E-Bay can be a beautiful thing.

[Multiversal]

Man.. I've been trying to sell a guitar locally and elsewhere on the internet for a while now. I just didn't want to deal with E Bay because it can be a hassle sometimes. It's also easy to get anxious about a listing.. especially when you need the money, like myself.

So, I listed it at 400 bucks with no reserve and a Buy It Now of 900 and within a few hours somebody(apparently a guitar and gear collector judging from his past purchases) snags it up. I've been out of town all day, and it was VERY refreshing to come home to an email that somebody bought your guitar.

I had VERY low expectations about the auction, but sadly this has renewed my excitement in E-Bay. I say that it is sad, because as most of you guys know.. having G.A.S does anything BUT help an addiction to E-Bay. Even worse, there are multiple items that look very delicious.. a few guitars that I've had my eye on for sometime.

How do you guys feel about it? I mean, I feel like I'm not getting the most out of my E-Bay experience unless I'm on it almost 24/7. Thanks to modern cell phone technology that's almost possible, but do you guys struggle with this?

 

[robelinda2]

Ebay can be great most of the time, provided you are smart and know the system and know how it can work for you. Do your homework and list correctlyand dont try to rip anyone off or cheat them and you can have a great time!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I have bought two guitars on the bay, and been more than happy about them and the way it all happened.

 

[Astrofreq]

I love Ebay. I don't care what anyone says about it. The number of bad experiences I can count on one hand against the THOUSANDS of smooth transactions.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Ebay rocks! I've bought more guitars there than from anywhere else, and an amp too. All have been smooth

 

[BigTony]

Ebay is the largest store on the planet, and the easiest way to make some part time cash ever! It is also a great way to get shut of all the junk we accumulate, and quickly. People will buy anything!

Remember the days of having to advertise in the local rag? What a nightmare! Chuck it on ebay.

My last use for ebay was to make enough money to take my family to Spain for 8 days. Make good use of the completed listings to get an idea of what stuff sells for, and make use of the newly listed option to grab a bargain.

To echo Rob, be nice. I offer a full refund without question policy, I treat my customers with the utmost respect and kindness, and I will go out of my way to help if it is needed. It has paid great dividend, I have repeat customers who will only buy from me.

something I see quite a lot, is sellers shunning thier responsibilities as a seller. If something goes missing in the post, take responsibility as a seller and do the work. Far too many sellers use the 'well you should have asked for insurance'.

All in all, ebay is an incredible tool for anyone who wishes to buy and sell. Many people complain about the costs for listing and final valuation fees, but quite honestly, in comparison to having an actual store, ebay is a bargain.

At the moment I only sell to the UK, but very soon I will be selling and shipping internationally. Ebay Rocks indeed!!

 

[73h Nils]

Got my JP6 and Mesa on eBay. Never had a problem...Well, my sister had a HUGE problem but it was her own negligent self .

 

[Sub1 Zero]

[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=HYokLWfqbaU&mode=related&search="]YouTube - "Ebay" by Weird Al Yankovic[/ame]

 

[paranoid70]

I have bought one thing on Ebay, a Fender amplifier earlier this year. I gotta say that it was a BIG TIME hassle. I got it for a good price, but the dude took a really long time to ship it to me. Then, the shipping company said they lost it... only to deliver it the next day. Also, I ended up having to repair the foot pedal a few months later.

Let's just say that after that experience, I am not really excited about paying $1000 for a EBMM guitar via Ebay.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

^Don't let it leave a bad taste in your mouth

I would have never gotten my silo if it weren't for ebay, and everything I've done there has went smoothly. Give it another shot

 

[mesaboogieman]

I've bought 3 guitars on ebay - all of them higher-end guitars including my EBMM JP6. Didn't have a problem with any of the purchases. I even got my Mesa Triple Rec at a great deal there a few years ago. It's definitely a site I frequent.

 

[Brien 700]

ebay guitars

I have had great luck with ebay

3 great wolfgangs

1 js 1200

the only time I got taken was with carrguitar he sold me 2 84 Baretta's with warped necks what a jerk

all my other ebay experiance's have been great

 

[muggsy]

I've done very well with ebay. A couple of transactions had issues that took some time to resolve, but the parties were reasonable and things worked out. The vast majority of the time, things have gone smoothly. I've bought and sold a few basses with good results -- I've flipped three basses I bought there, broke even on one and made some money on the other two, after keeping them for a while and deciding they weren't for me. I also got a GREAT deal on one that I won't be selling. None of those were EBMMs though. Most of my transactions involve smaller stuff.

The key for me when I'm buying is checking completed auctions, deciding up front what I'm willing to bid and sticking to it. Bidding wars are great for sellers, but buyers can get in trouble. Whatever the item is, I try to remember that there will always be another one if the bidding gets too high. Check feedback, ask questions before you bid, and you'll do fine.

 

[JPBlueDawn]

I just found and purchased my first Ball on Ebay. It is completely **** sometimes but in those rare cases, it comes through and does what it was designed to do. Bring products to people who might not otherwise have known it were for sale and where to get it at. Good job and Congrats on the sale. Ebay is AOK.

Shawn

 

[candid_x]

Ebay can be great most of the time, provided you are smart and know the system and know how it can work for you. Do your homework and list correctlyand dont try to rip anyone off or cheat them and you can have a great time!

Baddabing Baddaboom - well said, Rob.

Over all I've done well on eBay, buying and selling guitars and amps. I got bit in the butt when I negotiated a trade on an eBay guitar, before there were any bids - wouldn't ask otherwise. The guy was a guitar eBay pro, and took advantage of the sale because I couldn't leave him negative feedback. Even so, the guitar was far from what he advertised on the bay. The case was useless and the packaging consisted of old cardboard wrapped and taped like a mummy. I estimate that hit cost me around $400 in the guitar's actual value.

Now, I pay as much attention to the seller as I do to the product he's selling. A couple of candid emails can usually flesh out the bull****ters, ripoffs and poor business merchants.

On the up side, both my balls were purchased off eBay, at very fair prices.

 

[marduke]

i love ebay, id love it more if there were more EB guitars in australia, but hey its cool. i love to look through the US ebay site and see what EB's are getting around, and alot of them look VERY tempting...
but ive bought alot of car parts and audio gear off ebay and never had a drama. never sold anything though..

 

[marsguitars]

Ebay is great... for both buying and selling. You just need to apply some basic 'buyer beware' common sense, and remember... if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
The eBay feedback system is pure genius - helps keep things in check.

 

[alf cockle]

I have had about a 50/50 good /bad thing with ebay.I am very careful now..I insist on talking to the vendor just to get a vibe.this seems to screen out the bums...Bought 2 EBs on the Bay..both were and are excellent...and yes ,there were phone calls before closing the deals!

 

[Timm]

As long as you are careful who sell to and who buy from you will be okay.