Official Luthiers Forum!

OK, y'all know I'm a hobby builder. I build for fun and if I make a few $ to cover the costs, then well and good.

I don't see my building bothering the Revenue service.........

still, I sold one of my mandonaughts on Ebay last week.

It went for about double the cost of the parts so I'm a happy pixie.

there were 3 bidders........

One now has paid and the mando will be in the post tomorrow.

the other two bidders have BOTH commissioned guitars!!

I'm astounded!!!

I think that only one of my previous sales DIDN'T result in another commission, but this is the first time that every bidder did!!

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I am seeing more and more builders selling their wares on eBay. I'm glad it worked out for you. Most of what I see dont even get the minimum bid.

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Reguards,

Ken H

well, Like I said, this is a hobby for me, I'm not needing to pay a mortgage from the profits.

If I get to keep a free one every now & then, or be able to give one away for free and not be out of pocket, then I'm delighted!

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Ebay is widely viewed so can certainly be good to increase the public's awareness of one's work.
Here is the downside as I see it, most everyone, without exception, is looking for bargains on ebay.
As noted above fair market value is rarely reached for much of what is offered and I think using Ebay as a "sales" outlet when it is really a cheap way to advertise has back fired on a few makers who have used it that way.
I think in the long run the idea that your stuff is so available that it can be had on ebay will downgrade the perception of it and may hurt your pricing.

I think that depending on what your goals are, the bay might be just fine. It would be hard to really build for profit using Ebay as your distribution channel...but if your goal is simply to build a bunch of instruments...and Ebay allows you to do that...then that sounds ok. You are most likely under-selling your instruments though by a good margin.

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

A "happy pixie".........

I agree with David that most ebay participants are looking for a bargain. I'll add that many of the buyers on ebay are sellers too and in a way ebay is like a room with locked doors and 100 people in it. Everyone has a dollar in their pocket and the dance is to end one's day with more then the dollar that you started with. Much of what is purchased is purchased for resale and in many cases the sellers don't know squat about what they are selling.

None of this is to diss ebay or participating with ebay mind you - it's just an observation and I know too that there are genuine deals that represent real value there as well.

But the real concern that I would have about a luthier using ebay as an outlet for their instruments is this: How you price your instruments and recognizing that you must have a commitment to your customers to help maintain or increase the value of what they buy from you is important - very important. If you ever go pro and wish to compete on a price par with many other builders having a history of selling instruments under your label on ebay may haunt you. Kind of like having dated the ugliest woman in town.......... A prospective buyer may say to you why should I pay you 3K now when a year ago you were selling on ebay for $300........

This is why, to me, it is important to not even think about selling guitars until what you offer represents real quality and value and can command, out of the shoot, market prices. No one wants to contaminate the market for many of the very good folks here either.......

Martin my friend I understand that this is just a hobby for you now but I think that you have some real talent and even if you don't think so now you may change your mind at some point and want to go pro with your building and selling. If you ever do I would hate to see that anything that you did prior served to limit your possibilities.

And I am sorry if this sounds like a lecture, when I reread it it sounded like a lecture to me and I didn't like what I wrote. I am just watching your back bro.

It seems to work for Uncle Bob...I found him on The Bay long before I found this place.

But maybe he's just selling his USDA Grade B there...and saving the Grade A for us!

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

If your getting double for a beginner, thats a good deal. Ive seen beginner dreds go for about 4-600. So you've got you itch paying for itself, thats good news.

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Good points all, I appreciate the long term undervalueing thing Hesh, and no, you could never lecture me....

I'd just skip to the next post!!

Frei, you got it right, a self scratching itch....

I LIKE that!!!

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