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Used bases aren't selling well.

#61
darwin-bass said:
I've noticed a lot of basses being listed in the classifieds, many at good prices, that just aren't selling. Do you guys think the used market is down or has it been this way for years?

It is depressing and makes me think twice about buying any bass I'm not fairly sure I'll keep forever.
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I think it comes down to what someone considers 'good prices' ... I will very seldomly ask top dollar for the things I list, and generally I think my stuff moves relatively well ... likewise, I will not hesitate to buy something I am considering if it priced anywhere near what I think I can move it along for when I no longer need it .. but I will also say, when I am done with something I don't hesitate to do what it takes to 'move it along ' ...

Speaking of Fender products, as that is what I am most familiar with, I see 3-4 year old items listed at 70-75% range of current prices they can be purchased for new ... some may considier that a 'good price', I do not .. especially since that 70%+ price is at (or more) than the item could have been purchased for new just 3-4 years ago ..

Where I see the used market struggling, is when people buy an item new, and then try to recapture anywhere close to that with resale ... I often make the suggestion on threads that if one buys used wisely, they can recapture at or very near their $$ expense when they choose to sell ... unfortunately, the only one making money in these transactions are the shipping companies ... ;)

I managed a retail store for several years, that bought used items outright, and took trade-ins as well ... one of the hardest things to get across to sales staff was that you make your profit when you BUY an item, not when you SELL it ... often times you will be dissapointed if you try to recover too high of an allowance when you acquired the item in your pricing at the time of sale ...

If a seller chooses to hold out for top dollar on a used item (or in many cases even what is market value) in a competitieve market (which we are in), you may sit on it ... if you bought wisely (or are willing to take a bit more of a hit) and price it just below what everyone else is trying to recover ... it will sell (unless of course there is just no demand for the item) ... LOTS of sold signs in the classifieds, along with the items we see being bumped day after day ...

JMHO's ... as always
 
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#64
I have had 2 for sale on my local craigslist for well over a month.....they are not over priced
Peavey Zodiac with HSC 200.00 Squire P-bass w/HSC 175.00 not even any inquirers.
Conversely I sold two Strats (one MIM one MIC) within mere hours of listing with NO cases and for more than either of these basses. Just no "love" for the boom machines these days :(
 
#65
What I've noticed while perusing the classifieds is that sellers are listing items with unreasonable price expectations. Let's face facts... You aren't going to get 80% of street price when you sell something. You see all the time where someone says "paid $600 will sacrifice for $550". That's a pipe dream. Price things appropriately and they will sell.
 
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#68
The best time to sell is tax return season. :)

I think people still have money, they are just being pickier with it. Plus our classified section is so crowded, that sometimes it's hard to determine what you are really into there.

I know there have been a ton of basses, I kicked myself for not having money to buy.

Recently an MTD 535 sold for under 3k. Like 2800. That's INSANE. But that price sold it. It took awhile but it sold.
 
#70
I agree Tigerintrance, for $50 more, why wouldn't you just buy new? You get some kind of warranty and a new unplayed and not dinged bass to enjoy. The store is charging for overhead etc.

Although I also don't understand how the guys who constantly change basses say they don't lose money. With shipping, packing materials and getting a pro -set up on the instrument when you buy it, how do you break even or make a profit?
 
#73
Yup... But whether she sees it or not that bites around $100.00 in shipping ( personal experience) are these guys kidding themselves I wonder? Even if you save boxes etc. How can you break even like they claim or make a profit?
 
#79
darwin-bass said:
I've noticed a lot of basses being listed in the classifieds, many at good prices, that just aren't selling. Do you guys think the used market is down or has it been this way for years?

It is depressing and makes me think twice about buying any bass I'm not fairly sure I'll keep forever.
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A very good question…

SturmUndDrang said:
Much like the thread about Canadians complaining about their devaluing dollar, the depressed used bass market is simply a reflection of the larger worldwide economic conditions. The manipulations of the oil market from Saudi Arabia coupled with the state frictions between Russia and the USA are going to set off a chain of events that may end up bringing the planet closer to nuclear Armageddon. Not being able to sell your used bass will be a minor problem in comparison.
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…with an answer coming to us "Live From the Eisenhower-Era Bomb Shelter"! :banghead::D

Don't worry, Sturm. We're nowhere near the tensions of the early 1960's. Nor are we surrounded on both sides by the phenomenal incompetence that almost got everyone shooting at everybody else during Yuri Adropov's tenure as General Secretary. (but to be fair, we in the West almost mistook their "war games" as a prelude to all-out war…so, technically, we almost shot first)

Fortunately, a few people are probably on the right track, after all…

Gary Grzybek said:
:rollno: Maybe everybody's broke from the Holidays?
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PullThePlug said:
January isn't exactly a booming month for sales of any kind. Work a season in retail - you'll get a good feel for it.
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Mojo-Man said:
It's the middle of january. Most people are broke from the holidays. Bad time of year to sell. Great to buy.
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…it's only three weeks past Christmas! Most everybody's hunkering down to pay off their holiday-induced debts!! :greedy: :facepalm:

On this note, I can attest. I put up my parts bass for sale in early December. I had more than a couple of TB'ers who wanted it, but were tapped out by the looming shopping season. It happens.
 
#80
I find most of the basses is the TB classifieds to be be at a fair price,but that does not mean that they're priced to sell...Asking $1K for a 2004 MIA jazz bass is not totally unreasonable,but seriously,...if no one has even commented on it for three months,it's probably not ever going to move......Maybe a lot of folks are not 'that' serious and have a lot of patience when it comes to selling stuff.
 
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