Preparing a horn for eBay Sale

Much to the dismay of vintage and used saxophone dealers, eBay has become the dominant market for buying and selling used saxophones. Like it or not, this is the way it is, and if you are thinking about placing some of your excess horns up for auction, here are a few tips and pointers.

(1) RESEARCH THE MARKET CAREFULLY There have been some huge changes lately in the prices vintage horns actually bring. Remember that asking prices mean absolutely nothing. Selling prices are the ONLY thing that matters. Prices have significantly fallen, get over it! Keep in mind that the prices asked by established dealers are often HIGHLY negoitiable, and are generally around 25% higher than what the same horn would bring on eBay. People pay a premium for the security of doing business with an established dealer.

(2) BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR HORNS CONDITION This is where many eBay sellers fall down. A relacqauered horn with old pads and a case in poor condition is not going to bring the same money as a pristine original example. Buyers have historically paid a hefty premium for original condition, and remember that they are only original once and once only.

(3) DO THE NEEDED REPAIRS CORRECTLY It's hard to sell a horn that "needs a little work". Get it fixed, and get it fixed correctly. Be sure the correct thickness pads are installed with the proper type resonator. Get the dents out and clean it up. If you have had the horn overhauled, unless it has been done by a WELL KNOWN technician (somebody with a national or international following) don't say that it was worked on by Joe's Instrument Repair in Anytown, USA. Joes website probably has pictures of a bunch of Bundys on his bench, and nobody outside of your hometown ever heard of Joe anyway, and they are likely to be highly suspicious of the quality of Joes work.

(4) UPGRADE THE HORN If you look at successful auctions, you'll very often find that the horns that sell for top money often have things that are "above and beyond" on them. A good example of something I see pretty often on eBay is the use of super premium pads. There is a very definate trend toward citing that the horn has Saxgourmet or Roo pads installed. This seems to bring out the buyers. I think an upgraded case is often a plus as well as including key clamps.

(5) A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS You can't have too many pictures or too extensive a description. The pictures should be very clear, and very detailed. Adding more pictures to your auction is quite inexpensive. Make sure that your description anticipates every possible question.

Ebay can be a real snake pit, and I hope that these tips help you hold a successful auction. Let me know your questions!