Thinking of selling a guitar on Craigs List - wanted an opinion or two

[popmann]

I ran an entire estate sale via Craigslist for the family of a friend who passed. Because no one else wanted people coming to their house.

No issues. I've never had issues using CL...beyond annoying tire kickers...and guys who like to play endlessly crank to ten...as if they couldn't sus out what an amp sounded like in the first couple minutes! Anyway...

Someone else dealt with Ebay'ing left over stuff. THAT, I won't do...waste of time with all the fees and PayPal BS...there was SO much drama around that part of the sale...

Anyway, I wouldn't buy a guitar from someone who wanted to meet me in a parking lot. Ever. Especially a nice one? Nope. If you're weirded by me coming THERE...bring it HERE...that's easier for me anyway--I have all my amps right here to plug into...my other guitars to compare.

But, then, I've been to people you'd know's (unlike me -at least that I knew) home studios when they were selling gear. I've had people here. I had someone (though honestly don't remember if we hooked up here or CL) let me borrow the mic he was selling for an evening to put it through it's paces. Maybe I just live in a trusting town.

If it's a guitar pedal (low money/risk) and they want to meet in a parking lot...whatever...I'm fine...but, you want to sell a $2500 converter or a $1200 guitar...or a $1800 boutique amp...? No way...I'm gonna need you to have some skin in the game, so to speak. I know where you live...you know where I live...if you're not comfortable with that, I think it says more about you than me, you know? Do I really WANT to buy gear from you?

[kerouac]

I have them meet me at my studio at work. It's in a big building with lots of locks and is always pretty busy, so I've never worried about it, even though there is gear everywhere.

[fastlanestoner]

Meet them at a mutual location and only if they're serious buyers. There are a lot of sheisters on there. Careful!

[swafford]

I've had strangers over to buy high end amps. I've been to streanger's houses to buy high end gear. I've met people in parking lot's and bought gear from their trunks. I pay them about what you'd expect from a parking lot deal, which is not at all close to what ever the market value might be. Not even in the next neighborhood.

If your concerned with being ripped off and don't want to do Ebay, try selling from the Gear Page or GS. It's a decent middle ground.

[biggator6]

I've done both.. depends on how much communication there is and how comfy I feel.

Usually - I try to meet somewhere mutual and public (and armed).

Sometimes, it's just more convenient - I actually bought my H3000 of a fellow GS member in a parking lot, but that's just because it was convenient (he's a great guy and welcome in my studio anytime!).

[Unclenny]

I have sold stuff on CL.

It is where to sell if you really need to as most buyers will be looking for bargain pricing.

[Lenzo]

Any time a CL seller has wanted to meet me in a parking lot, I'm done with the deal. I don't need to buy stolen gear...and whether it's stolen or not, asking to meet in a parking lot makes me think it is.
L.

[mijome07]

I've sold hundreds of items (mostly music gear/records) on CL. I've always met them in my front yard.

The only time I let people in the back room (located next to the garage) is when I was selling my 1,000+ record collection.

That would be a lot of crates to carry to the front yard every time.

[Jeff Hayat]

Originally Posted by biggator6

Usually - I try to meet somewhere mutual and public (and armed).

That's what I was getting at by my parking lot idea. Doesn't have to be a parking lot, but somewhere mutual was the idea. And for the armed part - good idea, but I don't think we here in CT can get a Concealed Carry Permit like you folk down in GA.

Thanks for the replies gents.