Gumtree, a Dutch buyer and a dentist guitar...

imalrightjack

I have a PRS up for sale here, eBay and Gumtree, the usual places. I’m not a dentist, mind. 

I today received a message from a chap in Holland asking about trades, who then proceeded to send me a barrage of emails with guitars ‘we have to offer’ (‘we’ turns out to be “19 dudes in a studio, which dependent on your preference sounds like the best or worst porno ever). He wants to fly over to trade in person. 

Offers include a 513, Hollowbody and even a Mayer pre-Silver Sky. Which turns out to be an EG IV. Which were made when when Mayer was 13.  “Pre-factory, made by Paul’s personal team. Mayer loved it.” All a bit baffling really. As I get an email notification with every reply, his habit of sending with every sentence has resulted in quite the flow of emails. 

Has anybody else experienced this? Profile is called ‘bio’. It’s all quite bonkers and I have truly no idea what the angle is. But I know that much as I’m selling a very nice guitar I’d not fly to England to do a bloody part-ex. 

tony99

completely off in another direction, but someone offered to buy my strat in instalments, but I could keep the guitar until it's all paid up

I said no

short answer, why bother mate,tell them cash on collection only
 if they want to buy your guitar they'll come and buy your guitar

mbe

I've found that Gumtree buyers are either cool and want to deal with minimum hassle or they are a nightmare.

There's no in-between, nor shades of grey, so it's not too difficult to work out which category they belong in.

jeztone2

I’m just wondering something?

Imagine if you owned a load of “hot” guitars in Holland and couldn’t move them easily. Doing a deal for a swap in a nearby country would be pretty handy. Then he could sell your guitar on for cash in Holland. 

Meanwhile unbeknown to you, you’re new axe is hot. But not on any lists locally. 

imalrightjack

jeztone2 said:

I’m just wondering something?

Imagine if you owned a load of “hot” guitars in Holland and couldn’t move them easily. Doing a deal for a swap in a nearby country would be pretty handy. Then he could sell your guitar on for cash in Holland. 

Meanwhile unbeknown to you, you’re new axe is hot. But not on any lists locally. 

That’s a very, very good point!

Effed him off anyway

rustneversleeps

I’ve had a similar experience.I started to receive emails from someone in Nice,France asking all sorts questions.I just thought Is was a  nut nut or some kind of fraud.To cut a long story short he flew in to Stansted paid in cash £s.He was a really nice guy and we went for a beer after.Still keeps me informed how the guitar going.
So you never know.

DB1

Generally, I stick to my gut feel and if it doesn't feel right, then err on the side of caution. Mine extends to not posting guitars or amps, and only accepting cash or bank transfer. It means driving hundreds of miles sometimes, but I'm happy enough to do that. Actually, I've met some really nice people doing it that way. It cuts down selling chances, but it also cuts out problems and it makes sure that the buyer is happy.

Thwre was an intriguing one a couple of years ago, when a chap wanted to buy an L-5 Signature- there were only about 40 of this model that Gibson had made. He (Lazslo) wanted to fly over from Budapest and pick it up but had to be back home in a day. I think the only way to have done hat was for him to have flown to Stansted and I was to meet him there. Bank transfer on the spot. I was happy to do that one, but a chap from Hereford came up and paid in cash. Not quite as exotic, but logistically easier.

hotpickups

rustneversleeps said:

I’ve had a similar experience.I started to receive emails from someone in Nice,France asking all sorts questions.I just thought Is was a  nut nut or some kind of fraud.To cut a long story short he flew in to Stansted paid in cash £s.He was a really nice guy and we went for a beer after.Still keeps me informed how the guitar going.
So you never know.

I have to admit I don’t deal in cash anymore. Too many counterfeit notes going around so bank transfers only now I.e. PayPal or direct bank transfer etc. I only release the goods when I can see the money gone into my bank account. 

danishbacon

Regarding bank transfers, I’ve had three recent situations where funds were not released due to fraud checks and one that the funds were returned to the sender unbeknownst to them and a new transfer was needed. 

Strat54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0QbXfvbjFk

hotpickups

danishbacon said:

Regarding bank transfers, I’ve had three recent situations where funds were not released due to fraud checks and one that the funds were returned to the sender unbeknownst to them and a new transfer was needed. 

That’s why I always wait until it’s in my account before I release anything

tony99

hotpickups said:

rustneversleeps said:

I’ve had a similar experience.I started to receive emails from someone in Nice,France asking all sorts questions.I just thought Is was a  nut nut or some kind of fraud.To cut a long story short he flew in to Stansted paid in cash £s.He was a really nice guy and we went for a beer after.Still keeps me informed how the guitar going.
So you never know.

I have to admit I don’t deal in cash anymore. Too many counterfeit notes going around so bank transfers only now I.e. PayPal or direct bank transfer etc. I only release the goods when I can see the money gone into my bank account. 

can buy cheap little UV note checkers

boogieman

The Dutch guy sounds like a bedroom dealer who wants to swap his stock for something more easily saleable.  

(Or yeah, someone trying to shift some hooky gear.) 

rustneversleeps

tony99 said:

hotpickups said:

rustneversleeps said:

I’ve had a similar experience.I started to receive emails from someone in Nice,France asking all sorts questions.I just thought Is was a  nut nut or some kind of fraud.To cut a long story short he flew in to Stansted paid in cash £s.He was a really nice guy and we went for a beer after.Still keeps me informed how the guitar going.
So you never know.

I have to admit I don’t deal in cash anymore. Too many counterfeit notes going around so bank transfers only now I.e. PayPal or direct bank transfer etc. I only release the goods when I can see the money gone into my bank account. 

can buy cheap little UV note checkers

Which I did with a uv pen.I think mine was a rare case.He seemed to have checked all of Europe for this model and mine came up.It was up for sale here,I think he saw it on FB .More good publicity for FB