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Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Looks like i am going to have to prut some guitars up for sale on ebay. Seeing as i have never done that, and quite a few of the OFC'ers are vets at it; any advice?
Thanks!
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gh1 |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | #1 is plenty of crisp clear photos from all angles.
Factual description. avoid words like classic, mint, vintage, pristine, brand new - unless they really apply.
Make your Zero Bidders call me first statements clear.
Offer a USA shipping price and ask for communication to ship anywhere, buyer pays.
Put a picture of a Family Pet in the auction photos.
Pay attention and answer any questions promptly. Post the questions for others to see.
Avoid the overboard adjectives and give factual descriptions.
Look up Dave Witko's and Paul Blanchard's (Roundback) Auctions for some good examples.
I prefer to set my reserve and start bidding at $1.
Try to end the auction btween 5p.m. and 9p.m. Saturday or Sunday Pacific time.
Have fun. |
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Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Basically, pretty comprehensive. I frequently use some of the "boilerplate" from the Ovation website for basic specs & construction materials. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Pay Dave $50 to have him handle the auction for you. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I've had the best luck with the gallery photo using a close up of the epulet area or neck by the soundhole. Ditto on ending the auction on a Sunday late afternoon. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | You've got a great back yard that should make a fine backdrop for your guitars. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | You've gotten lots of positive opinions. Now for the dont's.
DO NOT take flash photos of reflective objects while apparently naked!
DO NOT use a cell phone to take the low res pictures.
DO NOT allow your feet or other appendages to be in the photo when taking floor shots.
DO NOT use the bookcase of your "Life Story" titles in high resolution behind the guitar, ie; "Dealing with Schizophrenia", "Pedophelia for fun and profit", "Anarchists Bible", etc. |
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December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Do not end the auction early if someone offers you a price lower than what you expect, even if you are willing to go down to it. You will definately get more by waiting until the auction ends. If they really want it, they will bid. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I've never sold on Ebay, but I've bought. I recommend using a service, or getting an OFCer to help. Jason has an established account, I'd ask him. Cuz I would not send $ to a seller with zero input. I passed-up a USO for cheap cuz of 0 feedback. That's just me, to many scams out there. Also, use Pay Pal. It is secure (I hope) for both seller and buyer. [I have no idea what percentage Ebay & PP take, but I doubt it is much. Considering their volume.] And best of luck.
And offer it to us first!!
And gh1-- I wish I had read this before! I just bought a WA-state 1621-4. Like 15 minutes ago. I coulda taken the MAX and brought cash. |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | johnnycash6783 on ebay is my "playing around" account. ive got another account that i wish to remain unknown that ive sold alot of non-ovations thru..my best advice is basicaly the same as everyone elses. give a good discription,set a reserve, i usualy start the bidding $1.00 but if its something i want to move fast ill set the starting bid at or near what im asking and let it run with no reserve. good comm. with the potiential buyer is a must! answer emails asap. when i have a auction running and im away from home ive allways got my blackberry near to check my mail from time to time...but most of all BE HONEST!!...jason |
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Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | "I recommend using a service, or getting an OFCer to help."
I humbly disagree. To me the most trustworthy Ebay transactions were with real people. I am more wary over businesses than I am with verifiable people. Individuals with a lean toward a specific hobby or field are great with their own stuff but when an individual uses Ebay to sell something of their own I just think it is more true.. |
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Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yeah, I would agree. You kinda devise your own "sniff test" after awhile. "If it sounds too good to be true....."
Taking the measure of character, with a zero-to-none bidder, is not easy, but possible.
Anyrate, good luck, Greg. The process is a bit nerve-wracking, so determine what you need out of each auction, give a clear & honest description, clear shipping/handling info, any return policy issues, and yes, answer ANY inquiries ASAP (even the dumb ones). |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Be dead honest about what you're selling (and we don't care why you're selling it, as long as the item is accurately described.)
Good Photos.
Be responsive to bidder questions.
Ship quickly.
Be sure you are paid, before letting go of item.
I don't believe you need you need the Auction add-ons and extras ebay offers, EXCEPT for a few extea pictures. If people are looking for what you are selling they will find it it look as long as as the rest of the above is true. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Offer free shipping and just bury the extra $30. in your price. People love to feel like they are getting something for free. Dave |
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Location: Rocky River, Ohio | mwoody's last point on the ending time and day is crucial..
ernie |
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Location: East Tennessee | What I hate is someone saying that they don't know anything about guitars and in the next sentence saying the action is great. :confused: |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Take pictures of all your guitars except the 1681 in your back yard. Take pictures of the 1681 in front of a pile of your dirty underwear. Set a really high reserve on the 1681. Then when it doesn't sell, bring it over to my parents house in Hillsboro and tell my whole family that my wife bought it for me for Christmas. She might be too embarassed to deny it, so she'll write you a check.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
The guy I bought my 99 Collector from actually had a picture of the guitar surrounded by dirty clothes. It didn't sell on ebay and I got a pretty good deal on it. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | He's a good example of what NOT to do:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ovation-Legdend-1717-MINT-Rare-Acoustic-Electri... |
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Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | I realize my monitor is dark, but is there a guitar in that shot? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | That is an excellent bad example Dave. Probably not a bad guitar but who would know. |
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Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Thanks folks! Excellent information, i really appreciate your help.
Cheers!
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gh1 |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Originally posted by MWoody:
Put a picture of a Family Pet in the auction photos.
Have fun. Is this what you're talking about?
Found on another guitar forum |
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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Cleavage like that should go for a lot more than $329...... |
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Location: NJ | GREAT Marketing!!! |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | That's just... uh.. what were we talking about??? |
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Location: NW Washington State | If you are going to accept returns, make sure you include a time limitation in the listing. I think seven days is long enough. Also make it clear that the buyer is responsible for the cost of insured return shipping.
If you don't offer free shipping at least pay for the insurance. Don't give the buyer the chance to decline insurance.
I'm not too excited by pictures of dogs, cats, or the backyard, but lots of clear, uncluttered pictures are critical. If there are flaws, I like to take closeups with a coin or ruler in the picture for scale. Learn to use the macro feature on your digital camera.
I wonder if January is a good time to sell guitars? I got a good deal on my Country Artist in the first few days of January this year. There didn't seem to be too many other bids.
-Steve W. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10
Location: Paradise | If there are any flaws (no matter how minor) mention them in your description and also try to have a photo of them. It also doesn't hurt to put a sentence somewhere to the effect of "item is sold as is, any questions please ask before bidding". You don't want your buyer to get it and find a flaw they didn't know about and want their money back (ebay and paypal can be brutal if any dispute is raised). |
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Posts: 3969
| Here's another bad example of an eBay guitar ad - the least you can do is wipe off the fingerprints and sewat smudges! |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I think the cleavage got more attention than the guitar itself! The seller has an interesting name too. In the Filipino language -- when the seller's name is read aloud (minus the numbers in the end) -- stands for the female sexual organ. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I've paid more for less. |
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Selling on ebay -- help!