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Thread: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

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    Registered User Narayan Kersak's Avatar
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    Default Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Any thoughts on best place to sell an instrument aside from classifieds? I'd be up to taking a trip to Nasheville or Elderly.

    Possibly aiming to sell an octave and a tenor banjo.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Well .... selling to any store is going to net a lower figure in your pocket. But then I expect you know that. Check out the Reverb site. R/

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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    3 options. Selling to a store will get you a quick sale, but probably only 50-70 percent of used retail. If you consign to a store, it takes more time but you will get more money. Selling yourself gets you the most money, but it is also the most work and takes the longest.

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    Registered User Narayan Kersak's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Where do you all scope out boxes for shipping if you do it on your own?? I don't live around anymore big music stores anymore.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    I don’t sell much anymore, and when I do I try to sell locally to avoid shipping. But when I was shipping, I just used the boxes from Instruments I bought to replace the ones I was selling!

    Some music stores might have boxes they would be willing to give you. Also it is not too difficult to modify standard shipping boxes by cutting and taping them. Shipping places do it all the time. You can even splice two boxes together if the box needs to be longer. In any case, I recommend using boxes with a very high crush rating.

    In my opinion Reverb has become the de facto standard marketplace for buying and selling instruments. It works pretty well IMO.
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    mandolin slinger Steve Ostrander's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Narayan Kersak View Post
    Where do you all scope out boxes for shipping if you do it on your own?? I don't live around anymore big music stores anymore.
    Be advised that shipping costs have skyrocketed over the last few years.

    As far as consignment, the usual fee is 20%.
    Last edited by Steve Ostrander; May-30-2019 at 11:56am. Reason: Typo
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Narayan Kersak View Post
    Where do you all scope out boxes for shipping if you do it on your own?? I don't live around anymore big music stores anymore.
    Reverb sells shipping boxes; without looking at their site, I believe they’re $35 for a pack of three.

    UPS Stores will also package an instrument for you. You can include the packaging and shipping costs in your price.

    And of course, if you happen to be traveling in an area that has a music retailer (independent or chain store), you might be able to coax them to give you some of the boxes that their inventory was shipped in.

    If you choose to ship an instrument, the most important part of the equation is ensuring that the instrument is well-packed to prevent headstock whiplash as well as impact damage. Not sure about the Café but the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum has some pretty good guidance on how best to package an instrument.

    Just a couple of additional items to consider: I’ve seen music schools, independent music retailers, and community colleges with a bulletin board for posting instruments for sale. And try to gauge the market value of your instruments; not too low but not too high either. Perusing Reverb pricing should give you some ballpark ideas of what to ask for your instruments.

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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Whatever type of instrument you are selling, if you have a decent case for that instrument, no "special" box is required. Just a good, sturdy box that is a bit larger than the case, and good packing materials. In the past 6 months, I began selling most of my instruments and had to ship a dozen guitars over a three month period. I used boxes from the music stores as well as home made boxes to fit.

    I looked into using a box from one of the popular mail/shipping services on one instrument, but I just couldn't justify their costs, so I persevered and found a box for it. Shipping is expensive enough that I prefer to scavenge materials for packaging. YMMV
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    It's not a secret, but a lot of folks don't realize that shipping cost for (acoustic) mandolins or guitars is usually determined by the volume of the box, not its weight. Get or make a box that is as small as possible but still provides for adequate protection. And when the shipping person measures, he or she always rounds UP to the next whole number. An extra inch in any dimension can be expensive.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    All very helpful. I've never done reverb for selling only buying.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    You might see if there are options locally. Such as jams, festivals or contacting music teachers (you may want to offer some $ a sale occurs) and letting them know what you have available.

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    I've done well with certain pieces on Mandolin Cafe and am happy to donate. I have done well locally with facebook marketplace and some of the other fb selling sites. I'm often approached by friends and acquaintances to sell for them. I take 15%, sometimes less depending. I have used a 32" flatscreen box cut down a little for shipping mandolins. Luckily I have a guitar store close by to get guitar boxes.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by NursingDaBlues View Post
    Reverb sells shipping boxes; without looking at their site, I believe they’re $35 for a pack of three.
    That's super useful info. Thanks. REVERB PAGE HERE
    Better prices than I've seen on Amazon.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    So what's the average cost to ship? I know it varies but a ball park figure with and without a hard case?
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    B381..... That would also depend on where you're shipping it to.... Hard to average across all of North America. Add up the 3 dimensions of the box, weigh it & then call the post office or courier with a zip code...
    Overnight? 2 Day delivery? 5 business days? Are you buying insurance, or do you have it insured already?

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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by HonketyHank View Post
    It's not a secret, but a lot of folks don't realize that shipping cost for (acoustic) mandolins or guitars is usually determined by the volume of the box, not its weight. Get or make a box that is as small as possible but still provides for adequate protection. And when the shipping person measures, he or she always rounds UP to the next whole number. An extra inch in any dimension can be expensive.
    YES, with case wrap and tape bubble wrap around case. then take a big piece of cardboard to wrap and tape around case or cut down a box that is close to the right size.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Read through the shipping rules on the UPS site (or Fedex or USPS). I know UPS requires certain packing materials in order to collect on insurance claims in the event of damage. If you file a damage claim and they feel that the packing materials are inadequate they will deny the claim.

    That said, you might be able to get a box from Dream Guitars, which I believe is in Weaverville.
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    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    If you're on Facebook there is a group called "Irish Tenor Banjo Marketplace" - set up by a pal of mine, so it's not scammy or spammy!
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    Registered User darylcrisp's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    I've only sold from the cafe classifieds, everything has sold relatively quick.
    Musicians Workshop is on merrimon Ave in asheville, they sell many different instruments and should have a correct size box, I assume they would give you one.
    https://musiciansworkshop.com/

  20. #20

    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    From the Forum posting guidelines:

    - Refrain from using the forum as a point of purchasing or selling items or for the purpose of discussing or linking to items you are selling. Please limit selling and buying activities to the Classifieds section of this web site or other external locations.

  21. #21

    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    If I were going to sell a instrument I would use 2 or 3 , Cafe, Reverb, ebay.
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    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    I've had no problem selling, only use Cafe Classifieds, eBay & Facebook. All three get results, sometimes only one or the other, for quick sales. Key is to make a video that can include showing & playing the instrument as well as a few sales points about the instrument. Be willing to adjust price or negotiate when necessary. Good luck!
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    I get my shipping boxes for guitars from this outfit:

    About $40 for a pack of 5 boxes, for example.
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    Registered User Eric Hanson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Narayan Kersak View Post
    Where do you all scope out boxes for shipping if you do it on your own?? I don't live around anymore big music stores anymore.
    I have found ver good success making my own shipping boxes. I go to a local Appliance store and pick up a Refrigerator box. It is thicker than many.
    I look over the way a retail available box is made, and cut the cardboard to match the shape of the instrument case. I make sure to first wrap the case in bubble wrap. The wrap the whole thing similar to how you would wrap a present/gift.
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    Default Re: Best Place to Sell aside From Classifieds

    If you are not planning on doing buying and selling on a regular basis.....

    A factor being hinted at is the nuisance, specifically the possibility of shipping damage and filing an insurance claim. Also, just the nuisance of dealing with "picky" customers who "like" to return instruments for no good reason -- yes, they exist.....

    After the third return (and refund) on the same instrument, you'll probably wish you had sold it to a store and let them "earn" their profit....

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