With Reverb raising it's fees you might be looking for a new place to list or hunt for gear. Jonathan recommends his top 3 places to buy and sell, and the pros and cons of each one.
When I sell on Craigslist they have to agree to meet near a certain local police station in the parking lot in front of 3 cameras. If they complain - I tell them to get lost. Most folks like the idea because they trust that I will not screw them over on camera. The cops are cool with it, sometimes giving me a thumbs up.
F reverb for fees...😂 meanwhile guitar companies and shops r selling people over priced guitars and not even giving them hard shell cases unless u pay extra. Guitars r over priced like crazy for no reason. Can't get mad at a company that wants to profit a little more on people who r already profiting off instruments that r way way over priced for no reason. If I buy a guitar for 1k$+ a hard shell case should be no doubt with it. Even if I buy a 500$ guitar it should come with a hard case. I love playing guitar and I support shops but these companies and shops r getting ridiculous. Also if ur struggling that much during a pandemic music should be the last thing on ur mind lol.
I think that Reverb really missed the mark by doing it during the worst economic and health crisis in at least a generation AND when guitar sales are strong (so their revenues were actually up). No class at all. People would never like the increase but doing during the Pandemic was a terrible idea from a goodwill standpoint. Reverb makes money on the shipping, credit, and payment as well. It might take a few years but someone will step up for a piece of the action.
If you see a listing and its from store (like this channel), always buy direct from their website if they have a online shop set up or call them and they MIGHT give you a better deal (if you ask politely). That way you only have to pay shipping and thats more money for the store. Win win!
I would rather pay a few more dollars and have the reverb guarantee... That at least somebody will help me if the deal goes bad.... Personally I think Reverb has the most expensive used gear.... Guitar Center's much cheaper
I rarely get scam offers on Facebook Marketplace. Rarely have safety concerns, much easier to vet people. Definitely get lowballs and trade offers but that’s going to be true of any platform. Main issue is people constantly cancel or don’t show. Overall, though, it’s probably the best place I’ve found to buy and sell gear.
Meeting someone in person from Craigslist is always scary if they know you're bringing cash. A good idea is to meet a a bank. That way you only get the cash out if you're going to pull the trigger on the deal. Also, if you're buying something electronic like a pedal or something bring an inverter so you can plug it into your car and verify it at least turns on. I feel like I hit the lottery though when I found someone with a DigiTech Trio+ pedal brand new in box he let go for $160. Said his father-in-law was a hoarder and passed away. I absolutely love this pedal as I'm a beginner/intermediate player. So awesome to lay down a progression and practice scales or jam over it.
Reverb’s timing on their fees increase is horrible, during the pandemic. Their spin on the fees is increased marketing blah, blah, blah for their customers. I don’t believe that one bit. I think Etsy wants a faster return on the purchase of Reverb, and big companies typically don’t care about how consumers are affected by cost increases. I’ve been selling on FB Marketplace lately, and it’s working out.
Ads at forums like The Gear Page, TDPRI, and other guitar-centric forums have worked well for me in the past. Especially if you give a lower price than your Reverb listing.
I don't sell these days having had the usual scammers descend on me with craigslist. I do like to buy though and I try not to throw away money. I have noticed that new items on Reverb often cost exactly same as they are listed on Amazon, which I find odd. It makes me wonder if people are buying from one and selling on the other at MSRP and making money just on the shipping.
Do not buy and sell on reverb. They are uncontacable you cannot contact them.i buy a item and not been sent and cannot contact anyone on reverb. I'm going back to Ebay
The problem with Reverb, and Ebay is not so much the fees; however, when you are a seller, if you get scammed, Reverb or Ebay do not protect you, no matter what they print about seller's protection. You just have to read all the horror stories published on the gearpage; including a guy who was selling an Amp head on Reverb. The buyer purchased, received, and returned the head without even contacting the seller. The Seller received the head back, only there was nothing inside the chassis anymore! and to Reverb, the transaction was correct, the buyer returned the item. Reverb just ignored the pictures showing the empty head, gutted from its internals. So, just be aware that if your Reverb buyer is dishonest, you are likely to be the one suffering. According to what I read on the Gearpage, Reverb's customer service is no longer operated by people knowledgeable in musical instruments. Since Etsy purchased it, they have possibly replaced the experienced people with cheaper labor. The Gearpage is also a place where you can sell your gear. However you need to contribute to be able to post an add...
Who wants a Fender Espirit Elite Japan 1984, black. Sorta rare. its sorta like es-335 without the f holes. Set neck. AKA Robben Ford. ? I live in the Sf bay area.
Craigslist is NOT an alternative! I found an item I wanted on Craigslist, and then found that the same person was selling the same item on Reverb, and I buy it through Reverb. Since it was in my local area, I saved on shipping (but had to pay sales tax) & was able to pay with a credit card, to get payment protection.
Everyone knew they were going down as soon as Etsy bought them. Can't believe they raised fees IN THE MIDDLE of bloody worldwide pandemonium. Wtf is up with etsy and reverb?! I've been doing most selling on Facebook and eBay. Say what you want about eBay, but they treated me well for 21 years. When the reverb came around they dropped their fee. Still kept the fee 3.5. Facebook is the new Craigslist and they can pay you through the app, no fee. Reverb was absolutely awesome in their day. The people were great, too. Sorry to see this happen
Craigslist 7 out of 10 times people are trying to get something for nothing unfortunately so you need to word your add w firm price but they will still try Patience is needed w CL
Man I have about 10k worth of gear I want to sell, I’ve only sold a few simple things on Offerup but wanted to list my stuff on Reverb. Right now I’m actually contemplating just going to Guitar Center to see if I can offload all my stuff in one day 😂
I recently sold a loudbox mini that I purchased at a store new. Used it for a few minutes to test preamp on acoustic electric guitar. It’s been in the box ever since. Buyer had it for 13 days then notified me that the mic connection was broke and wanted their money back. So when I asked reverb about it they said I had to refund them in full. My shop policy did not matter because of their buy satisfaction guaranty. So I am out shipping both ways and 5.4% in payment processing fees. About 110.00 of a 240.00 amp. Done with reverb
Facebook Market place is great for stolen guitars. Cant tell you how many times I've seen colleges think they found some deal but cant understand why the seller wont hold it for them...
Buyers Beware: Foreign Reverb adds! everywhere in Europe, the laws stipulate that a retailer show the buy out price of an item; e.g. when a guitar is shown at a retailer with a price tag of 1000 EUR, this is what you have to pay to get it. In the US, the prices shown do not include the taxes, and sometimes other hidden fees. As I wanted to purchase a guitar made in Europe, and the seller was a music store, I checked their website, and the price shown on Reverb was the same price if purchased at the store, minus the Reverb fees that had been passed on to the buyer. However, if you happen to be purchasing from outside the EEC (European Economic Community), you obviously don't have to pay the local taxes. Else, you get a double dip! you pay the local taxes (in my case 20%), and you pay the taxes when the guitar gets to you.... and the seller does not have to report the taxes, because the guitar was sold for abroad!!! So keep that in mind! This is only valid when you purchase from a real music shop, and for a brand new instrument. In Europe, you do not pay taxes on used items.
Here's an issue about Reverb that never got an answer from them: I decided to purchase a guitar from overseas: upon reaching the check-out, Reverb was automatically adding the value added taxes from the Texas state and the city of Houston. But they cannot do that BEFORE the instrument enters the USA! you can only apply taxes and custom duty when the goods reach the port of entry. They should not be able to charge you taxes at the time you purchase goods physically not present in the USA.
@woof beast The duty and taxes are charged when the instrument enters the USA, based on the final destination. The shipping company is actually paying the taxes on your behalf, and charges you extra for anticipating the payment. This is what UPS does each time they brought me a guitar. I had one instance when the guitar was imported from Japan, and delivered by USPS. USPS should also have collected upon delivering, but they just dropped the guitar on my porch. However, I found in the paperwork how much duty and taxes I had to pay, and I went to my USPS office to give them the check; Back to the topic of interest, Reverb has no business charging taxes ahead of time when this is an import. And by the way, there is another issue with stuff sold on Reverb by foreign retailers; You probably don't know that, but in Europe, prices ALWAYS include VAT. The price shown on Reverb includes VAT, which is fine when your permanent residence is in Europe. The rules are, you pay the local taxes, as long as the goods remain within the EU. Same is not true when the goods are exported outside of the EU. The retailer should sell you Tax Free if the goods are new. But unless you ask, they will not tell you. So, if you purchase a guitar from France, the VAT is 20%; They should decrease the price shown of that much, same for the shipping costs. VAT does not apply if you ship outside of the EU. I have been an expatriate 35 years, so I know a lot about import/export.
