Selling gear in person

[MatrixClaw]

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 traded amps with a guy locally once years ago - My Mesa Road King Combo for his Diezel Einstein head. I drove 2-1/2 hours round trip to his house because he told me he recently had surgery and couldn't drive. I was only like 17 at the time, so my dad came along for the ride and we spent like an hour and a half there letting him play them both and just shooting the shit. I told him I was looking for a specific 4x12 to buy but I hadn't seen the model I wanted for sale.

About a week later, he emailed me and told me that the reverb wasn't working on the amp and that he wanted to trade back. I told him it was working when I left and it wasn't my fault it now wasn't working, so no, I wouldn't trade back. Then he called me nonstop for a few days and I just ignored him because he clearly broke it or was having trader's remorse and I'm not a guitar shop, no returns, buddy.

At this point, he stopped contacting me, so I assumed he had just given up and decided to keep it. I see the cab I wanted posted on CL in my city and I contact the guy. He said he lives close by and can deliver it because our truck is in the shop. Two hours later, that asshole shows up at my house. I open the door and he has a 9mm strapped to his waist and just says, "It's time to trade back." Of course, being a scared 17 year old at this point, I go get the amp and bring it down. This guy knew how old I was and he felt it necessary to bring a gun with him. Rather than make a scene and potentially get killed over it, I just gave it back and told him to get the fuck out.

I can't remember what the problem was with the reverb but I remember it was a super simple fix.

This guy ruined local deals for me and because of him I'd rather pay PayPal fees and take a cut out of the money for shipping than have to deal with people in person. It's been like 13 years and I'm still super weary about dealing with anyone anymore, so much so that I don't haggle with people at all, it's any price or nothing, tired of dealing with these people, people online are so much nicer and there's far less weirdos on the forums.

I get wanting to protect yourself when doing these local deals, but there's a time and a place for carrying but showing up to someone's house with a gun is neither of those. Don't put yourself in a sketchy situation and leave your gun in the car unless it looks weird when you roll up.

 

[architect]

Done a few in person deals. No problems so far.

 

[Samhain]

Today i had a deal brewing [not much of a brew] seller for trade a 2020 Gibson Explorer Natural finish for [he wanted] a Gibson LP Custom plus cash to me on his end.
Would have been a 200 mile roundtrip if we met 1/2 way.
So i sent him pic's of my 1985 LP Custom.
His reponse : "no tnx"
Never even got to talk money.
Turns out he is from Bosnia so there is that.
Saved me a big hassle frankly.
Nothing ventured/nothing gained.
Tis the season.

 

[mooncobra]

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

There is much more than small quantities of drugs in prisons.

 

[Samhain]

There is much more than small quantities of drugs in prisons.

Well cartel leaders like the Mexican Mob and other groups who are incarcerated can/do call the shots from prisons to their soldiers on the streets including who gets whacked. And they control huge narcotic trafficking's all over the globe.
As for the contraband amounts in the institutions themselves they are relatively minute quantities.
As for the shot callers themselves alot don't even do drugs.
Buying/selling/doing dope in a prison is a low level hustlers trade.

 

[JimAnsell]

any time its a local pickup, its almost always a heavy combo, or a cabinet. so i like to make the buyer super uncomfortable, by handing them a guitar and pick, with the rig fired up, and say "here, play, make sure it works". They always get coy. they'll never actually "play". they'll chug chug, strum a chord or two, then be like "OK". Just once, i want someone to use that opportunity to show off Other wise, i'll grab it and play like i'm comfortable, cuz its my house and stuff...until i sell it to you, of course.

 

[gtrwun]

Seems a few guys have had some legit bogus local deals. Worst that ever happened to me was a guy from rig-talk came to my work to buy a Ubershall for $1300.00. A killer deal for a clean, perfectly functional amp. Comes inside, looks at the amp and says.....hey....I’ve only got $1100.00. I took his fucking money and told him to be on his way so I could get back to work. What a goddamn tool. Don’t ever pull that crap in person after agreeing on a price. Should have sent him home empty handed.

 

[harddriver]

I traded amps with a guy locally once years ago - My Mesa Road King Combo for his Diezel Einstein head. I drove 2-1/2 hours round trip to his house because he told me he recently had surgery and couldn't drive. I was only like 17 at the time, so my dad came along for the ride and we spent like an hour and a half there letting him play them both and just shooting the shit. I told him I was looking for a specific 4x12 to buy but I hadn't seen the model I wanted for sale.

About a week later, he emailed me and told me that the reverb wasn't working on the amp and that he wanted to trade back. I told him it was working when I left and it wasn't my fault it now wasn't working, so no, I wouldn't trade back. Then he called me nonstop for a few days and I just ignored him because he clearly broke it or was having trader's remorse and I'm not a guitar shop, no returns, buddy.

