buying and selling on Facebook

[chas_kit]

Facebook has been pretty good for buying and selling 45s, but somewhat frustrating too. The best group is heavy on rockabilly and country, blues and r&b. Garage is secondary, but it's an interesting group with many knowledgeable people.

Other garage 45 groups are kind of lame in my opinion, dominated by a few European dealers at high prices, and without the conversation that makes 45 Trade and Sell worthwhile.

Should there be a new, garage-only Facebook group to buy and sell? Would you join it / look at it?

 

[Mr.Segment]

There is too many, it would have to be rather good. I've left all but one. Some sellers post in them all, completely spamming me with shit links to eBay or garbage/overpriced 45s. The moderating would have to be pretty tough and a STRICT no eBay linking rule. Also, light ridicule of extortionate prices should be allowed as well as a pretty strict policy stating that sellers better listen to and grade those records. "perfect for dj use" gives me ulcers just reading it! My two cents anyway

 

[chas_kit]

I agree with all that.

 

[Mr.Segment]

But I'd be willing to help out moderating

 

[MopTopMike]

Sell your 45s here.

I want nothing to do with Facebook right now - I've not logged in (even forgot my password) for over 4 months.
There is only one record selling / trade group on there that is worthwhile. But unless you are tethered to your smartphone 24/7, you won't ever have a shot at buying something you may want. I missed out on dozens of 45s that were first come first buys.

Barring sales here, I would just flog them on ebay. I'd rather bid in an auction than a hassle / set sale anyday.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Sell your 45s here.

I want nothing to do with Facebook right now - I've not logged in (even forgot my password) for over 4 months.
There is only one record selling / trade group on there that is worthwhile. But unless you are tethered to your smartphone 24/7, you won't ever have a shot at buying something you may want. I missed out on dozens of 45s that were first come first buys.

Barring sales here, I would just flog them on ebay. I'd rather bid in an auction than a hassle / set sale anyday.

Mike...what be the name of that "good" FaceBook 45 group? PM me if it's some kinda big secret.

 

[buckeyebeat]

I don't really see the need for another record selling group on FB.

I've sold a good amount of records on here direct and my own website. I will continue to use this method to sell garage 45s. This includes set sales and offers.

For selling soul 45s, I use my own website but I market the records through soul source and the rare soul sales on FB.

 

[Northeastbeast]

I do use facebook but it's increasingly a chore. The same sellers, on every group, peddling the same stuff, often over priced, that they peddle on EBay too. That said, I've picked up some great stuff there and as a network it's been great for meeting folk, learning and making real life acquaintances.

I'd agree with previous posts saying to utilise this forum more though. I've been an infrequent visitor to this site since I registered, the wealth of knowledge has been a hugely valuable resource. Recently, I've visited more frequently, largely due to some great stories but obviously the big collection sale has been an extra incentive too.

What's your website buckeyebeat? I buy soul too.

 

[chas_kit]

The good Facebook group is a "secret" group, so the name won't help anyone find it. It's 98% rockabilly, country, r&b, blues and surf kinds of sounds. Garage is probably one record in 40 or 50. And yes, the good deals get snapped up very quickly, within minutes or even seconds. And there are rules about how to sell and claim a record, and they're sticklers for it, but they're good rules that keep the deals transparent. To join, a person has to be suggested by someone who is already a member. Then a moderator (I'm not one of them) has to approve it - though I haven't heard of anyone being denied.

 

[buckeyebeat]

I am a charter member of the group Chris mentioned, while it's well moderated, and has a lot of knowledge when called on, the majority of the records offered are not what people would think are sought after in their genre, and there is a decent amount of reissues/boots (Mariano) for sale. It's probably equivalent to what someone would find if they attended a decent record show here in the US once a month, some records that you would enjoy when found but nothing to make you do a 'happy dance' or whatever. I just saw a laughably overpriced proto-'garage' record posted there this evening.

Starting a group for garage records will not cause the internets to rain Orlyn 45s. It's not like people are sitting on vast piles of records that would be snapped up like Peter's collection. I don't think the sum total of garage records offered on facebook in the past four-five years has equalled the stuff Peter/Marek has offered so far, in case you think you're not keeping up with the zuckerbergs.

Northeast Beast, I don't have anything posted now, as I sold all my listings, I am working on more for the next week. I stopped because I didn't want to compete with the insane collection listings but I will resume now that we have an update. I've sold some quality Northern Soul 45s over the past year.

 

[chas_kit]

Starting a group for garage records will not cause the internets to rain Orlyn 45s. It's not like people are sitting on vast piles of records that would be snapped up like Peter's collection. I don't think the sum total of garage records offered on facebook in the past four-five years has equalled the stuff Peter/Marek has offered so far, in case you think you're not keeping up with the zuckerbergs.

I think MTM described one FB group as a small group selling to each other, which is partly true. In a way it's a good thing - records changing hands within a circle. People who would hesitate to put something on ebay are willing to sell to the group.

As for quality of records, I sold a couple big G45 items on that group last year, and bought a few others (T.C Atlantic "Faces", Huns "Destination Lonely", Primates "Knock on My Door"). I also witnessed sales of the Fallen Angels, the Omens, The Mourning Reign with PS, and many others.

 

[MopTopMike]

I think anybody wishing to sell or trade anything over the garden-variety junk for garage 45s is making a huge mistake by not posting here - or at least making G45 your first place to entertain sale or bid offers.

