Kitarkus
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2013
- Messages
- 676
- Reaction score
- 15
So I sold that 1974 Guild F-30 that I'd offered up here at LTG. I typically am able to sell good guitars on Craigslist, however, I had very little interest in the guitar locally. I ended up putting the guitar on Ebay and I listed it on Reverb as well (simultaneously). I had never previously sold on Reverb and although I had recently purchased an M-20 on Reverb...I had no feedback.
The Buyer began communicating me via message(s) on Ebay. Very quickly the same Buyer continued communications with me on Reverb. We messaged/chatted extensively and he had lots of good questions all of which were answered honestly and with additional photos provided. He purchased the guitar and we used Reverb's 'Direct Checkout' and I used Reverb to purchase/print a UPS shipping label with added 'Reverb Seller Protection'. The shipping cost using reverb was nearly 50% below my quote from UPS online. A no brainer.
I cancelled my Ebay listing promptly and received a generic email from Ebay stating that I may have violated their rules and could be subject to account termination. It infuriated me....but I do somewhat understand their computer generated position. I did not, as they are presuming, meet this Buyer and then proceed with a private transaction. The Buyer simply chose to purchase the guitar via my Reverb listing as opposed to through by Ebay listing. I'm not losing any sleep over Ebay's hurt feelings.
The guitar delivered on Thursday at about lunch time to the Buyer in New York. Reverb was holding my funds as per their protocol "until delivery has been confirmed". I heard nothing for 24+ hours and messaged the Buyer. The guitar arrived without shipping damage/issues...he loves it....he is super pleased....and he left me feedback. Reverb initiated the transfer of my funds after 5pm yesterday/Friday and I should have the funds in my bank account no later than Tuesday.
The Reverb process for a first time Seller felt a bit tilted in the direction of the Buyer. I'm sure that as a Buyer I would appreciate Reverb's protocol. I'm not complaining...I do understand...and I do have a degree of understanding that Reverb's process is to prevent fraudulent Sellers. Certainly Buyer had already paid and thus had his 'skin in the game' albeit held in a Reverb 'escrow' of sorts. Yes...Reverb deducted my shipping costs from my prospective proceeds thus I had no additional out-of-pocket for the shipping costs. I was, however, 'sitting in wait' after shipping my guitar across the country for most of a week...in hopes that the Buyer was equally honest...without any money in hand....in hopes that nothing went wrong which would prevent the release of my money.
Most of you likely have experiences of having been a first time Reverb seller under your belts. I thought this description of the process might assist those of you who have not yet sold on Reverb. Obviously Reverb is giving Ebay a 'run for their money' as Ebay recently reduced their fees for musical instrument auctions to match Reverb's fees. I dealt with an honest Buyer who received a guitar that met his expectations as had been described in our communications. I suppose I would have had similar anxiety with an Ebay Purchaser, however, with Ebay I would have had the money in my pocket prior to my shipment of the guitar. As I understand moving forward beyond my first Reverb sale, Reverb will initiate transfer of funds at the time that I add the tracking information to the website.
The Buyer began communicating me via message(s) on Ebay. Very quickly the same Buyer continued communications with me on Reverb. We messaged/chatted extensively and he had lots of good questions all of which were answered honestly and with additional photos provided. He purchased the guitar and we used Reverb's 'Direct Checkout' and I used Reverb to purchase/print a UPS shipping label with added 'Reverb Seller Protection'. The shipping cost using reverb was nearly 50% below my quote from UPS online. A no brainer.
I cancelled my Ebay listing promptly and received a generic email from Ebay stating that I may have violated their rules and could be subject to account termination. It infuriated me....but I do somewhat understand their computer generated position. I did not, as they are presuming, meet this Buyer and then proceed with a private transaction. The Buyer simply chose to purchase the guitar via my Reverb listing as opposed to through by Ebay listing. I'm not losing any sleep over Ebay's hurt feelings.
The guitar delivered on Thursday at about lunch time to the Buyer in New York. Reverb was holding my funds as per their protocol "until delivery has been confirmed". I heard nothing for 24+ hours and messaged the Buyer. The guitar arrived without shipping damage/issues...he loves it....he is super pleased....and he left me feedback. Reverb initiated the transfer of my funds after 5pm yesterday/Friday and I should have the funds in my bank account no later than Tuesday.
The Reverb process for a first time Seller felt a bit tilted in the direction of the Buyer. I'm sure that as a Buyer I would appreciate Reverb's protocol. I'm not complaining...I do understand...and I do have a degree of understanding that Reverb's process is to prevent fraudulent Sellers. Certainly Buyer had already paid and thus had his 'skin in the game' albeit held in a Reverb 'escrow' of sorts. Yes...Reverb deducted my shipping costs from my prospective proceeds thus I had no additional out-of-pocket for the shipping costs. I was, however, 'sitting in wait' after shipping my guitar across the country for most of a week...in hopes that the Buyer was equally honest...without any money in hand....in hopes that nothing went wrong which would prevent the release of my money.
Most of you likely have experiences of having been a first time Reverb seller under your belts. I thought this description of the process might assist those of you who have not yet sold on Reverb. Obviously Reverb is giving Ebay a 'run for their money' as Ebay recently reduced their fees for musical instrument auctions to match Reverb's fees. I dealt with an honest Buyer who received a guitar that met his expectations as had been described in our communications. I suppose I would have had similar anxiety with an Ebay Purchaser, however, with Ebay I would have had the money in my pocket prior to my shipment of the guitar. As I understand moving forward beyond my first Reverb sale, Reverb will initiate transfer of funds at the time that I add the tracking information to the website.