So what do you do with basses you can't sell

[DrSteve]

As said already, it's all about the price, competition, and demand.
What is the lowest price on GC and Reverb? Can you afford to beat those? Can you do Free Shipping?
If not, maybe trade in to GC. You may not get more than a straight up sale to GC, but you should get a discount on your next purchase.
Everyone wants a deal and I don't think anyone will pay more that 15% off the "New" price since they can often get 12% - 15% off from a dealer. So 20% off the "New" price for Mint condition up to 30% off for Good condition.

Good luck.

 

[Wesley R]

January February and some of March are generally slow down times for much of the consumer industries. The sting of spending too much on Christmas, and tax time come into place.

Hopefully things open up a bit soon. The long term trend might not be as bright for some.

 

[bassinflorida]

No one seems interested on a few different sites. So what do you do? I just stare at it and mumble you should be goooooooonnnnneeee.

But it continues to sit there.

It is likely that the basses in question are possessed. Perhaps you should play the H__L out of them.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

Any small brick and mortar music shops around you that do consignments? I have one close to me and it works well, 70/30 split. Some of the higher dollar things take a bit to sell. Had a VOX AC 30 sit for almost 2years.
But I don’t need the money quickly.

 

[DrBnz]

Lemme see your ad and I'll tell you why it isn't selling. Its all about good pictures, good write-up, and fair price. Most likely its your price, as its a buyers market. So, you aren't selling your new bass for the same price you paid. When I have a gas attack .... I typically buy top model Fenders and I never pay more than $1600. I don't care how much it lists for (new). I know I can get them all day long for a lot less.

 

[CochinoBass]

Lower the price.

This is the correct answer.

 

[bolophonic]

Part it out.

 

[groooooove]

If you’re desperate enough Guitar Center or a pawn shop will take it off your hands. IME GC will give you about 60% of what they would sell it for.

they're pretty well known for buying things for way, way less than that.

 

[rockinrayduke]

Part it out.

 

[butterfingers1]

I give away to whoever or community non-profits and then I’m more careful about buying what I don’t need.

 

[fnp5150]

Before you give up, you need to put in your best effort. First and foremost, have a friend or relative who is better than you are at taking pics, to take new ones. Shine it up, have good lighting, multiple angles, and a professional appearing backdrop (could just be a blank wall, a nice spot in the yard, or lying on a nice wood floor, with no old nasty shoes in the frame), and for heaven's sake, get your little booger picker and cat out of the pics. Nobody else is thinking how cute they are, we are just thinking of these as another source of possible damage and dirt. Bad pics are the number one reason I scroll past any ad, whether it is for a boat, car, lawn mower etc. Secondly, spend a minute with the description, make it very descriptive to the point of answering any potential question a buyer may have, and just a little personal, and maybe someone else will identify with it as well. Shouldn't look like some AI generated computer-speak. If you do all this and it still sits for more than a week, lower the price. Haven't sold many instruments, but I have sold a ton of other relatively expensive items, and these are just a couple of things I do to always get it gone.

 

[Bonafide]

The market is excellent.

I have sold four basses, two guitars, speakers, several effects, preamps and odd and ends in the past 30 days. Two have had multiple buyers and less than 12-24 hours on the market.

Lower the price.

 

[Biggbass]

I'm gonna need more Grand kids

 

[Bermuda Ron]

Think outside the box. A old school flyer passed to a local music school or guitar teacher. A notice in a bar where they do open mic nights, or contact a high school band director, or churches where they do worship bands.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

No one seems interested on a few different sites. So what do you do? I just stare at it and mumble you should be goooooooonnnnneeee.

But it continues to sit there.

Play them, donate to a school, disassemble and sell in parts, use as a wall hanging in a rec room, give to a drummer, give to a family member, sell chances on it for a drawing, cut out a hole & install a clock, drop the price, the options are endless….

 

[Smooth_bass88]

hmmm, a problem I've never had. perhaps i'm lucky... or just smaaaht

 

[Paul New]

Donate to the school system. They will be happy to get whatever you have.

 

[Jim Nazium]

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Custom shop 'relic' process in action

 

[Nuage420]

If you’re desperate enough Guitar Center or a pawn shop will take it off your hands. IME GC will give you about 60% of what they would sell it for.

Ask around local shops too. My local gives me 80% on consignment. It started at 70% but I established a good relationship and buy a lot of her from them.

 

[HardNHeavy]

yeh i dont wanna leave all this to my wife when im gone...either they get sold cheaply, or sell as parts....after that im just giving them away.