Selling an acoustic to a dealer

kmajor

Has anyone got any experience of selling a guitar to a dealer as I have one for sale and don't want to sell it privately.
Just wondering who is likely to offer the best price and if they stick to the price offered after only seeing photos, including close ups of any damage.

Gandalph

What is the guitar?
 If it's decent I would give Glenns guitars a try. In my experience his buying prices are fair and he will pay what is agreed if it's as described. 

drofluf

Not a traditional dealer but I used sellusyourguitar.co.uk   Sent some pictures, they gave a quote, sent me a box and I was paid a few days later. Mine didn't have any damage but I'd only expect an offer to change if the damage wasn't't disclosed or proved to be worse than the photos indicated. 

kmajor

Gandalph said:

What is the guitar?
 If it's decent I would give Glenns guitars a try. In my experience his buying prices are fair and he will pay what is agreed if it's as described. 

Thank you for the suggestion. It is a good Martin guitar but has a bit of damage which is only cosmetic and for that reason would rather sell to a dealer who understands what the damage is.

MSedg

Another vote for Glenn

Gandalph

kmajor said:

Gandalph said:

What is the guitar?
 If it's decent I would give Glenns guitars a try. In my experience his buying prices are fair and he will pay what is agreed if it's as described. 

Thank you for the suggestion. It is a good Martin guitar but has a bit of damage which is only cosmetic and for that reason would rather sell to a dealer who understands what the damage is.

worth a try. 

kmajor

Thank you

TDubs

I’ve used Glenn too. Nice chap 

kmajor

Just had a reply back Glenn, already has 3 HD28's and not looking for any more at the moment.
Thanks for the suggestion

Kittyfrisk

Have you considered asking for opinions here, maybe showing some photo's & using the opportunity to explain the circumstances & extent of any damage?
Far more likely to access a lot of experience & get an appropriate perspective on the value of the guitar.
Just a thought?

barnstorm

drofluf said:

Not a traditional dealer but I used sellusyourguitar.co.uk   Sent some pictures, they gave a quote, sent me a box and I was paid a few days later. Mine didn't have any damage but I'd only expect an offer to change if the damage wasn't't disclosed or proved to be worse than the photos indicated. 

IIRC there's something in their blurb to the effect that they won't buy guitars with significant cosmetic issues, but who knows what 'significant' means. I guess their definition might change depending on the strength of the market! OP, I suspect the shops that will do a straight sale will be forced to hammer you on price at the moment. (Check out G4M's quote generator if you want a fright!) Unless you need rid of it in a hurry, I'd just stick it up for sale on here as cash/bank transfer on collection only and see what happens. Much easier to identify the straight shooters here than on eBay, Reverb etc.

kmajor

Kittyfrisk said:

Have you considered asking for opinions here, maybe showing some photo's & using the opportunity to explain the circumstances & extent of any damage?
Far more likely to access a lot of experience & get an appropriate perspective on the value of the guitar.
Just a thought?

The damage is not major, a luthier has confirmed it is cosmetic and a repair would still be slightly visible. The issue with selling on here is that I live in the far north and meeting up with potential buyer will not be likely so any buyer would be depending upon the description. It is hard to explain accurately the condition of a guitar and would not want to sell something that the buyer wasn't happy with. Putting photos on this forum seems so difficult, don't know why you can't just upload a jpeg like I would on other forums.
I would just be more comfortable selling to a dealer. I am also considering someone who will sell on a commission basis and would welcome any suggestions on that.

Soupman

@kmajor not sure how far into Northumberland you are, but GuitarGuitar in Newcastle have an option on their website to post a few pictures & submit them for evaluation. If they are interested in buying it you can take it from there. The shop is 300 yds from the Central station.

I sent some pics of a Fender 12 string and a Tanglewood but they weren't interested (low demand). However they might be interested in a Martin, they hold quite a selection of new ones.
As always though, remember the retailer is taking some risk as well as their profit margin and I would expect any offer to reflect that.

A few months ago I was in there & one of the staff brought in a used Lowden cutaway (not sure which model) they'd taken in.  It was well used, and showed it, but it was well played-in and the sound knocked spots off other guitars I'd picked up. The selling price was not cheap, and I have no idea how much the owner received. A fortnight later it was gone.
Good luck 
 
 

kmajor

Hi, I have tried Guitar Guitar in  the past and to be honest the price they offered was laughable and somewhat disappointing.
The difference in price between them and another dealer against the same guitar was £500.

barnstorm

Of the established mid/high-end shops, Sound Affects is the place I most often notice stuff for sale on commission (or at least they're the ones who most often make it clear in the description when they're selling on commission).

Think plenty here have used Charlie Chandler, but he's a long way from you.

Obviously you still have the risk of a buyer returning the guitar, for whatever reason, if you choose the commission route.

If you're set on a straight sale to a dealer, just email everybody who buys, give them very clear pics and info, take the best offer, and hand deliver so that you're not letting go of the guitar until you're paid. There isn't the same risk of a bad transaction as there is when you're the one doing the buying.

Still think listing it here for cash on collection would be sensible. Lots of people don't mind driving for a guitar they want.

However you decide to move it on, probably worth investigating the cost of a repair so you can let potential buyers know and discuss the price accordingly.

kmajor

Thanks, comments apprediated

Kittyfrisk

barnstorm said:

Of the established mid/high-end shops, Sound Affects is the place I most often notice stuff for sale on commission (or at least they're the ones who most often make it clear in the description when they're selling on commission).

Think plenty here have used Charlie Chandler, but he's a long way from you.

Obviously you still have the risk of a buyer returning the guitar, for whatever reason, if you choose the commission route.

If you're set on a straight sale to a dealer, just email everybody who buys, give them very clear pics and info, take the best offer, and hand deliver so that you're not letting go of the guitar until you're paid. There isn't the same risk of a bad transaction as there is when you're the one doing the buying.

Still think listing it here for cash on collection would be sensible. Lots of people don't mind driving for a guitar they want.

However you decide to move it on, probably worth investigating the cost of a repair so you can let potential buyers know and discuss the price accordingly.

Lenspeed   
https://lenspeedlogistics.com/services/single-guitar-delivery-from-55/

Cowboyyeehaa1

drofluf said:

Not a traditional dealer but I used sellusyourguitar.co.uk   Sent some pictures, they gave a quote, sent me a box and I was paid a few days later. Mine didn't have any damage but I'd only expect an offer to change if the damage wasn't't disclosed or proved to be worse than the photos indicated. 

I've used these a few times. seem like a good bunch of guys. though they do seem to have squeezed their prices a bit lately.

Obviously theyre a business that has to make money - i believe they claim to offer about 2/3rds of the second hand price.  Worth getting a quote.

kmajor

I did get  a quote from them and it was £450 below other offers.

Cowboyyeehaa1

I'm suprised they were that far off, they've usually come in with the better offers when I've tried different companies in the past.  Who gave the best offer, if you dont mind me asking?

kmajor

To put it into perspective. The cash offer for a 2014 Martin HD28 that has been virtually un-played and as new condition apart from  a bit of cosmetic damage was £1250.