Question I promise not to turn this one ugly, but NOW why...

[jlepre]

...couldn't I sell this bass on EBAY with a starting bid of $999???

I have tons of WATCHERS but nobody pulled the trigger? I'm accepting Paypal and willing to ship internationally, but not a nibble. I'm at a loss, but please all I'm looking for is constructive advice from my fellow knuckleheads.

Thank you for your help.

 

[MingusBASS]

Supply and demand. The economy sucks. Nothing has changed. Your starting bid was too high. You would get better results with no reserve and a lower starting price. Sure, there's a risk but you'll most likely get more bidders and thus raising the price up in the long run.

 

[jlepre]

Thanks Mingus,

The lower starting bid makes sense, but since I'm a new EBAYer, I don;t have the ability to make a reserve price, so if I start the bidding at say $800, then I run the risk of someone snatching this bass for $800. Any other suggestions as to how I can overcome this?

 

[CElton]

It's a beautiful instrument, but let's face it, a Bongo has a limited appeal to the "unwashed". The other limiting factor is it's a fretless. I believe those 2 factors and the economy to be the reason. You simply can't expect a quick sale on such an instrument. Had it been a fretted Bongo or an SR5, it may have been gone by now.

If you want a quick sale, then you'll probably need to take a loss and lower the price. If you want what it's worth, then you'll have to be patient.

 

[bizmarckie]

I've been in sales for most of my working life (not that that's saying much), and all I can say is that sometimes, there really isn't an explanation. No logic. In the case of what your selling, there is a very specific buyer out there, who either isn't shopping right now, or hasn't seen it yet. I don't think price is necessarily the issue. If you did start with a zero bid auction (set your reserve where you want), then you should at least get some bites, and decide if the final price is worth it to you. That's all I've got.

Edit: I'm slow at this, so, uh, +1 guys

 

[Basscake]

I reckon the watchers where the members of this very forum.

Fretless is just a rather special thing and for most bassists a "maybe one or two songs a night" option.
I certainly would have difficulties to justify a investment in such a quality instrument for that purpose.

I'm sure its a great bass.

I know. that doesn't really help you...

 

[jlepre]

If you did start with a zero bid auction (set your reserve where you want), then you should at least get some bites, and decide if the final price is worth it to you. That's all I've got.

I'm a new EBAYer, I don't have the ability to make a reserve price, so if I start the bidding at say $800, then I run the risk of someone snatching this bass for $800. Any other suggestions as to how I can overcome this?

Anyone have anything to help me with this?

 

[GHWelles]

Can't you put it on buy-it-now and let it sit indefinitely? Maybe they are waiting to see if you re-list it for less. Don't. That is a great price for a Bongo, but it is fretless, so your market is smaller. It may take a while to have the right person see it.

 

[rizzo9247]

Yes, I was going to suggest the "Buy it Now/Best Offer" option as well. Set your price where you want it, let's say $1199, and give the eBayer's some input and have them send offers.

Me personally, I wouldn't buy something off eBay from a person with zero feedback, maybe if it was a set of strings, but not a 1k+ bass.

My 2 cents.

 

[Big Poppa]

I agree with the zero feedback FInd a friend that has a 100% feedback. Other than that this bass is almost as famous as heinz

 

[jlepre]

Yes, I was going to suggest the "Buy it Now/Best Offer" option as well. Set your price where you want it, let's say $1199, and give the eBayer's some input and have them send offers.

Me personally, I wouldn't buy something off eBay from a person with zero feedback, maybe if it was a set of strings, but not a 1k+ bass.

My 2 cents.

Rizzo,

Thanks for the information. This is ALL stuff I was looking for. I had a feeling the ZERO feedback would hurt me. I was thinking about going to a local music store that sells on EBAY and working up a deal with them. They are a POWER SELLER with 100% positive feedback.

BP,
It wasn't my intention to make THIS bass famous, but if that is the outcome, so be it...

 

[DTG]

get a naked girl to play it and use that picture

 

[rizzo9247]

I was thinking about going to a local music store that sells on EBAY and working up a deal with them. They are a POWER SELLER with 100% positive feedback.

Remember that you will probably be paying all the ebay fees to post; and after it sells (hopefully), the fees from paypal, ebay, and shipping will most likely be your responsibility as well. Not to mention the percentage the seller is requesting to list, I'm imagining 5%-8% of the final sale price, they are a business after all.

If you sell the bass for, let's say $1000, I would estimate the above fee's totaling around $100 (if shipping Continental US).

 

[Duarte]

I'll buy it.

 

[bovinehost]

Well, there you go.

 

[jlepre]

I'll buy it.

don't tease me now

 

[jlepre]

Remember that you will probably be paying all the ebay fees to post; and after it sells (hopefully), the fees from paypal, ebay, and shipping will most likely be your responsibility as well. Not to mention the percentage the seller is requesting to list, I'm imagining 5%-8% of the final sale price, they are a business after all.

If you sell the bass for, let's say $1000, I would estimate the above fee's totaling around $100 (if shipping Continental US).

You have a point there, but I was hoping to sell it for more if the user has such a high rating, but you might be right. Thanks for the info.

 

[five7]

I have a 100% rating on ebay and will list it for you. All you have to pay are the ebay and paypal fees. I will not charge you anything to sell it.

 

[jlepre]

I have a 100% rating on ebay and will list it for you. All you have to pay are the ebay and paypal fees. I will not charge you anything to sell it.

WOW! That is sure generous of you! Let me consider this, and keep that option in mind. Not sure how logistically that would work though??

 

[five7]

If it sells you ship it. As soon as the buyer receives it and is pleased I send you the money. There is always a chance the buyer doesn't like it and wants a refund. I would issue a refund after the bass is shipped back to you in the same condition as it was shipped. That is something I always offer and guarantees I receive positive feedback. I am only offering this because you are a forumite! I don't want to risk my 100% rating if you are not going to follow the rules.