Alternatives to EBAY???

Wayne Cox · From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA * R.I.P.

I am just curious: are there any alternative
auction type websites (besides b0b's) that are similar to EBAY,maybe without some of the hassles? Do any of them sell Steel guitars?
~~W.C.~~

Charles Dempsey · From: Shongaloo, LA

eBay was one of the first internet auction sites to cater to individual sellers. At that time, most other internet auction sites were selling "B" stock they had acquired as excess inventory.

eBay attracted more sellers with more diverse goods, and were soon regarded as the best auction site for individuals.

These days it's a momentum thing. They're the biggest, and they get results.

eBay did make a serious mistake by banning firearms and certain other weapons. And their heavy handed treatment of some honest sellers has left a bad taste in some people's mouths. Their recent acquisition of PayPal raises other questions.

Charlie

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

"without some of the hassles"

IMO 99% of the hassles are created by memebers who have never read the user agreement...or who don't read the auction listing fully.

Paypal has been a boon to the whole thing, as it allows the "average Joe" to take credit cards at a nominal fee. I won't LOOK at an auction that doesn't take Paypal, and am changing my auctions to "Paypal paymants only". No hassling with money orders (too many frauds, bank trips, etc.).

The Paypal acquisition wasn't recent, by the way.

What "heavy handed" treatment of sellers?

As far as I'm concerned, banning weapons sales was a wise and morally correct decision - and what effect does THAT have on buying/selling of steels and accessories anyway? Nothing except it allowed a poster to make a political statement, apparently.

Negative posts with no backup. Always entertaining.

[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 21 July 2005 at 10:18 PM.]

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

Ebay has approximately 15 Million members, where else are you going to get that much exposure. It has been a great thing for buyers and sellers both, and I think the fees are still reasonable for the exposure that is gained. The last newspaper ad I placed cost me more than most Ebay fees and probably reached no more than 1/2 Million readers.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

Last year I sold close to a dozen Danelectro guitars on ebay. The majority were paid for through paypal(immediately)! No waiting for checks or money orders or payment that never comes. I could never have sold that quanity of guitars as quickly through newspaper advertising or any other form of media. I have found the fees are reasonable and the entire process is "hassle free". Ebay is a business and like any other business must (and has a right to) make a profit, or it will cease to exist.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

In have sold some items on ebay that I offer on the forum buy & sell first that did not sell.

I am not a dealer and I am not setup for paypay but I probaby should look into it. Also, I have not had a bad experience selling an item to anyone on the forum. I always make sure that the forum gets a donation for every sale and then some.

Gerald Pierce · From: Maydelle, Republic of Texas

I've been using ebay for 6+ years now. Every year or so, I check other auction sites for viable alternatives. When I do an item search, I usually just laugh at the results (or lack of them) and give them another year or so to acquire some items to sell.

After reading this post, I did a search on auctions by two of the internet's other "BIG names" using the keywords "steel guitar" (with quotes)...I got 0 results. When I removed the quotes, I got a listing of a few cheapo guitars with steel strings, but no steel guitars.

I read somewhere that firearms were banned from ebay because ads were being listed for rocket launchers and such. It's no big loss since there are several legitimate firearms auction sites available that aren't cluttered up with girl stuff.

What's this got to do with buying/selling steel guitars? Nothing, as far as online trading goes, but in live, real-world deals, lots of guns are traded for guitars, and vice-versa. Lots of us pickers look at fine guns the same way we do fine guitars, and justify owning some of each that we never even shoot or play, just because we CAN still own them here in the U.S.A. (Contact your Senators and Representatives and let them know your stand on Guitar Control Legislation).

Conclusion about ebay alternatives for steel guitar buying/selling: It's like trying to find a better (or bigger) steel guitar forum. There ain't one!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

FWIW I don't know a single musician who's also into firearms. Heck, if you mention firearms on some forums it's considered a "hot topic" and posts get deleted.

Things sure are different here to me. Not bad, just different.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Jim, I'm into firearms. Also pocketwatches, pocketknives, old coins---I think you'll find that a lot of steel players are into almost anything mechanical---Shoot, look under your MSA!
To get this back on-topic, I will agree with you about PayPal. Makes it easier for the buyer to pay, and (heh-heh) encourages impulse buying a little. I've bought a lot of possums on eBay at 4 AM!!!

