Craigslist/FBMP/Reverb rants

[VonBonfire]

1) the more questions the buyer asks, the less likely they are to be a serious buyer

I have seen this over and over again. More than a couple basic emails asking about specific specs that would interest a real player are a huge red flag.

 

[creep66]

I have seen this over and over again. More than a couple basic emails asking about specific specs that would interest a real player are a huge red flag.

Yup list a 4k LP and the tire kickers come out in force. Pics from this angle, weight, measurement here, size of my wife's tits etc. Then ghost you. Meanwhile some guy who asks nothing and buys it is happy. I rarely ask questions cause I research before i consider. That seems to be most people I've dealt with that were a serious buyer. I don't have to ask neck profiles and shit cause I can look it up myself rather than make some seller miserable while embarrassing myself.

 

[VonBonfire]

Yup list a 4k LP and the tire kickers come out in force. Pics from this angle, weight, measurement here, size of my wife's tits etc. Then ghost you. Meanwhile some guy who asks nothing and buys it is happy. I rarely ask questions cause I research before i consider. That seems to be most people I've dealt with that were a serious buyer. I don't have to ask neck profiles and shit cause I can look it up myself rather than make some seller miserable while embarrassing myself.

Yeah it's weird like that. The "ask nothing" guy is the one who is just trying to work out the logistics of meeting up, barely haggles if at all, or just straight up offers a fair cash price in the first message. Once in a while a guy will ask for a pic of fret wear on the first three-four frets or "hey can you show me a pic of the buckle rash area" but then there are "those guys"....you posted it with a dozen quality pics and they want another dozen. Just like you said, the more questions asked the more I am alerted to a problem buyer.

 

[tallcoolone]

I have sold a few hundred guitars online. 2 things I've learned: 1) the more questions the buyer asks, the less likely they are to be a serious buyer and 2) Give no detail that allows for remorse/partial refunder buyers. They can go somewhere else. IE: It weighs 8 lbs 4oz. Or the neck measures 19mm at the 3rd fret.

The reason is not to be an asshole, its because pieces of shit scrabble together a couple of grand and spend the next year "demoing" guitars looking for the one that will make them the next SRV while sending dozens back in the process and costing me time, trouble, and money. I want to be clear: I no longer sell online due to these headaches and I have never had a customer that thought I was shady etc. Unfortunately, what used to be a fun hobby that alotted me some free gear occasionally is ruined by scumbags. I can tell you stories you wouldn't believe.

I only do business in person and I’ve never had an issue—there are no ‘refunds’ on an in person cash sale. My issue is you saying weight of a guitar is BS—there is a BIG difference between a 13lb Les Paul and a 9lb Les Paul and they don’t look any different in pictures. Now if you only play sitting down (or you only play hollow bodies and teles) sure it isn’t as big of a deal but to those of us who play standing up and long gigs it is the difference between a keeper and a wall ornament.

Again, a fish scale is $10 on Amazon

 

[creep66]

I only do business in person and I’ve never had an issue—there are no ‘refunds’ on an in person cash sale. My issue is you saying weight of a guitar is BS—there is a BIG difference between a 13lb Les Paul and a 9lb Les Paul and they don’t look any different in pictures. Now if you only play sitting down (or you only play hollow bodies and teles) sure it isn’t as big of a deal but to those of us who play standing up and long gigs it is the difference between a keeper and a wall ornament.

Again, a fish scale is $10 on Amazon

I undertsnad what you saying. I have a scale...I'm trying to make you aware of reasons people would be apprehensive to give you the weight. No one insulted your firstborn.

 

[napalmdeath]

Yup list a 4k LP and the tire kickers come out in force. Pics from this angle, weight, measurement here, size of my wife's tits etc. Then ghost you. Meanwhile some guy who asks nothing and buys it is happy. I rarely ask questions cause I research before i consider. That seems to be most people I've dealt with that were a serious buyer. I don't have to ask neck profiles and shit cause I can look it up myself rather than make some seller miserable while embarrassing myself.

