BUYING USED PRODUCTION GEAR IN PERSON [8 CRUCIAL STEPS]

Buying used production gear in person can score you a stellar deal. Just make sure you do your due diligence. Follow these 8 tips to get the best used production gear possible.

1. Discuss the payment method ahead of time
2. Location Matters
3. Space Consideration
4. Vet the Seller
5. “Anything I might not know about this?”
6. Confirm it Works Ahead of Time
7. Tell a Friend
8. Trust Your Instincts

1. Discuss the payment method ahead of time

Are you using Venmo? Cash? Are checks still a thing? Make sure you both know what you’re using before you get there so you avoid awkward moments. In a perfect world, use an online payment method such as PayPal that will come with protection in the event that the gear doesn’t work when you get home. Protecting yourself with the right payment method is one of the most important steps when buying used production gear in person.

2. Location Matters when buying used production gear in person

Many police stations recommend meeting in their parking lots. Meet up during the daytime and park as close to the front door of the building as possible. If you’re nervous about meeting in person, take a friend.

3. Space Consideration

Does your car have enough space to fit the gear safely? Every music lover has experienced the disappointment that comes when the keyboard is actually longer than their car can hold. Or the speaker can’t fit in your backseat regardless of which way you turn it. When you’re buying used production gear in person, your vehicle has to have the space to ferry the item home.

4. Vet the Seller before you buy used production gear in person

1. Platform Reviews
   • Most platforms allow people to review the person they purchased from. A senior manager at eBay makes a great point about timing: “You’ll see how recently the user has made other sales and what buyers have to say about their experience.”(Reported by Wirecutter). If the seller has multiple reviews within the past month, you’ll know others have already had a good experience buying used production gear from them in person.
2. Social Media Check
   • You could also find them on social media. Since you’re local, you may have a mutual friend or two that can confirm this is a trustworthy person.

5. Ask “Anything I might not know about this?”

When you’re buying used production gear in person, people’s expressions give them away. Its worth asking one last time before you transfer the piece into your car to see if there are any issues they didn’t disclose in the item description. Even if there aren’t any hidden issues, there could be some special features or hidden tricks that they may be able to tell you. This is a chance to score some free, easy knowledge from someone who has already used the item and understands it.

6. Confirm the Used Production Gear Works before you buy

If you get home and find that your gear is busted or broken, you’re going to have a hard time initiating a return. Returning an item on eBay, Reverb or our website is relatively painless. Getting a return on a Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is tuff.

Thus, ask for the seller to send you a video of the gear working before you meet up. It doesn’t have to be extensive. Just copy/paste this message to them: “Hey there! Could you send me a 45 second video of the gear working at your place?”

7. Tell a Friend

Even though you’re meeting in a public place, it is still a good idea to add another layer of protection: tell you friend where you’re meeting up and the time. Also turn the location tracking on your phone for the day. You can turn location tracking on your phone for the rest of the day so your friend can see where you are. Once you’ve finished the meet up, text your friend to let them know you’re done.

8. Trust Your Instincts when buying used production gear in person

If your gut says something is off, trust it and move on. This is the most common piece of advice when you research the best practices for buying used production gear in person. Never send a deposit on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. The seller could simply pocket it, block you from messaging them and now they’ve taken your money.

Struggling to find your used production gear?

Online platforms like eBay, Reverb and ChurchGear are going to have a lot more gear available than platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Check out our top 10 platforms to buy used production gear guide to make sure you can find the gear you’re searching for. Many of these platforms allow you to purchase your gear online and have it shipped to your house.

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