pure speculation, but I’d bet you a unison midi pack that reverb would love to not have to do this.
Sounds like yet another IT project to manage. As you’ve said, they’re most likely doing it to cover their asses to comply with some rule.
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I’ve never sold anything on Reverb but I listed a few bits a pieces this week.
This morning I got a message to say an item had sold and then immediately I received a refund request - problem being I haven’t actually been paid so there’s nothing to refund.
The refund included a scam message from the “buyer” telling me my account isn’t verified and a link to click (clear phishing link).
I sent a support message to Reverb and they have cancelled the sale (so now I have to relist it) and issued a “refund” (for zero money).
Is there anything I can tighten up on my shop account to stop this shit in future? Seems like a massive fucking hole in Reverb’s shop system that they would allow a refund request before any money has been sent to the seller.
I’m sure none of this is new or a surprise to anyone with experience of Reverb.
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Unfortunately nothing you can do. Just gotta relist and pray. Reverb has gone downhill since Etsy acquired it.
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Sold earlier this year.
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It’s annoying, but not that common. You can’t block people who buy from you sending messages.
I imagine the “account isn’t verified” scheme might not target you again after you have feedback. Either way there’s always going to be a need for some vigilance with online sales sadly.
I’m a lot less inclined to use Reverb not just for focusing on what I’ve got these days, but because regulations are loosening in the US on predatory credit practices and as the GenAI bubble continues to rapidly lose steam and economic indicators stop getting published I don’t need to play musical chairs with Pay-in-4 or Paypal Credit (aka Synchrony Bank, which isn’t great)
Apparently Reverb is now hiding listings to push people to buy new items from whichever dealer will pay them the most.
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I noticed that the Reverb bump feature now seems to give items preference in the recently listed view as well. Great, exactly what I was looking for under recently listed items, the items that I’ve already seen.
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And also those items that say “listed over a year ago”
I wonder what the tipping point is that would make someone start a new competing platform for online gear sales, in the same way that the original Reverb (which Chicago Music Exchange created, IIRC?) caught on after people got frustrated using ebay.
Seems like Reverb started out as a good idea, but has drifted further and further, presumably since the ownership changed. edit: I see above that Etsy no longer owns it, so can’t blame that company for this new issue raised in the video @shovelhead just posted.
Obviously one can also sell gear here or on Craigslist (or your local equivalent).
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I haven’t had reason to use reverb but each time I have gleaned its way there has been something like this. Maybe I’m naive to think it’s the only online marketplace to manipulate the content for the users. Are you still taking them seriously and doing business on there? A market platform needs to retain trust as an impartial arbiter or users will conclude that reverb are unfairly taking their value. It doesn’t seem like they could make it as a new company if they launched the same product with no name recognition. I’m on the sidelines but a hearty fist bump to anyone moving to better markets.
I’m not sure if this question is directed at anyone in particular … For me, I was happy selling there; maybe I’ve been a little lucky since my buyers were all nice people. Now I don’t know whether to sell there again.
I always accepted up-front that there was some crazy buyer risk (there are too many horror stories on the forums from credible people for it not to be true). The fees and tax reporting are part of the deal, I never felt like I was being tricked about that.
But this pay-to-be-seen thing is creepy, even if it’s only re new gear so far. I never paid for a bump and never needed to.
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This guy is both confusing and confused. Take the Charvel example. Anyone who has used Reverb for more than five minutes knows that there are the search results from typing out words (and not clicking to the autofill below the search) and the listings from the “index” for that item, which you can get to by either clicking on the autofill in the search bar with the item pic in it and a price or by clicking the rightmost link in a specific listing’s info, so on the last part of this, “Home > Charvel > Charvel Electric Guitars > Charvel Satchel Signature Pro-Mod DK22 HH FR M”
So, this is the search he did: https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=Charvel%20Satchel%20Signature%20Pro-Mod%20DK22%20HH%20FR%20M&product_type=electric-guitars&condition=new
And this is the “index” or autofill search results: https://reverb.com/p/charvel-satchel-signature-pro-mod-dk22-hh-fr-m?condition=new
The offer he got was from a company whose listing is very much visible on Reverb. See the second link I posted. You scroll to “compare 7 listings” right below the featured listing. That offer was from “The Guitar Factory” here: https://reverb.com/item/83561457-charvel-satchel-signature-pro-mod-dk22-electric-guitar-hh-fr-m-maple-fingerboard-satin-white-bengal
I could go on and on. He relies on very little for his grand conclusions.
Oddly enough to me, I don’t see anyone on the YT comments or on the Reddit thread disagreeing with the guy. To me, his examples and conclusions aren’t supported by much evidence.
Edit: The screenshot below might help clear up what I’m saying. He’s clicking one of the first two autofills or he’s filling in his own all the way. However, the third autofill has the price and a thumbnail. That’s where all the listings reside for that instrument. He’s too unsophisticated to realize this, which makes me wonder if he has ever used Reverb before.
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Phil happens to be highly respected in the guitar community and is quite knowledgable in matters of online sales and platforms. He is also a former guitar store owner and has industry wide contacts.
As for the rest, I personally found it quite easy to verify what he was saying with similar results. If you haven’t yet, I would recommend watching the entire video if you are interested in the situation.
I posted specifics, with screenshots and Reverb. You’re talking in generalities and appealing to authority. Sorry, but Phil is absolutely wrong. It’s not a gray issue. It’s black and white. I proved it with his own examples, which I got from “watch[ing] the entire video.”
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