Question Is the economy really that bad?

[jlepre]

I have been trying to sell some of my basses to fund a new SR5 fretless, and haven't had any luck.

Are you guys and gals finding that selling your gear in this economy has been tough? Just want some feedback.

 

[GWDavis28]

Yes, your best bet is to include Europe and Aussie too, the price of the dollar is way down, it's almost 2 to 1 in UK.

Good luck, Glenn |B)

 

[LoEnd]

Are you guys and gals finding that selling your gear in this economy has been tough? Just want some feedback.

Your not the only one, everytime I try to sell a piece of equipment I very seldom find a buyer. I don't think it's the price because I usually have killer deals.

Although, if I sell some computer equipment, people are at my house even before I finish typing

go figure.

 

[Narendra3]

I've been trying to sell a piece of gear for a few weeks...I've had some interest but no buyers. It's supposedly a good price but I might have to take a bigger hit to get rid of it.

 

[Sweat]

Yea it is pretty bad, last year not a problem selling stuff, this year much harder, people either want you to give it away or just cant do it with freakin 4.00 gas, luckily the euro is good, last to i have sold have been to Germany and UK.

 

[fogman]

I think the economy is all over the place. Up, down and all around!
Yes it's true that there are countless jobs being lost, etc... but you never hear about the ones that are added. I think the media is a bigger problem as it breeds a lot of negativity. Probably 10 times that of the positive.
I've seen these types of threads at other forums, and though it might be more difficult to sell some items, you have to think of how much product is out there! Every year there is more and more. There are only so many people to buy the stuff! Yes the economy is not super strong, but I've been having my busiest year ever!
I'd say the markets are getting pretty saturated.
I also think people are just holding on tighter to their coin as they're just scared.
If good news is breeded, they'll spend more.

 

[TNT]

Yeah,

Unfortunately our "great" leaders (prostrate thyself), can't control oil prices, so they allow a slow death to our economy!!

I say just make em' (OPEC) a reasonable offer for their oil, then if not, just take it (everything is up for grabs in the world, don't let your country come to ruin over a foreign commodity)!!

If we can't move the "used" gear on the bottom level, then how can we throw that money at some new MM guitars and basses (this also keeps the economy going)?? That's typically how most musician's do it.

Both GC and Musician's Friend have "trade-in" for cash credits towards new gear, however, they are in the same boat we are.

Come on Knuckleheads "fight" for our MM guitars!!

 

[Aussie Mark]

Yes, your best bet is to include Europe and Aussie too, the price of the dollar is way down, it's almost 2 to 1 in UK.

A big +1, Aussie dollar is at US95 cents, compared to it's traditional US70-75 cent range, so eBay USA is a happy hunting ground for Aussies right now, even with the steep shipping cost from the US to Oz.

 

[Big Poppa]

lets keep the politics on the down low please

 

[Pittman75]

Both GC and Musician's Friend have "trade-in" for cash credits towards new gear, however, they are in the same boat we are.

Plus, their values/appraisals are so low, you might as well give it to charity for the tax write off!

 

[jasper383]

I have noticed, in several years of buying and selling used basses, that there is a lull starting in April (tax season, I assume) through the summer, until about August.

Of course, someone at any time can offer exactly what you want price wise, but the lull is there in my experience.

The weak dollar has made the EU and Australia a great market for gear now.

 

[Lonnystingray]

Due to the weak dollar I have bought all my latest gear directly from the States, because the market is much larger in the States compared to Europe. (at least, for bass-gear it is).

The only difficulty is sellers who do not want to ship overseas, for which I cannot find a real 'reason'. I mean, if you pack a shipment as you would like to receive it, you should feel confident enough to send a bass guitar? I have bought a Epiphone Thunderbird like that, from the States, nicely packed, so no issues at all when I received it.

I used to sent an e-mail, requesting if the seller would ship overseas, but most of the times I get a non-valid reason, so I quit doing that.

There's really no difference in going to the postal office and sent a box to Europe, compared to ship it to the other side of the States, is there?

 

[mathewsanchez]

Here's the thing:

-In the US a used ray will cost you around $1000 (£500)

-In the UK the same bass will be worth £800

-Then in the rest of Europe it will cost you around 1200 euros (£950) almost $2000! Thats nearly double the US price.


So generally speaking, if the UK buys less from the rest of Europe and more from the US we'll be getting stuff cheaper helping our economy. Then the US will be getting more money coming into the country and it's economy will strengthen. Mainland Europe will suffer a slight decline in their economy which will help to balance it out with the UK and US.

So to sum that up I think there needs to be more trade between the US and the UK to try and help out eachothers economies.


Booya!!! Why aren't I a politician?

 

[jlepre]

lets keep the politics on the down low please

+1
I wasn't looking to make this a political discussion. I just wanted to know what others experience has been selling used gear on here and other forums.

 

[jasper383]

I think US sellers are reluctant to send basses overseas because it used to be a GIANT hassle. Waiting in line, customs forms, unhelpful people at the counter, and no one with a clear grasp of the regulations. UPS and FedEx were much easier, but extremely expensive.

Now, everything can be done online. The only contact I have with the Post Office is going in to drop off the already paid for package. This is better.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Well yeah, the poor economy is also keeping people from splurging money on basses. In previous years, I've never had to sell overseas because things always got snapped up fast here in the States. Now, most stuff I've sold this year has been to overseas buyers, especially australia.
A recent chat with someone else who had sold a bunch of basses in the past, he says people now are just low-balling him so rediculously, he decided to pull his ads and keep em for now.

In my line of work I'm a diesel tech, it's sort of a specialized field, and we have experienced a slow down, but not dead business since very few shops know diesels. I used to see people trading in their old trucks for newer ones and I was doing alot of upgrades on the newer trucks, but now all I'm doing is reparing old trucks and I'm also seeing alot more very old trucks people just want to limp along. But several other 'regular' automotive repair shops around me have gone out of business. There are also several big car dealerships in the area that have gone out of business. My dad lives in Cali and said two long-time Ford dealerships near him are now gone. Nobody is spending the kind of money they were 1 to 2 years ago...myself included.

 

[Sweat]

I think US sellers are reluctant to send basses overseas because it used to be a GIANT hassle. Waiting in line, customs forms, unhelpful people at the counter, and no one with a clear grasp of the regulations. UPS and FedEx were much easier, but extremely expensive.

Now, everything can be done online. The only contact I have with the Post Office is going in to drop off the already paid for package. This is better.

BINGO, the USPS SUCKS for over seas shipping, never in my life have I had such a hard time and waste of my valueable time, never again would rather take a loss on the axe than mess with the idiots that are USPS employees.

 

[r goldsmith]

Similar situation here in Australia. Ebay prices have been getting lower and lower. Just as for the poster above I pulled my listing on an amp head as I was getting lots of watchers, vultures and lowball offers (absolute insults) so decided I'll keep stuff for a while.

 

[jasper383]

BINGO, the USPS SUCKS for over seas shipping, never in my life have I had such a hard time and waste of my valueable time, never again would rather take a loss on the axe than mess with the idiots that are USPS employees.

Almost all of it can be done online now. Not so bad.

 

[silverburst]

I've used USPS to ship alot of stuff to Europe lately, and it is alot better (and cheaper) than it used to be.