Is This The End Of Online Trading?

[sonofa_lembic]

Have you noticed that there has been a huge increase in the amount of high end instruments being falsely listed online lately?  I am seeing Alembics listed week after week in various locations all across the country.  I have pursued many of these only to call their bluff, and see the same instrument listed days later on the other side of the Country.  Craigslist is probably the worst offender, but now I am seeing major issues with premium sites like Reverb.  The scams are rampant, and I don't see any way to avoid the risk.  Even if you buy locally, you are always at risk for being robbed during the transaction.
If this kind of behavior continues, the only safe way to purchase will be with established brick and mortar dealers.  This may be the only answer to a sad situation, but it is worth it for peace of mind.  I am not aware of any scammers taking advantage of the Alembic Forum, but with the way things are going, it could happen.   Even as a certified Alembic dealer, you are impacted by the opportunity to use this online avenue to pick up used inventory.  Signs of the times.

[edwardofhuncote]

I've noticed it  too. Every single day it seems, another handful of scam Ebay or Reverb listings. I'm not even looking to buy anything, just looking to be looking. I think there might be one or maybe two Alembics on the planet I'd buy if they were for sale, so on the outside chance one of them shows up, I'll take a peek around. I think if I ever have another Alembic, it'll be the Custom Brown guitar in my head.

I quit fooling with Craigslist last year after a string of frustrating circumstances. Like, five seconds after you post an ad, clearly stating terms and contact instructions, your phone blows up with- "is this still available?" texts. I could tell a great story about three fools who thought they were going to get a free Epiphone Les Paul too. I finally did sell that guitar to a very nice gentleman from two counties away. And that was my last Craigslist deal.

I think most of us regulars here kinda' watch out for each other. Particularly if we know one of us is looking for something.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Our local PD advertises their parking lot as a safe place to consummate online transactions. 

But I'm not at all sure a return to strictly brick-and-mortar would be a bad thing.  When I was a kid, we all used to hang out at Steed Music; hard to do that on CL.....

Peter

[lbpesq]

I purchased a used mixer on reverb last night "from a church".   (I see lots of used stuff "from a church" ... how come I never see this stuff from a synagogue or a mosque?)   Now you guys have me worried!   I guess I'll just have to trust Paypal buyer protection if anything goes South.   

Bill, tgo

[StephenR]

Hopefully you won't need PayPal buyer protection Bill, I stopped using PayPal after hearing the protection isn't terribly robust. I would think that unless you bought a rare high-end mixing console that the chance of it being a scam is negligible. Most of the scams tend to involve expensive listings.

Agree that it has gotten particularly gnarly in the instrument resale market. I saw online "auctions" in particular as being a bad trend when they were first introduced. The combo of not determining a fair value and instead selling to the highest, possibly most desperate, bidder was the start of many bad trends and a constant escalation of resale prices. Before Craigslist went south due to scammers at least you would deal face-to-face during a transaction and have a way to make sure what you were buying was what was advertised. Today that type of exchange seems next to impossible.

[hammer]

The large majority of used purchases I've made have been through the Club though I have used Craigslist (local) for both my F1-X and SF-2. I always take my son along for the Craiglist purchases and arrange meets to take place, as Peter mentions, in the parking lot of a local PD. (I did, however do one inside my local credit union since the seller had previously been robbed immediately after making a sale in a PD parking lot and wanted a certified chaeck rather than cash).

As far as purchasing from listings here at the Club, the first thing I look for when someone lists an instrument is whether the individual has been around for awhile. If the listing is their first or second post, I'm always suspicious. I've probably lost a few basses I would have liked to have purchased as a result, however, I have yet to go wrong puchasing or selling here and it will hopefully stay that way. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

I purchased a used mixer on reverb last night "from a church".   (I see lots of used stuff "from a church" ... how come I never see this stuff from a synagogue or a mosque?)   Now you guys have me worried!   I guess I'll just have to trust Paypal buyer protection if anything goes South.   

Bill, tgo

No worries, Bill - not enough of us looking for boards to make scams worth the effort, I'd think.
So, what'd ya get?  Neve?  Nice 42-channel Gamble?

Peter

[lbpesq]

No worries, Bill - not enough of us looking for boards to make scams worth the effort, I'd think.
So, what'd ya get?  Neve?  Nice 42-channel Gamble?

Peter

Mackie DL1608.   I had one before, moved up to the DL32R.   It started acting up at the last rehearsal and it’s more than I really need, so I’m going back to the DL1608.   I’ll get the DL32R straightened out, then sell it.

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

No worries, Bill - not enough of us looking for boards to make scams worth the effort, I'd think.
So, what'd ya get?  Neve?  Nice 42-channel Gamble?

Peter

Mackie DL1608.   I had one before, moved up to the DL32R.   It started acting up at the last rehearsal and it’s more than I really need, so I’m going back to the DL1608.   I’ll get the DL32R straightened out, then sell it.

Bill, tgo

Last time I did sound the band had just dumped their 12-channel Yamaha for one of those; being used to piloting a starship (loves me them knobs & dials!) I found it akin to strapping a 6-foot tube on the front of my head and trying to ride a motorcycle; only showed me part of one channel at a time (and of course, we know how I feel about touchscreens.....).

But hey, if it works for you, cool.

Peter (who will admit the positive of walking around the room with the whole system in his hand)

[lbpesq]

But hey, if it works for you, cool.

Peter (who will admit the positive of walking around the room with the whole system in his hand)

….or having control of the PA on my mic stand!

Bill, tgo

[keith_h]

I've always been hesitant to sell via local ads whether they are online or when we still used the classifieds in the newspaper. To help reduce theft and scams all of the police departments around here offer their parking lots for handling transactions. The town I live next to even went so far as establishing a couple of dedicated spots with electric service when they built the new police station.

Rather than deal with Craigslist I've put stuff on consignment at  local music store. It can take a little longer to sell and the store takes a 10% cut but for me not having to deal with the loonies offsets the slightly lower return.   

[cozmik_cowboy]

But hey, if it works for you, cool.

Peter (who will admit the positive of walking around the room with the whole system in his hand)

….or having control of the PA on my mic stand!

Bill, tgo

And I will admit to arguemnts both ways on the talent having control of their own monitors.

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

I can't Image myself following through with some of the things suggested here, but I guess it happens...

One more reason why it's so great to have this little place where you can deal directly with people.

[mica]

Another fakey-fake pop up shop:

https://reclaimedrhythms.myshopify.com/search?q=alembic&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

It's not just the Alembics with the crazy low prices. These pictures all appear to be lifter from Brian's Guitars.

Buyer Beware!