finding a buyer that makes it unpleasant.

My understanding of the decades old ritual is that negotiation is only to be done face to face as cash offers. Or, just give a little on the phone. A common question is 'What is the lowest you will take for this?' if you give your real lowest price, expect a lower offer once face to face with seller. This has actually happened to me, so live and learn.

As others have observed, I do think there is a generational thing where baby boomers with dozens of guitars and old fender amps and the like are retiring from playing and flooding the market with their gear. I have seen prices on even pre-cbs fender amps lower than I can ever recall. Pre-bs guitars not so much.

 

[taliesin]

I've had a couple of experiences recently with sellers being, um, optimistic.

Somebody listed a pedal I was interested in for trade but was willing sell. I offered at the low end of what they've sold for on eBay but he was miffed I wasn't offering top dollar right out of the gate so that went nowhere.

Another pedal listing was priced $60 more than I can buy it new - I didn't even bother contacting him since you know that will go downhill fast.

 

[Hevy T]

I actually overpaid for a bass I think, but the desire was there! I grabbed a Fender Deluxe Shur Jazz for $650 cdn. She is a player and has several war wounds, and the pots are a little scratchy. Usually I would not pay anywhere that much for a non vintage, but old bass. I think L and M priced it wrong! I think they priced it based on the last generation of Jazz Deluxe but she just has that wicked tone and plays so nice and smooth I looked the other way on the price tag.

Please pardon the mess

Maybe I should catch up on my NBD posts lol, I have a few

 

[scuzzy]

For me, it's all about patience. I typically look at all the sites and price my gear competetively. I have had an Am Del Jazz bass and an Ernie Ball big Al SSS that sat on the cl for weeks, possibly months...can't remember. My price was reasonable, but not a steal. I had no traffic at all. Then out of the blue, someone wants it and pays asking price happily. Same happened with an ibanez fanned fret and an 80's Peavey fury. I typically get some strange trade offers, maybe a low ball or two, that I respectfully decline, but I'm just waiting for the person that really wants it. If no traffic on CL, I will eventually move to reverb, and lastly eBay. I just hate the fees.

 

[craigie]

Agree, depends on the bass in question. For example, my MIM jazz would probably go for $100. Screws are stripped, pickups rusty, missing the tone knob and bridge is on its last legs. Still sounds good and feels nice though. It was my first bass, i'll never get rid of it.

Which screws? Screws are cheap. Tone knob: $1 from BE electronics. Pickup poles you could sand but leave them as they’re honestly aged. Unless the truss rod is stripped and the frets worn out it’s easy to fix.

 

[J-Mags]

My motto: "Buy High, Sell Low"

This! It really makes resale less of a hassle!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Anyone else find selling used gear to be a total pain in the patoot? Lots of insane low balls and ridiculous trade offers. It's not 2002 anymore. Or 1987 for that matter. Prices have gone up. Maybe it's just where I live, maybe there's just not much of a market. But boy is it a hassle.

Guitar center. Its imediate, and they sell it for what you're looking to get off it. So, you take a cut to get rid if it that day. They give you 10% off your purchase too, so if your looking to upgrade by selling, it's kinda like getting more for your stuff. That's what I do. It is a hassle getting rid of gear. Especially since our gear weighs so dang much. Selling to stores is the quickest, easiest way to go. For me.

 

[JRA]

Methinks your expectations are too high, OP. Value is ultimately set by the buyer. You don’t have to sell, but complaining about it when the buyer has spoken is on you.
I’ve never had a problem selling equipment when I want to move it but I try to price it at a point that will make it reasonably attractive. Might not what I’d like to get for it but the point is to sell it.

A good, and honest ad description with quality photos make a huge difference.

by the time i'm selling something (mostly audio) i don't want/need it. so it's usually a case of what can i get for someone to take it off my hands? while instruments can be different: how much do you really want it gone (albeit for money)?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I tend to sell used gear to Long and McQuade! They are rather fair in their assessments and give you 70% of what they think they can sell it for. It saves the months of no offers and lowball offers that are bound to come frustration! It may not what I want to get for it, but I don't like taking the immediate depreciation when bought new. Therefore, I try and buy used and I always get better resale on the gear

Yeah, guitar center gives you 60%, but with the 10% off coupon you get too, you can really rack up your trade value depending on how much you spend afterward. I got my whole set up by selling my previous gear to them, and buying my new gear from them. 2 new K212s (priced at 400 each) and a new amp (priced at 350 used) by trading an ampeg 610hlf (which they gave me 630 for cause of the condition I kept it in), a Veyron M (which they gave 300 for), and a couple pedals. So my entire new rig was worth 1150. After the 10% coupon, I only paid about 100$ out of pocket, and am set for life...well, until GAS kicks in again. And, I did it all in the same day.

 

[kilgoja]

it's not even worth it to sell anything. people will only give you half as much as you paid for it.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Which screws? Screws are cheap. Tone knob: $1 from BE electronics. Pickup poles you could sand but leave them as they’re honestly aged. Unless the truss rod is stripped and the frets worn out it’s easy to fix.

Pickup screws to adjust the pickup height as well as bridge screws for saddle height. Truss rod and frets are fine it seems. There a more problems but nothing that can't be remediated. The pots are super scratchy too and my output jack is finnicky. I plan to overhaul the bass soon as i really love it, it feels great and has sentimental value. It's a good player and plenty worn in.