I've probably sold 30 Les Pauls on Reverb. Never listed the weights as I typically didn't know, and got 5 stars on every sale. The most anal people I've ever encountered are over at TGP. They are as adamant about weights being posted as we are here about posting pics.

 

[napalmdeath]

The weight question is bullshit to set up for a partial later. "This weighs 6 Oz more than u said and my scale is more accurate cause I get it professionally checked! I want money back! When people ask the weight of a guitar, I just tell em its real heavy and they wouldn't want it. Saves us both time and me trouble.

This 100%. Not as described claim written all over it. I'd rather lose a sale over saying I don't know than stick my neck out with the accuracy of a $10 fish scale. I say buy it, or beat it.

I know I posted a few pages back, about the douches at TGP, but I literally had people ask me the weight on an SG more than once. I say if you're worried about an SG's weight, you should switch to skin flute.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I’ve found weight to be an important part of buying a guitar, personally. I have some back issues, so I like to find lighter guitars, but I’ve also found guitars between 7-8.5 lbs are a tonal and response sweet spot. Maybe anecdotal but I always prefer guitars in that weight range. It affects the tone to some degree, which I think is probably obvious. I always ask about weight. Sweetwater lists it on their guitars. I always weigh and list it when I sell. If it’s not listed I’ll ask. If they don’t answer that question or give me attitude about it (which hasn’t happened…everyone’s always given me the weight lol), then I’d just move along lol.

So while I find it to be a very important decision maker, personally, I don’t really care if someone doesn’t want to provide that. It’s a pretty basic thing to get, and I don’t want to deal with a seller that isn’t willing to get that information, so meh lol.

 

[tallcoolone]

I undertsnad what you saying. I have a scale...I'm trying to make you aware of reasons people would be apprehensive to give you the weight. No one insulted your firstborn.

Apologies—sellers whining online about having to answer basic questions must trigger me

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Yeah it's weird like that. The "ask nothing" guy is the one who is just trying to work out the logistics of meeting up, barely haggles if at all, or just straight up offers a fair cash price in the first message. Once in a while a guy will ask for a pic of fret wear on the first three-four frets or "hey can you show me a pic of the buckle rash area" but then there are "those guys"....you posted it with a dozen quality pics and they want another dozen. Just like you said, the more questions asked the more I am alerted to a problem buyer.

I have had these guys also. Tons of request for pics of this or that. You take all the pictures proving the thing is mint and then silence.

I understand wanting pictures of things that are relevant. Guy was selling a motorcycle helmet that i wanted and so i asked him the size. He didn't know, so i asked him to take a picture of the size on one of the tags. He sent me a picture of a tag that said nothing about size.

I told him that I really wanted the helmet if it would fit but would do me no good if it were wrong size and to please take a picture of all the lettering on the helmet. He blew up at me. I feel like what I was asking was reasonable. I wondered if he might have a mental disability.

So i think there is probably a reasonable request- then there is a grey area where you waste people's time- and then there is a ridiculous request all on a timeline.

Expecting someone to order a scale to weigh a main brand popular guitar seems like something I wouldn't do. But I guess I have never played a heavy guitar. I play standing, albeit not for multiple hours, but I have never noticed a guitar being heavy.

Just for my own knowledge, what is the line that separates a heavy guitar from a light one? 8 pounds? 13?

 

[vultures]

I truly do not understand the economy. No one wants these things, so prices go...up?
Meanwhile, I'm listing mint condition stuff at 45-50% of new and have zero serious buyers in over 3 months.

I can't make sense of it. Nobody I know is gigging 412s. It's all 212s or FRFRs. Personally if I'm gigging I'm bringing 1 or 2 Spark FRFRs. The 412s are just at home for fun for me. Why are people asking so much?

 

[JonPearson1994]

I can't make sense of it. Nobody I know is gigging 412s. It's all 212s or FRFRs. Personally if I'm gigging I'm bringing 1 or 2 Spark FRFRs. The 412s are just at home for fun for me. Why are people asking so much?

My theory is furniture is getting pricey enough that 4x12s are back-filling hardwood tables and shelves.

