Selling a guitar on ebay---need advice

Shipping anything heavy through any means invokes the recollection of those American Tourister commercials with the 500lb ape jumping up and down on the bags. If you have a professional shipper in your area, just make sure you take the strings off and pack it well. Double boxing and careful attention to detail is crucial. UPS with insurance is best. Again, I think the buyer paying for professional packing service is something most could appreciate. Packages in Brown's truck are notoriously stacked merciless. The drivers might carry monkey-like characteristics. Just play it safe.

Physical descriptions are key when selling a guitar on eBay. Look at it from the buyers perspective, literally. Look at the guitar like an obsessive compulsive but tell things how it is. If the fret has scratches on it, if the lacquer is perfect, say so. You say it's brand new, but give the description anyway.

People appreciate an honest description, but a detailed one gets hits.

 

Take LOTS of pictures.

Also, you may want to state that you prohibit buyers with zero or negative feedback. Then if somebody REALLY wants it, they can contact you and work something out.

 

I agree with Scott, Keith and Steve. Aslo mention the "Just like Jerry's" and include that picture with a few of the one you have. Definitely get it packed professionally and include that detail and cost in the auction.

Good luck.

 

Go to the UPS store and get a shipping estimate. I just sold a bass recently, and shipping was the cheap part (somewhere btwn 30 and 40 USD to the lower 48), but packing it properly by them was like $50! I think my total was like $92, so I charged the seller $75 and ate some of the cost.

I usually sell big items like that via Harmony Central ... don't have to deal with eBay fees. And it's a musician's community.

NEVER send an item like this via USPS. I would kill a seller if they did that.

 

The one problem you will have is that since it was never played, it also means I assume you haven't been doing any maintenance for 20 years. That may (or may not) work against you. So price appropriately.

 

Never saw Jerry play that guitar - must have been short-lived (or on certain occasions). But anyway, you might pull in a nice sum if you play up the Jerry angle.

 

I have sold many guitars on eBay. I give the buyer the choice of USPS or UPS. Always buy insurance and tracking. Shipping is usually $30 - $40. I usually ship in the US, but do make exceptions.

 

I went to a local music store and glommed some used guitar boxes for shipping....


Good Luck!

 

I usually offer fixed price shipping and pack myself.
I ship Fedex ground. Be sure if you offer fixed price shipping you state lower 48 states. Hawaii is a lot higher for heavy stuff.
I pack myself and go to the local packing supplies store and buy special boxes for speakers and such. ~$13 for a nice double wall box and I buy the peanuts by the huge $12 bag. My Mac C20 arrived double boxed and that is a good way to ship.
I suggest you search auctions.
what key words have the most hits?
What key words have the highest prices (sort price)
for ebay motors NOS gets lots of hits - is there a comparable one for guitars?
Also start at $9.99 with or without a reserve. end at sunday at 6:45 or 7 pst (start Thursday for 10 days or sun to sun)
Side note: the highest price I have received for a snow white dvd new was on a 3 day auction no reserve started tuursday at 7pm pst for 99 cents ended sunday for $38. I am sure there were some bin for like $29 that did not sell. go figure.

 

Sheesh, this thread is two days old and no one has yet advised Lisa to use the word "stunning" in her eBay description? What's wrong with you people?