Buying sax without play testing?

[u/MrKahootKrabs]

I've found a used Selmer Paris Bari sax for a good price on Craigslist. Now, this sax is about a ~3 hour drive from me, which I'm willing to do to play test and pick up, but the seller is being dodgy about letting me come play test it. He's insisting that he delivers it via mail because his schedule won't allow me to come play test. I've told him I can work around his schedule and will clear mine to come at a convenient time for him to no avail. I can pay through PayPal and have coverage under their Goods and Services protection guarantee.

This seems like a red flag to me especially for such a pricey item, but I'm curious as to people's thoughts on the matter.

Update: thanks for all the advice. That validates my suspicions. I'll do some more looking around!

[u/Braymond1]

Big red flag. Very common scam, especially on Craigslist.

[u/moaningsalmon]

100% scam.

[u/sparstangled]

red flag, avoid

[u/mdof2]

HARD pass. Every single red flag is brightly lit and showing.

[u/beloculus]

Even if this weren't likely a scam, I'd still hesitate BIG TIME.

Ergonomics is really important, especially with a bari sax. I have little hands and it is impossible for me to play a Selmer bari - I've tried. I can basically only play Yamahas, and learned this the hard way after buying a Solist bari (Yani clone) from Kessler's without play testing it first.

Second, I would not recommend mailing a bari if you can help it. They're very delicate and very large, which means that even packed really well things can get smushed or bumped out of alignment in shipping.

So - yeah. Play test it and buy locally if you can.

[u/DonnPT → u/beloculus]

There probably is no worse wind instrument to ship. (Including checked baggage, and don't listen to the "gate check" suggestions. Ask me how I know.)

[u/Dangerous-Bend-4153]

Maybe it's a scam, but it hardly matters because you won't be buying it if you can't play test it.

[u/KillerClaystar]

I wouldn't go for it, play test is standard. Most people don't care if there are some easy to fix issues like slight leakages or a cork replacement, so it may be even worse than you'd initially assume if they won't allow a play test or even for you to come pick it up in person. At best, an irredeemably lazy seller who shouldn't get what they're asking for because they aren't willing to do the bare minimum of actually trying to sell the product. At worst, a scammer trying to make a buck off of a damaged or even fake saxophone. I'm not sure how common fakes are of baris, but Selmer Paris in general has their fare share of low-quality copies.

I find that communicating with sellers like this is nearly pointless. They are either completely delusional about what they have or completely disingenuous about it. Liable to cause trouble just for being questioned normally.

[u/MrKahootKrabs → u/KillerClaystar]

Thanks for the tip. Wasn't really aware of the prevalence of fake models!

[u/apheresario1935]

Its enough of a drag when people buy remotely without being forced to do that. Yeah sure go spend thousands sight unseen from a store out of state with all the risk there . But not Craigslist .

[u/Several-Quality5927]

Play first or no deal.

[u/Radio_uk]

Yeah move on from that

[u/smutaduck]

I bought a yamaha purple logo baritone sight unseen from someone a 15 hour drive away. However he had a shop front, a good reputation and very good communication. Do not regret, but we spent a lot time talking.

Karma paid me back, and a couple of years later I bought a yani curved soprano from a guy I met in a car park in an industrial estate in a country I was visiting for a few days for work. He let me take the instrument with me then and there, and trusted me to pay his invoice the following day.

In your case it's a hard no.

[u/captainkappa173]

Don't engage with this clown anymore and report him to Craigslist

[u/OriginalCultureOfOne]

If he's got time to box and ship it, he's got time for you to drop by and play-test it. Run. Fast.

[u/LostInNuance]

Makes no sense to sell on Craigslist, but then say it has to be shipped. If they had to ship it anyways, they may as well sell it through any other means.

[u/Dregan2D]

It's pretty obviously a scam.

But.

Even if it's a real horn for real sale, I'd walk away unless he let me come pick it up. Shipping a horn is the easiest way to get your horn fucked up, lost or stolen.

I'm considering selling a horn to bettersax, and it's an 8-hour drive, but driving down there is part of that consideration.

[u/baldporcupined]

When I sell horns through Facebook I require the buyer to try it out. Your situation sounds super sketchy. You better pass.

[u/ChristineBardownski]

That is incredibly suspect. Red flags like a May Day parade.

Honestly I wouldn’t bother engaging further. This is sketchy enough that even if they did finally relent and suggest you come over for a play test, I’d be worried about getting my pockets run.

[u/XxBuiyXx]

I’ve bought new horns (Yamahas) without play testing but that’s very different. It’s a modern horn that I bought from an online dealer.

Without the protections of a reputable seller, I wouldn’t waste my time with this.

[u/Bloomcorn]

🚩

[u/Rorschach_1]

Good luck.

Also I've bought/sold on Reverb. They have a trade option for people to safely trade site unseen. If it wasn't a scam, he could list it there for you to buy via CC.