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Sorry, I am not a delivery service.

It gotten weird. People are so terrified of one another these days. I don't want to live that way and I resist the programming to see my fellow humans through a lens of fear and suspicion (but I do, of course, still apply practical discernment). If I'm buying a piece of music gear locally, I want to sit down and try it out, not make a furtive exchange in a parking lot. A few months ago I bought an old Martin guitar and sat on the seller's porch trying it out and chatting. Had a great time. As a seller, I want to give local potential buyers the opportunity to try out stuff before they buy. I recently sold off a bunch of equipment I no longer need. No one has asked me to deliver, but some inquirers asked me to meet them in public places (which I agreed to as long as it wasn't very far from me). But I first asked those folks, "Are you sure you don't want to come over and try it out to make sure it's what you want?" I know the stuff I'm selling works and, if they were to contact me later with a complaint I could remind them I gave them the option to try it first (fortunately that hasn't happened). When I sell a guitar or bass and the buyer wants to meet somewhere, I bring along a headphone amp so they can at least confirm that the electronics work. Oftentimes, when I offer them the use of the headphone amp they say, "Nah, that's ok, I trust you." I have had some buyers come to my house, and it's always enjoyable getting to know them a bit and knowing that they were much more likely to be happy with their purchases. When someone comes over I've first communicated with them a bit and so have a sense that they're legit, and I setup the item for them to comfortably try out in my living room, not take them back into my music room. And I've occasionally had someone try out a guitar or bass at my house and decide it wasn't right for them, and I'm fine with that.
 
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I can't imagine being so worried about bad stuff like that, and even mentioning weapons.
Am I too naive, lucky, or it's just a bit different around here? 🤷

(just "typing out loud", not interested in getting into comparisons of place of residence or any other sillinesseseses)
I agree 100%. I looked it up and found this -"According to available data, there are likely hundreds of thousands of Craigslist transactions happening daily across various categories like "for sale" and "housing" in major US cities alone, with the exact number fluctuating depending on location and time of year." By all accounts, there is an extremely low incidence of things going wrong.

You really just need to use some common sense. Don't leave a bowl of diamonds laying around when people come over; restrict their access to the room they need to try your sales item, trust your gut. If you're getting red flags, don't have them over to your house.

This fear of everybody and everything is really irrational.
 
I try to determine how a potential buyer or seller is before I decide what level of contact I allow before the meet. The very minimum before meeting is a text convo so at least there's a phone record if my body shows up in a ditch. Most of the people I've dealt with have been cool, and I've allowed several to check gear out in my home and have also been invited into other's homes. Only the bare minimum of test gear is on display for the buyer to check out what is for sale. The sketchiest ones don't get past the Safe Trading Zone in the parking lot of our courthouse. Like @KenSmithFan said above ...use common sense and trust your gut.
 
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I have had some buyers come to my house, and it's always enjoyable getting to know them a bit and knowing that they were much more likely to be happy with their purchases. When someone comes over I've first communicated with them a bit and so have a sense that they're legit, and I setup the item for them to comfortably try out in my living room, not take them back into my music room.
This right here. I've actually made a few friends, got recommendations for a few sub gigs, smoked some great reefer, etc. A little due diligence goes a long way, and I've never had a problem.

Plus, and I think someone mentioned this before, it's not like music gear is easy to get rid of. I also have everything that I owned photographed and insured, and some of the more expensive items chipped, serial numbers recorded, etc.
 
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So Anyway, I will deliver but only if the buyer works for a phone, cable or other home-service company.
I tell them I'll be there sometime between the hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
;)

Make sure you arrive to their door, and leave a note "sorry, you weren't in and couldn't deliver" without knocking at their door, then disappear fast.
 

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