Selling and sending a guitar on eBay, is it safe?

Selling and sending a guitar on eBay, is it safe?

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Discussion

singlecoil

Original Poster:

33,317 posts

245 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Has anyone here done that and got away with it? I personally would be extremely wary of sending a guitar to somebody knowing that they might decide they don't like it, and could send it back, maybe after gigging it a few times, and get their money back. Or claim they hadn't received it in the first place.

And yet I see plenty of listings where people seem quite happy to send a guitar, so am I worrying unnecessarily?

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

140 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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singlecoil said:
And yet I see plenty of listings where people seem quite happy to send a guitar, so am I worrying unnecessarily?
Actually no you arent.

If I were you, if it's a special guitar, gumtree it and/or list it with guitar forums. I've been caught out by buyers on ebay, and sadly, it seems ebay pretty much side with the buyer, no matter what!

All they need to do is say it's not as described and you're going to lose some money. Maybe not all of it, but certainly some.

You'd have thought several images, with a detailed description, and an extra note saying no returns is enough. Its not frown

What guitar is it out of curiosity? Never know.. someone on here might take you up on it.

singlecoil

Original Poster:

33,317 posts

245 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Jazzy Jefferson said:
What guitar is it out of curiosity? Never know.. someone on here might take you up on it.
It's a Gibson SG (will check which exact model when I get home), but I'm really more of a Fender-preferring sort of person, so the plan is to go for a Telecaster instead. Selling rather than swapping would seem to offer the best choice in the Tele, hence my query re eBay.

At the moment I'm thinking of putting it on eBay as cash on collection only.

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

140 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
It's a Gibson SG (will check which exact model when I get home), but I'm really more of a Fender-preferring sort of person, so the plan is to go for a Telecaster instead. Selling rather than swapping would seem to offer the best choice in the Tele, hence my query re eBay.

At the moment I'm thinking of putting it on eBay as cash on collection only.
To be fair mate, Any guitarist worth their salt will travel the whole country for the perfect instrument. So cash on collection is a good idea.

There's also a fair few "music instrument for sale" pages and groups on facebook. I've sold a couple of bits this way, but you tend to get morons on there.

Like you, I prefer Fenders wink Strats for me but I like to ruin them and fit humbuckers biggrin


ETA - If you do end up posting it, destring it, and package it very securely. Gibsons are prone to snapping at the headstock. Which occurs mainly in transit. TO be fair though, I am sure you know this smile

Edited by Jazzy Jefferson on Wednesday 22 October 16:20

OldSkoolRS

6,720 posts

178 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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I just bought a Telecaster locally on Gumtree, I was much happier doing this than looking on eBay. Maybe I missed other bargains by doing this, but I only looked within 30 miles and still feel I got a bargain, plus cash on collection of course, so no worries about waiting for it to arrive undamaged. In fact I don't buy much at all on eBay these days due to all the stories I read putting me off (unless the item is brand new, buy it now price and from a seller with lots of good feedback).

I'm thinking about an SG next, but it'll have to be a while as I gained another small practice amp with the Tele and my living room is starting to resemble a music shop (2 x guitars, 3 x amps and a Roland e drum kit!). Need to sell/move some stuff myself before I dare bring another musical item home...

It's annoying that most of the guitar forums I post on don't have a UK section in their classifieds as I'd feel happier dealing through a forum member (so long as they hadn't just joined of course).

davidd

6,443 posts

283 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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I know two people who are looking for SG's if you give me the details I'll pass them on..

MitchT

15,789 posts

208 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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I've bought a Roland D-50, a Yamaha DX7IIFD and a new MacBook Pro (along with many smaller things) on eBay. The sellers of those were happy enough, but I do agree with people's concerns. Some buyers can be very unscrupulous (I've heard some horrendous stories) and PayPal always sides with them so the seller can end up well and truly shafted. If it's a specialist item you may be as well to do some networking to find a buyer and do a face-to-face deal.

singlecoil

Original Poster:

33,317 posts

245 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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davidd said:
I know two people who are looking for SG's if you give me the details I'll pass them on..
It's the SGS-HCCH1 with Gibson case, 2010.

Here's a link
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SGSHCCH/

I'll pm you about it.

HaroldBishop

652 posts

176 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I did it with a Spanish classical guitar without any problems. You do take your chances with the scammers though; if someone fancies taking you for a ride they can do so quite easily.

dern

14,055 posts

278 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I'm selling a japan tele on ebay and won't send it. I want the buyer to look at it and play it and give me the money if they're happy. I'm not risking posting it even if it costs me the sale. Same with the old 70s park amp I'm trying to sell. The risk is too high of damage and/or someone trying to get one over.

Cheers,

Mark

gpo746

3,397 posts

129 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Genuinely OP be very very careful.
E Bay have made it way too easy for the scammers to take the rip now.
Its become an almost free trial site now. Great if your a scamming lying buyer NOT great if your an honest seller.
As regards listing it as on collection only - you can still get a buyer clicking then paying on e bay then kicking up a fuss - personal experience not "a story" and only last week. A large bulky item listed as for parts non working etc - horror story for me.

