kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on May 26, 2022 11:38:04 GMT -6
Just when I thought Reverb couldn’t get worse, it is changing its policies.
The last one about fostering seller refunds seems really cockeyed as it’s policies already favour the buyer and promote a culture of buyers scamming the system when the item showed up working and as described. My personal experience has been that Reverb needs to do more to foster seller trust.
“Added and expanded policies
We’ve strengthened and created new policies around:
Intellectual Property, including outlining steps to report IP infringement, to help maintain the integrity of the marketplace,
Sanctions, to protect our community and comply with applicable laws and regulations,
Privacy and Cookies, to provide more insight into how we keep your data secure while enhancing your time on Reverb, and
Billing, including new guidelines for seller-initiated refunds to foster buyer trust.“
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ericn
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Post by ericn on May 26, 2022 11:55:41 GMT -6
Just when I thought Reverb couldn’t get worse, it is changing its policies. The last one about fostering seller refunds seems really cockeyed as it’s policies already favour the buyer and promote a culture of buyers scamming the system when the item showed up working and as described. My personal experience has been that Reverb needs to do more to foster seller trust. “Added and expanded policies We’ve strengthened and created new policies around: Intellectual Property, including outlining steps to report IP infringement, to help maintain the integrity of the marketplace, Sanctions, to protect our community and comply with applicable laws and regulations, Privacy and Cookies, to provide more insight into how we keep your data secure while enhancing your time on Reverb, and Billing, including new guidelines for seller-initiated refunds to foster buyer trust.“ What Etsy needs to do but won’t, is develop a net work of local techs who can evaluate the actual issue. Could even offer it at a slightly higher rate as a premium service. On the other hand… How many people do you think have 2 accounts under different names and addresses where they buy something new from a dealer online open it up, say the thing is DOA return it, it’s now B-stock, but it at a discount. Because that never happened before the internet. |
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on May 26, 2022 12:03:43 GMT -6
I’ve just been using kijiji for months now, no fees.
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Post by Guitar on May 26, 2022 12:04:40 GMT -6
Fuck Reverb.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on May 26, 2022 13:36:23 GMT -6
Ah ok , but are you ok with Delay ?  |
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Post by indiehouse on May 26, 2022 13:50:33 GMT -6
Reverb used to be cool, before fee hikes and taxes. Sucks less than eBay. But, it's where stuff sells. I rarely get any sales through forums or social media groups.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on May 26, 2022 14:36:09 GMT -6
I feel the same but have had good luck with kijiji.
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Post by mike on May 27, 2022 8:52:28 GMT -6
Reverb used to be cool, before fee hikes and taxes. Sucks less than eBay. But, it's where stuff sells. I rarely get any sales through forums or social media groups.
I agree with Indie that while Reverb is not as good as it used to be, it is where stuff sells more than any other place IME also.
So when I sell now, I try social and area craigslist first...if the item isn't moving at all over time, then I'll list it on Reverb and put at the bottom of the info of all listings "Due to Reverb's policies, Buyer will receive positive Feedback rating 7 days After receiving this perfectly working item". (I put this because buyer has no recourse for return after 7 days of receiving an item. )
And I don't usually give positive feedback until I get that first from the buyer which gives a little seller leverage for a legit account buyer to act in good faith. Though if the buyer is a fake account with no ratings it won't matter to them
Some items I may list on Reverb a little higher than their going rate with make an offer option, which allows me to see feedback ratings of shops making an offer and can allow the seller to choose the buyer that looks good or decline those who don't. If someone just buys it without making an offer this way, my slightly higher than normal price covers in most cases potential shipping cost loss hassle on a possible return.
The other thing I do now is buy the Reverb Safe Shipping, or full item value insurance through the shipping carrier and price that into the listed sale price. It is important IMO to take a video of the item showing the shipping date on your computer calendar and then that the item works perfectly in good condition and then take photos of your packaging interior/exterior in case you need to defend your position FWIW with anyone. I recently had a Reverb buyer receive an item I had shipped working perfect he said arrived in beat up packaging and some things not working and was asking about getting money for repairs, I told him I had Reverb safe shipping which is supposed to cover repairs after both buyer/seller are interviewed to prove their position and the buyer then informed me he did a hard reboot on the item and it was working perfectly FWIW.
