Conference napalm::guitar

    I've done the selling thing to private parties.  In one case, we did a
    COD deal; it was expensive (but not for me :-)  In another case, I shipped
    the item to a third party, a dealer near the buyer who knew him and agreed
    to facilitate.  This involved a certain amount of trust in the dealer on
    my part, but it didn't seem more risky than doing business directly with
    dealers, which I'd already done and was fairly comfortable with.
    
    Another option I haven't explored yet but sounds promising is Tradesafe
    
    	http://www.brainiac.com/tradesafe/
    	
    Tradesafe is an internet escrow service specifically for online
    transactions between private parties.  Check out the web page, they
    seem very professional and well thought out.  There's a fee for their
    services of course, looks to be on par with and maybe cheaper than COD.
    Seems better than COD too in that you actually get to examine the
    merchandise before you release the funds.
    
    /rick
    

    I sold an amp to a guy out west and I sent it UPS/COD. I insured it
    through UPS (which I paid for), but before they handed over the amp,
    the buyer had to hand over the money to the UPS person. About 1 week 
    later, I got a call to pick up my money.
    
    I thought it was a good way of selling to folks at a distance and would
    go this route again in the future.
    
    JFYI,
    	  Fred

    I just wrapped up a deal with a guy in Montana.  I am selling the items
    to him and he has offered to send my a money order.  So, in this case
    this guy is putting his faith in my integrity.  
    
    I have sold items in the past via mail.  Usually DEC folks (but not
    always) and have never had a problem.  Funny thing is that I have
    always been on the "selling" side of the deal, and the buyers have
    always agreed to send the funds first.  Its always been under $50. 
    
    This deal is for $135 and its a non-DEC internet deal.  I was surprised
    this guy will send a stranger that much money.  He did ask for detailed
    descriptions on the items being sent.  I think this is how he was
    sanitizing I really had the items offered (which had nothing to do with
    guitars BTW).  The items were collectible toy cars (Corgi's).
    
    One time I bought an electric guitar site unseen but I had a friend
    (guitar player) who worked near the seller check it out and pick it up
    for me.  I would never buy a guitar without seeing it first or have
    someone I know check it out for me.  
    
    Would any of you buy a guitar site unseen from a private party?
    
    Mark
    

    <would any of you buy a guitar site unseen from a 
    <private party?


in a word,, nope !

    re Would any of you buy a guitar site unseen from a private party?
    
    I've never had any problems with buying through a dealer mail order for
    a used instrument,but my one experiance with a private party fell apart
    when the guy realized he had another customer who would pay more. He
    tried to play this game with both me and the other customer and we both
    backed out of the deal. Later the other customer and I corresponded via
    mail and confirmed the fact about this guy's way of doing buisness. I
    was about ready to use "tradesafe".
    I have never sold anything through the internet it seems to be too much
    hassle for the expense. You do get some interesting mail :^)
    
    Rick
    

    I once bought a bass through the mail from a private party, for $250. 
    I sent the money order on trust.  I guess that's about my threshold of 
    pain in something like this; any more than that and I'd probably look
    for a safer route.  And this was of course after numerous phone
    conversations and Email messages, where I got a good impressiom of the
    person I was dealing with.  That threshold would probably go up a bit
    with someone from the notesfile, especially if I'd seen them noting
    here for several years.  Btw, I ended up sending that bass back.
    
    As a buyer, I demand 48 hours refusal, no questions asked.  I have to
    be able to just say "I don't like it", otherwise I wouldn't even
    consider the deal.
    
    As a seller, I expect that any risk or expense associated with the
    transaction will be borne by the buyer.  That's the way it is when you
    buy from professional dealers, so whenever I'm on the selling side of
    things I demand the same.
    
    /rick
    

    
    I've not heard of trade-safe.  SOunds pretty interesting though.
    
    I've done a LOT of delas over the internet and haven't had problems
    with  COD (which costs $5ish).  The only risk is the "Box-o-rox"
    thing, since you aren't generally allowed to open the parcel until you
    cough up the dough...  However, a COOL UPS guy will let you peak to
    make sure.
    
    jc - who just sent $1K worth of wheels-n-tiresvia UPS COD.  Hopefully,
    he'll have the dough.  :-)

    
    	I spoke with a dealer who specializes in estate sales and 
    	auctions.  He just mailed a red hollow-body Gibson out to
    	Arizona for a grand and magnolious sum of $1700.00.  Like-
    	wise for more than one Martin.  It was outta there.  The
    	estate sales, and auctions are definitely one of the best
    	places to look.