Reverb prices

[jshinal]

Should sellers try to get less money for the thing they’re selling?

I follow Reverb casually, and I don't think the prices are excessive (usually not), but there has been significant inflation that I associate with the COVID-19 crisis (scarity driving prices).

The overpriced shipping scam has been common for 10+ years on the USA portion of eBay. I am not too surprised it ended up going to Eeverb also. I don't think it's poisoned the whole place at all.

 

[FilCo]

I think a lot of reverb sellers are honest people who sell the odd guitar at a resonable price. But theyre probably victims too. Their guitars are being bought up by the swindlers who add 20% and try and flip it. Theyre the ones who have dozens of guitars for sale at exorbitant prices. See i knew id suss it in the end.

Have you considered a brexit from the reverb union of buyers and sellers?

 

[sonojono]

Not gonna lie this thread really got me thinking...

If people think riding out this inflation until it levels out is a solution, they may not understand that inflation doesn't roll back. It sets the new price for people to try and catch up to it with their income. Inflation is rising faster than most can catch up unfortunately.

 

[Black_In_Mind]

The answer is to stop giving reverb and similar sites so much attention and find alternatives.

I saw the writing on the wall with Reverb a couple months after the first stimulus checks being issued and bounced between MusicGoRound and GC used which had yet to be hit as hard as Reverb was from the influx of online buyers. I began buying from GC used exclusively for instruments and amps when MusicGoRound stores decided to randomly toggle off their option to ship purchases (I guess in an attempt to thwart resellers and to help support local shoppers).

Throughout the whole pandemic I've only bought 2 big items from Reverb in 2021 which were my Westone Pantera X275 and Peavey T-60 guitars. Both had good enough reasons to buy through Reverb but 90% of my purchases are from casually browsing GC used and buying when the opportunity lines up with my needs and funds.

 

[nigel65nigel]

Question is how do you negotiate the shipping cost down without making the reverb seller mad. Its hard to say your shipping cost is a rip-off diplomatically.

 

[Wilmingtonian]

Question is how do you negotiate the shipping cost down without making the reverb seller mad. Its hard to say your shipping cost is a rip-off diplomatically.

Shipped a bass any distance lately?

 

[Gorn]

Question is how do you negotiate the shipping cost down without making the reverb seller mad. Its hard to say your shipping cost is a rip-off diplomatically.

You seem to presuppose that every high price is an intentional ripoff. I’d avoid communicating in a way that suggests that. Or maybe buying online isn’t for you. I don’t know where you live but maybe retail establishments are a better choice for you.

 

[two fingers]

I agree with funkhead 100%. They think we're all suckers. Ebay's a better option. Ive never seen £70 shipping on domestic items on there.

No, they don't think we're "all" suckers. They only need one "sucker" to make their sale.

Never mind that to even have this discussion, we have to define the word "value". And here's the tricky part. The definition of "value" is different for each of us. What might be "valuable" to me, is the same deal as being a "sucker" to you.

Plus, the vast majority of overpriced basses on Reverb are just "regular" basses. They aren't hard to find elsewhere, or even a few listings down on Reverb. So those listings aren't selling at those prices for the most part.

Now, if you're talking about a hard-to-find instrument, that's a totally different ballgame. It doesn't matter what YOU thought it was worth two weeks ago or twenty years ago. If it's hard to find, it's worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. (See definition of value section of my post.) And, frankly, that's none of your beeswax. If someone is willing to bay a grand for an SD Curley (dunno if I spelled that right) then THAT is EXACTLY what that bass is no worth to THE MARKET. It doesn't matter what you or I think it's worth. If the market supports that price (i.e. it sells at that price), then that's what it's worth. Period. End of discussion.

The problem here seems to be the fact that you are emotional about it. Markets are what they are. And they change. They don't ask your permission to change.

Heck, there was a time you almost couldn't GIVE away a Peavey T-40. Now those things are getting pretty expensive. Other standard issue USA Peavey basses could be bought and sold all day long for less than $200 at one point. A nice, well-appointed, used Carvin bass could be snagged for $300-$400 all day long. Nope. Not anymore.

During this crazy time of supply chain issues, COVID giving everyone free time to take up another hobby, inflation, etc. used bass prices have shot up. It is what it is.

Relax. Here soon stringed instruments of every kind will be a distant memory and you will be able to fins basses at the antique store hanging on a wall for $35.

 

[Discount Bassy]

Question is how do you negotiate the shipping cost down without making the reverb seller mad. Its hard to say your shipping cost is a rip-off diplomatically.

If the transaction is one that involves negotiation, it is likely that there will be negotiation involved. If it is difficult to say "your shipping cost is a rip-off" in a diplomatic way, perhaps you could offer what you consider to be "fair" with documentation. If the negotiations fail to lead to a agreement where both parties are satisfied with the conditions, the transaction will not go forward. If your desire to have the thing that you want so badly is so great that you will agree to the terms presented, you can agree and purchase it. You can always choose to not agree and not make the purchase. If you are unhappy about it, you can complain. You could even address your complaints towards people directly involved in the situation, such as the marketplace directors or the seller.