If you do list it and get a local buyer then best way if you want to avoid fees is to just kill the auction.
Please don't risk losing your dosh and your item by sending it out.

singlecoil

Original Poster:

33,317 posts

245 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
gpo746 said:
Genuinely OP be very very careful.
E Bay have made it way too easy for the scammers to take the rip now.
Its become an almost free trial site now. Great if your a scamming lying buyer NOT great if your an honest seller.
As regards listing it as on collection only - you can still get a buyer clicking then paying on e bay then kicking up a fuss - personal experience not "a story" and only last week. A large bulky item listed as for parts non working etc - horror story for me.

If you do list it and get a local buyer then best way if you want to avoid fees is to just kill the auction.
Please don't risk losing your dosh and your item by sending it out.
I take your point about a buyer paying with PayPal and then collecting, I would never let anyone do that and recently I cancelled a PP payment because the buyer was collecting, and made him bring cash instead.

I've decided that whatever I do with the guitar I certainly won't be sending it, I was already pretty much decided on that before starting this thread but I asked the question anyway because I couldn't understand why other sellers are prepared to do it, but I guess they are just bigger risk takers than I am.

Mad March Taffy

508 posts

118 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Way that I have found works best is to advertise a guitar for 'Best Offer' - then when you get someone who makes a sensible offer is to get them to do a deal off eBay. If someone is really interested then they will not mind this and you avoid the scammers/PayPal fees.

On sending a guitar - only advice is slacken the strings, pack well in a hard case, inside a cardboard box and don't use ParcelForce! They broke the neck on a Yamaha SG2000 that I sold....





Sir Snaz

571 posts

185 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
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I have sold and bought many guitars on t'bay ......from cheapy Yamahas upto 10top PRS' .....always always always cash on collection if I am selling, and I only buy if I can collect it myself (although I have, twice, bought from teh US and have had no problems)

Evangelion

7,641 posts

177 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
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Well in the last 8 years (almost as long as I've been using eBay) I've bought 15 guitars with no problems, also about 7 or 8 each bodies and necks, plus many parts, with no problems at all. (Although to be fair, I never buy complete guitars from abroad.)

I've also sold 22 - again, absolutely no problems whatsoever. Worst that happened was a Burns Marvin that I'd specified UK only (which I always do) then a guy in Spain won it. He arranged a courier to collect it so all I had to do was just pack it up.

(At least half my sales were cash on collection, mostly fragile ones like acoustics and semis.)

I've also sold loads of parts, from scratchplate screws and string trees to sets of pickups and complete bodies and necks. Again no problems and all at prices I've been happy with.


Edited by Evangelion on Monday 10th November 15:55

badmastard

70 posts

156 months

Tuesday 11th November 2014
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I have been looking at selling my music equipment on eBay as well. I know my dad bought and sold stuff but he mainly choosen come and collect only unless the bidder was 200 miles plus. I think the fees are ridiculous especially if you add a buy now option.

Have a few nice Telecasters for sale, Mexican and USA made and also a lovely Gibson ES330 Custom. Also have many guitar amplifiers ranging from Fender, Marshall and Vox.

Love to sell before xmas time but I wont let them go cheap.

If you know anyone that maybe interested then let me know smile

singlecoil

Original Poster:

33,317 posts

245 months

Tuesday 11th November 2014
quotequote all
badmastard said:
If you know anyone that maybe interested then let me know smile
I think the thing with guitars is that people can be interested if the price is below a certain level, and not so interested, or even completely uninterested, if it's above that. So it's all about the price, really.

OldSkoolRS

6,720 posts

178 months

Tuesday 11th November 2014
quotequote all
badmastard said:
I have been looking at selling my music equipment on eBay as well. I know my dad bought and sold stuff but he mainly choosen come and collect only unless the bidder was 200 miles plus. I think the fees are ridiculous especially if you add a buy now option.

Have a few nice Telecasters for sale, Mexican and USA made and also a lovely Gibson ES330 Custom. Also have many guitar amplifiers ranging from Fender, Marshall and Vox.

Love to sell before xmas time but I wont let them go cheap.

If you know anyone that maybe interested then let me know smile
Exactly which Fender, Marshall and Vox amps are you selling? I'm in Berkshire too and while it's a bit premature I was hoping to get a better sounding clean(ish) amp next year, but for the right price I could be temped. I was looking at the Fender Deluxe Reissue or the Vox AC15 but new price is too much right now. Either that or I'll hold on and build a kit amp instead in a vintage style cabinet.

Bebee

4,678 posts

224 months

Tuesday 11th November 2014
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I've done it about five or six times without issue, just make sure the neck is well protected, I asked my local shop for a guitar box, they have them in the back room all the time when new stock arrives. Make sure you put a fragile sticker on the box and that it gets signed for at the receivers end.