But seriously, it doesn't make sense to me. I will say, the cabs that are listed high just sit and sit and sit. There are a lot of them, but I think everyone sees the inflated new prices and suddenly assumes they can dial up the price on their old shredded 1960.

I got lucky enough recently to trade a RG550 Genesis for a good condition Recto cab from 2003, which value wise was fairly reasonable. If I had to buy that same cab I would have had to come off of $700+

 

[Laputan Machine]

My theory is furniture is getting pricey enough that 4x12s are back-filling hardwood tables and shelves.

But seriously, it doesn't make sense to me. I will say, the cabs that are listed high just sit and sit and sit. There are a lot of them, but I think everyone sees the inflated new prices and suddenly assumes they can dial up the price on their old shredded 1960.

I got lucky enough recently to trade a RG550 Genesis for a good condition Recto cab from 2003, which value wise was fairly reasonable. If I had to buy that same cab I would have had to come off of $700+

That's the weird thing, the prices are crazy, so they don't sell and just sit forever. Or people will even list used stuff for more than what it costs new, and this happens a lot. An example is I'm looking for Matamps and there's only one on Reverb, it's used (2 years old IIRC) and priced at $2800. It isn't even open to offers. The exact amp brand new is $2300 shipped, even with tariffs it's more like $2500. Shit doesn't make any sense.

 

[JonPearson1994]

That's the weird thing, the prices are crazy, so they don't sell and just sit forever. Or people will even list used stuff for more than what it costs new, and this happens a lot. An example is I'm looking for Matamps and there's only one on Reverb, it's used (2 years old IIRC) and priced at $2800. It isn't even open to offers. The exact amp brand new is $2300 shipped, even with tariffs it's more like $2500. Shit doesn't make any sense.

All we can do now is think back to the golden days of $500 block letter 5150s and boutique amps that were sub $2k

 

[vultures]

All we can do now is think back to the golden days of $500 block letter 5150s and boutique amps that were sub $2k

I remember 15+ years back I drove into Queens to buy a 5150 from a studio. They had 3 and the guy said something like "Play around and pick whichever one you want." I left $500 poorer and 1 block letter richer. I peaked early in life.

 

[VonBonfire]

All we can do now is think back to the golden days of $500 block letter 5150s and boutique amps that were sub $2k

Don't forget the early and mid 2000's where nice used Gibson faded V's were everywhere for $350-400 and a brand new ES333 could be had for $999. Now dudes are trying to get more than an actual 335 for them, lol. iTz vHiNtAgE

 

[JonPearson1994]

Don't forget the early and mid 2000's where nice used Gibson faded V's were everywhere for $350-400 and a brand new ES333 could be had for $999. Now dudes are trying to get more than an actual 335 for them, lol. iTz vHiNtAgE

Oh man the V thing, that's a sensitive spot. I always wanted one, but I absolutely refuse to pay the silly money I see them listed at.

 

[Laputan Machine]

The faded guitars were nice. I remember the LP Specials they had were really good sounding/playing.
I bought a Gibson Melody Maker for $600 brand new in like 2008, decided I didn't want it so contacted (I think maybe Sam Ash?) for a refund and they didn't want it back so they gave me $400 bucks to keep it.

 

[JonPearson1994]

The faded guitars were nice. I remember the LP Specials they had were really good sounding/playing.
I bought a Gibson Melody Maker for $600 brand new in like 2008, decided I didn't want it so contacted (I think maybe Sam Ash?) for a refund and they didn't want it back so they gave me $400 bucks to keep it.

I still have my faded SG. It is still one of my favorite guitars to play. Sounds great. It has worn in beautifully, it has a nice polished shine to it like some of the vintage guitars you see.

 

[Bardagh]

Don't forget the early and mid 2000's where nice used Gibson faded V's were everywhere for $350-400 and a brand new ES333 could be had for $999. Now dudes are trying to get more than an actual 335 for them, lol. iTz vHiNtAgE

Yep and everyone said the Norlin era stuff was garbage so you could even get LP Customs from the 70's and early 80's for relatively cheap. Now for some reason people have decided Norlin era stuff is special.