Re: things that will NEVER sell cluttering For Sale forum
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:10 pm
To expand on what bloke said, for example, all the major used automobile "blue books" have three price ranges, low to high: 1) trade in value; 2) private sale value; 3) used dealer lot retail value.
Of course, a trade-in to a dealer will be the lowest offer, because of needing to make at least a small profit to stay in business, and the autos will almost always need some attention to resell even if nothing but a good wash and detailing.
The private sale value is in the middle, because, as stated above, it's just a used car, and caveat emptor.
The highest price for good, used, clean autos can be had by the dealer who goes through them, and at least in my state, they have to be able to pass safety inspection before they can be re-sold by a dealer. No such restrictions on a private sale, hence more risk, hence lower price.
Used musical instruments are no different. If a seller want to sell it, price it to sell, and be patient, bumping only when it falls off the first page, and not every other day. If it was purchased new, then there will be a sharp depreciation in the first three years, just like an automobile. Most run-of-the-mill everyday used tubas can reasonably be priced at about half to two thirds new, depending on value and condition; rarely more; many times less if there are significant cosmetic issues in so short a time. And it definitely won't sell for much at all if there are any mechanical or playability issues. This doesn't mean it has to be chem-dipped and completely reconditioned, but it does have to work, with any "personality" issues noted.
Of course, a trade-in to a dealer will be the lowest offer, because of needing to make at least a small profit to stay in business, and the autos will almost always need some attention to resell even if nothing but a good wash and detailing.
The private sale value is in the middle, because, as stated above, it's just a used car, and caveat emptor.
The highest price for good, used, clean autos can be had by the dealer who goes through them, and at least in my state, they have to be able to pass safety inspection before they can be re-sold by a dealer. No such restrictions on a private sale, hence more risk, hence lower price.
Used musical instruments are no different. If a seller want to sell it, price it to sell, and be patient, bumping only when it falls off the first page, and not every other day. If it was purchased new, then there will be a sharp depreciation in the first three years, just like an automobile. Most run-of-the-mill everyday used tubas can reasonably be priced at about half to two thirds new, depending on value and condition; rarely more; many times less if there are significant cosmetic issues in so short a time. And it definitely won't sell for much at all if there are any mechanical or playability issues. This doesn't mean it has to be chem-dipped and completely reconditioned, but it does have to work, with any "personality" issues noted.
