cloudburst Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 The Basschat marketplace used to be really vibrant. Some really interesting stuff came up pretty much every day, giving the site a real constant "draw". It seems now that this consistent trading has pretty much died off. Has anyone noticed this? Is it just me? Are there any other sites (apart from Talkbass) that still have an interesting marketplace? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 It's a sign of the times. Money's tight and getting tighter. In the past I've bought amps on the off chance and a lot of the sales seemed to be of that nature. It’s natural that those sales will dry up in the current economic climate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Agree. It's fairly sparse lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 It comes and goes, really warmed up a few weeks back and has slowed down again of late... Anyone want to buy my acg 6 string or either of my ibanez blazers ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Maybe it's because of the cost - £20 is quite a lot to risk if the item doesn't sell or attract a trade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1371391114' post='2113234'] Maybe it's because of the cost - £20 is quite a lot to risk if the item doesn't sell or attract a trade. [/quote] Possibly, although, pay once trade as many as you like for 12 months ain't so bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 And how many "unofficial" deals are made by PM when someone posts on non-Marketplace forums about "just wondering how much this bass/cab/amp/effect might sell for"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 [quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1371391845' post='2113244'] And how many "unofficial" deals are made by PM when someone posts on non-Marketplace forums about "just wondering how much this bass/cab/amp/effect might sell for"? [/quote] I'd have thought that was a 'no no' but I suppose if someone came on looking for a one off deal they could easily do that and get away without paying the £7-£20 fee. I'd have thought it'd be at the Mods discretion to act promptly/effectively to discourage that sort of thing. I'd have also thought that it'd be bad form on the BC buyers part to actively chase deals like that and Mods should be able to identify if folks were sending PMs to actively initiate deals like that... yes/no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I agree. But I wonder, in practice, how BC (the mods or all of us, the membership) can stop that, once email addresses have been exchanged by PM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I've noticed that there seems to be far more 5/6ers for sale recently and that there are fewer boutique 4s for sale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 [quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1371389430' post='2113204'] The Basschat marketplace used to be really vibrant. Some really interesting stuff came up pretty much every day, giving the site a real constant "draw". It seems now that this consistent trading has pretty much died off. Has anyone noticed this? Is it just me? Are there any other sites (apart from Talkbass) that still have an interesting marketplace? CB [/quote] Clearly we're suffering from the lack of Rickenbacker content. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Its just the economy - I'm pretty skint most of the time, kids cars and house takes all the income. I was never that well off, but the costs of living have increased much more than my income from playing over the last couple of years. I'm sure its the same for a lot of people here. I've got some great stuff, and its does what need it to very well. I'd love to get one of those Steinbergers, or trade up to a nice old acoustic bass...but its just not an option, unless my gigs start paying a lot more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I'm not exactly cash rich these days but I have to say that for me £20 for a year of advertising is extremely good value. Go compare with Ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudburst Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1371393030' post='2113259'] Clearly we're suffering from the lack of Rickenbacker content. Oh well. [/quote] I don't think the Rickenbacker aspect comes into it Kiwi. I can't remember there being too many Ricks for sale/trade at the best of times. It's a more general comment that the number of new adverts appearing daily just seems to have fallen off a cliff. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I think the fee is making people think twice and there is less turnover on a whim. If you are a regular trader then the fee is not an issue..but for one offs, it may be a consideration for some. I actually think the economy is less of an issue in general as people are beginning to decide to spend now.. IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 The fee stopped me from selling my Stingray on here, I sold it elsewhere. Perhaps 2-3 free postings a year for members and a charge if you want to sell more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviedee Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I have to say I've used the marketplace more (just a coincidence though) since the 20 quid tariff came in and have sold a bunch of things, which is great. But the six string bass I had for sale went on ebay in a best offer deal and it must have taken all of 10 minutes before someone bought it so just your luck really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick's Fine '52 Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I think the fee is unquestionably reasonable. I think the economic climate is far more responsible. Having said that, I've never sold anything on basschat (Although I have traded a few things), other media are far better suited for selling gear imo, albeit not as cheap as £20/year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 [quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1371394046' post='2113279'] I don't think the Rickenbacker aspect comes into it Kiwi. I can't remember there being too many Ricks for sale/trade at the best of times. It's a more general comment that the number of new adverts appearing daily just seems to have fallen off a cliff. CB [/quote] I think Kiwi's comment would have been accompanied by a wry smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I have a jazz to sell but the fee has put me of a bit, I had done two sales just before the fee came in and had already put £15 in the pot, if I had known I would if just paid the twenty instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 (edited) I think it is inevitable that, when a totally free resource becomes one that you have to pay for, then a decline will occur. I too think it is a reasonable fee, but still, the move from free to not free, is bound to have an impact. I've been looking for a USA Jazz of late, but there seem less of them around. It's the way of the Internet. Edited June 16, 2013 by The Dark Lord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 MB1. It's better value than the Television Licence ...and fewer repeats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I can list on ebay for free if I pick my moments, sure there's a fee if it sells, but if it doesn't, no loss. Anyone is free to post amps for sale on my Facebook page, the return is sharing the page on your wall. Trade is picking up there for other people's stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 If I saw an interesting bass on Feebay, from somebody who obviously didn't know about Basschat, I would point them in this direction. I don't do that now, because of the fees on here. I probably put 15/20 new members our way last year. My Alembic is on hold to a guy from Bumtree who is coming back next Saturday with the cash. If a very good conditioned Alembic doesn't go on here for £1000 it perhaps shows hard times? I did have A LOT of offers for exchange here, but the only suitable offer was another guy from Bumtree. Perhaps most of us on here have filled our boots anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 £20 a year puts people off selling on BC? You guys surprise me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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