TGP emporium not working for you? It is for me…read on

[Pax]

I just want to follow up on a recent thread that struck me regarding the TGP emporiums and the subject of a seller having to deal with too many flaky buyers. I can appreciate his or her frustration, but my story is a little different.

Over the last month and half I’ve sold the following on the emporium:

’90 Fender USA Standard Strat
Timmy
Analogman Boss SD-1
Boss RC-2
Boss Footswitch (with the RC-2)
Teese Pic Wah
Jensen Speaker
SD JB pickup

With the proceeds I purchased, from the emporium, a nice, custom built tele (thanks benn), and I had previously purchased a Nash Strat (thanks magnus02) and some WCR pickups. Loving all of it.

All I can report is that in all transactions things went well. As a seller, I was paid promptly, the offers were fair, and people followed through. Did we negotiate? Yes. Did I have some lowball me? Sure. Did I have inquires with no offers at all? Yep. Did I mind any of that? Nope. As a buyer myself, I’ve done all those things (online and in retail stores).

As a buyer, I received my items promptly, as advertised, and at a fair price. Based on what I can tell, the buyers and sellers I dealt with felt the same way.

So, why say all this? Well, I think this is a great place to conduct transactions, and I would encourage you to do so. My experience is that buyers and sellers are very well informed here. I also noticed (b/c I tracked it) that in most if not all cases I did better as a seller here than on ebay. Don’t have a thing against other sites, just giving you my experience. You do seem to get one other benefit here, which is that b/c this site is so heavily trafficked by musicians, there seems to be a real measure of professional courtesy.

I did follow some simple rules; like trying to communicate well, pricing realistically (what the market dictates, not what I want to get), using pictures, following the emporium rules for selling/buying, and paying in full and shipping promptly, and, basically, just trying to be respectful.

Could you get taken here? Yes, and I’m sure some have. Not trying to minimize that. But that can happen most anywhere.

Ok, done with the speech. Just wanted to give kudos to TGP and address any ambivalence folks might have.

Play on

[shredtrash]

Well said. I've always had good success buying and selling in the emporiums.

[Killcrop]

I have had years of great transactions in the emporium. Met lots of great people as well. The problem with the emporium these days is overpricing. The same crap gets bumped up everyday at the same overpriced amount. I am in buy mode right now and I get sick of looking at the same overpriced crap day in and day out...

If you haven't sold it in a week to 10 days its overpriced.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Killcrop

I have had years of great transactions in the emporium. Met lots of great people as well. The problem with the emporium these days is overpricing. The same crap gets bumped up everyday at the same overpriced amount. I am in buy mode right now and I get sick of looking at the same overpriced crap day in and day out...

If you haven't sold it in a week to 10 days its overpriced.

I've noticed some over-pricing, no doubt. Some folks seem to base their price on what they paid and not what the market (i.e. buyers) think it's worth.

It's their right to do that, of course, but the item may not sell. A quick review of what other like items are priced at and what they have sold for on TGP and ebay is a quick way to see if you're in the ballpark. I've respectfully pointed that out in pm's to buyers and had some come down in price...and some not. You're right, though. After a week of no offers and no pm's I'd drop the price.

[sausagefingers]

Right on.

Also--I tend to underprice here. Maybe it's a mental thing, but you can't ask too much with knowledgable customers like here. Better to be bit below market, and BAM--quick sale.

[kevinhifi]

Originally Posted by Killcrop

If you haven't sold it in a week to 10 days its overpriced.

Not always true. Different market. I've had a handful of items up in the emporium with no action. I move it over to Ebay, and it sells for 20% more than the price I had here. It's sort of like the old "location, location, location" thing. You get different demand at different sites.

But I do agree that no action after 10days means some action by the seller is needed - lower price, more trade options, or move somewhere else.

[Killcrop]

Ebay will almost alway get you more money than the GP. However, as of late the GP seems to be a site that people think will draw more cash...for whatever reason. I just see the emporioum loaded with the same stuff. When someone does list something for a fair price people will comment on how cheap it is. Crazy

[atquinn]

The last 3 guitars I tried to sell here were sold for more on eBay in less than a week. 2 of them to overseas buyers. I always list first on TGP, but it's ridiculous to act like it is the only game in town."if it doesn't sell on TGP, it's overpriced" Whatever
-
Austin

[Pax]

Originally Posted by atquinn

The last 3 guitars I tried to sell here were sold for more on eBay in less than a week. 2 of them to overseas buyers. I always list first on TGP, but it's ridiculous to act like it is the only game in town."if it doesn't sell on TGP, it's overpriced" Whatever
-
Austin

Sold my guitar and other items to an international buyer, too....on TGP. In fact, I get a great response from international buyers. I can't always accommodate them, but it's great to see the interest.

This isn't an ebay vs. TGP thread...unless you want it to be. But that's been done...and done...and done, hasn't it?

[Mixoso]

I just sold a Gibson SG in the emporium a few hours ago. When I had it listed as for trade I got several nice and very fair offers, though none was quite up my alley. I then shifted to for sale. Got no bites after 4 or 5 days so I lowered the price by $100 bucks and had a sale in less than 24 hours. It seems like pricing is key.

As with others deals I have done here it has been a great experience all around. Here at TGP I think you just get a group of buyers and sellers that are in tune with each other. I'm surprised that people have had bad experiences.

I currently have a Dr.Z in the emporium looking for trades and I have gotten nothing but wonderful offers. If I tried to trade it on Craigslist I think I would get a lot of people offering a Peavey Bandit and a bag of weed or something.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Mixoso

If I tried to trade it on Craigslist I think I would get a lot of people offering a Peavey Bandit and a bag of weed or something.

[EataPeach]

IMO,Theres always been over/underpricing going on...I think people are just hanging onto thier $ a bit tighter these days.

[motis1953]

I've had some great transactions and some that needed some work to be great transactions. People have to learn to pack a bit better however. If you plan on using styrofoam peanuts as a packing material please place your amp head to be shipped in a garbage bag first. There's nothing more annoying than trying to pick styrofoam peanuts out of the back of an amp chassis or trying to locate the missing preamp tubes (that are exactly the size of a styrofoam peanut) in a box of styrofoam peanuts.

[BugSlayer]

Can't say that I have sold a lot but that is evidence of my own personal situation! It's an addiction and I am dealing with it as best I can! That being the case, I have bought a bunch of stuff over the years and done a few trades in the last year, both of which I am very happy with!

A positive experience!

[bigdaddy]

I agree with the OP. I just completed my first "major" TGP transaction and am very happy with the trade I made.