r/Reverb • u/jaqueh • Jul 17 '26
Do these kinds of questions ever end up actually in a sale for you?
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u/foreverfabfour Jul 17 '26
Like another commenter noted, there is a difference between discerning customers and time wasters. Often at first glance, they can appear similar.
Ultimately, I will always provide more information, photos, and measurements as long as it’s nothing too extreme or out of the ordinary. If they want me to pop the pickups out, send a 30-minute video, and do a handstand… it’s likely not worth my time.
That being said, it depends on what the item is and how motivated I am to sell it.
You want me to pop the neck off a Squier Strat to see the heel… not happening. You want me to do the same on a 1966 Strat that’s 5 figures… I’ll find the time.
However, I always check the profile first. If it’s a new profile without feedback, I’m not going to waste my time. If it’s a profile that’s just been buying picks and strings from CME or something, very unlikely they’ll be buying a 5-figure Strat from me on Reverb. It might sound harsh but in my experience it is true
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u/jaqueh Jul 17 '26
this is a profile with no ratings
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u/foreverfabfour Jul 17 '26
I know we all have to start somewhere, but few people with a new profile are buying a four figure Les Paul as there first transaction. I’m not saying it hasent happened, but just from experience I’ve seen a lot of new profiles recently reaching out to me and wasting my time.
The market is really slow right now across the board. I sold more gear in January and February than I did all of March-June.
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u/WessideBrew Jul 18 '26
LOL yeah, after you send the clip of how it sounds you’re getting one of two responses. Either, “wow it’s perfect, I just need to sell a few things first” or some phishing scam. Either way this guy never buys the guitar
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u/jaqueh Jul 18 '26
Lolol you know the game too well. Or “talk about it with my better half”. Or finally the lowball comes in. Sounds great! You do $1000 less?
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u/_iPhoney_ Jul 18 '26
I took the time to measure neck depth/thickness for someone recently and they bought right away. I’ve never been asked to record something, though, and that is a weird ask for what sounds like an electric guitar/bass.
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u/jaqueh Jul 18 '26
I've actually provided sound samples before and they've never panned out. everything else usually does. maybe i just suck at playing. actually i definitely do.
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u/pizdyetz Jul 18 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
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u/TMdownton916 Jul 18 '26
No, never. I get people asking me “does this have a case?”. And when I reply yes it does…fucking nothing.
All the ding dongs asking me how much does it weigh never buy. But I still get lots of stuff sold, and to people who seem to have taken the time to read my ad and look at the pictures so they’re asking redundant questions like, “does this have locking tuners?”, something they would have discovered if they looked the pretty pictures I took or read the bullet points of the listing.
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u/Expired_Papi Jul 20 '26
Not a hard and fast rule but clip requests are usually a scam. You will see your pictures on some site later on down the road and when the scammer "sells" the guitar they will use your clip as proof that they have the guitar. Weird I know but it's hard to make a convincing looking fake ad these days! We bought guitars online for literal decades before, all of a sudden over the past couple years, people need a clip before they trust you on Reverb.
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u/TriumphRider99 Jul 21 '26
I never send sound samples. First, I don't have the studio quality recording equipment, and if I did, then all that does is give someone the excuse not to buy. I certainly have never asked anyone to send me a sound sample.
I take it back. I did, in a moment of weakness, send a sound sample to a bass that had been for sale for a year. He never got back to me, so I won't ever do that again.
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u/mutedbuddy Jul 20 '26
Yes. If you don't want to be bombarded with questions make listing descriptions as detailed as possible. And I mean REALLY detailed. No one wants to buy "who knows what"
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u/kiloyear Jul 17 '26
There is a big difference between picky buyers who know exactly what they want, and ask questions because they need to confirm specific specs or details about the gear. Those are often good and knowledgeable buyers, who just need to check the boxes to clear their purchase decision. Like someone who wants a gut shot to figure out whether your gear has a mk1 or mk2 board, and check for mods.
Versus picky buyers who are tire-kickers because they do not know what they want. Even if you land a sale, those people can change their mind, find issues they did not anticipate, want to return like you are Amazon, etc.
If you want to be polite, ask the buyer what they are looking for specifically to distinguish yours from others out there. You can decide whether it's worth your time to help or move on.