twokatmew
Well-known member
Sorry this post is lengthy....
I have two ukes that are sitting in their humidified cases and not getting played very much. I've sold many items online over the years, but never acoustic instruments, and not with wood hard cases, so I'd like some tips.
Pricing: The ukes are as new, purchased from and set up by Elderly Instruments, but I realize I need to price them such that each is a better deal that buying new. I think I've read 70% of original price. Both are less than a year old and still under Elderly's one-year warranty, but I doubt warranty is transferable. Neither uke nor case has left my home since they were purchased, so they are really in brand new, mint condition.
These are mid-grade ukes, and the Guardian hard cases were purchased new too. Problem is, the cases add a lot of weight. Do I try to sell the cases separately? Offer pricing with and without case? The ukes will be naked if they don't ship with their cases.
How to pack and ship? I like USPS, but heavier packages probably ship less expensively via UPS. Opinions on this?
Finally, what about returns? Honestly I'd like to avoid returns, but I realize I should offer a reasonable return policy.
And now specifics on the ukes, for some perspective:
Kala concert ziricote laminate, $239.99 new. Guardian hard case, $65 new. Currently strung gCEA with Worth Brown BM46 strings, and I can throw in one new set and a half. Action is ~2.25mm at the 12th fret, nice and low at the nut. Plenty of room at the saddle to adjust action lower.
Kala baritone solid cedar top acacia back and sides, $294.99 new. Guardian hard case, $80 new. Currently strung DGBE with D'Addario wound singles and Savarez Alliance KF trebles: NYL033w, NYL028w, KF77 .0303, KF62 .0244. No extra strings to throw in with this uke. Action is very good, IIRC ~2.75mm at 12th fret. Plenty of room at the saddle to adjust action lower. Truss rod has been adjusted for these strings, and I'll throw in a 4mm hex wrench.
I have a plethora of tuners, so I can throw in a tuner with each uke.
Now why am I selling? Coming from classical guitar, I first bought the baritone. But I wanted to try other scale lengths too, so I added tenor and concert. I've now decided that tenor is my scale of choice, and I just added a second tenor. I have a lap steel guitar being built right now, so I should move along these two ukes that aren't getting played.
When I get around to posting, I'll have good, detailed pics.
Thanks for tips and advice.
I have two ukes that are sitting in their humidified cases and not getting played very much. I've sold many items online over the years, but never acoustic instruments, and not with wood hard cases, so I'd like some tips.
Pricing: The ukes are as new, purchased from and set up by Elderly Instruments, but I realize I need to price them such that each is a better deal that buying new. I think I've read 70% of original price. Both are less than a year old and still under Elderly's one-year warranty, but I doubt warranty is transferable. Neither uke nor case has left my home since they were purchased, so they are really in brand new, mint condition.
These are mid-grade ukes, and the Guardian hard cases were purchased new too. Problem is, the cases add a lot of weight. Do I try to sell the cases separately? Offer pricing with and without case? The ukes will be naked if they don't ship with their cases.
How to pack and ship? I like USPS, but heavier packages probably ship less expensively via UPS. Opinions on this?
Finally, what about returns? Honestly I'd like to avoid returns, but I realize I should offer a reasonable return policy.
And now specifics on the ukes, for some perspective:
Kala concert ziricote laminate, $239.99 new. Guardian hard case, $65 new. Currently strung gCEA with Worth Brown BM46 strings, and I can throw in one new set and a half. Action is ~2.25mm at the 12th fret, nice and low at the nut. Plenty of room at the saddle to adjust action lower.
Kala baritone solid cedar top acacia back and sides, $294.99 new. Guardian hard case, $80 new. Currently strung DGBE with D'Addario wound singles and Savarez Alliance KF trebles: NYL033w, NYL028w, KF77 .0303, KF62 .0244. No extra strings to throw in with this uke. Action is very good, IIRC ~2.75mm at 12th fret. Plenty of room at the saddle to adjust action lower. Truss rod has been adjusted for these strings, and I'll throw in a 4mm hex wrench.
I have a plethora of tuners, so I can throw in a tuner with each uke.
Now why am I selling? Coming from classical guitar, I first bought the baritone. But I wanted to try other scale lengths too, so I added tenor and concert. I've now decided that tenor is my scale of choice, and I just added a second tenor. I have a lap steel guitar being built right now, so I should move along these two ukes that aren't getting played.
When I get around to posting, I'll have good, detailed pics.
Thanks for tips and advice.
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