At this point, he stopped contacting me, so I assumed he had just given up and decided to keep it. I see the cab I wanted posted on CL in my city and I contact the guy. He said he lives close by and can deliver it because our truck is in the shop. Two hours later, that asshole shows up at my house. I open the door and he has a 9mm strapped to his waist and just says, "It's time to trade back." Of course, being a scared 17 year old at this point, I go get the amp and bring it down. This guy knew how old I was and he felt it necessary to bring a gun with him. Rather than make a scene and potentially get killed over it, I just gave it back and told him to get the fuck out.

I can't remember what the problem was with the reverb but I remember it was a super simple fix.

This guy ruined local deals for me and because of him I'd rather pay PayPal fees and take a cut out of the money for shipping than have to deal with people in person. It's been like 13 years and I'm still super weary about dealing with anyone anymore, so much so that I don't haggle with people at all, it's any price or nothing, tired of dealing with these people, people online are so much nicer and there's far less weirdos on the forums.

I get wanting to protect yourself when doing these local deals, but there's a time and a place for carrying but showing up to someone's house with a gun is neither of those. Don't put yourself in a sketchy situation and leave your gun in the car unless it looks weird when you roll up.

He had no recourse period.... if the amp worked when he demo'd it, ZERO, this guy had to be unstable to threaten you with a gun. I don't blame you for giving in but you should have pressed some type of assault charges on the guy for brandishing a weapon over something so trivial.

He knew he had legal recourse, I guess he threatens the used car dealers if his used car or new develops an issue after purchasing.

I've had good luck with people over the years but it seems people are becoming quite antisocial and don't have basic social skills. With Reverb, EBAY, Paypal swooning over the protection of buyers people are starting to think it applies to all aspects of life, which is not a healthly development.

 

[mooncobra]

Seems a few guys have had some legit bogus local deals. Worst that ever happened to me was a guy from rig-talk came to my work to buy a Ubershall for $1300.00. A killer deal for a clean, perfectly functional amp. Comes inside, looks at the amp and says.....hey....I’ve only got $1100.00. I took his fucking money and told him to be on his way so I could get back to work. What a goddamn tool. Don’t ever pull that crap in person after agreeing on a price. Should have sent him home empty handed.

Someone from rigtalk did the same thing to me!!!!!!! Whoa!!!! When I said to beat it, he miraculously found the rest of the cash!!!! Unbelievable!! I already gave him a killer deal, and he had the nerve to tell me he traded it for a very expensive amp the next day!! This is after he told me it’s his all time dream amp, so I gave him a deal to let him get it and experience it. Some guys...........

 

[mooncobra]

I traded amps with a guy locally once years ago - My Mesa Road King Combo for his Diezel Einstein head. I drove 2-1/2 hours round trip to his house because he told me he recently had surgery and couldn't drive. I was only like 17 at the time, so my dad came along for the ride and we spent like an hour and a half there letting him play them both and just shooting the shit. I told him I was looking for a specific 4x12 to buy but I hadn't seen the model I wanted for sale.

About a week later, he emailed me and told me that the reverb wasn't working on the amp and that he wanted to trade back. I told him it was working when I left and it wasn't my fault it now wasn't working, so no, I wouldn't trade back. Then he called me nonstop for a few days and I just ignored him because he clearly broke it or was having trader's remorse and I'm not a guitar shop, no returns, buddy.

At this point, he stopped contacting me, so I assumed he had just given up and decided to keep it. I see the cab I wanted posted on CL in my city and I contact the guy. He said he lives close by and can deliver it because our truck is in the shop. Two hours later, that asshole shows up at my house. I open the door and he has a 9mm strapped to his waist and just says, "It's time to trade back." Of course, being a scared 17 year old at this point, I go get the amp and bring it down. This guy knew how old I was and he felt it necessary to bring a gun with him. Rather than make a scene and potentially get killed over it, I just gave it back and told him to get the fuck out.

I can't remember what the problem was with the reverb but I remember it was a super simple fix.

This guy ruined local deals for me and because of him I'd rather pay PayPal fees and take a cut out of the money for shipping than have to deal with people in person. It's been like 13 years and I'm still super weary about dealing with anyone anymore, so much so that I don't haggle with people at all, it's any price or nothing, tired of dealing with these people, people online are so much nicer and there's far less weirdos on the forums.

I get wanting to protect yourself when doing these local deals, but there's a time and a place for carrying but showing up to someone's house with a gun is neither of those. Don't put yourself in a sketchy situation and leave your gun in the car unless it looks weird when you roll up.

