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[David Doggett]

Don, seems like this all got off on the wrong foot. Some of my Forum buddies, who otherwise are nice folks, I think have made too big a deal about you being unfamiliar with Forum custom and etiquette. Let's all back up and start over with more typical Forum congeniality and helpfulness.

You are doing the seller and the Forum a favor for making this connection. Since neither you nor the seller know the nature of the instruments and amps, it is completely acceptable for you to post pictures and ask information about them and their value. Probably you should start another thread, and just call them Sho-Buds, not referring to any particular models, although we have already identified the S10 as a Maverick, which is a student model. Just ask people to identify the models, and approximately when they were made, what condition they appear to be in (that Maverick appears pristine, but we need to see the underside), and their typical value.

As for the financial arrangements, you should get a commission from the seller for your efforts posting the information on the Forum and helping her with the sale. Since you are the one that is a Forum member, you should include the 2.5% Forum donation in your commission and pay it for her. For example, if you want a 10% commission, ask her for 12.5%, and send the 2.5% to b0b. You should explain to her that is what you are doing.

She is wise to ask for local pickup. Shipping heavy steel guitars and amps is difficult, costly, and risky.

She might actually be able to get more for this stuff in an eBay auction, because unknowledgeable buyers frequently overbid there. But it is a much riskier environment, and the fees could eat up the gain. Many steelers prefer to sell within the steel community here on the Forum, even if they might not get as much as on eBay. This is just a more respectful place for buyers and sellers, and many know each other. Also, I'm not sure how well local pickup would work on eBay. But the Forum has tons of members in the southeast, and I'm sure there are interested buyers near her.

Sorry things got off on the wrong foot with you and some people. Approach the Forum with an open and honest attitude, and you will be treated in the same way. Good luck in your efforts.

[Donald Roach]

Don, seems like this all got off on the wrong foot. Some of my Forum buddies, who otherwise are nice folks, I think have made too big a deal about you being unfamiliar with Forum custom and etiquette. Let's all back up and start over with more typical Forum congeniality and helpfulness.

You are doing the seller and the Forum a favor for making this connection. Since neither you nor the seller know the nature of the instruments and amps, it is completely acceptable for you to post pictures and ask information about them and their value. Probably you should start another thread, and just call them Sho-Buds, not referring to any particular models, although we have already identified the S10 as a Maverick, which is a student model. Just ask people to identify the models, and approximately when they were made, what condition they appear to be in (that Maverick appears pristine, but we need to see the underside), and their typical value.

As for the financial arrangements, you should get a commission from the seller for your efforts posting the information on the Forum and helping her with the sale. Since you are the one that is a Forum member, you should include the 2.5% Forum donation in your commission and pay it for her. For example, if you want a 10% commission, ask her for 12.5%, and send the 2.5% to b0b. You should explain to her that is what you are doing.

She is wise to ask for local pickup. Shipping heavy steel guitars and amps is difficult, costly, and risky.

She might actually be able to get more for this stuff in an eBay auction, because unknowledgeable buyers frequently overbid there. But it is a much riskier environment, and the fees could eat up the gain. Many steelers prefer to sell within the steel community here on the Forum, even if they might not get as much as on eBay. This is just a more respectful place for buyers and sellers, and many know each other. Also, I'm not sure how well local pickup would work on eBay. But the Forum has tons of members in the southeast, and I'm sure there are interested buyers near her.

Sorry things got off on the wrong foot with you and some people. Approach the Forum with an open and honest attitude, and you will be treated in the same way. Good luck in your efforts.

David,

Thank you for this post .. I will take your advice in any future communications that I have with owners/sellers.

In response to your "open and honest" statement; I really thought I was doing the right thing by not taking advantage of this person .. not allowing forum members to take advantage of this person, and hoping to get a little (very little) for my time in finding this guitar, plus insisting on the 2.5% contribution for the forum.

When I am contacted about a guitar in the future I will ..

1) ask the value of the instrument on the forum
2) settle on a percentage with the SELLER (which won't be anywhere near 10% for my part) and include 2.5% for a contribution to be sent to the forum if the buyer is a forum member.
3) advise the seller of the risks associated with ebay but give them that option
4) post a link to the ebay auction OR post the owners contact information to the forums so that forum members can contact the seller directly.

Thanks again David,
Don Roach