Tandro Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) Right, I often tell myself to stay out of these parts of the forum 'cause many times nothing good comes out of it when difference of opinion flares up. But this is bugging me and I don't like how it feels. Last year a bass I had longed for a while came up for sale. It was a good price and I saw it an hour after it was posted, so I did not hesitate. Unfortunately I was still too late as it had just sold in principle. The seller later reveals to me, that unknown to him, he later realised it was a well known shop that bought it. A few days later the same bass was advertised on that shop for double its forum price. It just made me feel so uneasy knowing someone who owns a shop and has deeper pockets than I do, swoops in and takes something off the forum for immediate resale. I'm a bit naive in thinking the forum is for the benefit of the members here to enjoy the toys we all like. I bring this up as I recently purchased something tres cool (to me), from a member who has been here a while, and owned it even longer. I feel fortunate tbh. But I 'know' that someone may have bought that to flip it elsewhere, and I dunno, just makes me sad. I'm not against free markets and all that...but I always saw BC as that place where 'the one that got away' could swing back around years later (as has happened to me) when someone is ready to move it on and let someone else enjoy it, all at reasonable prices. I'm not saying individuals don't flip items, but at least its not at a business level. Anyways, rant over. Edited November 7 by Tandro 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 It happens mate, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 (edited) While I agree with you that BC should sit outside businesses buying basses specifically to flip, however if the seller lists a bass at a price they're happy with and someone offers to buy it for that price, I suppose you can't expect the seller to question the buyers motives or particularly care about who is buying it if their price is being met. I've sold basses on here at drop down prices before as I wanted them gone quickly, sometimes they've been bought and resold by members on here for higher prices as they didn't mind waiting longer for the cash. In principle, it's bad form, in practice, the seller gets what they want! Edited November 7 by binky_bass 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 7 hours ago, Tandro said: Right, I often tell myself to stay out of these parts of the forum 'cause many times nothing good comes out of it when difference of opinion flares up. But this is bugging me and I don't like how it feels. Last year a bass I had longed for a while came up for sale. It was a good price and I saw it an hour after it was posted, so I did not hesitate. Unfortunately I was still too late as it had just sold in principle. The seller later reveals to me, that unknown to him, he later realised it was a well known shop that bought it. A few days later the same bass was advertised on that shop for double its forum price. It just made me feel so uneasy knowing someone who owns a shop and has deeper pockets than I do, swoops in and takes something off the forum for immediate resale. I'm a bit naive in thinking the forum is for the benefit of the members here to enjoy the toys we all like. I bring this up as I recently purchased something tres cool (to me), from a member who has been here a while, and owned it even longer. I feel fortunate tbh. But I 'know' that someone may have bought that to flip it elsewhere, and I dunno, just makes me sad. I'm not against free markets and all that...but I always saw BC as that place where 'the one that got away' could swing back around years later (as has happened to me) when someone is ready to move it on and let someone else enjoy it, all at reasonable prices. I'm not saying individuals don't flip items, but at least its not at a business level. Anyways, rant over. Happens on all forums. I’m a member on several other forums (non-bass related) and people will do this to try and raise a few quid. It’s a bit of a sad way to make money and as a business model it’s entirely unsustainable as goodwill quickly evaporates. What’s more annoying is that the practice works to inflate the prices of used items which ultimately costs us all more money (if you buy stuff, obviously). Whenever I lose out on something I remind myself that there’s a 90% chance I’d sell it on in any case. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ.c Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 (edited) I sold a Wampler Low Blow recently on eBay but out of habit I checked the buyer's profile a week later and found he was attempting to flip the pedal using a private seller account. This breaks eBay's policies so I reported him. I appreciate this is a murky area which divides opinion but it made me feel a little better holding the buyer/seller to account. When I sell a pedal I'm hoping it goes to a nice home to be enjoyed by a fellow musician who might not have the funds to buy new, or at an inflated flipper price. This is the first time I've been burned by a flipper so for future listings I'll state a policy of not selling to individuals if I think they're operating a business. Their purchase will be refunded and I'll ban them. This might cause someone to lodge a complaint against me but hey ho. Cross that bridge when I get to it. Edited November 7 by russ.c 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 1 hour ago, russ.c said: I sold a Wampler Low Blow recently on eBay but out of habit I checked the buyer's profile a week later and found he was attempting to flip the pedal using a private seller account. This breaks eBay's policies so I reported him. I appreciate this is a murky area which divides opinion but it made me feel a little better holding the buyer/seller to account. When I sell a pedal I'm hoping it goes to a nice home to be enjoyed by a fellow musician who might not have the funds to buy new, or at an inflated flipper price. This is the first time I've been burned by a flipper so for future listings I'll state a policy of not selling to individuals if I think they're operating a business. Their purchase will be refunded and I'll ban them. This might cause someone to lodge a complaint against me but hey ho. Cross that bridge when I get to it. I recently listed a Sixties Cherry 335 on eBay and was offered £1500 by a guitar flipper. There was nothing illegal about it but I did tell him (politely) that I found his offer offensive because he was aware of its true value and just wanted to take advantage. To be fair, he accepted it in the spirit it was delivered. It's just a weird and slightly sad business based on someone either being desperate for cash or unaware of the value of their item. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 Are you sure the shop bought it? Couldn't it be that someone spying a profit bought it and is selling it through a shop on commission? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 Its always a shame but I have no real problem with it. If someone sees something and buys something at a price the seller is happy to sell at, its theirs and what they do with it is their issue, whether they sell it on or keep it forever. People with deeper pockets than you will always have more options, I have seen many basses I would really like go, because I couldn't afford them or couldn't justify paying for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 I got a bit tired of selling basses on here at what I considered very reasonable prices (in-line with some assumed/imagined community ethos) only to see them re-appear in shops in very short order and at very inflated prices. There's a particularly egregious example on sale in London at present. That isn't to say that there aren't some wonderful, generous and community-minded members on here, and I still sell on BC occasionally. However, I tend to simply sell basses on consignment these days. Easy and less depressing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 Personally, it’s not something I care about either. If I sell a bass, and am happy with what I get, I have no further interest in that instrument. Whether bought by a collector, a flipper 🦭, or as a use to keep warm in the winter…..it’s down to the new owner with what they do with it. 😇 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 I’ve got a pretty good idea what my basses are worth and that’s around the price I would sell them for, if they don’t sell for what I think then I just keep them, if someone wants to buy it and try and make more money then that really wouldn’t bother me, I suppose shops have overheads and bills 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 I guess we have no obligation to sell to anyone. I might consider what sort of activity I see, on the for sale forums, before selling to certain BC'ers. Undoubtedly rose tinted glasses but I always think of this as a 'mates rates' community. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurroundedByManatees Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 I don't have a problem if a shop buys something from me at the price I'm happy with. Yes they will make some money on it, but that is how they survive. It only feels weird when they act like a private person when showing interest. Not too long ago I got an offer (below my already decent price) from an (inactive) member on here. This guy appeared to be a private person for the first messages, until he directed me to the bass gallery website for possible trade options. It doesnt bother me much, but I think naming your shop in the username and/or conversation would be the right/transparent thing to do as a business. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 Where it's disappointing and potentially unethical is when a member buys the item with an emotional story - "been after one for ages" or haggles the price down "bit short of cash" etc - and then it goes on sale with a similarly emotional story 'Reluctant sale due to...... my old ..... bass' but at a higher/much higher price. Doesn't happen often for sure, but has happened to me three or four times, including this year 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 I don’t really have a problem with it per se - if someone pays the price I’m after then what they do once it’s theirs isn’t my concern. If I’ve bought something on here though, then I think it’s only fair to sell it back on here again,for a good price - if it doesn’t sell then try it somewhere else for more of a realistic price. (To be fair I’ve done this a few times when my listings on here have n’t raised any interest.) The one sale that did anger me was a few years ago (and didn’t involve this forum). A guy answered my local ad for a guitar I was selling. When he came round to try it he brought his lad with him, about 9 years old. Told me the guitar was for him, his first instrument etc and used that angle to get me to knock the price down which I did. Later that evening it was advertised on eBay for considerably more than he’d paid me. Was considering arranging some false bidding to mess his sale up but in the end I just let it go. Older and wiser now…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 2 minutes ago, casapete said: I don’t really have a problem with it per se - if someone pays the price I’m after then what they do once it’s theirs isn’t my concern. If I’ve bought something on here though, then I think it’s only fair to sell it back on here again,for a good price - if it doesn’t sell then try it somewhere else for more of a realistic price. (To be fair I’ve done this a few times when my listings on here have n’t raised any interest.) The one sale that did anger me was a few years ago (and didn’t involve this forum). A guy answered my local ad for a guitar I was selling. When he came round to try it he brought his lad with him, about 9 years old. Told me the guitar was for him, his first instrument etc and used that angle to get me to knock the price down which I did. Later that evening it was advertised on eBay for considerably more than he’d paid me. Was considering arranging some false bidding to mess his sale up but in the end I just let it go. Older and wiser now…. Ha, I has EXACTLY the same albeit a mother buying for an alleged SEN daughter. Sold a lovely white EBMM SUB to 'the mother' only to see it go straight on eBay with a 50% mark up the next day. The eBay account I'd sold to was clearly domestic, but the account selling was high value music and hi-fi gear. A little digging around and it was clear both accounts were owned by the same person. What annoyed me most wasn't the financial loss so much as the fact that I really thought I was helping this kid and her hard-up mum out 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandro Posted November 7 Author Share Posted November 7 3 minutes ago, Beedster said: a mother buying for an alleged SEN daughter. That is f'ed up... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ.c Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 (edited) I bet if you didn't give her the discount you'd have been accused of all sorts. People are fing shameless. And it ruins it for the genuine buyers who end up being tarred with the same brush. The few as always spoiling it for the many. Utterly feckless a*se hats. Edited November 7 by russ.c Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 34 minutes ago, russ.c said: I bet if you didn't give her the discount you'd have been accused of all sorts. Not sure, I suspect it was just a chancer scam, if I'd not replied it would no doubt have been the last i'd hear. To be honest, I was f***ing naive; I listed it on eBay and within a couple of hours got this long message about how her kid had seen my bass and had decided it was the one for her because of the colour and the shape and how she would love to be able to buy it for her but couldn't possibly afford to so please do let her know if at any point I'd sell it for a lower price etc. I don't think anyone would even try such a blatant scam these days as we're wise to it, but I expect that if they did the same to a sufficient number of items - perhaps just send a standard message to a load of items - they probably did rather well out of the naivety of people like me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 If any shop owners are reading this, I’ve got a powered Kemper rack and pedal up in the for sale section… it’s a steal too. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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