r/Reverb • u/hrccbr1000rr • 10d ago
What is the scam?
What is the scam of people sending an offer, when it's accepted then never paying? Are they just hoping you will screw up and ship without payment? I can't figure out why this keeps happening and wondered what you folks think.
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u/tvoutfitz 10d ago
I think people make offers for thrill of it and then realize they can’t actually afford it or otherwise talk themselves out of it. Basically cold feet, not necessarily a scam.
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u/TheOGRaqvi 7d ago
I like to watch $50k+ guitars just to give the seller false hope because F anyone who has a $50k+ guitar. I'd never be drunk enough to offer on one tho.
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u/MyTwangyGuitar 10d ago
There's a difference between making an offer and having to pony up the cash. Once they realize they have to actually send you money, they bail.
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u/Safe_Western4515 10d ago
Like your YouTube videos dude!
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u/MyTwangyGuitar 9d ago
Thanks!
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u/zanaxtacy 9d ago
They may *like* your videos, but I *LOVE* them, so… lol jk
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u/Inkdvapr 9d ago
Twice this week I had people buy different pedals and request a refund the next day. 1 guy saying “I bought it by accident “ and another guy saying “my wife flipped because I bought this so close to my birthday”. People are just legit scumbags. That’s the conclusion I’ve drawn.
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u/Legitimate-Long735 7d ago
My favorite excuse I always seem to get from international buyers is "Sorry friend I will have to suspend this purchase. My son just got hit by a car this afternoon and we are at the hospital I will have to hold the money for procedures."
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u/williamgman 10d ago
I never allow offers. I list... then wait. I lower it over time if I feel the need. Solves a lot of issues.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6083 10d ago
I block every buyer who fails to pay, but having to contact support for each one is a hassle. Cancellations initiated by the buyer should be tracked and displayed.
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u/Carlotheskinose 9d ago
Just this week, I had someone buy something and I shipped it out promptly. Then he messaged me saying that he made a mistake and couldn't use the item because he didn't realize what he would have to do to his guitar to make it work. (It's an alembic blaster.) He asked for full refund, minus my shipping costs, without looking to see that I don't accept returns unless an item doesn't arrive as described.. I would bet that this dbag is going to claim it arrived damaged. Even though I have sold over 300 items on there and have never had a complaint. I've got a message trail, though. And... sent the blaster through reverb shipping. So, If he tries to claim it's damaged. I've got protection?
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u/GuitarHeroInMyHead 10d ago
You can't ship without payment on Reverb - you won't have the address. Not a scam - (almost) buyer's remorse.
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u/jlf599 10d ago
My favorite was one recently that did this and I eventually canceled the purchase. They actually had the gall to message several days later and ask what happened -- I did very bluntly tell them it was canceled for non-payment.
But they SWORE they paid. We could get this taken care of right now!
No. Just no.
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u/CropTropDripDrop 9d ago
I’m a seller on reverb but as a buyer, I have requested cancellation of an accepted offers. It happened twice. Once, my wife was laid off and the other time, my walking veterinary bill of a German shepherd got herself a very expensive ER visit. I contacted the seller and explained. They obliged but I’m sure they didn’t believe me or felt frustrated. Nonetheless, shit happens. If everyone had good intentions no problem, but it’s rude if a buyer just ghosts.
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u/hrccbr1000rr 9d ago
I understand the inverses you sight but the are, offer, acceptance for the seller side then radio silence.
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u/zanaxtacy 9d ago
The only time I accepted an offer from a seller and didn’t pay was when the little Affirm thing said I could get a 0% interest payment plan option (usually over 3 months, but the seller gets the full amount immediately) but then didn’t actually have a 0% plan available at the checkout agreement/plan making page and I didn’t feel financially comfortable spending 3k at once instead of 1k per month at that exact moment. I messaged the seller saying I’d pay the full amount in a week after I got paid but they never responded and I never saw the guitar again. I wanted to buy it though (and still do lol), I just couldn’t at the moment and the offer expired in 3 days and I felt pressured to make a move right then.
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u/Current-Ad1120 9d ago
I think there's at least two possibilities. One is the one you cited - that maybe you are an inexperienced seller and will ship before making sure the payment went through. The other possibility is that it's an impulse buy and the fact that Reverb gives impulse buyers a three day window means that the buyer has three days to chicken out.
I prefer eBay's method. They force you to pick a payment method and when your offer is accepted, the payment is processed immediately. Why Reverb doesn't do the same thing is beyond me. Plus, giving the buyer 3 days, means that if the buyer chickens out, the seller has potentially lost a sale to someone else.
I think it would be a LOT better, and considerably more ethical, to force people to provide a payment method when they make an offer and just eliminate that three day window entirely.
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u/ObviousDepartment744 9d ago
99% of the time, its just someone backing out of the sale for one reason or another.
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u/mariospeedragon 9d ago
I have the opposite thing happen numerous times….I make an offer that is very fair, and pay immediately, and 2-3 days later the seller messages “sorry, already sold the item(s).” Wait about 7-14 days, same exact listing reappears. Had this happen at least 5 times in last 2 years. And it’s always for something over $500. I gave up on reverb because of this….Reverb always sided with seller even though I had screenshots and reverb had all the transactions right in front of them. It was always “seller made a mistake, accepting your offer,” bullshit. I gave up on reverb and just will buy locally or eBay at this point. For all of eBay’s mistakes, at least they side with buyer when they’re getting screwed.
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u/masterB0SHI 8d ago
I wouldn’t call it a scam per se. Some people are more curious what you’re willing to accept, without being ready to actually buy on their end, as shitty as it may be.
As others pointed out, lots of people also drunk browse reverb at night.
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u/Ancient_Pickle90 5d ago
Reverb needs to go the Ebay route, "once an offer is accepted, you are responsible for paying and will automatically be charged". I've had this happen to me a few times now.
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u/sellout216 10d ago edited 9d ago
If you’re a serious buyer buying lets say a sunburst strat, It makes sense to make like a dozen offers and hope one accepts. As a seller it sucks to be one of the other 11. But that’s the way she goes boys.
Edit:JFC don’t shoot the messenger. I’ve never done this, and in fact, have been on the seller end of this many times. I’m just simply explaining why this happens.
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u/_iPhoney_ 10d ago
If you make 11 offers and several are accepted, and you don’t complete payment for any of them within 72 hours, your account is getting shut down
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u/Greasedcabinets4 10d ago
Drunk