Here's the issue. Reverb charges Selling fees as well as Payment fees and of course there's always a shipping cost. On items exceeding a certain value there is the additional forced Signature required and Shipping Insurance that is mandatory to ship through Reverb (I wish somebody had to pay me additional Insurance to do my job correctly). Add to that the recent Sales Tax on the Buyer and it's a lose/lose situation. I recently sold a 1974 Les Paul Custom to a guy halfway across the Country and we totaled $800 in additional "fees/tax/shipping" between the two of us that we paid to finalize the transaction. That's one hell of a deal breaker on most items and obviously it would have benefited us both if we dealt privately...But like some have touched on here, it's the Platform you are paying for and Reverb knows it.
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Reverb prices
- Thread starter nigel65nigel
- Start date
Prices are up for multiple reasons. First of all, since Reverb got bought out, and they doubled the costs for listing an instrument, sellers were forced to raise their asking prices to compensate. It is so expensive now to list, I am avoiding Reverb at every opportunity.
Secondly, parts and labor have virtually doubled, and prices for instruments have increased precipitously. Wood cost has quadrupled. China is now buying all available cocobolo in order to make furniture for the up and coming middle class there. In a year or so, you won't even be able to buy any cocobolo here.
Operational amps for circuits have gone up in price almost 500 percent. Even solder is impossible to buy right now.
Third is the fact that inventory is low....even on used instruments. People are hanging on to them, and few good instruments are on the market currently, so they can ask whatever they want. Even if you do sell something, it is very difficult to replace it at a reasonable price, so why would anyone want to take the loss?
Lastly, with prices going up so fast and so high, nobody wants to list their stuff at a price they will regret just a few months from now.
A tipping point will be reached eventually, and things will stabilize, but I doubt things will go down much in cost. When the price of KFC chicken strips has doubled in the past few months, it costs everyone a lot more to just survive. Instrument prices will follow the trend, just like having to pay $12.00 for a Burger King Whopper meal. Ridiculous, but an unfortunate reality.
Secondly, parts and labor have virtually doubled, and prices for instruments have increased precipitously. Wood cost has quadrupled. China is now buying all available cocobolo in order to make furniture for the up and coming middle class there. In a year or so, you won't even be able to buy any cocobolo here.
Operational amps for circuits have gone up in price almost 500 percent. Even solder is impossible to buy right now.
Third is the fact that inventory is low....even on used instruments. People are hanging on to them, and few good instruments are on the market currently, so they can ask whatever they want. Even if you do sell something, it is very difficult to replace it at a reasonable price, so why would anyone want to take the loss?
Lastly, with prices going up so fast and so high, nobody wants to list their stuff at a price they will regret just a few months from now.
A tipping point will be reached eventually, and things will stabilize, but I doubt things will go down much in cost. When the price of KFC chicken strips has doubled in the past few months, it costs everyone a lot more to just survive. Instrument prices will follow the trend, just like having to pay $12.00 for a Burger King Whopper meal. Ridiculous, but an unfortunate reality.
I agree many sellers are delusional. But it functions as a market should: when the price is right it will sell.
Yes. Too close to retail to make it worth buying used. Plus a lot of retailers sell there retaliate against eBay's added value fees and seller fees.
The level of entitlement in this thread is appalling. If you find bargains, then great—go for them but you are not entitled to low pricing.
Reverb takes a healthy cut of the price and so does eBay. Shipping costs a lot of money in the UK and the USA. That’s a fact. Pandemic, politics, supply chain issues, Brexit, the screwed up US Postal Service… all play their part. When there’s plenty of goods to go around, prices may lower. Those “we box and ship” places charge a fortune — who pays that? The buyer does, one way or the other. Get over it and yourself.
Bottom line: If you don’t like the prices, then don’t buy. No one is forcing you.
Reverb takes a healthy cut of the price and so does eBay. Shipping costs a lot of money in the UK and the USA. That’s a fact. Pandemic, politics, supply chain issues, Brexit, the screwed up US Postal Service… all play their part. When there’s plenty of goods to go around, prices may lower. Those “we box and ship” places charge a fortune — who pays that? The buyer does, one way or the other. Get over it and yourself.
Bottom line: If you don’t like the prices, then don’t buy. No one is forcing you.
If people are paying them, then that’s what the market will bear, “sadly” or not.
I must say, Nigel's woes aren't everyones.
I guess you're somewhere in the UK? #1) Your name's Nigel and #2) You speak in GBP!
So, do you have taxes or duties built into your Reverb prices? Crossing COUNTRY or COUNTY borders?
Some U.S. gear IS outrageously-priced, no doubt. But some is a good deal. I look for "rare" or "Boutique" stuff there, so the prices might be higher for that.
But I recently bought a "Tech 21 Geddy Lee Signature SansAmp YYZ Bass Pre-amp", for around US $150. And, the international power supply that has adapters that can be used anywhere on Earth, I think, for US $25.
