Buying on Reverb

[Gus]

Is it safe to buy things on Reverb?
Has anyone had issues?
I found this
https://www.bitdefender.com/blog/ho...rument-marketplace-reverb-suffers-data-breach
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...data-breach-exposing-musicians-personal-info/

 

[Tubetec]

I thought that was a site for window lickers,
sexy pictures and name your price
gear **** ,

 

[TimG]

I’ve bought lots via reverb. The downside is I have paid too much.
if they have a certain amount of sales (even as much as ratings) helps.
Normal regular payments via Reverb have been flawless.
Problems have been addressable.
(Friend bought a D&R mixer from another US person. It was described fairly and prices was ok but badly damaged in transit. They offered him a settlement price if he wanted to keep the damaged item, but he refused and got all his money back. Using insurance of course.)

Even Russia wasn’t a problem ordering from (before) via Reverb, but i eyed the sellers carefully!

 

[TwentyTrees]

I've bought and sold on Reverb a few times. No issues here, I'm happy to say. I've also found that sellers can be willing to haggle a little there - prices are often more aspirational than realistic.

 

[living sounds]

I think that website has driven up the prices like nothing else. I still do not understand why people moved to it from ebay and others.

 

[iampoor1]

I think that website has driven up the prices like nothing else. I still do not understand why people moved to it from ebay and others.

Because eBay fees all said and done are about double that of reverb. Unless you pay for an eBay store then it's still 1.5x what reverb charges. Plus eBay seems to hate sellers.

 

[living sounds]

OK then, but reverb also killed much of the sale via free classifieds on message boards like on Gearslutz. These have all basically become windowfronts for reverb now...

 

[bnwitt]

I just purchased a new G&L Tribute tobacco burst Swamp Ash ASAT Classic for $100 less than I could find it anywhere else from a Florida store on Reverb. Free shipping included. The guitar is immaculate. Dang thing weighs 10 pounds 3 ounces though. Heaviest Tele I own now. I'm looking for an extra padded strap for it.

 

[Rusan]

My experiences with Reverb have all been positive. I've bought several mics from various sellers with no issues, except for once when I was sent the wrong mic. The seller offered to pay the return shipping, but I liked the mic and decided to keep it. I once bought a new-in-box Sennheiser E906 at a price that sounded too good to be true, and was a little nervous about that one. But, it was legit, and I use it all the time on my guitar cab.

 

[Andybb]

Is it safe to buy things on Reverb?
Has anyone had issues?
I found this
https://www.bitdefender.com/blog/ho...rument-marketplace-reverb-suffers-data-breach
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...data-breach-exposing-musicians-personal-info/

Who doesn’t have data breaches anymore?
I’ve found some really rare desirable equipment on reverb and gotten some great deals with negotiating and I’ve never had problems with transactions so far.
I hope they can get the sales tax inclusion removed. That was a big money saver.

 

[shabtek]

We are likely participating in a data breach here.

 

[johnsonic]

Reverb works for me! I bought a mic that had a stretched ribbon and they took care of both the seller and me with zero problems.

They make it easier to sell stuff too, and I feel like the ratings are safer than eBay.

However, there is a new tax law that went into effect this year that Reverb needs to support where if you sell more than $600 of stuff, you’re getting a 1099 (even if you’re just reselling gear you bought years ago and don’t use). I wonder what this will do to two sided marketplace platforms. Hang on to your receipts!

 

[Phrazemaster]

Reverb works for me! I bought a mic that had a stretched ribbon and they took care of both the seller and me with zero problems.

They make it easier to sell stuff too, and I feel like the ratings are safer than eBay.

However, there is a new tax law that went into effect this year that Reverb needs to support where if you sell more than $600 of stuff, you’re getting a 1099 (even if you’re just reselling gear you bought years ago and don’t use). I wonder what this will do to two sided marketplace platforms. Hang on to your receipts!

How can they 1099 you for things you own and resell??? I guess we all work for the govt...

