Off Topic How good is Reverb?

[gurtejsingh]

Hey guys, I am considering to buy a few EBMM things (a new JP perhaps ) from reverb.com and completely new to it. Was wondering how good and secure is it (especially for used items)? Do any of you have any experience buying items from there? What are the return policies? Any help would be great!

P.S: Apologies in advance if the thread does not fit here. Moderators, please feel free to move it around if needed.

Appreciate all the help!

Thanks!

 

[Magic Jason]

Bought my AL BFR on "Reverb" a few weeks ago and was perfectly happy with the transaction.
(And totally overwhelmed by the guitar!!!)

View attachment 28986

But once again, "Reverb" is just another website that connects sellers and buyers ; final satisfaction ultimately depends on "who" you do business with. "Reverb" cures instantly any "GAS crisis".

I've bought countless guitars in Europe, Asia, and the USA through various websites. I never had a single problem. On one hand, I BELIEVE most people are honest...On the other hand, I KNOW I've been lucky!

Good luck!

 

[gurtejsingh]

Bought my AL BFR on "Reverb" a few weeks ago and was perfectly happy with the transaction.
(And totally overwhelmed by the guitar!!!)

View attachment 28986

But once again, "Reverb" is just another website that connects sellers and buyers ; final satisfaction ultimately depends on "who" you do business with. "Reverb" cures instantly any "GAS crisis".

I've bought countless guitars in Europe, Asia, and the USA through various websites. I never had a single problem. On one hand, I BELIEVE most people are honest...On the other hand, I KNOW I've been lucky!

Good luck!

Thanks a lot for the reply buddy. I agree with what you are saying, ultimately it's the whole buy and sell thingy. What are some of things you would typically do to ensure the quality of the guitar? I know pics can be easily googled up, so would you rather have a video call and see the guitar in action?

or would just go with pure trust? I understand some of these websites may have a return policy, but when you are ordering internationally perhaps, you would be double careful.

Overall, I would really appreciate some steps everyone here takes to ensure quality and not end up paying for something else!

Hope you understand. Thanks again for responding

Also, congrats on that beauty! Looks awesome man!

 

[Magic Jason]

Difficult to write "the 10 steps to buying on line"
Even more difficult to explain why you trust some people and why you don't trust others.

But, here is what I always do :

I read description and seller feedback/profile very carefully.
I watch pictures for hours.
I ask extra questions.
I ask for extra pictures with the owner/seller.
I check seller on facebook.
I pay with Paypal (which was fantastic when, once, I filled a complaint)
I google the guitar model to check if I can find "my guitar" pictures elsewhere (no good) .
I ask advice on forums.
I run away if I have the slightest doubt.
I don't take risks if a deal is too good to be true.

I've also bought/sold guitars from MM forumites! That's a great experience!

I've always worked on "pure" trust. And was never disapointed. But...You'll never be too careful!

 

[DrKev]

I pay with Paypal (which was fantastic when, once, I filled a complaint)

Just remember, do NOT use PayPal gift option. You lose your protection if you use gift option.

 

[gurtejsingh]

Great point DrKev and thats an awesome checklist Magic Jason Will keep everything in mind Maybe what I am after :

https://reverb.com/item/1312589-music-man-jp6-bfr-koa-top-2012-shaded-koa-top

What's a shaded top? Never heard of that. Also, what's better, gold hardware or chrome?

Does it look too good to be true? What do you guys think?

 

[kestrou]

If you're going to buy NEW - then maybe you could check out a licensed dealer so you're sure you have the original owner warranty? There's several of them here on the forum that would be happy to hook you up and I'm *guessing* they'd match an advertised price for a new guitar on Reverb.com?!

For used, the number one thing is to look at the seller feedback. If they've sold only a few items, then my antenna are UP - but if they've sold numerous items and have good feedback then I'm confident they won't pick me to be the first person they screw over.

I've bought dozens of guitars online - some from Reverb - and never had a problem (caveat: story below). Hell, there's even been a couple times I've been "in a hurry" and I've overnight cash in an envelope to the seller (which they could probably say they got an empty envelope) but, like Magic Jason, I've always been lucky.

Minor Story: One of the guitars (a seven string "Flying V" style with 28" baritone scale) came with a fiberboard case. The idiot seller just slapped a label on the fiberboard case and tossed it in the mail to me - from western Canada to the central US. By the time it got to me, the case was TRASHED - and obviously it's a very "custom" case (shaped like a coffin, actually) to that rare guitar model. So, while I wasn't intentionally screwed over, I wasn't very happy...

