Do you buy guitars on Ebay?

[Citrus Monolith]

I've bought one guitar off of ebay and it was probably the best deal I've ever gotten on a guitar. It was a somewhat rare USA Custom Ibanez with graphics and somehow no one else seemed to notice it because I got it for about half of what they generally go for.

[sidvicious]

I decided recently that I just need to save up and get a Carvin Cali Carved Top Single.

i have one. great guitar. i actually have 4 carvins and they are top of the line quality.

good choice.

[jangle]

I've had only good experiences but there are some fairly obvious precautions that are success factors:

Buying higher-end instruments - odds are the seller is more mature and/or a responsible person in the first place therefore he will tend to take of the instrument, be reliable in his descriptions and history and/or have a track record. Those selling a high-end guitar as the only musical item they've sold, are cause for alarm (e.g. fencing stolen property).

Photos and measurements - high-res digital cameras are everyday items for most. Better to photograph and describe a ding in the finish in detail than to face a dispute or a return involving thousands of dollars. Soundclips, videos, etc. are all gold for the prospective buyer.

Judging the seller by his spelling, punctuation and grammar - you have to be a bit of a psychologist from afar but in the land of caveat emptor it is logical to assume that the seller who can't use their/there/they're or you're/your correctly may not be reliable in his descriptions, actions after the sale (e.g. shipping/tracking) and so forth. God help you in a dispute.

Avoiding the mom-and-pop music stores - big pet peeve of mine. Jones Music Co. might have a guitar that has languished on the shelf for 2 years due mostly to the price and resistance from local buyers. Now they want to sell it online but haven't reduced the price by a single penny! Carrying costs and depreciation must mean nothing to these geniuses or their accountants and they somehow imagine they will get full whack for the guitar one day - often after the OEM has issued a new and improved model (e.g. Fender Stratocasters). They pay multiple listing and reserve fees which further cuts into their margin. Roll, roll, roll over your auctions and ignore the laws of supply and demand. Some will use the 'make offer' option in the listing and reject any offer less than the reserve or the BIN price. That's Mom & Pop on eBay.

I've bought and sold with very good results but of course there are pitfalls.

[Colonel Sanders]

Got my Fender Precision 1969 from eBay, best bass I have along with my Rickenbacker 4003.

Got my Steinberger L2 from eBay. Nothing to complain about (you either dig this cricket bat or not).

Got my 75 Jazz from eBay, can't say anything wrong about it (besides that the QAQC from Fender in the 70ies was awful, yet the sound is there).

You get what you pay for. Deal with a reputable dealer and things will go OK. Try to get the deal of the century and you may find there is a reason for the low, unbelievable price.