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What's the best platform to sell a used musical instrument these days?
Posted on 4/4/26 at 1:31 am
Posted on 4/4/26 at 1:31 am
Trying to unload a Squier Modified Vintage Jaguar bass guitar in exchange for a 5-string bass to play around with.
3
Posted on 4/4/26 at 5:17 am to shutterspeed
No experience with basses, but I've done well with guitars on reverb.
If you're sure about what you want next, that Sweetwater sales site might be the way to go.
If you're sure about what you want next, that Sweetwater sales site might be the way to go.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 9:42 am to shutterspeed
eBay: As a general rule, I recommend for a buyer, NOT a seller, because eBay always sides with the buyer in the case of a dispute.
Why is this a big deal? Because in recent years, there's been this hustle where shady people buy and receive your gear and then after you leave them great feedback as a buyer, they message you on the back end saying they have not left great feedback for you because your description was inaccurate.
Even though seller details all wear or issues as best they can, complete with photography, the buyer actually found one extra pinhead-sized ding in the clearcoat on the tip of the headstock that wasn't divulged. Or the seller failed to reveal the case smelled excessively like the case liner adhesive. Or something equally nitpicky, OCD or just flat out stupid.
Buyer then says their "luthier" will "fix the issue" for $250, so "please refund me $250 or I will leave negative feedback." Meaning your reputation is held hostage. And remember what I said, eBay ALWAYS sides with the buyer even if it's the seller filing the dispute!
Moral: If you buy from eBay, buy from a business with a physical storefront alongside an eBay store so you can research reputation both online and in person. DO NOT buy from private sellers unless they have years of transaction history AND stellar feedback from throughout that tenure.
Why is this a big deal? Because in recent years, there's been this hustle where shady people buy and receive your gear and then after you leave them great feedback as a buyer, they message you on the back end saying they have not left great feedback for you because your description was inaccurate.
Even though seller details all wear or issues as best they can, complete with photography, the buyer actually found one extra pinhead-sized ding in the clearcoat on the tip of the headstock that wasn't divulged. Or the seller failed to reveal the case smelled excessively like the case liner adhesive. Or something equally nitpicky, OCD or just flat out stupid.
Buyer then says their "luthier" will "fix the issue" for $250, so "please refund me $250 or I will leave negative feedback." Meaning your reputation is held hostage. And remember what I said, eBay ALWAYS sides with the buyer even if it's the seller filing the dispute!
Moral: If you buy from eBay, buy from a business with a physical storefront alongside an eBay store so you can research reputation both online and in person. DO NOT buy from private sellers unless they have years of transaction history AND stellar feedback from throughout that tenure.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 9:55 am to TheFretShack
Reverb: They also typically side with buyers over sellers in a toss-up scenario, but they have third-party moderators who are good about looking at both sides objectively and making the proper decision.
I bought a $1700 guitar on Reverb a few months ago and after the seller exhibited very shady delays and responses why regarding shipping the instrument, I reported it and requested Reverb's mods review our messaging history and timelines. Reverb cancelled the transaction immediately - like within an hour - refunded my money within one day, thanked me for reporting the seller and banished his Reverb presence.
Be aware, however, that the fees to sell have creeped up since they became a leader in gear transactions. They are currently at 5% commission on the total sale amount (including shipping, which is skyrocketing in recent times) and a payment processing fee of 3.19% + $0.49.
I bought a $1700 guitar on Reverb a few months ago and after the seller exhibited very shady delays and responses why regarding shipping the instrument, I reported it and requested Reverb's mods review our messaging history and timelines. Reverb cancelled the transaction immediately - like within an hour - refunded my money within one day, thanked me for reporting the seller and banished his Reverb presence.
Be aware, however, that the fees to sell have creeped up since they became a leader in gear transactions. They are currently at 5% commission on the total sale amount (including shipping, which is skyrocketing in recent times) and a payment processing fee of 3.19% + $0.49.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 10:13 am to TheFretShack
The best way to sell these days IMHO is through social media. But not just Facebook Marketplace, also (especially) specialty enthusiast pages on FB with names like "Baton Rouge Musicians" or "South Louisiana Guitarists." Same goes for forums like this one ... in 11 years of coming here, I can't tell you about any other section of Tiger Droppings, I'm just here for the Music Board and all y'all :)
Pros: No commissions. In your backyard, so no shipping fees. Because they are localized groups, there's a great shot buyers/sellers are mutual friends, former band mates, go to the same music venues or stores, etc.
Also, just a tip ... don't wait until you "need" those enthusiast pages or forums. Join them now, participate and contribute, give before you take, and establish your reputation and merit before it's needed.
Pros: No commissions. In your backyard, so no shipping fees. Because they are localized groups, there's a great shot buyers/sellers are mutual friends, former band mates, go to the same music venues or stores, etc.
Also, just a tip ... don't wait until you "need" those enthusiast pages or forums. Join them now, participate and contribute, give before you take, and establish your reputation and merit before it's needed.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 10:53 am to TheFretShack
Thanks for all the insight. I'm looking at Reverb right now. Any recommendations on how to ship for such a transaction?
