The trouble with trading things online...

littlethoughts

The number of messages you get along the lines of:

I see that you said you would consider part exchanges for a PRS for your (£600 average used price) guitar. I've got a PRS SE (one of the old ones). These cost over £600 new so do you want to do a straight swap? I've even upgraded the pickups to entwistles...

you can either not give it the time of day because they are clearly delusional, or you can reply:

reply:
Hey man, thanks for the offer but after a quick look at completed listings on ebay I can see that these usually go for £200-£300 depending on year and condition, I'd be interested to do a part ex with cash my way though?

Followed by being accused of being a conman for pointing this out...

John_P

Some people are delusional...  and there's nothing wrong with trying...    but it's a bit sad that it would get personal - a no is a no and they should start negotiating or leave it.   As soon deal looks too much like hard work then unless you are desperately looking for a rare item I would walk away and leave them to boil in their own weirdness.

littlethoughts

Is it too much to hope that if someone would've looked up the going rate for their guitar? There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying, but it is a waste of everyone's time by feigning ignorance of the actual prices things sell for...

ThorpyFX

I have a spongebob squarepants ukelele would you consider a straight swap? for that £660 average used price guitar?

littlethoughts

thorpy6 said:

I have a spongebob squarepants ukelele would you consider a straight swap? for that £660 average used price guitar?

Is it really rare? I won't bother to google it, I'll take your word for it.

HollowAxis

Trading online for many years, and in many countries, and having a friend who does way way more than me... I have come to learn that MOST people are delusional.

Just have to wait for a reasonable person to come along. 

Wading through the idiots and/or scammers to get there takes effort and petience

Richardj

I had a guy in Belgium offer me a £550 value Status bass in a straight swap for my £750 value Parker.  When I pointed out the difference in value it was pointed out to me that I had devalued it by putting 'unknown maker' Oil City pickups in it and also I should be grateful for the offer as Parker guitars are not that great and unpopular.

He could f**k right off!

fretmeister

The thing that grinds my gears is the old "upgrade" bollocks.

I've removed the Seymour Duncans and "upgraded" to Dimarzios so I've added £200 value.

Yes - but you've also removed the value of the Seymours first. Net value change = nil.

maltingsaudio

Yeah but if you don't ask you don't get, if the boots on the other foot and its a yes you'd be happy as Larry

littlethoughts

maltingsaudio said:

Yeah but if you don't ask you don't get, if the boots on the other foot and its a yes you'd be happy as Larry

If the boot was on the other foot I wouldn't lie about my guitars value in the first place

TTony

maltingsaudio said:

Yeah but if you don't ask you don't get, if the boots on the other foot and its a yes you'd be happy as Larry

What deal did Larry offer?

harpo

I've got a cousin called Larry and he's always been a miserable cunt

jd0272

harpo said:

I've got a cousin called Larry and he's always been a miserable cunt

I'd be as miserable as fuck if those two fuck wanks had called me Larry. "And on rhythm/lead we have LARRY...." Nay chance of a spontaneous "Just put it in me!!!" in the toilets.

UnclePsychosis

fretmeister;361687" said:

The thing that grinds my gears is the old "upgrade" bollocks.

I've removed the Seymour Duncans and "upgraded" to Dimarzios so I've added £200 value.

Yes - but you've also removed the value of the Seymours first. Net value change = nil.

There was a guy on basschat trying to sell something that he'd refinished (mediocre job) and reshaped (dubious job) for almost twice what absolutely pristine versions of the same thing were going for. I think the for sale thread had about 18 bumps from him and no comments from anyone else!

monquixote

It's the ones that say "This guitar cost me £500 new and I've spent £200 upgrading it so I think £600 is fair" that make me chuckle.