Selling gear in person

[japetus]

If you are scared you are scared.

 

[Nigel]

Belief is the death of intelligence.

 

[LP Freak]

I‘ve done countless in person deals. Never packed and never felt the need to and never had an issue. I swear, there‘s gonna come a day when people will be too afraid to leave their home or even look another person in the eye.

 

[bkemp23]

It sounds like venmo and paypal gift seem ok so far. I also would prefer to do electronic to avoid large amounts of cash on hand.

I always get them on the phone and within minutes can tell if they're full of shit or not.
Ive done hundreds of face to face transactions sometimes 100+ miles from home in neighboring States by myself and never had a problem.
And for the most part met some cool gearheads.
To me only an insecure person would carry a firearm to a gear deal but i get why they would

That's not a bad idea with the phone call. I would agree it is easier to read people over the phone than through messaging.

I do the deals at my practice space. The halls and doors are video monitored, you can't get in or out without keys and a fob, and it allows someone to crank the gear and demo it at volume.

I've never had a single bad Craigslist transaction where someone tried to pull a fast one. I only do cash, Venmo, and Zelle/Quick Pay. I actually prefer the electronic payments as I really don't like carrying large wads of cash around like some drug dealer.

I've done deals at GC where I've been the buyer, but it always feels a little weird to use a store (and its gear) for a private party transaction... even if it is Guitar Center.

For non-gear deals (like when I sold my last car on CL), I use the police station. Haven't tried to sell anything during COVID, but not much would be different except folks wear masks.

For large deals (anything >$1000) I have drafted an invoice/receipt for both of us to sign and keep for our records. I've never had issues with the other person signing it... it's all business, and can protect either of our asses if the other person decides to pull a fast one. If someone weren't okay with signing something like that, I'd probably say the deal is off.

I like the transaction receipt for larger items. I will have to keep that in mind.

I‘ve done countless in person deals. Never packed and never felt the need to and never had an issue. I swear, there‘s gonna come a day when people will be too afraid to leave their home or even look another person in the eye.

I have also never carried to a transaction. I plan ahead and pick my locations wisely. While i do have the option, I have significantly more skills with my hands than a gun so not sure it would really give me an advantage. But, bringing it up is always a nice reminder to be cautious and stay alert.

 

[Metlupass2]

I‘ve done countless in person deals. Never packed and never felt the need to and never had an issue. I swear, there‘s gonna come a day when people will be too afraid to leave their home or even look another person in the eye.

True story. I had a butter knife in my pocket when I went to your house just in case shit went down.

 

[Samhain]

It sounds like venmo and paypal gift seem ok so far. I also would prefer to do electronic to avoid large amounts of cash on hand.

That's not a bad idea with the phone call. I would agree it is easier to read people over the phone than through messaging.

I like the transaction receipt for larger items. I will have to keep that in mind.

I have also never carried to a transaction. I plan ahead and pick my locations wisely. While i do have the option, I have significantly more skills with my hands than a gun so not sure it would really give me an advantage. But, bringing it up is always a nice reminder to be cautious and stay alert.

If they won't give me the courtesy of a phone call i don't deal with them at all. And thats a red flag in my book.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

True story. I had a pack of condoms and lube my pocket when I went to your house just in case shit went down.

Fixed.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

FWIW you can usually tell if someone is legit by the questions they ask about the gear. For most folks like us, we’re selling nice stuff that’s not exactly cookie cutter. Asking questions like what year/revision or what tubes are in an amp (or even when last retubed) usually give me some confidence that the other guy isn’t a scammer.

 

[mooncobra]

It sounds like venmo and paypal gift seem ok so far. I also would prefer to do electronic to avoid large amounts of cash on hand.

That's not a bad idea with the phone call. I would agree it is easier to read people over the phone than through messaging.

I like the transaction receipt for larger items. I will have to keep that in mind.

I have also never carried to a transaction. I plan ahead and pick my locations wisely. While i do have the option, I have significantly more skills with my hands than a gun so not sure it would really give me an advantage. But, bringing it up is always a nice reminder to be cautious and stay alert.

Sounds like a lot of rig talkers show up to a deal packing heat. Personally, I go with a shank. If the other guy has a gun I just use my shank to deflect the bullets with my cat like reflexes back at them and they are hit with their own bullet.

 

[gtrwun]

I‘ve done countless in person deals. Never packed and never felt the need to and never had an issue. I swear, there‘s gonna come a day when people will be too afraid to leave their home or even look another person in the eye.

Yeah....couldn’t agree more. The paranoia runs deep nowadays. I’ve never felt the need to bring a gun to a personal transaction with another gear whore. To each his own. Maybe someday I’ll be murdered by a crazy person posing as a guitarist?

 

[Kordoba]

Sounds like a lot of rig talkers show up to a deal packing heat. Personally, I go with a shank. If the other guy has a gun I just use my shank to deflect the bullets with my cat like reflexes back at them and they are hit with their own bullet.

