Re: Classifieds feed back a buyers perspective and suggestio
Seancasler wrote:
3 sellers support this board first. Don't list your item on eBay and then tell us about it. List it HERE first and give stickist people some time before listing on eBay. Give them a defined time frame BEFORE listing on eBay.
Can't argue a bit with this one -- its always frustrating to see that for sale ads become nothing more than a way for eBay to make money.
Seancasler wrote:
3. SE sells at retail price. They provide warranty and a degree of protection, their prices for used instruments should also be considered retail prices. As a buyer, if the prices are the same and I can buy exactly what I want from SE, I will not pay a seller MORE for a used instrument unless there something really special about it. And no, because YOU bought it and waited a month for it to be built and deliver is not good enough.
So there IS a reason why someone would pay the same (or more than) retail -- Lead Time. If you're REALLY wanting a Stick *now*, there is a value to being able to get your paws on it *now* Of course, lead time (as I speak) is only a month or two for the basic Stick. I, personally, agree with your sentiment and have gone as far as saying something similar to your statement in the past about eBay sellers (in particular) wanting an insane amount of money for an old hunk of wood that is (usually) terribly outdated. There is, however, the "Caveat Emptor" factor and the PT Barnum theorem to be attached to the equation.
Traditionally, price of an object or service is set based on supply, demand and what the market will handle. I may be incorrect on this, but people who go for a Stick probably are able to come up with disposable income more easily than in (for example) the guitar market. In the guitar market, you can buy a low to medium range guitar for a smallish amount and do quite well. If the instrument doesn't work out for you, you're not out a lot of $$. In the Stick market, you're dealing with an exotic instrument that you don't want to be saddled with after paying a steep entry price. What's the most that someone will pay to take it off your hands? That's the price, whether we agree with it in our own personal philosophy or not.
Seancasler wrote:
4 sellers. You bought it, tried it and could not figure it out. Welcome to the club. I think this is actually more the rule than the exception. (There should be a whole section for this). My point is regardless, your instrument is not NEW. Because you did not use it (much) it is still not new, it is used.
Agreed -- a separate section would be good... Or, probably even better, an FAQ: "If at first you don't succeed, try some lessons." Its kind of difficult for a newbie to know where to go. I don't know everyone who actually gives lessons -- I know Greg does, I know Steve A does, I *think* Bob Culbertson does... I cherry-pick the subjects I want to read because I'm so damned busy. I don't think I get to see everyone chiming in who gives lessons. This would be a good sticky or a good separate board topic: "Where to go first after you've unboxed your stick: A guide for the utter Stick novice"
I'm a fairly advanced finger style guitarist. I am self trained/taught. In my first go-around with the Stick, I failed miserably. At that time there were no opportunities for lessons (that I was aware of). Being an arrogant SOB, I figured I could tackle it myself. I ended up selling my first Stick when I entered school for a career change. Now I am back -- and I fully intend on taking lessons, starting as soon as is possible after I have it in my hands. I'm man/musician enough to realize that while I COULD tackle this on my own (given a decade or two), that some lessons for a while would cut that down significantly. You watch, my 16 year old rock-star son will kick my butt with it right out of the box.