What a scum bag. I would have been insane with anger.

 

[Speeddemon]

Seems a few guys have had some legit bogus local deals. Worst that ever happened to me was a guy from rig-talk came to my work to buy a Ubershall for $1300.00. A killer deal for a clean, perfectly functional amp. Comes inside, looks at the amp and says.....hey....I’ve only got $1100.00. I took his fucking money and told him to be on his way so I could get back to work. What a goddamn tool. Don’t ever pull that crap in person after agreeing on a price. Should have sent him home empty handed.

Years ago I sold a reasonable high end studio reverb (19") on a local marketplace site. Guy bids, we agree on the price (750), comes over with his 'connaisseur/expert friend' unannounced and of course after inspecting it, the friend says "yeah, it's nice, but I'd give maybe 650 for it. So the guy goes "Can you do 650?"
Nope, we agreed beforehand. You can leave emptyhanded now and drive back 60 miles... He paid 750.

After that experience there were a few other buyers, where I felt due to the way of communication I needed to point out "no further haggling at the door, period." Luckily it never happened, but I hate that shit too.

One nice experience was when I sold my Engl SE EL34 head. Guy comes over to my house (FYI, I'm not in the USA...no guns, less trigger happy folks here and I keep some katana's nearby...) and I had put it up demo-ready for him on my 4x12.
He asked me to do a sort of quick demo-overview and after me going through the channels and options, while playing all kinds of riffs, he was so impressed, he didn't even try it himself anymore. He was like "Yep, heard everything I wanted...this thing has ballz. Shut up and take my money!"

 

[RedB4Black]

I meet up with people all the time. I generally have them come to my house. I don't worry about it. Hell I have a few guitar friends I've met from doing craigslist deals. That being said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with carrying a gun. It's not about fear or being a "bad ass" or compensating for penis insecurities, it's being prepared to defend yourself if necessary. I usually have one with me when I leave house...keep one in my car. I have a LTC (Texas is both open and concealed carry) and you'd never know I had I had a gun on me unless you threatened my life. Too many crazy people in this world to not take an active role in you own self-protection and the protection of your family.

 

[mooncobra]

I meet up with people all the time. I generally have them come to my house. I don't worry about it. Hell I have a few guitar friends I've met from doing craigslist deals. That being said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with carrying a gun. It's not about fear or being a "bad ass" or compensating for penis insecurities, it's being prepared to defend yourself if necessary. I usually have one with me when I leave house...keep one in my car. I have a LTC (Texas is both open and concealed carry) and you'd never know I had I had a gun on me unless you threatened my life. Too many crazy people in this world to not take an active role in you own self-protection and the protection of your family.

Plus, if you ever come across a mass shooting event, you can get your gat out and light the fool up, and become a legend of American bad assery! Straight smoke that maniac!

extra cool points if you bust out an uzi or m16, and get in the shooting stance of Pacino in Scarface. And of course, the heroic act of insane bravery in the face of extreme odds, is caught on tape.

 

[RedB4Black]

Plus, if you ever come across a mass shooting event, you can get your gat out and light the fool up, and become a legend of American bad assery! Straight smoke that maniac!

extra cool points if you bust out an uzi or m16, and get in the shooting stance of Pacino in Scarface. And of course, the heroic act of insane bravery in the face of extreme odds, is caught on tape.

If these are the reasons that someone carries a gun, then they probably shouldn't be carrying. Comments like those show your ignorance on the subject. No one I know who's actually had situational training in the use of firearms would make comments like that or think like that. Or joke about it.

 

[Speeddemon]

If these are the reasons that someone carries a gun, then they probably shouldn't be carrying. Comments like those show your ignorance on the subject. No one I know who's actually had situational training in the use of firearms would make comments like that or think like that. Or joke about it.

I'm not sure if mooncobra is from the US or not, but for a European the whole ordeal may seem strange to be 'packing heat' in the event you get ripped off in a Craiglist-type of deal. I mean, suppose some guy comes at your house or you meet up somewhere, and he pulls a gun on you with a "hand over the amp, I'm taking it for free", what are you going to do by bringing a gun yourself? Shoot the guy? Potentially actually murder someone -even if they are in the process of ripping you off- for some $1k+ amp?
I once read a great comment about pulling a gun on someone, that you should be able to 'follow up' and prepare to shoot. If not, it might be used on you or god knows what.

Look, don't get me wrong, I'm all for protecting your beloved ones and belongings, but shooting people over theft is kinda ghetto. Ymmv.