 

[HP200CD]

Yes, many prices on Reverb are highly optimistic, but that is the same on eBay. I prefer Reverb, as the sellers seem to be musicians and studio inhabitants, not cutthroat merchants of dubious integrity. The overpriced items sit there for a long time. The reasonably priced items go quickly, even before we get into wheeling and dealing. The thing to do is set a watch (automatic search) on the items you want, and wait for one to appear at the price you have in mind. If you are lucky, and have reasonable expectations, you might not have to wait too long.

I have had several successful purchases on Reverb, all in good to excellent condition and not overpriced in my opinion. I have also had many good purchases on eBay. In my experience, most deals are good deals, if you are careful. The scammers are usually obvious.

I had one bad experience on Reverb, where I got endless excuses but the seller never shipped. After about a month of angst, PayPal refunded the full amount. Reverb said they WOULD have refunded to me, had I paid thru Reverb.

Always protect yourself, and be aware that there are always risks. Look at the seller’s length of membership and reviews. Also, search the photos to see if they were lifted from somewhere else using tineye.com

 

[the groke]

Reverb works for me! I bought a mic that had a stretched ribbon and they took care of both the seller and me with zero problems.

They make it easier to sell stuff too, and I feel like the ratings are safer than eBay.

However, there is a new tax law that went into effect this year that Reverb needs to support where if you sell more than $600 of stuff, you’re getting a 1099 (even if you’re just reselling gear you bought years ago and don’t use). I wonder what this will do to two sided marketplace platforms. Hang on to your receipts!

It's not a new tax law. It's enforcement of an old tax law. It's very silly though - casual sellers shouldn't have to pay tax. They should raise the threshold. There is a congressional initiative for this. Doesn't seem to have much steam though. I think Reverb has a page on it somehwere.

 

[Nen'O]

Hi,
Since Reverb was acquired by Etsy in 2019 fees went 100% up, customer support got worst and reverb seller/buyers insurance doesn't really exist..at least in my experience.
The item I sold got lost in transit from EU to USA after few long mails where they tried to convince me that sellers insurance is actually not for everyone!! at the end of saga they offered me 100$ coupon for my next purchase! ridicules lost item cost 700$
The same story from the buyer who was great guy..he asked for refund and reverb support just directed him to ask paypal to open ticket there.. he got really pissed off.
Before it became Etsy it was great platform, not sure about it any more.

 

[MicMaven]

My experiences with Reverb have all been positive. I've bought several mics from various sellers with no issues, except for once when I was sent the wrong mic. The seller offered to pay the return shipping, but I liked the mic and decided to keep it. I once bought a new-in-box Sennheiser E906 at a price that sounded too good to be true, and was a little nervous about that one. But, it was legit, and I use it all the time on my guitar cab.

OT Sidebar to Rusan -- Sweet axe and oddly enough it is closer to Leo Fender than a "real" Fender - even sweeter if you got it used as they tend to be a real bargain sleeper sold used. Enjoy - you got the best color scheme ... I think. JR

 

[TimG]

Just now I scored a pair of Yamaha HS5s cheaper and delivered from a pro environment via reverb for less than a pair I expected to get “cheap” from shopgoodwill once I did all the math.
Good to do research.

 

[samplebias2]

Not Reverb's fault but with vintage gear in general more and more lazy/shady people asking premium prices for:

-untested
-pulled from a working environment
-worked when put into storage 16 years ago
-don't think it would take much to get it up to speed


aka lame, lazy sellers!

 

[MicMaven]

vintage gear in general more and more lazy/shady people asking premium prices for:...
______________________________________________________________________

Right. My favorite lame excuse is "unable to test" (say a cassette deck or integrated amp) - the the seller also lists a raft of other gear for sale, including receivers, speakers, etc., he could use to test everything. I suspect he suspects he does not wanna test it, and discover its faults.

This also happens in related fields, such as ham and short wave radios. I just gotta love the guy who claims he is unable to test a basic short wave receiver - essentially saying he cannot lay his hands on 25 feet of practically any gauge wire.

This thread strikes a sympathetic nerve ... JHR