While no system is perfect, this has helped me avoid dishonest buyers on Reverb so far even though I've had a couple test the waters for partial refunds for repairs story until they were put in a position to prove it. FWIW.
Those new updated Reverb policies on top that say - "Billing, including new guidelines for seller-initiated refunds to foster buyer trust" -- Does anyone know what this means or looks like in typical application?
Sorry for the length,
Mike
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Post by Guitar on May 27, 2022 9:15:43 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 9:24:59 GMT -6
I just trade stuff in and it seems pro audio shops have started allowing it more and more. They don't tend to offer as much but I avoid buying / selling as much as I possibly can. If it's not perfect in the first place then it'll get retuned under the 30 day policies..
I don't like sending stuff back, demo's or loan's are my first preference but what's the alternative? E-bay is a nightmare and it seems Reverb is heading that way. Today even Audioscape offer a 60 days return is it? That's really cool of them and takes the worry out of buying.
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Post by mike on May 27, 2022 9:25:27 GMT -6
FWIW - So I went to Reverb's Help chat and asked this question with their response below it: Mike >"Reverb recently updated their policies that included the phrase "Billing, including new guidelines for seller-initiated refunds to foster buyer trust" - What does that mean or look like in a typical application moving forward? -- Reverb Response> "Seller-initiated order cancellations and refunds create a poor experience for buyers and can make them less likely to purchase again from Reverb sellers. To help maintain buyer trust, we’re asking that sellers cancel and refund no more than 5 orders in a month. Payment processing fees will be charged for canceled and refunded orders above the 5 refund monthly threshold. Reverb also compiled further information through this FAQ: help.reverb.com/hc/en-us/articles/5766293878163-What-is-Reverb-s-policy-for-seller-initiated-canceled-or-refunded-orders-Mike comment> So perhaps that policy change is because some abusive sellers were doing full cancel and refund to any prospective buyers that didn't look good to them or had a high number of transactions using that mechanism as a buyer screening tool it appears |
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on May 27, 2022 10:12:08 GMT -6
That just sounds even more confused if someone offered you what you asked or a counter offer acceptable to you , why would a seller cancel ?
Personally on Reverb going back about 5 year’s , it became very apparent the “buyers”, who seemed most interested in trying to low ball you and then I often wondered if they would just try and flip it to make sone easy dough.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on May 27, 2022 11:22:33 GMT -6
That just sounds even more confused if someone offered you what you asked or a counter offer acceptable to you , why would a seller cancel ? Personally on Reverb going back about 5 year’s , it became very apparent the “buyers”, who seemed most interested in trying to low ball you and then I often wondered if they would just try and flip it to make sone easy dough. Oh there are plenty of guys who flip on Reverb, I sold a mic to a guy on Reverb 3 weeks later he was selling it at a nice markup. The one big change I have noticed is the type of seller: since Etsy bought them they seam to have really recruited their Etsy clients who have audio and MI related gear. Sellers product has taken a nose dive.$ The biggest problem with the new policy is this: let’s say I were to list my Otari Status again, I get a guy who doesn’t understand it’s going to cost a small fortune to ship and all the modules were pulled to ship. I’m not going through that again. |
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Post by Guitar on May 27, 2022 11:24:56 GMT -6
In my mind "Inflation Nation" and Reverb seller's typical asking prices are highly correlated.
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Post by bgrotto on May 27, 2022 20:41:27 GMT -6
I was a certified reverb junkee for a couple years. Bought and sold like crazy, and while it was mostly good while it lasted, I'm generally happy that it all ended when Etsy acquired them. Saved me a bunch of screen time. The brand is dead weight now. Nobody I know uses it, and the inflated prices people attempt to sell at now are genuinely funny. I saw a Fairchild on there for $250k recently.
