Buying Used

Rattlin' Bones

Rattlin' Bones

Gold Member
I have sold many things on Reverb, always with full disclosure of condition. Most every kit or snare has been in excellent or better condition. I missed a snare once that had a small outer ply crack at a lug which I gladly refunded and accepted return. I turned around and re-listed with pics of crack and a description.

Which brings me to my point: buying used and is seller fully disclosing and accurately describing condition, even when they include lots of pics.

Two recent cases:

1. Seller #1. Kit described as Excellent on Reverb with no flaws. Lots of pics. In a message exchange the seller went on to describe kit as mint absolutely perfect. Really. His exact words. I buy kit, only to discover numerous flaws and shortcomings. Scratches that could not be seen in pics. Ply issues. A few mechanical issues with the tom mount that required a new tom mount. Several bad/ stripped lugs and/or tension rods. I think this seller bought and flipped kit without a full inspection. Seller got irate when I presented all the issues to them. Refused to allow full refund. I negotiated a small refund, and then sold the kit with full disclosure.
2. Seller #2. Kit described as Excellent on Reverb with no flaws. Lots of pics. In a text exchange seller sends me literally hundreds of pics with rims off, showing me every bit of the bearing edges and interiors. It was a vintage kit, and on vintage kits I find those are areas where there are likely to be issues. And there were. Lots of bearing edge chips and dents. Ply splits. Possible water damage some of wood looked like it was rotting. Seller said he could have repairs done and send me new pics. I decided to pass. Had I bought kit relying on Reverb description and pics I would have received a kit in poor-fair condition with many serious issues, but at a price that reflected Excellent condition.

I really appreciated seller #2 willingness to send all the other pics, and a pleasant exchange of texts and phone calls. I think he later changed the Reverb description and added the new pics. Much different than seller #1, who despite all the pics I sent and all the ext with description of issues, remained belligerent and uncooperative.

Both sellers do a ton of business on Reverb.

Bottom line: I am now very gun-shy about buying older used kits from individuals unless it's a local sale and I can personally inspect. I'll still buy open box or similar gear from retailers, but that's about it. Reverb does have protections, but after I goto trouble of buying a kit and receiving it/ unbox/ set up - I'm kinda bummed and depressed and now I gotta box it all up and return. I don't want that hassle. Better to just avoid the potential situation.
 
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Rattlin' Bones said:
I have sold many things on Reverb, always with full disclosure of condition. Most every kit or snare has been in excellent or better condition. I missed a snare once that had a small outer ply crack at a lug which I gladly refunded and accepted return. I turned around and re-listed with pics of crack and a description.

Which brings me to my point: buying used and is seller fully disclosing and accurately describing condition, even when they include lots of pics.

Two recent cases:

1. Seller #1. Kit described as Excellent on Reverb with no flaws. Lots of pics. In a message exchange the seller went on to describe kit as mint absolutely perfect. Really. His exact words. I buy kit, only to discover numerous flaws and shortcomings. Scratches that could not be seen in pics. Ply issues. A few mechanical issues with the tom mount that required a new tom mount. Several bad/ stripped lugs and/or tension rods. I think this seller bought and flipped kit without a full inspection. Seller got irate when I presented all the issues to them. Refused to allow full refund. I negotiated a small refund, and then sold the kit with full disclosure.
2. Seller #2. Kit described as Excellent on Reverb with no flaws. Lots of pics. In a text exchange seller sends me literally hundreds of pics with rims off, showing me every bit of the bearing edges and interiors. It was a vintage kit, and on vintage kits I find those are areas where there are likely to be issues. And there were. Lots of bearing edge chips and dents. Ply splits. Possible water damage some of wood looked like it was rotting. Seller said he could have repairs done and send me new pics. I decided to pass. Had I bought kit relying on Reverb description and pics I would have received a kit in poor-fair condition with many serious issues, but at a price that reflected Excellent condition.

I really appreciated seller #2 willingness to send all the other pics, and a pleasant exchange of texts and phone calls. I think he later changed the Reverb description and added the new pics. Much different than seller #1, who despite all the pics I sent and all the ext with description of issues, remained belligerent and uncooperative.

Both sellers do a ton of business on Reverb.

Bottom line: I am now very gun-shy about buying older used kits from individuals unless it's a local sale and I can personally inspect. I'll still buy open box or similar gear from retailers, but that's about it. Reverb does have protections, but after I goto trouble of buying a kit and receiving it/ unbox/ set up - I'm kinda bummed and depressed and now I gotta box it all up and return. I don't want that hassle. Better to just avoid the potential situation.
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yup. ive never bought any used drums online and never will unless it's local pick up. Hardware sure, but not shells. i rarely see anything worth buying on Reverb when it comes to drums. Guitar center seems to have more listings.
 
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I'm sorry you had to go through all of that hassle. Buying used is always a crapshoot, but I'm lucky that I've never had any big "surprises". If you can, try to pay with Paypal. You can always pay with Paypal on ebay, and many Reverb sellers (including myself) accept Paypal as well. Paypal gives you protection as a buyer.
 
Those are not uncommon occurrences.

