Your worst experience selling used equipment

[Pandaman617]

So I’ve been buying and selling used gear for a few years now. Online I use eBay, Reverb and US Audio Mart as well as CL from time to time. My worst experiences have been with Offer Up/Let Go which I don’t use anymore and than ebay where I had a scammer try and swap out the drivers on a pair of M&K S150’s I sold him for the blown drivers from his pair and attempt to say the speakers were broken. Luckily I had read a few stories about this happening and mark all of the drivers in speakers I sell with a sharpie and document the process with photos. eBay sided with me but I’ve also had plenty of annoyances like people assuming they can offer pawn shop crackhead prices like $50 for a subwoofer that widely sells for $600+ used. Yesterday I sold my used SVS SB12 NSD to a user on here locally and it was refreshing how efficient and smooth the entire process was. I’m curious what your guys worst experiences selling used gear has been.

 

[RedCharles]

Wow. Ebay sided with YOU!?! I've never heard of ebay siding with a seller. Must have been pretty bad.

I should also add that I typically don't do auctions on ebay. I put up an outrageously high price, and then write in the title MAKE ME AN OFFER. People put in offers and I get to choose the buyer based on their rating and how long they've been on ebay. Never had an issue that way. Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.

Offerup and Facebook marketplace are pretty awful. Friend of mine was just complaining to me about how bad facebook and offerup are just yesterday. Lowballers and flakes.

Once, I tried to give away a broken Polk 505 for free on Craigslist. Guy said he was planning to swap out the amp. But the guy never showed. Twice. Ended up just taking it to a job site, and it disappeared.

I've put up stuff for free on Craigslist, and people will ask me to deliver. It's nuts. I've got a pretty strict ad format now that does an effective job of warding off gimme gimme losers. I found it's best to telegraph that I'm a serious A-hole in the ad.

 

[Pandaman617]

Wow. Ebay sided with YOU!?! I've never heard of ebay siding with a seller. Must have been pretty bad.

I should also add that I typically don't do auctions on ebay. I put up an outrageously high price, and then write in the title MAKE ME AN OFFER. People put in offers and I get to choose the buyer based on their rating and how long they've been on ebay. Never had an issue that way. Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.

Offerup and Facebook marketplace are pretty awful. Friend of mine was just complaining to me about how bad facebook and offerup are just yesterday. Lowballers and flakes.

Once, I tried to give away a broken Polk 505 for free on Craigslist. Guy said he was planning to swap out the amp. But the guy never showed. Twice. Ended up just taking it to a job site, and it disappeared.

I've put up stuff for free on Craigslist, and people will ask me to deliver. It's nuts. I've got a pretty strict ad format now that does an effective job of warding off gimme gimme losers. I found it's best to telegraph that I'm a serious A-hole in the ad.

My CL ads are the same on the rare even that I’m selling something on there. I make it very clear that I’m actively involved in the audio world so if you’re offering $50 for a $400 item go ahead and go with your first instinct and buy the crack you were planning on using it for

 

[panteragstk]

I've used ebay, craigslist, and facebook (wifey did it, I don't use facebook) and have had luck with all of them.

I've only purchased through ebay though, and my experience has been really great.

Facebook is fine since you can limit the area, but I like that we have one specific to our neighborhood. Don't really have the crazies to deal with since they know you know around where they live.

Craigslist is fine, but can be shady as hell. I sold a vehicle on craigslist and it went fine. Had a bunch of low ballers, but "no" is pretty easy to say.

 

[slipperybidness]

I haven't had any major issues buying nor selling. Had a few shady sellers that didn't properly disclose damage or poor condition, and that always worked out in my favor (other than some hassle and time).

My worst experience as a seller was actually when I sold a NEW item, as in--NEW in sealed box never opened.

The buyer comes back and says the item was new and sealed, but also defective out of the box. Since the item still had the vendor seal, I had never opened it for inspection, so I was left holding the bag on that one! Luckily, it was only ~$50 item, and once I got it back I was able to repair it and sell it as new but repaired.

Regardless, I learned a hard lesson on that transaction, and I got lucky that it was a relatively small $ amount involved.

So, today, even if I have an item New in sealed box, I must open and inspect the item. Then for the listing, I will say that the item is new and only opened for inspection and pictures.

 

[jd-mac]

Worst selling experience: I sold a mint NAD preamp and in a short while after delivery the buyer said it was defective and needed to return it. So I got it back and took it to a repair shop (100 mile drive). Turned out an internal fuse was blown...and I know how that happened. This model has "convenience" AC outlets on the back, with very specific warnings not to plug power amps or anything else that would exceed the rating of the outlets. So I was out the repair and the mileage.

 

[Merkules2001]

I have heard it all. The majority is buyer remorse, and ignorance of menu. A few have tried to claim, blown amps, tuner doesn't work, then call you like you are tech support. I would video functionality and insert buyer name and date. I was able to demo a large number of different units, then sell. I made sure it worked day of sale. I didn't try to to make much money, so it turned around quickly. It is a fun hobby when everything works out, after getting stood up for a meet it sours. Shipping is the killer, so local only. Fb marketplace.