 

[maisbass]

The seller has the right to sell their item for whatever price they want. They can factor in Reverb fees, shipping, and packaging fees. You as the shopper can look elsewhere. No one is forcing anyone to buy anything. If you start getting Reverb involved in controlling pricing, well then what happens next? It's a free society. Lets keep it that way. If the price is too high, look elsewhere. Plain and simple.

 

[projectapollo]

I was very surprised when Reverb charged me, the buyer, sales tax for buying a used item from an individual (not a business). In my state that adds almost 10%. Very expensive place to shop used gear.

 

[maisbass]

I was very surprised when Reverb charged me, the buyer, sales tax for buying a used item from an individual (not a business). In my state that adds almost 10%. Very expensive place to shop used gear.

Yup. Thats what makes places like Talkbass, Craigslist, etc so valuable. There are many forums that have classified sections. For those who like to buy a wide variety of used gear, I would suggest venturing out and becoming active in these other musical forums. Build up a positive reputation and gain trust so people will be willing to sell to you in those forums. Both the seller and buyer benefit from transactions in these forums. The seller pays less fees, the buyer pays a cheaper price, and the increased activity helps support the moderators of the forum as well

 

[maisbass]

Question is how do you negotiate the shipping cost down without making the reverb seller mad. Its hard to say your shipping cost is a rip-off diplomatically.

Really don't waste your time. Look elsewhere. There are numerous forums and classifieds out there where you can shop and both you and the seller will save money. Patience is key.

 

[WarwickE36]

Question is how do you negotiate the shipping cost down without making the reverb seller mad. Its hard to say your shipping cost is a rip-off diplomatically.

You don't. You make an offer and if it's accepted great if not fine. Then you can wait til they decide to drop the price over time or not. You don't get to dictate the price they want you can only dictate the price you're willing to pay.

 

[OnePunchMan]

Yes it sucks that guitar prices have gone up the last year or two. And yes there are some people price their gear ridiculously high maybe because they want to rip someone off or they might be too attached to the item or maybe they’re just plain delusional.

I’m not saying they are right in doing so but hey it’s a free market and selling privately also means they’re free to rip someone off.

I personally won’t do that and will price my gear fairly.

I guess what I’m saying is I don’t really care how much someone prices their item on Reverb. I’ll send a fair offer if they decline it then I move on. A lot of the time the market will still dictate the outcome and they’ll often lower their prices few weeks later.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Anybody else noticed the over inflated prices and the greed of sellers on reverb? It's not just the price of the instruments, but sellers try and increase their profit by charging outrageous shipping fees. Shipping fees of £70-£100 within the UK are common. Even £30 is too much. It's a waste of time even having a "make an offer" unless youre only asking for £10 off. I for one are going to stop bothering.

Shipping prices have more than doubled since the pandemic. So many users are not actually overcharging, they are just passing along the price hikes.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Man. Don't have a heart attack. Just don't buy on reverb.

 

[Luke the Fluke]

Anybody else noticed the over inflated prices and the greed of sellers on reverb? It's not just the price of the instruments, but sellers try and increase their profit by charging outrageous shipping fees. Shipping fees of £70-£100 within the UK are common. Even £30 is too much.

Not sure how much you've been shipping stuff recently £30 is quite reasonable to courier a bass, insured, within the UK with a £500 value. If the bass costs more obviously the seller will increase the insurance and that cost will be passed on. You mentioned you can do it for £10... how?!


Just to test it I've just got quotes from Interparcel to ship a bass from me in Leeds to my mate in Edinburgh - it's in a hiscox hardcase so used the weight and size dimensions of that ...

Parcelforce drop off 48 delivery with £25 insurance is £19.56 ... but if you look into their small print their insurance won't cover instruments...

Interparcel standard uses UPS and is £32.76
Again experience tells me that next day is normally safer for high value items, and if I'm selling via a platform like Reverb mean I'm less likely to get in trouble if the courier messes up... which gets me to either UPS standard at £33.06
But that only gives me £25 cover... so you mentioned a SD curlee bass, there's one on Reverb for £750 ... insurance will be £29+VAT ....

So if you asked me how much it would cost to send a bass between two UK addresses fully insured I'ld say somewhere around £70 odd

So that's why "Shipping fees of £70-£100 within the UK are common"

 

[Coolhandjjl]

The OP seems unable to acknowledge all the factual explanations that are freely provided. I’m calling this out for what it is- TROLL. Let’s hope a moderator steps in.

 

[dfreeland83]

Man. Don't have a heart attack. Just don't buy on reverb.

How dare you recommend that someone who can freely choose to use or to not use one of a multitude of services not use the service they don’t prefer .

So, let me get this straight… you expect me to just not go to Burger King if I’m not a fan of their food and instead choose McDonalds/Red Robin/Arby’s/Wendy’s/Hardees/White Castle/Jack In The Box/Sonic/Whataburger/In N Out/Dairy Queen/Culver’s/5 Guys/Rally’s for a burger and fries?

Why can’t Burger King just change their fries?