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Post by ml on May 28, 2022 13:28:09 GMT -6
I just trade stuff in and it seems pro audio shops have started allowing it more and more. They don't tend to offer as much but I avoid buying / selling as much as I possibly can. If it's not perfect in the first place then it'll get retuned under the 30 day policies.. I don't like sending stuff back, demo's or loan's are my first preference but what's the alternative? E-bay is a nightmare and it seems Reverb is heading that way. Today even Audioscape offer a 60 days return is it? That's really cool of them and takes the worry out of buying. Any particular shops you can recommend for trade-ins? |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2022 13:31:06 GMT -6
I just trade stuff in and it seems pro audio shops have started allowing it more and more. They don't tend to offer as much but I avoid buying / selling as much as I possibly can. If it's not perfect in the first place then it'll get retuned under the 30 day policies.. I don't like sending stuff back, demo's or loan's are my first preference but what's the alternative? E-bay is a nightmare and it seems Reverb is heading that way. Today even Audioscape offer a 60 days return is it? That's really cool of them and takes the worry out of buying. Any particular shops you can recommend for trade-ins? Depends where you're based, KMR have helped me out a few times. |
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Post by ml on May 28, 2022 13:36:09 GMT -6
Any particular shops you can recommend for trade-ins? Depends where you're based, KMR have helped me out a few times. I'm in the northeast US, an hour outside of Philly. |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2022 13:47:59 GMT -6
Depends where you're based, KMR have helped me out a few times. I'm in the northeast US, an hour outside of Philly. Sorry chief, we're not in the same country.. Doesn't Sweetwater, VK or anyone offer trade in's? |
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Post by ml on May 28, 2022 17:24:59 GMT -6
I'm in the northeast US, an hour outside of Philly. Sorry chief, we're not in the same country.. Doesn't Sweetwater, VK or anyone offer trade in's? They do, but I was just curious who you had good results with. |
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on May 28, 2022 18:02:46 GMT -6
Good is relative, my experience is the amount they offer is pretty low: what ever floats your boat!
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Post by Omicron9 on May 29, 2022 5:29:40 GMT -6
Good is relative, my experience is the amount they offer is pretty low: what ever floats your boat! Worse than "pretty low" with VK. About a year ago I was clearing out some high-end gear and sent them a list with photos and asked what they could do for me. I knew it wouldn't be as much as I could get selling it myself, but I was willing to take a small hit to spare myself from the Reverb/eBay miasma. The pricing/trade-in they quoted was laughable. One example: a mint Millennia 8-channel mic pre with ribbon options on each channel. New this would be around $5k. It had just returned to me from Millennia where they went thru it and serviced/replaced whatever was needed, and I had all that paperwork. They offered me $800. I sold it myself for $3500. I replied to their offer with something like "Really?" And they came back with "Oh yeah, selling used gear is expensive for us; we have to take pics of it and everything." Insert eye-roll emoji here. I have been buying/selling gear for years on Reverb and eBay. Didn't really want to go thru all that for this round, but after speaking with VK, I didn't mind so much.  -09 |
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Post by kcatthedog on May 29, 2022 6:01:32 GMT -6
Same, I was being polite.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2022 7:36:53 GMT -6
Good is relative, my experience is the amount they offer is pretty low: what ever floats your boat! Worse than "pretty low" with VK. About a year ago I was clearing out some high-end gear and sent them a list with photos and asked what they could do for me. I knew it wouldn't be as much as I could get selling it myself, but I was willing to take a small hit to spare myself from the Reverb/eBay miasma. The pricing/trade-in they quoted was laughable. One example: a mint Millennia 8-channel mic pre with ribbon options on each channel. New this would be around $5k. It had just returned to me from Millennia where they went thru it and serviced/replaced whatever was needed, and I had all that paperwork. They offered me $800. I sold it myself for $3500. I replied to their offer with something like "Really?" And they came back with "Oh yeah, selling used gear is expensive for us; we have to take pics of it and everything." Insert eye-roll emoji here. -09 Wow, that is really bad.. I just checked my e-mails and I sold the Apollo X6 (bought in 2018) to KMR for $1500.00, new price over here used to be $2250.00. When you factor in Paypal and E-bay fees I wouldn't have been much better off selling it privately. Although, what you're trying to sell has a large impact because abstract high end pro audio stuff over here is a very small market. I've tried to shift a UA 6176 before which isn't exactly an unknown element and at best I've been offered about 50% of new for it. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on May 29, 2022 20:33:06 GMT -6
You have to remember a trade in is viewed as buying wholesale, selling is retail. The seller isn’t buying or taking your trade to break even they have to see a profit. The other major thing you have to account for with trades is this: most new gear and what ever you are trading for probably hasn’t been paid for yet so that sale is really playing with the manufacturers money, but on the books your trade in was bought and paid for buy the dealer at the moment of the trade.
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