Don’t Buy Or Sell Online Without Doing This

[@Smart-Alex]

Yep. I also take photos of the box condition at UPS or FedEx just before it makes its journey - and send them the photo.

[@jeffanderson8384]

Sage advice, thanks for the PSA. It might save someone some pain and heartache.

[@misterknightowlandco]

I bought a “mint” ebony sg special w/ p90’s and when I got it it had strap wear on the pin behind the neck and the back electronics plate was bashed in. It had play wear all over the paint job. When I looked back at the ad all of a sudden 5 new pictures that were obviously taken at a different time and place showed the wear n tear on it. LUCKILY I screenshot everything cuz I wanted to show it to my wife before I bought it. It wasn’t some dude either it was an actual music store. I will never buy online again. I can’t tell you how many pedals I’ve bought lately that were clearly returns that I got sold as new. From stores. I seriously hate retailers online now. I think over the next few years we’re going to realize everything they rushed out the door for the Covid boom was crap and just needs to be thrown out.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I guess I am a smart one. 3+ years of selling on reverb and from the beginning I screenshot every aspect/ step of packing up my guitars and amps and a final one of my guitars and amps in the backseat of my car with the shipping label in the shot. Totally covered!

[@TumbleweedRancher]

We had a bunch of photos of the speaker cabinet we sent back. My wife even got a photo of them carrying the box out to the truck. They did not give us a receipt for the pickup.

[@Yardbird68]

I sold just once on Reverb. I bought on Reverb a mini Fuzz Face, didn't like it. So I used the screen shot and description from the seller ( plus my own photos ) I bought it from, and said just that, in my own description. All good advice Phil. Though I stay out of bars cause I don't drink alcohol. 😉

[@iamkimes]

As a 2 decade Ebay seller and buyer - I've learned this the hard way.

[@mbuby7]

Yeah! I got one guitar(Iconic Custom Guitars) stolen in Pennsylvania by someone in UPS when I shipped it from NJ, but the Insurance saved us. Since the insurance paid the damage Reverb didn't do nothing about it. Thx for the advice

[@RsSquier51]

I take pictures, take video and screen shot everything. I even finish packing at the shipping location while recording video. I take no chances. I also video unpacking any new purchases. Trust no one.

[@ramencurry6672]

After 15 years you can delete it

[@RsSquier51]

@@ramencurry6672 What are you talking about? Why would you wait 15 years to delete?

[@ramencurry6672]

@@RsSquier51 ok maybe 10

[@weegiebuck]

Great advice as I am always worried when I buy or sell stuff.

[@michaelstevenanderson4961]

"You're not ready for the new world" - LOL That is genius. This is required viewing for anyone who buys & sells anything online.

[@jburdsinfuse]

I take pictures and video of the boxing process from live playing the instrument all the way through to taking the box up. I only buy guitars from shops with A LOT of ratings and a website for their store. Too expensive to risk it.

[@gordonplatter9162]

This is why I won't buy anything used if I can't touch it and pay I have trust issues

[@robertspreitzer8126]

Yup I send pictures of everything especially the finished box with their address and have them verify.

[@landofahhs_1]

I've had Pepsi, Coca Cola, and RC at bars...I don't drink. I've never videoed, taken pictures, or ever had trouble with any transaction...But in the future I will certainly start taking precautions per your advice.

[@rocknreplay]

"video tape"! 😂

I've never drunk a Coke at a bar, Phil.

[@knowyourgear2320]

notice I couldn't keep a straight face. lol

[@didamnesia3575]

Robin Williams used to order a water, or iced tea at bars after he stopped drinking.

[@123pap]

I have it had whiskey in it does that still count 😂

[@kevindean1327]

I used to get them (the bartenders) to pour some coke a cola in my pint of draft back in the 80s. What can I say it was a kooky fun era!!!

[@Ottophil]

I used to get stoned and sit at the bar and only order sodas and cashews. Nobody cared

[@Mrlz56]

Reverb is crooked as sheit. Shipped a NOS fulltone deja vibe. " they hate Mike Fuller" It got returned smashed with a sledge hammer on the foot switch. Switch broke off and a deep round dent the size of a sledge. I've done Ebay ever since. Reverb sided with the vindictive prick. no way USPS did this.

[@MashaT22]

Sage advice . . . but how does a “serial buyer/seller” you keep all of that documentation organized?! All those photos and videos will take up major space and get tricky to keep track of. Maybe you can show people how you organize all this data sometime. 😉👍🏻 Also, the WayBack Machine is also be helpful if you forgot to take screenshots of any publicly viewable content on sites. You can look up any site page from a specific date and time. Sad we all have to go to such lengths, but that’s the world we live in.

[@RsSquier51]

All you have to do is store on your computer in a file. No hard at all. It's all digital.

[@tuberocker69]

I don't like this new world. I'ma head back to the 80's where almost all guitars sold were 💩, and you rarely got a dealer to sell one under the msrp, but at least heavy metal was real. 🤘

[@chadapold1055]

Getting awfully serious in the guitar world lately.

[@Aeduo]

If there was enough money in it, the future will be AI generated guitar boxing/unboxing videos. Thankfully for now, AI is _really_ bad at guitars haha.

[@tradbowseven]

its over… just like when ebay, amazon, etc. it was fun at first and slowly became unprofitable and made no sense. i only sell when im desprate and only buy when its new.

[@rareform6747]

Beer . Coca Cola my ass !

[@TonyDarren-e3h]

A Coca-Cola?

[@iamanovercomer3253]

Good for loosening rusty bolts ‼️🤣😂

[@drdoom8793]

It's cute people think this started with the internet

[@Dm3qXY]

he framed it this way because the internet makes it much easier to endeavor into this, and because it seems fast and easy (compared to the "old world"), people either forget or never know about the precautions required. I recently bought an apartment and the seller and even the agent were willing to cut corners; i was not, thanks to my first time experience paranoia, and i am glad i pushed for doing things right.

[@adilsonobelard9690]

repetitive