Anyone selling an instrument should ship it only once payment arrives

Anyone selling an instrument ships it only once the money has verifiably reached their account.[1] Do not rely on a payment receipt alone.[1] The simplest option is a handover in person, with a test play and payment on collection. Before that, three things decide what you get: the price, the photos and a clear sentence on the warranty.

Setting the price

You set the price yourself, and to keep it realistic:

• Comparison: check what similar instruments in the same condition cost in listings. Look at model, year and accessories.
• Condition: honestly listed defects lower the price, but spare you a dispute after the sale.
• Accessories: case, gig bag, spare parts and the original receipt belong in the description.
• Room to negotiate: say whether the price is fixed or open to offers.

Work out what you are left with at the end. Postage, packaging and any repair before the sale come off your proceeds. If a platform charges a fee, deduct that as well. New strings and a clean fingerboard help in the photos and when buyers play.

Photos and description

According to a 2019 guide by SRF, the Swiss German public broadcaster, describe the item as precisely as possible, with all important details.[2] Above all, mention any defects, so that nobody can say later that they knew nothing.[2] So photograph the whole instrument and above all the flaw.[2]

• Light: daylight by a window, no flash.
• Views: front, back, headstock and neck from the side.
• Details: scratches, cracks and worn areas in close-up.
• Serial number: show it only to people who are serious about buying.

A short video with a sound sample helps anyone who cannot come round.

Warranty: one sentence in the listing

According to a 2019 SRF guide, as a private seller you can protect yourself by excluding any warranty in your listing.[2] For expensive goods, though, this can raise suspicion and put buyers off.[2] Once a buyer has agreed to the sale knowing the defects, they must accept the item as it is.[2] If you kept quiet about a defect, however, you have to take the item back.[2] So known defects belong in the listing and on the receipt.

Handover and payment

Answer enquiries through the marketplace's messaging function, so the whole exchange stays in one place. If you reserve the instrument for someone, set a clear deadline. If it passes without an appointment, carry on selling.

Let interested buyers play the instrument in peace. Meet somewhere you feel safe, or bring a second person. Payment is in cash or by bank transfer, which you see in your account before the handover.

Write a short receipt with the date, price, instrument and serial number. Add known defects and, if agreed, the exclusion of the warranty. You both sign, and you each keep a copy.

If you post the instrument, pack it only once the payment has verifiably arrived.[1] A guitar travels best in its case, with slightly slackened strings and good padding.

Spotting a scam

The Swiss crime prevention office (SKP) (in German) lists warning signs that affect sellers too:

• Data: to receive a payment, you never enter credit card details, e-banking logins or Twint codes.[1]
• Overpayment: if someone pays more than you asked for, that is a sure sign of fraud.[1]
• Receipts: trust no payment receipt, only your account balance.[1]
• ID: never send copies of identity documents to buyers.[1]

Every fraud and every attempted fraud should be reported to the cantonal police in your canton of residence.[1]

Rosewood and borders

Some instruments contain wood covered by CITES, the international convention on trade in endangered species. According to the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), finished instruments made of rosewood (Dalbergia) are exempt from the CITES requirement.[3] They can be imported without CITES documents, but Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is not covered by this exemption.[3] The musical instrument certificate for travel requires that the instrument is not being sold.[3] If an instrument with Brazilian rosewood goes abroad, sort out the papers with the FSVO first.

What you can do now: photograph your instrument in daylight, including the flaws. Check the items for sale on the marketplace to see what similar instruments cost. Then list your instrument with price, condition and a clear sentence on the warranty.