Some sellers go way beyond in the other direction, though. On a vintage car forum a fella advertised a V8 crankshaft. I asked if it had been checked for cracks and straightness. He offered (and I accepted) to send me the crank before I paid to have it checked myself. Shipped a cast iron crankshaft from the West coast!
 
Odds and chances of all you describe point to "buying too many sets too often"
old Chinese proverb

1975- 66 Gretsch (in-person used private seller)
2010- 06 Gretsch (ebay Gretsch dealer NOS)
2023- 66 Gretsch (in person used local GC)

the years the three sets I own and from whom were purchased
The frequency of purchases increases the odds of whatever it is you're talking about (headaches +/-

Recommendation: is to "settle" on one or two "makes" buy the absolute best of those- the chosen- makes you can find; put up your feet and relax
I mean play them- quit scribbling around;

Like if you like Tama -you seem to- buy the Best hi end and a medium to gig with- that should end the search
Cut down on the left field purchases; Hone in
 
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I had a bad experience buying a kit remotely from GC, so I'm now a bit gun shy when it comes to buying gear I can't examine in person. They told me over the phone that it was a floor model in "like new" condition with only a few light stick marks on the heads. When it arrived, I was really shocked to see scratches and even a few gouges in the shells. Needles to say, it went back.

Today, I'm always a bit leery when I see gear advertised as "mint." The other one that bugs me is "excellent for its age." A drum with obvious signs of wear (scratches, pitting, rust) shouldn't necessarily qualify as "excellent" just because it's 20-30 years old.
 
This is one of the reasons I pretty much only buy used cymbals on Reverb. Way too many variables with a snare or entire kit.

It seems like not all sellers are like #2...
 
brother to brother from where I sat that Sonor purchase from where I sat looked like a minor disaster (for a couple reasons) the marks and the head headaches (and the should have but had to drop the ten)

But what I would do is take that in -as a trade in- to a local shop for the - nice sized- your sizes (get a 20?)

..for a new - tags still on it- or near-new- low miles (in-person)
upper end Starclassic

and chalk it up to experience noted
GC give good trade-in values
"While it all still exists

I was at one time a dealer and dealt with new and used and trade ins and auctions and mistakes and repairs and scores..
Drums are like cars in that sense

That's (all Tama) would be sort of sticking to one brand where parts (your stash) accessories service requirements and knowledge/familiarity can all interchange..

now watch me catch heck for the Sonor purchase comments 😁
 
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I've got a mint Studio LP, but people don't want to pay for mint evidently. They want a Very Good Studio LP that displays some scratches. Yet it's only 100 dollar diff in price.
 
classikdrummr said:
yup. ive never bought any used drums online and never will unless it's local pick up. Hardware sure, but not shells. i rarely see anything worth buying on Reverb when it comes to drums. Guitar center seems to have more listings.
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You could miss on some great deals.. my kit was $350 and I could've probably negotiated it down, but for a 7 piece kit that also included a snare bag, a single direct drive Yamaha pedal, a snare stand, a hi hat stand, a stool, two cymbal stands, all new Evans batter heads, and he tossed in the old mint condition used Remo heads... I didn't want to be that guy.... and. he also would've delivered it for free.. the drums have zero issues and after some minor tuning sound great.
I would've missed on that if I didn't take a chance, but even if there was some damage I got a lot more gear that what I actually paid for. The second example was a Gibraltar rack that was available for $250, I had to drive almost 2 hrs one way to get it but it was worth it as those racks are worth about $500 without any extra clamps! I got 14 such extra clamps (extra meaning the rack is already assembled and all those other clamps are used to mount things).

This is very similar to the rack I got:


These are the clamps of which I got 14 extra:


That rack with all those extras would cost around $1000... I only saw a couple of pictures from the seller's add, but I wasn't going to pass on that...

I do agree that with retailers is much easier to solve issues (return things) and I found a great deal on my current e-kit (well missed on one but found another one). Basically 60% off because it was the demo unit which had hardly been touched.. I couldn't pass that one either.

I know with private sellers is more of a hit and miss but sometimes it's worth to take the risk.
 
jda said:
brother to brother from where I sat that Sonor purchase from where I sat looked like a minor disaster (for a couple reasons) the marks and the head headaches (and the should have but had to drop the ten)

But what I would do is take that in -as a trade in- to a local shop for the - nice sized- your sizes (get a 20?)

..for a new - tags still on it- or near-new- low miles (in-person)
upper end Starclassic

and chalk it up to experience noted
GC give good trade-in values
"While it all still exists

I was at one time a dealer and dealt with new and used and trade ins and auctions and mistakes and repairs and scores..
Drums are like cars in that sense

That's (all Tama) would be sort of sticking to one brand where parts (your stash) accessories service requirements and knowledge/familiarity can all interchange..

now watch me catch heck for the Sonor purchase comments 😁
Click to expand...
Lol, Im a Tama guy but Sonor Makes incredible Drums and i wil not slam u or them!
 