That's one way to do it. When I was doing time in the Big House I learned how to fashion a shank out of a toothbrush. When I do in-person gear deals, I keep one of these lethally modified toothbrushes in my front shirt pocket. If the buyer dares to give me any shit, I grab the toothbrush by the bristles and stab him in the neck.

 

[stephen sawall]

I usually meet them at a bank where I know where the cameras are at. Not my bank.

 

[Samhain]

That's one way to do it. When I was doing time in the Big House I learned how to fashion a shank out of a toothbrush. When I do in-person gear deals, I keep one of these lethally modified toothbrushes in my front shirt pocket. If the buyer dares to give me any shit, I grab the toothbrush by the bristles and stab him in the neck.

I just wear cheap sunglasses, works fine.

 

[mooncobra]

That's one way to do it. When I was doing time in the Big House I learned how to fashion a shank out of a toothbrush. When I do in-person gear deals, I keep one of these lethally modified toothbrushes in my front shirt pocket. If the buyer dares to give me any shit, I grab the toothbrush by the bristles and stab him in the neck.

Yeah, that’s cool man. It’s especially cool when you ram the toothbrush fashioned shank deep in their neck, and you feel it sever the carotid artery. But you have to get out of the radius of death because the arterial spray shoots far. You don’t want to get drenched in blood, know what I mean? From one shank master to another?

 

[Samhain]

Yeah, that’s cool man. It’s especially cool when you ram the toothbrush fashioned shank deep in their neck, and you feel it sever the carotid artery. But you have to get out of the radius of death because the arterial spray shoots far. You don’t want to get drenched in blood, know what I mean? From one shank master to another?

I have a friend in Corrections they did away with anything w/a handle over 20 years ago that includes any kind of metal can from the canteen.
You can always use the old thumbs thru the eyeballs routine though.
Most Corrections did away with street clothes, free weights & tobacco as well.

 

[mooncobra]

Yeah....couldn’t agree more. The paranoia runs deep nowadays. I’ve never felt the need to bring a gun to a personal transaction with another gear whore. To each his own. Maybe someday I’ll be murdered by a crazy person posing as a guitarist?

Don’t worry bro. I offer hybrid combat guitar lessons. I also stray away from the better known martial art and teach the fighting style of the “madman.” Anything goes in that technique. This includes chainsaw fighting techniques, training chimpanzees to become lethal killing machines, balpeen hammer head strikes, how to build your own flame thrower lessons, how to manufacture the flesh eating virus and then distribute it to the gear thief, and my personal favorite, napalm for newbies class. There are many others as well. The “madman” style is very effective.

As for the guitar part, I can show you John petrucci world domination mode. Once we get your speed up, you will be able to trigger a smaller size nuclear reaction, and only aim it outward so as to just disintegrate the criminal trying to steal your gear. Apparently petrucci accidentally discovered his world domination mode while backstage with yngwie. Yngwie challenged him to a speed contest and petrucci hesitantly accepted. He ended up digging deep and taking it to the next level, both shocking and destroying Yngwie simultaneously. It was said that Yngwie was heard mumbling, “must learn world domination mode, must learn world domination mode....”

 

[mooncobra]

I have a friend in Corrections they did away with anything w/a handle over 20 years ago that includes and kind of metal can from the canteen.
You can always use the old thumbs thru the eyeballs routine though.
Most Corrections did away with street clothes, free weights & tobacco as well.

I have a friend in Corrections they did away with anything w/a handle over 20 years ago that includes and kind of metal can from the canteen.
You can always use the old thumbs thru the eyeballs routine though.
Most Corrections did away with street clothes, free weights & tobacco as well.

yeah, but the black market in the big house thrives. You can get what ever you want in there!

 

[Samhain]

yeah, but the black market in the big house thrives. You can get what ever you want in there!

Small amounts of drugs brought in by the staff yes, but not much else its a very small & tightly controlled universe.

 

[MatrixClaw]

If it's an amp, I've just been setting it up in my garage and letting them try it there quickly to make sure it works. If it's a pedal or something, I just meet them in the parking lot of the grocery store next to me and do the exchange. If I'm buying an amp or guitar, I just tell them they can set it up and show me it works real quick and I'll take it.

Honestly, I kinda prefer it this way anyway. Hate dealing with locals — now we settle on the price, verify it works and then they're on their way. I don't want to deal with you sitting there for an hour to try out my amp and then decide that it doesn't sound like what you were hoping for. This isn't a guitar store, bro. If you contact me wanting to buy it and you show up, you better be planning to take it unless something goes wrong

 

[scottosan]

I can't believe how many of you guys are scared enough to say "good thing I can concealed carry".

If you are that uncomfortable, just meet in a public place. The recommendation of the internet safe exchange place is great. Unless you live in a swamp or on a mountain, chances are there is one not too far from you.

Yeah, because no one jas been killed or robbed in a public place right. It insurance. I have insurance on my car, not because I’m afraid of damage.