 

[RedB4Black]

I'm not sure if mooncobra is from the US or not, but for a European the whole ordeal may seem strange to be 'packing heat' in the event you get ripped off in a Craiglist-type of deal. I mean, suppose some guy comes at your house or you meet up somewhere, and he pulls a gun on you with a "hand over the amp, I'm taking it for free", what are you going to do by bringing a gun yourself? Shoot the guy? Potentially actually murder someone -even if they are in the process of ripping you off- for some $1k+ amp?
I once read a great comment about pulling a gun on someone, that you should be able to 'follow up' and prepare to shoot. If not, it might be used on you or god knows what.

Look, don't get me wrong, I'm all for protecting your beloved ones and belongings, but shooting people over theft is kinda ghetto. Ymmv.

Yes. You should never brandish your gun unless it's to fire, and then it should only be in a situation where you are in immediate danger of mortal injury. If a guy pulls a gun on me in a malicious manner, my life is in immediate danger. If I happen to be faster or a better shot, it's not murder, it's self defense. If they pull a gun on me over a $1,000 amp, they obviously value the amp over my life and theirs. I really have no qualms about it if it's me or him, I'd rather it be him.

 

[mooncobra]

I'm not sure if mooncobra is from the US or not, but for a European the whole ordeal may seem strange to be 'packing heat' in the event you get ripped off in a Craiglist-type of deal. I mean, suppose some guy comes at your house or you meet up somewhere, and he pulls a gun on you with a "hand over the amp, I'm taking it for free", what are you going to do by bringing a gun yourself? Shoot the guy? Potentially actually murder someone -even if they are in the process of ripping you off- for some $1k+ amp?
I once read a great comment about pulling a gun on someone, that you should be able to 'follow up' and prepare to shoot. If not, it might be used on you or god knows what.

Look, don't get me wrong, I'm all for protecting your beloved ones and belongings, but shooting people over theft is kinda ghetto. Ymmv.

I was making light of the situation. Bringing a gun to a gear deal seems way over the top to me. I was trying to make people think how over the top that is. If it’s come down to bringing a gun to a gear deal, or getting ripped off, I would just say, “take it.” Would I be pissed off if I was robbed? Yes, extremely. But would I SHOOT someone who was trying to nab my guitar? Most definitely not.

but hey, this is just my opinion. I think guns are very extreme.

maybe I am just ignorant as was stated above? Maybe carrying a WEAPON of WAR to a gear deal is the norm.

from now on, in my Craigslist ads, I will include:

NO GATS, ARMAMENTS, MUNITIONS, PIECES, PACKING HEAT, FIRE ARMS, ARTILLERY, BAZOOKAS, HAND GRENADES, MISSILES or EXPLOSIVES ALLOWED!!

UNARMED ONLY!

I would like to meet and make a deal, whether a sale or trade. I would rather trade Bitchin gear than trade gun shots.

 

[RedB4Black]

Lol. A pocket handgun is a far cry from a “weapon of war”... it’s a mere cap gun in comparison to a real weapon of war.

 

[Speeddemon]

I was making light of the situation. Bringing a gun to a gear deal seems way over the top to me. I was trying to make people think how over the top that is. If it’s come down to bringing a gun to a gear deal, or getting ripped off, I would just say, “take it.” Would I be pissed off if I was robbed? Yes, extremely. But would I SHOOT someone who was trying to nab my guitar? Most definitely not.

I'm with you on this... the thing is, if the other party is effectively a 'bad guy', a lot of times they have not much to lose, which tilts the balance quite differently in a situation where two parties bring guns (and one party *has* something to lose, a family to look after, etc.) Is some guitar that you are already trying to get rid off worth your life? Not to mention, the bad guy comes prepared, while you have to quickly alter the situation...in that time the bad guy can already shoot you most likely... Unless it's a situation where at the beginning of the meeting, you lift your shirt a bit, like a badass, showing yer packin' heat next to that trouser snake, to alert the other party "Hey now, no shenanigans, ya hear?"

While I can appreciate @mhenson42 's point of training etc, I fear that plenty of folks that do own guns, may not have had the proper training how to wield a gun...and then they'll realise (after being plugged a few times, clinging on to their Epiphone) that real life don't play out like John Wick or sumthin'...

 

[SpiderWars]

I've never owned a gun or felt the need to. That works until it doesn't...but so does owning a gun. I've done lots of CL deals and some people have had the deal at their home. I would NEVER do a deal at my home. The story above is one of many ways that can go wrong.

And if a dude, that I had been to his home, showed up with a gun at my home demanding a return...I would tell him that I know where he lives, he is on camera, and if he didn't leave now the police would be at his doorstep soon. And I sold the item he wants.