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classikdrummr said:
Lol, Im a Tama guy but Sonor Makes incredible Drums and i wil not slam u or them!
Click to expand...
the point was in the overall scheme of (buying and selling) things
Going to be (choosing after thinking/experience/ about it...) a Sonor guy, a Tama guy, a Gretsch , a Ludwig guy simplifies things (buying things) not any comment on any one brand;
more a being a specialist and sticking to it; unsettled and off in many directions can lead to unfamiliar surprises (not all good
It's the pretty simple method of buying drums and cymbals.
Once you (like we all do) go thru 25 brands of each (drums and cymbals (heck stands..) you kinda see who you are directionally and settle in
ha!
I used to say to one guy long ago on the forums "nobody owns them all"
and followed with 'and where would you put them all anyway"
I don't think I convinced
 
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Rattlin' Bones said:
I have sold many things on Reverb, always with full disclosure of condition. Most every kit or snare has been in excellent or better condition. I missed a snare once that had a small outer ply crack at a lug which I gladly refunded and accepted return. I turned around and re-listed with pics of crack and a description.

Which brings me to my point: buying used and is seller fully disclosing and accurately describing condition, even when they include lots of pics.

Two recent cases:

1. Seller #1. Kit described as Excellent on Reverb with no flaws. Lots of pics. In a message exchange the seller went on to describe kit as mint absolutely perfect. Really. His exact words. I buy kit, only to discover numerous flaws and shortcomings. Scratches that could not be seen in pics. Ply issues. A few mechanical issues with the tom mount that required a new tom mount. Several bad/ stripped lugs and/or tension rods. I think this seller bought and flipped kit without a full inspection. Seller got irate when I presented all the issues to them. Refused to allow full refund. I negotiated a small refund, and then sold the kit with full disclosure.
2. Seller #2. Kit described as Excellent on Reverb with no flaws. Lots of pics. In a text exchange seller sends me literally hundreds of pics with rims off, showing me every bit of the bearing edges and interiors. It was a vintage kit, and on vintage kits I find those are areas where there are likely to be issues. And there were. Lots of bearing edge chips and dents. Ply splits. Possible water damage some of wood looked like it was rotting. Seller said he could have repairs done and send me new pics. I decided to pass. Had I bought kit relying on Reverb description and pics I would have received a kit in poor-fair condition with many serious issues, but at a price that reflected Excellent condition.

I really appreciated seller #2 willingness to send all the other pics, and a pleasant exchange of texts and phone calls. I think he later changed the Reverb description and added the new pics. Much different than seller #1, who despite all the pics I sent and all the ext with description of issues, remained belligerent and uncooperative.

Both sellers do a ton of business on Reverb.

Bottom line: I am now very gun-shy about buying older used kits from individuals unless it's a local sale and I can personally inspect. I'll still buy open box or similar gear from retailers, but that's about it. Reverb does have protections, but after I goto trouble of buying a kit and receiving it/ unbox/ set up - I'm kinda bummed and depressed and now I gotta box it all up and return. I don't want that hassle. Better to just avoid the potential situation.
Click to expand...

Did you utilize this policy on Reverb ?? " You’re eligible for a refund if your gear is: Significantly different from how it was described "

https://reverb.com/page/reverb-protection
 
I bought more than half my kit used and found the descriptions very accurate and the prices very good. BUT not from private sellers. I got it all from a trusted, huge commercial chain that has a catagory for vintage and used.

I started to make a purchase from Reverb. I made an offer (more than what I wanted because Reverb limits you to a 15% discount), which was accepted. BUT when it came to fees, shipping, packaging, handling - did I forget an added cost - the price jumped to where I had to cancel my offer. Then the seller sent several semi-harassing emails trying to get me to pay a rather large fee for cancelling. He also said that he's had a number of cancellations and that it was cosing him money. Well duh. Maybe you should be upfront on actual cost.
 
WayOldGuy said:
I started to make a purchase from Reverb. I made an offer (more than what I wanted because Reverb limits you to a 15% discount), which was accepted. BUT when it came to fees, shipping, packaging, handling - did I forget an added cost - the price jumped to where I had to cancel my offer. Then the seller sent several semi-harassing emails trying to get me to pay a rather large fee for cancelling. He also said that he's had a number of cancellations and that it was cosing him money. Well duh. Maybe you should be upfront on actual cost.
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Sellers aren’t able to stack fees on after the deal is made. Aren’t *able to*. Any extra fees that got tagged on would be local taxes (which the seller has no info about and no control over) and the shipping cost which is stated in advance—in other words you made your offer without considering the postage cost and local sales tax.
 
I am lucky I guess. Bought two "mint" kits through reverb and received two mint kits
 
It’s not a true statement. Factually, each seller controls the percentage, dollar amount, or other ways of determining which offers get automatically accepted or declined. And if an offer isn’t auto declined, the seller can accept whatever offer they like. See this screenshot:
IMG_6585.png
 
Never had any problems buying used. I know what I'm looking for. Had far more problems selling used because there's a lot of drummers who are international standard time wasters and then there's the cheap ones.

There are sellers out there just looking to exploit. The guys who sell "professionally repaired" (broken) cymbals. They really get a bee in their bonnet when you call them out for trying to make money on damaged goods.

If you do your homework beforehand you're minimising the risk of being stung. Also always collect in person if you can.
 
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