@woof beast Sales taxes charged within the USA is not what I was commenting about. When you purchase goods that already are in the country, the transaction is admissible. When the goods are in another country taxes and duty cannot be charged ahead of the goods being inside the USA.
Addendum: acquisitions are made generally via PayPal, so as long as they ship to the real PayPal address, it shouldn't matter what address you're declaring on Reverb.
Yep i bought my Silver Mini Jubilee at a pawn shop last year. it was there for almost 6 months and got it for $750. I never seen one on reverb for less than $950, plus shipping and tax. Mine was $750 out the door. Next was the 2x12 2536 Jub cab. New $950 they were selling it for $800. Then the pandemic came and i see it still sitting their 10 months later. Got it for $500. I see 2 on Reverb used for $750 plus tax & shipping. I got very lucky that they had this and never sold it. They only listed it locally on Offer-Up. So you never know. Reverb takes just way too much money now when selling almost 8% and when buying paying tax plus shipping. You loose money right away it's like trading in your car to a dealer. They way less than selling privately & its also like buying a used car from a Dealer as soon as you take if off the lot, you've lost money. Have patients it can take more time selling locally but you will in the end be rewarded handsomely.
Reverb charges commission on the Seller's postal fee, like WTF !? It's very hard to get empty boxes to send guitars, guitar shops see us as competition. Reverb should be selling packaging to sellers and also offering a fixed fee by country to send the item to buyers. I sold one guitar on Reverb... I would have sold 5 more if I had the packaging.
@@mikemorris2159 cheers Mike, Reverb is not selling the boxes in EU so far with free shipping which means they are losing out big time. So far I have sold only one guitar on Reverb 18 months ago simply because I have no boxes and the local guitar store won't give any out.
I love Clist..but guess what, you need to be carful. However, I can smell a scammer from a mile away..so each on his own. However, Clist is a “in person “ only type of transaction-and should stay this way. IMHO, Mercari and Ebay have better deals than reverb because the shipping estimator is non existent for sellers, and it causes an inflated shipping rates. The only people who sells are those who price their gear correctly.
i just had my listings suppsended for "we dont allow multiple varints" because appently a normal stratocaster flyoid rose bridge will work on a hardtail body. im already sick of reverbs shit
I hate Reverb and Facebook. Never had a good experience from either. I buy on Ebay or my local shop and get rid of it on craigslist. Never had a problem selling on c-list. It seems to me the actual buyers and sellers use c-list in my area and all the looky lou kids who just mess with you use facebook. Reverb is just over priced. Fees and prices on gear. Its the site we're everyone whose selling knows exactly what they have and theres no deals or even fair prices to be had.
My favorite is when I try to haggle an in person cash price that gives the reverb seller a good deal and extra cash in their pocket but they don’t understand what I’m saying lol. Your guitar for $2450 on reverb will only net you $2250 if it sells, meanwhile I could just meet you in person and give you $2300 and call it a day.
Wondering what your opinion on calling the store that has something listed on reverb to buy from them directly? With everything going on in the world and the small guys getting pinched I have done that a few times so they avoid the fees, some may even work with you on price since they are saving the fees.
For me the best thing about Reverb is their buyer/seller protection. I've also had only good experiences on Soundlot. It's more oriented towards trading and there's more of a risk factor but so far it's worked well for me
Just sold a guitar through a local shop on consignment. Yeah, going this route you take the biggest hit financially, but it was no hassle for me and I was really happy (especially during the COVID mess) when the guitar sold that this great local shop made a good chunk of change.
That's a great way to look at it. We love doing consignment and can generally move things quicker than our customers because we end up with more eyes on their gear. Also, like you said it's no hassle for them. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
I'll buy local thank you. As for Reverb, they're too closely tied to the Gear Page which is about the most thin skinned site in the USA. Say ANYthing negative towards Trump, or Christianity and you're permabanned, no explanation.....
@@daviddawson1718 Give the mods at TGP any indication of those opinions and they'll ban you so quick it will make your head spin. It's safe space for Christian conservatives who happen to play guitar.
