Best way to sell a vintage trumpet valued at £150-£200?

MrsCautious

Hi, I have a trumpet from a well known manufacturer in excellent, recently restored, condition valued by a reputable shop at £150 to £200. A serial number dates it to 1946/47.

I want to sell it on eBay, but as a relatively new user only accustomed to selling low value items quickly, I'd welcome any pointers. I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons of auction v BIN, how long I should put it on for. I'm a bit daunted and this is the first time I've considered a reserve, my eBay account has basically been decluttering my house and this is where the trumpet comes from too.

Any help anyone can offer would be warmly appreciated - thanks a million if you can help.

I also have the original box (seen better days) and a mouthpiece.

RFW

First I know nothing of the musical instruments market!

I'd check completed listings for similar items and see how they were sold and which achieved the best price, fixed price or auction.

If it was me and I'd had that valuation I'd try listing at £275 with a 'best offer' on it. If there is a competitive auction market for them it may be that auction is the best approach. Researching completed listings is the best way of finding that out.

As for the rest it is the same as with most things to sell, picture it well and from all angles, show any marks/defects. Give as much info as possible. If it does sell, send by courier, something else you'll need to check, I think some couriers don't insure musical instruments. Good luck.

Flyonthewall

First of all, make sure you take plenty of photos and describe the item properly. Also make sure you'll be covered when you send it as the item does have value.

Reserves are useful, but do be aware that you will pay the reserve fee regardless of whether the item sells.

I'd say if you want it to sell fast auction may be best. It may sell really fast with a BIN, but it's hard to say. With an auction you can set it for a few days and, so long as you get a bid, you'll know it's going.

With an auction you can always set the price that bit lower to gain interest. Although you can add a best offer to BIN if people don't like the price you ask they may just not bother at all.

I guess it depends on if you're happy to possibly keep the item a little longer and whether you have a set price in mind that you really want to get.

I'd usually see if there are any similar items under completed listings and see what others have sold for, but not so sure how many you'd find in your case.

Personally, I'd probably go for a 7 day auction at the lower end of the estimate (or the lowest I'd be willing to sell if that's more). Gives people a chance to see it and a chance to get more money than I might get with a BIN. I just don't like reserves, but there are benefits to using them, especially if you're sure you'll get people bidding.

You could also consider selling on Gumtree. No fees, free to place an ad, cash on collection and you could try asking more for it and see if you get any interest. If you have no luck you can always lower the price or then try ebay.

Really is up to you though and what you hope to get for the item. There are pros and cons to auction and BIN and I think people often prefer using one over the other.

forgotmyname

Search completed listings. Did the person that valued it not offer to buy it?

Is there a demand for it?

Looking at ebay not a lot... Several sold for £10 or less. Although i now know what to look for for a nice cheap case that i want to house somthing else.

You need to start an auction at the very minimum you want.

MrsCautious

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and detailed guidance. I'd been encouraged by some completed listings.
In the shop they said they may have someone interested and hung on to it for a while for me in the hope this potential buyer may come good but he offered what they called 'silly money.'
I am very willing to hang on for a good price as opposed to selling it quickly. It means a lot to me to get it right as any money raised through the sale will go to a charity I support. I know nothing at all about musical instruments and it belonged to my late husband who was taken from us far too young a little over a year ago. I know he would approve of what the money will be used for x

soolin

The fact that the shop couldn't sell it and the only potential buyer who was interested through them offered less suggests the valuation is high.

I see a lot of restored 2nd hand instruments at auction houses and they rarely fetch anything like that, but it might be worth going to a B and m auction to get their valuation and maybe consider selling there as it solves all your problems about proof of delivery, safe postage and the new FVFs on postage.

If you sell on ebay you will have to make sure you find a courier who will carry and insure a musical instrument, and ask them for their packing guidelines, and I suspect that is not going to be cheap.

Also, search the make and year via Google and see if that turns up sales anywhere.

soolin

The only make I know off hand is Boosey and Hawkes, and completed vintage trumpets on ebay from them rarely make more than £100. They are also mainly collection only- which of course is not the easiest way to sell.

161084568430 £31

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-1950s-boosey-and-hawkes-regent-trumpet-/161055710383?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Brass_RL&hash=item257fab1caf £87

MrsCautious

Thank you Soolin, will follow those practical steps.

Yes it is Boosey and Hawkes, I'm inclined to agree that the valuation may well be high -- especially as it was given at a time to persuade me it was worth my while parting with money to have it brought up to saleable standard.

That said, I'm not going to take anecdotal evidence of one potential buyer trying it on as a guide as what to sell it for, iyswim.

I know I'd be happy with £100 and possibly £87

As I have friends who are musical I may also see if they want to part with some cash for it as they are more likely to buy into any extra emotional pull I inevitably have with this if I sold it to them as opposed to someone else who'd have no knowledge of circumstances and why they matter so much to me. I've sold loads of stuff to friends in recent weeks.

I'm not a fan of the prospect of collection only -- I have kids' bikes and stuff I have been wanting to put on facebook but don't like the thought of all the palaver arranging collection times and having people round.

I've been delighted with ebay so far in terms of flogging stuff and have a learned a lot I hope as I go along but I am on the point of planning to find out about auction houses and how these could be a viable alternative in some cases, not necessarily for the trumpet but stuff from my parents.

Thanks again for the replies, brilliant food for thought for me. I know I need to be realistic x

martindow

Instruments often have high valuations given for insurance purposes which it is not really likely to sell for. If you decided to auction it I strongly advise you go to a specialist musical instrument auction who will let you know a likely price they think it will make. At a local auction it may well not find many bidders and it could go for a tenner.

MrsCautious

thank you that's really useful.

RFW

As you mentioned Facebook, why not have a look if there are any brass bands local to you and post on their wall if anyone needs a trumpet?