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

We have a very active Musical Instrument section on the Cragslist in the Portland/Seattle area.
It's more of a local For Sale board than an official Auction site. The nice thing is you can go over and see/play/hear/etc whatever it is you are looking at.
Plus lots of other stuff.
Here is a link to all the cities that have a Craigslist: http://portland.craigslist.org/about/cities.html

Patrick Munson · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Pete's right about Craigslist. With his invaluable help, I was able to score a pro-level PSG for $500 earlier this month. I have also seen (but missed out on) a $75 silverface Champ, and a $150 MIA Strat, among other things, on good ol' CL.

Charles Dempsey · From: Shongaloo, LA

Jeff,

I agree with most of what you wrote. eBay is a good thing and PayPal is a good thing. I am concerned that one company having control over both services amounts to a monopoly. It is tantamount to Intel and Microsoft being owned by the same parent, and not everyone is as happy about it as you are.

I have been a member of eBay since February 26, 1998. My feedback rating is 556, no negative and no neutral. My comments about eBay dropping the ball on firearms are a fact, not a political statement. The good news is that their blunder spawned a host of firearms only internet auction sites, two of which are now very big and quite good.

Many people, particularly those who do not shoot, do not understand federal firearms laws. I do understand them, because I was a licensed firearms dealer between the years of 1979 and 1995. Most of the musicians I know do own guns, and they do shoot them. I won't argue gun culture with you on a steel guitar forum.

From the Boston Globe, Jul 09, 2002

quote:

EBAY TO ACQUIRE PAYPAL FOR $1.5B STOCK DEAL UNITES ONLINE AUCTION GIANT, NET PAYMENT SERVICE

SAN FRANCISCO - Two of the few Internet businesses actually turning profits said yesterday they would join forces, as eBay Inc. announced a deal to acquire PayPal Inc. for about $1.5 billion in stock.

Considering my 7 1/2 years of eBay experience, that's recent enough.

Charlie

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Who's "Jeff"?

;-)

I agree - we don't neeed to discuss that stuff here. Just that I think California pickers may be a little different than those in the south in their "other activities"

As far as the "monopoly", to me all it did was marry what was already a "shacked-up" operation. I couldn't care less about a monopoly, as long as it works for me...and I think it works great.

I've heard about Craigslist. The one in L.A. is about 5 levels below lame IMO. It's the equivalent of the free Thursday throwaway local paper. I look at it pretty often and see Squier Strats, Frontman amps...or "nice guitar, electronical, black, nice.". Yikes....

Joseph Barcus · From: Volga West Virginia

I'm a record collector and sell on ebay and very pleased, I have sold over 2000 records in the past year, have never got a bad check, but also perfers pay-pal. yahoo has auctions but it dont get much traffic. btw if you have a few thousand 45's of the 50's/60's laying around and its costing you alot to feed them lol I can take them off your hands lol. have a great day

Charles Dempsey · From: Shongaloo, LA

Jim,

Sorry. I've got Jeff on the brain. I don't know why.

I agree re: other activities. Cow tipping may not be a big thing in CA :^).

The marriage is good as long as management is benevolent. A shift in policy (or a hostile takeover) could raise prices, lower services, and severely screw up the one thing that lets me break mostly even each month.

Outlaw Nation will be out your way in September. I'll post the dates when I know them. Shoot me an e-mail then and I'll get you a pass to the gig.

Charlie

Tom Jordan · From: Wichita, KS

California Steel player checkin' in with;

* 4 Steel Guitars
* 2 reglar' guitars (Tele's)
* 1 banjo, mandolin and fiddle
* 7 rifles
* 3 shot guns
* 3 hand guns

Satisfied Ebay/Paypal user and keeping right on topic, I haven't found another auction site that carries the volume of steels and general music that Ebay does...although the competition would be nice!

Tom Jordan...oh yeah, 5 fly rods and a boat load of casting rigs, knives hammers and axes -n- stuff

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Thanks Charlie!

Tom - Santa Maria isn't exactly the beach area of L.A.. or Orange County, or San Diego. It's more similar to the midwest than the rest of SoCal.

Jm, Checking in with an MSA Classic, 6 Teles (most with B-benders), a Trussart Les Paul, '63 Jaguar, Rigel Mando, dobro, too many amps and several surfboards. No fishing poles, boats, guns, cowboy hats or boots. Cowboy hats look weird with Uggs. Winking

[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 22 July 2005 at 11:08 PM.]

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: