You ever see your horn (or a horn you wanted) being re-sold for more than the previous price?
- davdud101
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Dec 06, 2023
Kind of curious what the thoughts or general vibe is about this.
Have you ever sold a horn or been looking at a horn that sold, only to see it pop up within weeks or months for a higher price? How did it make you feel? I know obviously, once it's in someone else's possession, there's nothing you can really do about it.
I remember back in high school, my parents took me to check out a Yamaha 548G on Facebook Marketplace (which I still own as my main and only .548), and one kid claimed that the reason he quit band was because I got the exact horn he was looking at. I reasoned that if something as small as someone else getting one horn was enough to make him quit, he probably was going to quit anyway
Random anecdote that is barely tangentially related to the question, really... Just thought I'd share
Have you ever sold a horn or been looking at a horn that sold, only to see it pop up within weeks or months for a higher price? How did it make you feel? I know obviously, once it's in someone else's possession, there's nothing you can really do about it.
I remember back in high school, my parents took me to check out a Yamaha 548G on Facebook Marketplace (which I still own as my main and only .548), and one kid claimed that the reason he quit band was because I got the exact horn he was looking at. I reasoned that if something as small as someone else getting one horn was enough to make him quit, he probably was going to quit anyway
Random anecdote that is barely tangentially related to the question, really... Just thought I'd share
- EriKon
- Posts: 636
- Joined: Apr 03, 2022
Well, I have just seen it here with one of the latest uploads in classifieds. It happened quite a few times already especially over here and on Facebook. But at some point you start to recognize who is doing it and who is not.
I've never sold a horn for more than I initially bought it (most of the time for a little less and sometimes for the same price I got it) and there is only one instrument in my collection where I would be doing that if I'm ever going to sell it. But that's only because I got it for a really great discount by someone who I know for longer and it's been years since I got it way before all the big crisis we had. So it is worth way more now.
I've never sold a horn for more than I initially bought it (most of the time for a little less and sometimes for the same price I got it) and there is only one instrument in my collection where I would be doing that if I'm ever going to sell it. But that's only because I got it for a really great discount by someone who I know for longer and it's been years since I got it way before all the big crisis we had. So it is worth way more now.
- Finetales
- Posts: 1482
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
I sell horns for more than I got them all the time, not because I'm overpricing it but because I got them for way under market value to begin with. I usually sell at just a bit under market value, which sometimes means the same or less than what I got it for, other times more.
This happens all the time with everything used, it's standard practice and not something to be derided.
This happens all the time with everything used, it's standard practice and not something to be derided.
- Matt_K
- Posts: 4809
- Joined: Mar 21, 2018
I've probably done that with as much stuff as I've bought, but I typically buy because it's something I want to play. I'll try it out for an extended period of time before parting with it, long enough that if there is a price adjustment, I don't remember how much I initially bought it for anyway and it's probably worth a little bit more just due to inflation.
I have intentionally done it with eBay items, though. Two years ago, I got a 645 for a very good price and then eventually sold it for net $200 more than I bought it for. I have zero guilt about doing it with eBay items.
I have intentionally done it with eBay items, though. Two years ago, I got a 645 for a very good price and then eventually sold it for net $200 more than I bought it for. I have zero guilt about doing it with eBay items.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
Happened to me more than a few times. If I got good experience with the instrument and an appropriate amount for it in sale, then no big deal.
- MStarke
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Jan 01, 2019
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose...
In the last years I have bought more horns than sold.
I have 2 or 3 times sold for significantly more than what I originally paid.
However I have also had one almost complete financial loss because a horn that I bought was in a much worse state than the professional trombonist seller described it.
In most cases it's more or less equal.
You obviously have to consider that there are some people that do this more or less professionally and are very quick in grabbing horns that are available under market value.
In the last years I have bought more horns than sold.
I have 2 or 3 times sold for significantly more than what I originally paid.
However I have also had one almost complete financial loss because a horn that I bought was in a much worse state than the professional trombonist seller described it.
In most cases it's more or less equal.
You obviously have to consider that there are some people that do this more or less professionally and are very quick in grabbing horns that are available under market value.
- JohnL
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Back when I was actively building my collection, there were a few horns that I got outbid on by flippers. They'd reappear on eBay a few weeks later with a puffed up description and a significantly high price (maybe some new pics). They didn't necessarily sell for that higher price (certainly not to me); they'd usually stay up on eBay for months.
And then there was the saga of the Martin "Marine Band" model tuba. Classic 4-valve "Big American Tuba"; it came with two bells (one upright and one recording) and cases for the body and one bell. Took up quite a lot of space in the back bedroom. I bought it from the local (then family owned) store for a decent price and had it for a couple years, then the previous owner drifted into a band I was playing with. Older guy, had played the horn professionally, and had a bad case of seller's remorse. After hearing his tale of woe a few times, I traded the Martin back to him for a Keefer/Conn hybrid (Conn short-throw valves on an otherwise Keefer tuba) that turned out to be a pig (the valve swap was a hack job). He pretty much vanished soon after the trade, and I sold the Keefer/Conn at a significant loss. So how does this tie in with the topic? Well, I bumped into him a couple years later and asked him about the Martin and he proudly told me that he'd decided that it was too big for him (which was why he'd sold it the first time) and had sold it on for a tidy profit.
I seem to be a sucker for a sad story...
And then there was the saga of the Martin "Marine Band" model tuba. Classic 4-valve "Big American Tuba"; it came with two bells (one upright and one recording) and cases for the body and one bell. Took up quite a lot of space in the back bedroom. I bought it from the local (then family owned) store for a decent price and had it for a couple years, then the previous owner drifted into a band I was playing with. Older guy, had played the horn professionally, and had a bad case of seller's remorse. After hearing his tale of woe a few times, I traded the Martin back to him for a Keefer/Conn hybrid (Conn short-throw valves on an otherwise Keefer tuba) that turned out to be a pig (the valve swap was a hack job). He pretty much vanished soon after the trade, and I sold the Keefer/Conn at a significant loss. So how does this tie in with the topic? Well, I bumped into him a couple years later and asked him about the Martin and he proudly told me that he'd decided that it was too big for him (which was why he'd sold it the first time) and had sold it on for a tidy profit.
I seem to be a sucker for a sad story...
- slidesix
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Jan 03, 2025
It doesn’t bother me in the least. The following aren’t the only possible scenarios, but I am more than fine or even happy when I see the following:
1. A trusted TC member buys a horn from a rando on Facebook marketplace or Reverb. The TC looks it over, decides it is “good” and resells it here our on their YT or own website. In my eyes now the horn is more valuable to me as it is now less of an unknown quantity.
2. A trusted TC member or pro musician buys a horn for below market price then flips it for a profit. As a gigging musician one probably has to string together a bunch of jobs to make a living. If making a small profit on reselling horns helps his or her family, I’m good with that. We all gotta eat!
I never wanted one where I’ve seen it happen. AND even if it did, it still wouldn’t bother me. I don’t have to get the best deal —only a FAIR deal. I wouldn’t feel bad about it nor feel bad about not “getting it” at the previous lower price.
1. A trusted TC member buys a horn from a rando on Facebook marketplace or Reverb. The TC looks it over, decides it is “good” and resells it here our on their YT or own website. In my eyes now the horn is more valuable to me as it is now less of an unknown quantity.
2. A trusted TC member or pro musician buys a horn for below market price then flips it for a profit. As a gigging musician one probably has to string together a bunch of jobs to make a living. If making a small profit on reselling horns helps his or her family, I’m good with that. We all gotta eat!
I never wanted one where I’ve seen it happen. AND even if it did, it still wouldn’t bother me. I don’t have to get the best deal —only a FAIR deal. I wouldn’t feel bad about it nor feel bad about not “getting it” at the previous lower price.
- tbonesullivan
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Jul 02, 2019
Yeah, seen it, also seen it on other instruments I play. There seem to be people whose entire business is buying up poorly pictured / advertised horns at a bargain price, and then taking new pictures and quickly flipping them.
At least it's not like the guitar world where some styles of guitars get bought up and "parted out", which is particularly common on those with "bolt on" necks.
At least it's not like the guitar world where some styles of guitars get bought up and "parted out", which is particularly common on those with "bolt on" necks.
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Everybody has probably seen it and even done it to some extent. Plus, you have to remember that the price something is listed at is not always the price it sells for. If you want to break even, you might list it for a little more than you bought it for. And often the price is reduced over time, or in purchase negotiations. Or possibly you had some work done on the horn before you decided to sell it on down the line. If you've ever sold or traded something in to a shop, you've seen this in spades. I've had family and friends ask me why I don't go into business selling trombones. I answer because it's really hard to make any money at it. Mostly, it's hard to break even. I look at it like I'm renting the horn for a short period of time. Sometimes I can cover the cost, but not always.
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
People have any number of reasons to sell a horn: They have way too many, and the sheer volume of so much "stuff" in their life weighs on them and they are happy to get rid of it, I've been in this kind of funk many times over the course of 30 or so years.=, or they flat out need the money.
In terms of what I offer the horn for, I consider the hassle factor of either waiting a very long time for offers (due to selling an oddball, or trying to recoup my overinvestment in the horn), or of being inundated with offers (because I apparently offered it for too little...), and here, I'll give a break to students or working musicians if they don't irritate me too much...
I could care less if someone immediately flips a horn I sell them, unless they buy under false pretenses; what I strongly object to is someone hiding a horn's problems when they clearly know better.
In terms of what I offer the horn for, I consider the hassle factor of either waiting a very long time for offers (due to selling an oddball, or trying to recoup my overinvestment in the horn), or of being inundated with offers (because I apparently offered it for too little...), and here, I'll give a break to students or working musicians if they don't irritate me too much...
I could care less if someone immediately flips a horn I sell them, unless they buy under false pretenses; what I strongly object to is someone hiding a horn's problems when they clearly know better.
- heldenbone
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Aug 21, 2018
Quinn started out by flippinng Ebay and Facebook instruments. It was a little annoying to see something listed a day or less, then relisted after being shipped, with little or no intervening time, and little or no repair.