Most of the serious and knowledgeable garage collectors are always checking in here. Reputations are held to the highest standard. At least I am unafraid to call out someone who is either clueless or trying to gouge potential buyers. I think being able to freely speak of this is important - something that is not allowed on Facebook selling groups. If someone is offering good, quality garage 45s on G45, you can be assured these folks know exactly what they are doing. No need for goofy feedback props - something that I find to be tedious when scrolling thru Facebook record groups. The same people over and over. I get it already.

I've always sold spare garage / psych 45s on G45. Price them fair, and they'll fly out of here pronto. Not the case on Facebook, as most of those buyers, while knowledgeable, are looking for bargains or to pimp for re-sale.
Most of those Facebook groups contain link to overpriced and over-graded 45s by a clique of dealers. Sure, you'll get the occasional big ticket item up for sale. But that mentioned group has so many posts per day, it is tedious to wallow / scroll thru on a daily basis.

 

[MopTopMike]

As George stated, No one is sitting on boxes of garage 45s for sale. Most collectors obtain duplicates by upgrading, or finding a spare in the wild, even less often by finding an elusive band member. Even 20 years ago,
i would locate someone who was never contacted to inquire if they had any 45s, and 9 times out of 10, the result was zero. Finding good garage / psych 45s is equally as difficult as finding blues 45s from the 50s. Barring major label releases, they just are not out there, unless you dig, and even then, it is a major task. You'll find 2 dozen collectible soul 45s before you'll come across one big garage item.

I can never understand the frustration with newer / newbie collectors, who post a wanted item here, and then two days later, seem impatient with a response post of "anybody?" Other than George or Barry W., I personally do not know anyone with a decent amount of spare "inventory" on somewhat of a regular basis. Also, there are still some old timers out there who only wish to offer spare copies via trade-only.

A Facebook "garage only" page will be tumbling tumbleweeds most of the time, unless you allow the clique of DJs who overpay for 45s and then perpetually attempt to recycle them with that crowd. Chit-chat is nice, but if you want info / stories / honest advice, this will always be the place to visit, first and foremost.

 

[chas_kit]

Not a very positive response to my idea so far! And I don't really need to make more work for myself.

I'll list some good 45s on the set sale forum right now and see how they do.

 

[buckeyebeat]

Yes, of all the genres of popular music in the US, garage and psych 45s and LPs have a larger percentage of truly rare records than any other genre. The only contenders would be late 60s/early 70s independent funk bands and rockabilly. The reason is pretty obvious, these were the vanity label/recording DIY scenes of their times.

i would locate someone who was never contacted to inquire if they had any 45s, and 9 times out of 10, the result was zero. Finding good garage / psych 45s is equally as difficult as finding blues 45s from the 50s. Barring major label releases, they just are not out there, unless you dig, and even then, it is a major task. You'll find 2 dozen collectible soul 45s before you'll come across one big garage item.

 

[captainsalty]

i hadn't bothered with Facebook buying or selling before but due to this thread i gave it a shot.

after 2 weeks or so i'm unsubscribing from those groups as it's the same, often annoying sellers i see on ebay every day, peddling the same stuff.

i don't know if the "secret group" that was mentioned is any better. if anybody cares to invite me, i'd appreciate this.

all in all, i agree with mike, this very site surely is the best place to do business. i still wish more people would do it like chris and post regular set-sale lists with good prices regularly.

-Lee

 

[chas_kit]

i hadn't bothered with Facebook buying or selling before but due to this thread i gave it a shot.

after 2 weeks or so i'm unsubscribing from those groups as it's the same, often annoying sellers i see on ebay every day, peddling the same stuff.

i don't know if the "secret group" that was mentioned is any better. if anybody cares to invite me, i'd appreciate this.

all in all, i agree with mike, this very site surely is the best place to do business. i still wish more people would do it like chris and post regular set-sale lists with good prices regularly.

-Lee

Last month I posted on the G45 sale forum and sold nothing. Posted the same 45s on FB, added a link to my set sale and did very well.

 

[Northeastbeast]

I was just thinking about this when I saw your last list Chas. things like The Cherry Slush and The Tropics probably aren't going to shift here, most folks will have them and there isn't enough volume of traffic, those same records will fly out on the FB groups as there are plenty more potential customers at differing stages of their collections.

The higher end stuff, especially if it's not dance floor orientated, will likely do better here.

Horses for courses.

Either way, I'm broke again after an extravagant Jan/Feb and five three figure purchases already this year. 2 from ebay, 2 from websites and one from FB.

 

[chas_kit]

I was just thinking about this when I saw your last list Chas. things like The Cherry Slush and The Tropics probably aren't going to shift here, most folks will have them and there isn't enough volume of traffic, those same records will fly out on the FB groups as there are plenty more potential customers at differing stages of their collections.

The higher end stuff, especially if it's not dance floor orientated, will likely do better here.

Horses for courses.

Either way, I'm broke again after an extravagant Jan/Feb and five three figure purchases already this year. 2 from ebay, 2 from websites and one from FB.

This forum isn't attracting very many new, younger collectors, which is too bad for a lot of reasons.

 

[Northeastbeast]

Yeah, I guess that's the nature of the beast with a forum of this nature. I've been collecting for more than half my life now, I'm 33, but I'm a total novice compared to the majority here. The critical mass of knowledge is the forums great strength but it's also a slightly intimidating membership too.