Kevin

 

[kestrou]

Great point DrKev and thats an awesome checklist Magic Jason Will keep everything in mind Maybe what I am after :

https://reverb.com/item/1312589-music-man-jp6-bfr-koa-top-2012-shaded-koa-top

What's a shaded top? Never heard of that. Also, what's better, gold hardware or chrome?

Does it look too good to be true? What do you guys think?

Oh baby... BFR inlay at the 12th fret... My heart is going pitter-pat!

I'm not sure if that's a good deal or not, because I don't watch the JP market that closely - but you just MIGHT see what a new one goes for since that doesn't look to be a GREAT deal to my eyes...

Again, I'm not an expert on the JP model, but the case surprised me - I would think a 2012 BFR would have come with the hardshell flight case? Somebody smarter than me chime in on this part!

Gold vs. Silver/Chrome?! There is no "better"... Is your heart going pitter-pat?

Kevin

 

[gurtejsingh]

Oh baby... BFR inlay at the 12th fret... My heart is going pitter-pat!

I'm not sure if that's a good deal or not, because I don't watch the JP market that closely - but you just MIGHT see what a new one goes for since that doesn't look to be a GREAT deal to my eyes...

Again, I'm not an expert on the JP model, but the case surprised me - I would think a 2012 BFR would have come with the hardshell flight case? Somebody smarter than me chime in on this part!

Gold vs. Silver/Chrome?! There is no "better"... Is your heart going pitter-pat?

Kevin

Thank for sharing your experiences Kevin and your valid observations. Yes the 12th fret makes me go mad. But what makes me go pitter-pat is the gold hardware, which is missing here, but the KOA finish compensates I guess. Also I think they retail at around three and a half K I think, but I could be wrong. I'll let the experts chime in on the case!

Thanks a ton for your feedback! Cheers.

PS: Mods, please pardon if posting external links for sale/purchase/research/suggestions is not allowed. DrKev, please let me know and I shall remove it!

 

[Magic Jason]

Oh baby... BFR inlay at the 12th fret... My heart is going pitter-pat!

I'm not sure if that's a good deal or not, because I don't watch the JP market that closely - but you just MIGHT see what a new one goes for since that doesn't look to be a GREAT deal to my eyes...

Again, I'm not an expert on the JP model, but the case surprised me - I would think a 2012 BFR would have come with the hardshell flight case? Somebody smarter than me chime in on this part!

Gold vs. Silver/Chrome?! There is no "better"... Is your heart going pitter-pat?

Kevin

Cannot help either, I'm not into JP's but it doesn't look too bad to me pricewise. Really depends how baaaad you want it!

I hate this BFR inlay while other forumites LOVE it.

My AL BFR came with that same flightcase!

 

[dibart77]

I have purchased two used EBMM's from sellers on Reverb (you'll need to wait until my latest installment of NYNGD: New Year's New Guitar Days! to see which ones). One of them is just perfect, exactly as described, and I left positive feedback for the seller.

The other was supposed to be, "very clean with the exception of a few small dings shown in the photographs." (quoted from the listing). In fact, the previous owner must have worn a razor blade and sandpaper belt buckle. The back is a DISASTER. Really disappointed. And the seller is not responding when I tell him I am unhappy. Threatened negative feedback and no response (very different scene than eBay where people take feedback seriously). So now I am debating on whether to return this guitar or live with it.

​

 

[Flash Gordon]

You might also consider a street shout out on the forum... See if someone lives near the seller and if they would be willing to check it out in person on your behalf... Worth a shot!

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I have been using Reverb for just over a month now and have had a lot of great experiences - everyone has been happy with the guitars they have gotten from us, and we have also been happy with our customers! Reverb lets us reach out to a huge part of the market that wouldn't necessarily find our store on the web, and provides "an online shopping cart" for us while our new website is being completed.

 

[Razzle]

Reverb as a buyer is just fine, all the points above on buying from any of these sites (e.g. eBay) apply the same.

But as a seller, I LOVE Reverb. The fees are less, and you don't have to use ripoff PayPal.

 

[R and R]

I buy and sell on Reverb. Great site!

 

[gurtejsingh]

Thank you everyone for the awesome responses and all the help detailing out your experiences! You guys are just brilliant! I am trying to setup a video call with the seller and would like to see how that goes!

@Flash Gordon that is a good suggestion and I will keep that in mind moving forward!

Cheers everyone!

 

[Stratty316]

I've had good luck on Reverb so far.