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I have sold only 2 tubas and bought 2 tubas in my lifetime. (All from really nice guys) But I am really not sure of the “rules” to buying and selling tubas. So what are the rules????

By my count you are all out of tubas. I've bought and sold horns other than tubas, I think the most important thing is honesty as a seller. I think if you are selling local allowing someone an extended tryout period would be nice if you can do-- if it's someone you know for example. You could even allow someone to leave a deposit and "rent" the instrument for a week to try it out.

Selling:
-- Be honest about all the bad stuff of your horn.
-- Give a fair and easy to understand price. Be clear about what you get or don't get for that price. I don't know why people assume gig bags are always free or included.
-- If you're shipping, pack and ship the horn properly.
-- Pack the tuba while you are expect the payment. Then when the payment arrives and clears, ship immediately.

Buying:
-- Make sure you have enough money before you ask to buy something. Not that you can't kick the tires, but you can't kick the tires all day.
-- If you choose pickup over delivery, bring beer. Local pickup is a 6 pack, longer distance is a case.

bloke wrote:Etiquette is highly valued by some, but I have never heard of buying or selling it.

Be detailed to the point of overly so when selling, particularly regarding condition and intonation. Most people don't do this. I've purchased several horns (from sponsors here) that fell far short of advertised condition and playability.

duderubble wrote:I think if you are selling local allowing someone an extended tryout period would be nice if you can do-- if it's someone you know for example. You could even allow someone to leave a deposit and "rent" the instrument for a week to try it out.

This seems to me getting to the stickiest part. If it isn't really someone you know, if it isn't local, still you hear about sellers shipping their tubas off for trial. I packed up a tuba once for rail freight, and I hope I never have to do it again - let alone just for someone to see if he likes it. Yet, of course no description can really be adequate, you need to play to know, so I ... admire the courage of the man who bought my helicon on faith that it would work out for him.

Regarding local, I let a local "professional" (friend of a guy I sold an expensive instrument to) "trial" my chainsaw. Two weeks later when I sent him the payment details he decided he didn't want it, and WHEN he dropped it back off had an undeservedly aloof air. :yanksmilie:

Bob Kolada wrote:Be detailed to the point of overly so when selling, particularly regarding condition and intonation. Most people don't do this. I've purchased several horns (from sponsors here) that fell far short of advertised condition and playability.

Geeze.... I hope I didn't sell you anything!

That being said.... exact condition and playability cannot be quantified to the degree you might like .... not even if you purchased a brand new horn.

This is a very good reason why WalMart should never consider selling tubas.

They sell caskets and that's a forever decision. Don't believe me?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/American-Patr ... t/12568638" target="_blank

Costco, too.

I think it is better to provide potential buyers with information they might want in advance rather than to require specific inquiries. Instead of saying, "email me for pictures," just go ahead and make the photos available.