The seller claimed it was "used". It was new. It was wrapped tight in the original box and had that "New Effect Smell"!
I know: all that is anecdote - like anyone who writes their opinions or observances here.
There are inflation and supply problems around the world, but you can still find good deals on Reverb, I think.
I guess you're somewhere in the UK? #1) Your name's Nigel and #2) You speak in GBP!
So, do you have taxes or duties built into your Reverb prices? Crossing COUNTRY or COUNTY borders?
Some U.S. gear IS outrageously-priced, no doubt. But some is a good deal. I look for "rare" or "Boutique" stuff there, so the prices might be higher for that.
But I recently bought a "Tech 21 Geddy Lee Signature SansAmp YYZ Bass Pre-amp", for around US $150. And, the international power supply that has adapters that can be used anywhere on Earth, I think, for US $25.
The seller claimed it was "used". It was new. It was wrapped tight in the original box and had that "New Effect Smell"!
I know: all that is anecdote - like anyone who writes their opinions or observances here.
There are inflation and supply problems around the world, but you can still find good deals on Reverb, I think.
Yeah, they're charging ridiculous prices for used gear. Often as much as or more than a new one costs with free shipping.
It's because they're trying to get what they paid, or close. Reverb charges a significant selling fee. And the shipping labels they sell you always cost a lot more than the estimate they give you when you list it.
I listed an Ampero. The shipping estimate was $16. So I charged $20. When it sold, the shipping label cost $26. I sold the item for $270. Customer paid $290+tax. After shipping and Reverb's fee, I got $238.
Lower priced items are even worse. I've gotten less than half what the buyer paid on a few items.
It's because they're trying to get what they paid, or close. Reverb charges a significant selling fee. And the shipping labels they sell you always cost a lot more than the estimate they give you when you list it.
I listed an Ampero. The shipping estimate was $16. So I charged $20. When it sold, the shipping label cost $26. I sold the item for $270. Customer paid $290+tax. After shipping and Reverb's fee, I got $238.
Lower priced items are even worse. I've gotten less than half what the buyer paid on a few items.
First, unless it's something you want to buy, just let it go, baby. Life's short...
If it's something you want to buy, then make an offer that you are ready to backup. It's that easy. If the seller isn't down with your offer, it's their property. End of story. No one need extrapolate the economic theory of "Supply and Demand" or what the market will bare!
Everyone window shops, but not everyone gets bent over the transactions they are not involved with.
If it's something you want to buy, then make an offer that you are ready to backup. It's that easy. If the seller isn't down with your offer, it's their property. End of story. No one need extrapolate the economic theory of "Supply and Demand" or what the market will bare!
Everyone window shops, but not everyone gets bent over the transactions they are not involved with.
I just sold a bass on Reverb. I’ll never use them again. They really got in my pocket and took their sweet time paying me. Most stuff is cross posted on different sites. If you find it on Reverb, seek it out on a different site and do your business directly with the buyer.
I can assure you they’re selling a lot of those items. As long as there’s a buyer the prices will remain high.
Wow. A whole bunch of you guys could benefit from a basic Economics course.
The "right" price of any good or service is what someone is willing to pay for it.
Read that last sentence over until you understand it.
In unregulated markets it is gospel truth.
I absolutely agree with this. An object's worth is ultimately what someone will pay for it.
By the way... You want shipping woes? Try being a Seller in Canada. Pricey.
I sold a Warwick to a buyer in Canada about 5 or 6 years ago. I was amazed at the fees they had to pay but they wanted it and said where they lived (way way up north) there were no bases for sale. They paid the fees. As an aside - I will be listing soon another Warwick which is not pretty but plays like a beast. When new 15 years ago they were $1200 USD. Currently an identical new one is $2800 USD. I'm wondering how in the world I am going to price it when I do sell it and be fair.
I saw a 6 string Smith on there for 10k+, I always read the descriptions of the item because I want to see if there's and explanation for selling used basses at prices that you can ourchase the same bass for half of that brand new, and then charge $200 for shipping? Usually it's the words "vintage" or "rare" being the culprit, with neither actually being the fact in many instances. I just laugh and keep it moving. The OP is spot on from what I have observed, and as much as many of you have come here belittling him, it doesn't change that. Used instruments with significant damage offered over the price of that same instrument brand new, $400 shipping charges, its all there and all true. My advice to the OP, go to Reverb's bass section, get some popcorn and get your laugh on.
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The new tax reporting on Reverb/Ebay/etc is only on profits made from selling for more than you paid if you file your taxes correctly (it is a capital gains tax). So when you get your tax form from Reverb you should fill out your taxes using the amount they list in sales then subtracting the money you paid originally plus any other applicable costs you paid on the appropriate lines on the form. The only real downside for most of us that probably lose money through gear sales is that you have to hold on to records of past transactions in case you are questioned about your math. These are the same kinds of tax calculations someone running a store has to do when they sell something- its just about paying income taxes on profits, which is something most of us non-professional sellers have just been lucky to avoid up to this point.
