Is Reverb a trusted platform to sell?

[Kinky]

A good friend of mine has inherited an LP '59 tribute goldtop prototype, and is looking to sell it.

My immediate answer is Reverb UK; but I've never used it personally. Is it a safe and trusted platform (ie - devoid of scammers), etc? Due to the approximate value, I'd suggest she avoids ebay, etc.

Any advice or guidance very much appreciated.

[President Merkin]

Reverb itself is ok per se but that isn't to say any platform acting as a go between won't attract scammers. I think they charge 5% too,

Another option is to list on Ebay as a classified ad at a fixed price & make it clear in the listing you'll only sell in person due to the risk of damage/loss in transit etc. I've done that a few times with guitars worth a few bob, nothwithstanding obvious precautions of having people come to the house etc.

Yet another way is to sell through a local guitar shop for a fee or percentage. They'll all do that for a few £££.

[Kinky]

I'm really apprehensive using ebay, purely because of the risks, especially as they tend to favour the buyer and not the seller. Especially where it's done face to face; ie - no proof of delivery, etc and all the possible issues that brings.

A local retailer is the other option; where I guess they'd offer ~60% of the retail price; but on the other hand a quick guaranteed no-risk painless sale.

There's 2 for sale on Reverb; 1 ad is 3 months old, the other is 8. So it's balancing up what they want to do.

I might suggest they use Reverb and that I'll be happy to 'baby sit' it for a good few months

[President Merkin]

For clarity, I meant selling through a guitar shop, not to one. If you sell to them, they'll obvs offer a trade price. If you ask them to sell on your behalf, then it's just a matter of doing a deal,

As for Ebay, classified ads as distinct from auction listings fall outside of Ebay money back guarantees, you are effectively using them like Autotrader, the advantage is you just pay for the ad, no slippery final fees & no buyer protection fiddles. It's just an ad, no more.

[Kinky]

President Merkin said:

As for Ebay, classified ads as distinct from auction listings fall outside of Ebay money back guarantees, you are effectively using them like Autotrader, the advantage is you just pay for the ad, no slippery final fees & no buyer protection fiddles. It's just an ad, no more.

AHA

Sounds like that may be a way to go

I'll also tell them to sound out local retailers and see if they'll do a sale or return or somesuch.

Again, thank you

[sidewinder500]

My guitarist buys and sells through ebay, reverb and any other platform, all are recommendable and safe in principle.
His price range so far was up to 9k £ for a Custom Shop Strat, including all paperwork and case, from the states.
He buys and sells all over the world, never really a problem.
Just make sure you receive the money beforehand before shipping.
Everything else ist just normal procedure, like packaging etc.
Online you have a greater spread for customers compared to the local guitar store, but you never know of course.
To answer your question, it's a good and secure platform.

[davidd]

I've bought and sold through Reverb, seemed to work well although the exchanges were always in person.

[Rod200SX]

We've a small local shop that sells quite a few guitars on a fee basis on behalf of customers. They're an independant and do lots of Gibsons. They sold an old ESP james hetfield custom shop thing for a few grand for a customer a year or so ago. The buy it now prices are always crap (such is the way of these things) but that could be an option if they've a shop nearby.

[President Merkin]

davidd said:

I've bought and sold through Reverb, seemed to work well although the exchanges were always in person.

I think that's a key consideration, personally I woud never post a guitar, too much risk involved for damage, couriers losing it or mickey taking by buyers.

[rlw]

reverb is perfectly safe, with the guarantees offered by ebay and far fewer dodgy customers. I think the charges are about 7.5%.

I have bought and sold around 50 items - guitars, amps, pedals - in the last five years with no problems whatsoever.

https://help.reverb.com/hc/en-us?utm_campaign=logg...

[rlw]

President Merkin said:

I think that's a key consideration, personally I woud never post a guitar, too much risk involved for damage, couriers losing it or mickey taking by buyers.

I have couriered Les Pauls, ES-330, ES-335, Strats, Teles, PRS McCarty etc and have never, ever, had an issue. I use mainly UPS, but also DPD.

UPS will insure the goods for an extra charge. All you need is, ideally, a case and/or, some very good packaging.

By not offering delivery, you are losing around 70% of your potential market.

[President Merkin]

Maybe. But my view is you're only selling once, ergo you only need one buyer. They're always out there.

[rlw]

rlw said:

reverb is perfectly safe, with the guarantees offered by ebay and far fewer dodgy customers. I think the charges are about 7.5%.

I have bought and sold around 50 items - guitars, amps, pedals - in the last five years with no problems whatsoever.

https://help.reverb.com/hc/en-us?utm_campaign=logg...

Also, you could advertise on thefretboard.co.uk which is a niche site but a lot of top quality gear is sold on there, mainly between members so you are selling into a known quantity. Get the price right though.