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10 Best Places To Sell Used Musical Instruments (+1 Place To Avoid)

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Written by: Kate Starr

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10 Places to Sell Used Music Equipment

Reverb


Millions of music lovers use Reverb to find used or new music equipment. And the platform allows you to list your unwanted item and put it in front of people seeking it.

The platform provides you with all-inclusive assistance on every step of your selling process – when you list, when you sell and when you ship. This means whenever you have any questions or issues, Reverb support is ready to help you.

Musical instruments and gear you can sell through Reverb:

  • Keyboards & synths – including digital & acoustic pianos and analog/digital synths
  • Drum machines
  • DJ & audio gear, including mixers, controllers, speakers, etc.
  • Pedals & amplifiers
  • Recording gear
  • Guitar & its parts – including electric, bass and acoustic
  • Band & orchestra instruments – including violin, flute, brass, etc.

When your item sells through Reverb, you will get 92% of the sale via PayPal. You’ll be charged a small commission and payment processing fee automatically.

OfferUp


OfferUp Summary

  • List and sell your items for free
  • Promote your listing from just $1.99
  • Low service fee of just 12.9% or $1.99
  • You have up to 3 days to ship your item

OfferUp strives to provide the most trusted and simplest marketplace for selling and buying used stuff locally.

To meet their goal, they allow you to list your used musical instruments in under 30 seconds using your phone. 

Download the OfferUp app on your iPhone or Android smartphone to upload images and a short description of your musical gear.

Listing your item on OfferUp is free. However, you’ll be charged a selling fee of 12.9% after your item sells.

As you’re selling your musical instrument locally, you can arrange handling and payment matters with the buyer.

Facebook Marketplace


Facebook Marketplace Summary

  • Buyer and seller accountability as you need a Facebook account
  • Built in messaging system to keep on top of queries
  • Access to a massive marketplace
  • Ratings system maintains honesty

Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell your used musical instruments locally.

Setting up a listing on Facebook is just like creating a regular post. But you’re publishing it on Facebook Marketplace instead of your timeline.

What’s best is that you don’t have to pay any fees and can request your buyer payment in any form you prefer.

Many people prefer to finish the trade in person when purchasing stuff locally. This allows both sellers and buyers to save money on shipping. It also enables you to get your payment in cash.

Craigslist


Craigslist Summary

  • Posts are anonymous
  • Quick and easy listing in a matter of minutes
  • Little to no seller fees, most auctions are free
  • Sell within your local area

Craigslist is the oldest, still the most popular online marketplace people visit when they seek to buy used items locally. 

With this platform, you can list unlimited musical instruments for sale without charging any listing or selling fees.

You’re also free to meet your buyer in person and get cash payment or ship your items via post and pay via PayPal or bank transfer.

Kidd3r


Kidd3r focuses on sustainability and allows you to sell or swap your old musical instruments within the United Kingdom.

When you sign up for the platform, you become a Kidd3r marketplace and community member for selling and exchanging items.

To ensure your security, Kidd3r suggests accepting payments via PayPal and not shipping your item before receiving it. 

Moreover, selling or swapping your music gear on Kidd3r is completely free. 

eBay


eBay Summary

  • High user traffic – over 187 million users
  • No listing fees for small scale sellers
  • Promote your listing from as little as 1%
  • Quick processing time for payouts

eBay is an online marketplace that probably doesn’t need much introduction. 

This platform is a go-to place for many people when they want to save money and purchase used musical instruments.

While listing your item on eBay is free, you’ll be charged a fee of 3.5% (maximum $350) when it sells.

When you sell your item via eBay, you have to handle shipping. Just don’t forget to charge your buyer an extra fee for shipping or include this fee in the selling price of your item.

As soon as your item sells, you’ll receive payment via PayPal.

Guitar Center


Guitar Center is the largest guitar retailer open to purchasing your used guitar directly.

The selling process is pretty straightforward: 

  • Fill out the form to let the company know what you offer. You can also call the company at +1 (801) 501-8847.
  • They will review your application and reach out to you with a quote. 
  • Finally, if you accept the offer, you’ll need to bring your used guitar to any of the Guitar Center locations near you.

Sweetwater


Sweetwater aims to provide musicians an easy way to buy and sell used musical instruments.

Moreover, Sweetwater focuses on creating a community of musicians with whom they can connect.

And to support its goals, the company doesn’t charge any listing or selling fee. This is great when you want to get the most out of your used gear.

Best Places To Sell Used Music Equipment Fast

Music Go Round


Music Go Round will purchase your old music equipment directly. This means you can get cash for your item the fastest way possible without waiting for a buyer to appear.

No matter what music equipment you have, the company will accept it. Just visit any of the Music Go Round stores in your location to get an instant quote for your item. 

And the great part? If you accept the offer, you’ll get paid on-site by check.

Damm Music Center


Like Music Go Round, Damm Music Center will pay you for your used musical instruments.

This company claims they are buying a great range of instruments, including:

  • Guitars
  • Basses
  • Amplifiers
  • Drums
  • Banjos
  • Mandolins
  • Ukuleles
  • Flutes
  • Clarinets
  • Saxophones
  • Trumpets
  • Trombones
  • Violins
  • Violas
  • Cellos
  • Upright Bass
  • and more…

There are three ways you can contact Damm Music Center to get an offer for your musical instruments:

  • Call – 316-773-9060
  • Stop by 8995 W. Central in Wichita
  • Or send the message via the online contact form at the bottom of the page.

Places You Should Avoid While Selling Your Musical Instruments

Pawn Shops


Selling your used musical instruments to local pawn shops might seem the easiest way to get quick cash. 

But you won’t get as fair value for your gear as in the case of selling via any of the above-mentioned platforms.

How To Get More Money For Your Musical Instruments?


If you want the most money for your musical instruments, don’t just throw up random listings on several platforms. 

The following tips will help you maximize your earnings and let you sell your used musical instruments fast:

  • Clean, fix and repair your items, as this part would increase the value of your used items. Think for a second, which item would you buy, the dirty one that needs fixing or the one that looks perfect? Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes and put your item in a shape you would buy.
  • Research your competition to determine the adequate price range for your musical instrument.
  • Take quality photos. Images catch the attention of potential buyers. It’s not mandatory to take photos with a professional camera and settings. However, try to place your musical instruments in a bright room and remove any fuzz from the background. Also, I highly recommend you take photos from multiple angles to give buyers a better idea of what your musical gear looks like. 
  • Write a well-thought description, but stay honest about its condition. Potential buyers must know what they are purchasing, so make sure you include all the important details.


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Kate Starr

Dollarbreak

About the author:

Kate Starr is a personal finance, FinTech and MarTech writer. Her areas of expertise include making money, investing, and money management.

From earning money as a beginner entrepreneur to advanced investing in the stock market, Kate’s guides can help you to get more ideas on how to earn income online and increase your wealth.

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