Posted on 4/4/26 at 11:26 am to shutterspeed
I'm getting great rates for UPS and USPS via pirateship.com. I can't speak highly enough about Pirate Ship as a third-party shipping intermediary. They actually caught an overestimate on my part by a few ounces on a parcel I sent and refunded me a little postage!
Posted on 4/4/26 at 11:42 am to TheFretShack
You just bring your instrument to the shipping place and have them figure out how to box it up or what? A jaguar-style bass seems like kind of a heavy, unwieldly thing to ship.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 12:07 pm to shutterspeed
quote:
Any recommendations on how to ship for such a transaction?
A few years ago I took my banjo to UPS in Denham Springs and they boxed it for shipping to KY. No problems at all with the packaging according to the the recipient who sent it back via UPS and I received it well-packaged without any issues.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 12:13 pm to shutterspeed
You are going to get eaten alive $$$-wise taking an instrument to a shipping place and having them supply the box and padding material and having them pack it for you on top of the shipping fee and insurance.
There are tutorials galore on YouTube on how to properly pack and ship a guitar or bass. You can buy boxes from the UPS and FedEx stores, from Uline, from Reverb and I think Amazon. A true cheapskate like me dumpster dives at GC for thrown-away boxes.
Don't pad the box with peanuts, they shift and settle in transit and leave the top of the parcel unprotected. Use crumpled paper, old newspapers, old catalogs. Tip from a pro ... it's actually cheaper to go to a second-hand bookstore and buy markdowns and/or stupidly discounted damaged books and harvest and re-use that paper than it is to buy formal packing insulation materials.
There are tutorials galore on YouTube on how to properly pack and ship a guitar or bass. You can buy boxes from the UPS and FedEx stores, from Uline, from Reverb and I think Amazon. A true cheapskate like me dumpster dives at GC for thrown-away boxes.
Don't pad the box with peanuts, they shift and settle in transit and leave the top of the parcel unprotected. Use crumpled paper, old newspapers, old catalogs. Tip from a pro ... it's actually cheaper to go to a second-hand bookstore and buy markdowns and/or stupidly discounted damaged books and harvest and re-use that paper than it is to buy formal packing insulation materials.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 1:19 pm to TheFretShack
Confused by your post. First three paragraphs are why it’s better to buy than sell on eBay but then the moral of the story is don’t buy on eBay unless they have a storefront.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 2:19 pm to TheFretShack
Yea my dad got screwed by ebay years ago selling an old strat.
Cant believe ebay hasn’t sorted it out yet. Sellers need some protection or in most cases defense.
Cant believe ebay hasn’t sorted it out yet. Sellers need some protection or in most cases defense.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 4:12 pm to dirtsandwich
I don't see what's confusing about anything I wrote. But if leading off with "moral" is confusing enough to discount my content leading up to it, probably a poor word choice on my part. I will eventually delete "moral" from the last graph so that it is not mistaken as a capsule summary for what I wrote leading up to the graph.
Also, I did not say only buy from storefronts. If you re-visit that paragraph, you will see my advice on what to look for regarding private sellers.
Speaking of advice ... while much of what I wrote should be common sense for any buyer or seller on any online platform ... everything I have written in this entire thread is my own two cents. Your own mileage and experiences and opinions on these platforms may - and should - vary.
Also, I did not say only buy from storefronts. If you re-visit that paragraph, you will see my advice on what to look for regarding private sellers.
Speaking of advice ... while much of what I wrote should be common sense for any buyer or seller on any online platform ... everything I have written in this entire thread is my own two cents. Your own mileage and experiences and opinions on these platforms may - and should - vary.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 11:19 pm to shutterspeed
I've purchased guitars and amps from Sweetwater Gear Exchange a couple times. Everything went smooth and I was a satisfied customer. So it stands the reason in my opinion that they're a good platform for selling instruments.
Sweertwater
Sweertwater
Posted on 4/4/26 at 11:44 pm to Shanegolang
I've had good luck on general, inexpensive instruments on Marketplace.
For more niche, expensive stuff, Reverb has been somewhat good to me. As FretShack said though, their fees and everything can be expensive. I always offer free shipping and just price a couple hundred in extra for something like a guitar.
For more niche, expensive stuff, Reverb has been somewhat good to me. As FretShack said though, their fees and everything can be expensive. I always offer free shipping and just price a couple hundred in extra for something like a guitar.
Posted on 4/5/26 at 3:01 pm to TheFretShack
quote:
You are going to get eaten alive $$$-wise taking an instrument to a shipping place and having them supply the box and padding material and having them pack it for you on top of the shipping fee and insurance.
I save my boxes until I'm absolutely sure I'm keeping it.
Even if I sell it to a local store it helps them reselling as lightly used / excellent condition.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 1:53 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
As FretShack said though, their fees and everything can be expensive.
For this reason, I like to sell but not buy from there. Everyone knows the fees so everything is more expensive there. I do the same when I sell.
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