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Best way to sell an expensive, like-new, used item?

MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
This is not a For Sale Thread. This is a "what do I do?" thread.

Two years ago I bought a really expensive guitar amp head as a present to myself. I always wanted a top of the line Marshall and that's what I bought, a JVM410H. I used it, literally three times, just practicing at home. I never even cranked it. During that same timeframe, on a whim, I bought a bass guitar and fell in love. I discovered that I'd been playing the wrong instrument all these years. :colbert: Go figure. So I need to unload this thing to pay for my new bass gear.

So, I've got this amp that's "99.9% new" but not NIB and the matching carrying bag. They would cost $2,300 new.

If I put it on EBay, in order to not rip myself off, I'd have to set a reserve so high that I'd get no bids. Local Guitar Center would probably offer me $500 for it (I've not checked though) so that's probably out.

CL is an option of course, but with my luck every loony with no money will say "Dude, let me play it at my gig this weekend and I'll let you know." Ah, how about "NO?"

I'm posting this thread for ideas b/c I've got no clue what to do. Thanks for your useful input.

ps
"Send it to me"
"I will give you $1 for it"
"Burn it"
"Nuke it from orbit"

There, I already said them. Thanks. 😛
 
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alfa147x said:
Put it on ebay for $2100 till someone buys it. You have a shit ton of free listings
Click to expand...

I haven't sold anything on EBay in a few years (I have an active account though). I don't remember EBay letting you list ANYTHING for free. Has something changed?
 
MichaelD said:
I haven't sold anything on EBay in a few years (I have an active account though). I don't remember EBay letting you list ANYTHING for free. Has something changed?
Click to expand...

first 50 auction listings free/month (thx alfa147x)
 
Ns1 said:
first 50 auction listings free
Click to expand...

ASAIK it's 50 a month for free.

So start an auction at $2000 and you can set a buy it now.

Mi88P.png
 
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Find an active high end guitar and guitar amp enthusiast website and list in their classifieds sub-forum.
 
I guess I could put it on EBay and advertise "Low Reserve." But IMO, a low reserve for this thing in this condition is $1K. Can you say "bidding starts at $1K" in your EBay ad? Nobody would probably bid then. Everyone wants to get something new for 1/10th the new cost. /shakes head
 
MichaelD said:
I guess I could put it on EBay and advertise "Low Reserve." But IMO, a low reserve for this thing in this condition is $1K. Can you say "bidding starts at $1K" in your EBay ad? Nobody would probably bid then. Everyone wants to get something new for 1/10th the new cost. /shakes head
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since the first 50 listings are free the best way to list this item is just to list it with a starting bid of whatever you're willing to accept.

Take off 10% for fees and don't forget shipping on amps is a bitch.
 
Yup, shipping/insurance are going to take a big chunk out of the profits. The amp weighs about 60 pounds. Got to be professionally wrapped/boxed and insured to the hilt. I think I will advertise on a couple of guitar/music forums first, then EBay if it comes to that. Thanks to all for the ideas.
 
MichaelD said:
Yup, shipping/insurance are going to take a big chunk out of the profits. The amp weighs about 60 pounds. Got to be professionally wrapped/boxed and insured to the hilt. I think I will advertise on a couple of guitar/music forums first, then EBay if it comes to that. Thanks to all for the ideas.
Click to expand...

If that doesn't work then your next best option is craigslist. You'll need to be willing to wait a while until the right buyer comes along.
 
Thanks, Bignate603. I've never sold anything on CL before, but am well-aware of the horror stories. I hope it doesn't go that far.
 
I know you don,t want to hear this but I have been collecting, buying and selling guitar gear for a long time and unforetunately unless you take a long time to find the perfect buyer or get really lucky, you will have to take quite a bath on items like this that were bought at retail.

A quick look at completed listings in ebay shows three of these have sold used in the last 90 days and all were listed in like new condition and the range of prices sold was $1075-$1175
 
Craig's is full of flakes and crazies who want things dirt cheap.

As horrible as it may be, I think that an almost new item goes to ebay. Find something similar and put that item on your watch list. This will allow you to see how much it sells for, and you can decide if you want to put your stuff up for auction.

My strategy is to end auctions on Tuesday or Thursday evenings at ~6:30PM PST, and don't end on a Tuesday after a holiday weekend. Take LOTS of pictures (in focus, good lighting) so people can see what they're buying. Include a description that says it's been used just three time. Include the original box and/or documents if you have them.

Also, I tend to start my auctions low with reasonable shipping costs. I'll start a $200 iPhone at $10 and let noobs get into bidding wars. You need to tough it out, though; often times, bids don't come until the last 36 hours.

Pictures are the biggest selling point.


Another option is to sell on a guitar forum. I sell stuff or motorcycle and gun forums. It's often slow (waiting for a buyer), but less flakey than Craig's List.
 
Check with a local music shop and see if they'll sell it on consignment. Regardless - ebay, consignment, etc., I'd think you'll be out at least $500 from your purchase price. No one's going to pay nearly what it cost new on ebay, THEN expect to pay for shipping and insurance.

I'd still try Craigslist first. Post exactly what you posted; it can't hurt, well, except for wading through the scammers and lowballers. You could also post something about "I won't even bother responding to lowballers, so don't waste your time."
 
If you ebay it remember to go into your settings and disable non-US bidding!

Otherwise you'll get high bidders running the various scams like fake Western Union telegrams and checks that include an extra $100 that they want you to refund, stolen credit card purchases, etc. Even if you aren't going to fall for them it messes up your auction.

Also list in the auction terms that for Paypal that the account must be verified and you'll only ship to their confirmed address not some alternate. I haven't sold anything in a couple of years so you'll need to read up on Paypal seller protection to see the hoops they want you to jump through.
 
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Thanks very much DaveSimmons, DrPizza, Rumpltzr and GuitarDaddy. You all gave a lot of very good advice; I will be adhering to the guidance you've given.

I know I'm not going to get anywhere near what I paid for it. I'd be very happy to get $1500 or close to it. Of course, I'd rather sell locally, not ship and get paid in cash, but that's an ideal ending to this story. I guess I'll try CL first b/c if I sell locally there's no shipping, no isurance and no possibility of it getting banged up in transit, then me having to refund the money. Crap, I gotta deal with CL loonies now? 🙁 OH well, I wants me some monies!

I will definitely be taking lots of pictures. The fact that I'm throwing in the very nice Marshall-branded carry bag (that costs $75 new) will hopefully be an enticing factor. Again, I really appreciate you all taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with me. It helped. 🙂

Mike
 
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