Local purchases:
- Dont bother going any further than 1/2 hours travel to look at equipment.
If it takes much longer than that you may buy even when you arent sure because
you dont want to repeat the long trip.
- Before you go ask:
What condition is the equipment in?
What type of
use it has seen?
Why are they selling it?
Is their price in the
ballpark?
Will they consider my offer?
You would be amazed how
much an honest seller will divulge. This type of questioning gives you a feel
for what the seller is like. If they are evasive or vague or I dont like the
tone of replies I just forget about that particular piece of equipment. If the
seller is interesting and the conversation starts sounding like the discussions
we have here on TBL it gives me the feeling that the seller is being forthright
and probably has a good reason for selling.
I look for these kind of sellers:
- Used the equipment only in their home studio. (Thats the best kind of
seller; the equipment is usually like brand new)
- Bought the stuff and never really used it. Some reasons could
be:
Continued to use their previous equipment.
Just didnt play as much
as they thought they would.
Bought the wrong equipment for what they wanted
to do.
Didnt sound right.
Was too heavy (thats how I got my Eden 410T
for $375!)>
- Only used it lightly like a recreational player would.
- Band is breaking up and wont be playing out for a while and needs the
money.
- I always look for sellers who have kept the original packaging (for smaller
equipment) and the manuals. Indicates (hopefully) that they are careful with
their equipment.
I use the following guidelines for pricing and often
explain to sellers how I have come up with my offer. I tell them that I know
that piece of equipment is available from somewhere like Sam Ash for x amount
*right now* I dont worry what they paid for it a year ago or even a month ago.
If the $495 Roland P-55 piano module is now selling for $239 I offer the seller
$165 (30 percent off the current price).
I offer 30-60 percent off of the current price as compensation for the risk
of buying used with no warranty. 30 percent off would be for something
relatively new that apparently is in excellent condition. 40 off percent for
equipment thats seen light to medium use but looks in really good shape. 50-60
off percent for equipment thats been gigged with a lot or that cosmetically
isnt in good shape. I explain that if I go to sell it in 6 months I will have
trouble because it is dinged up. Im trying to get the lowest fair price, not
rip off the seller.
Buying the Equipment
If Im not 100 percent comfortable with the
location and phone personality of the seller I bring someone along. I dont
bring the amount of cash the seller is asking for the unit, I only bring the
most Im willing to pay for it.
I bring whatever it takes to test the equipment to my satisfaction. If it was
a 4 track I bring a blank tape, microphone and headphones. I record on every
track and play with all its features to make sure it works.
For a bass amp or speaker cabinet I bring my bass, (head or speaker if Im
buying its partner) and a cable and play with it at the highest volume I will be
using that amp for. I make sure that the speakers are original equipment or get
an explanation why they are replacements. If it looks bad cosmetically I usually
turn down the piece unless the seller is willing to deeply discount.
Buying through the Internet
All the above plus.
Get their home and work phone numbers. If its a big purchase try their work
number just to make sure they really work there.
If the person doesnt answer all the above questions (wont hold a discussion
via email) I drop them. I was trying to buy a SWR head once and the person just
kept replying to my questions with Its still for sale - $400.
I ask them to put the equipment in its original carton and then place that
inside a larger box filled with packing material and to write fragile on every
side. If they dont have the original carton I ask them to place it in a box
inside a box.
I havent bought speakers or stringed instruments through the internet
although I wouldnt be afraid to if I had a good feeling about the seller and
shipping isnt prohibitively expensive.
Ill close on that note--I often go by intuition in deciding about a seller.
If anything seems amiss I drop them immediately. That is the one really hard
thing about buying used, you need the patience of a saint once you have decided
to buy a particular piece of equipment. Ive waited up to a year for the right
seller to come along.
