Purchasing off Reverb

[Bosco]

Should a consumer be wary purchasing from a  larrivee dealer posting on Reverb?
Anyone with experience in this regard?

[Rockysdad]

Without knowing who, or what, you could always give the dealer a call to address any concerns.

To check if they're an *authorized* dealer, go to the Larrivée website and look up dealers.

[Bosco]

Sounds straight forward
Thanks. New to this forum
Joined because im looking towards Larrivee being my first
"Real" guitar purchase.
Ive only been playing 1.5 years and have learned enough to choose with some specs
In mind now.

[Manothemtns]

Should a consumer be wary purchasing from a  larrivee dealer posting on Reverb?
Anyone with experience in this regard?

As long as you're dealing with a dealer who's had a good number of guitars sold through Reverb and has plenty of positive reviews, you should be fine. I've bought and sold quite a few guitars on Reverb and have never had a bad experience. Try to choose a dealer who's been on Reverb for at least a few years. Have any guitar you buy shipped using Reverb's own buying and selling services and their insurances. Make sure to insure the guitar to the full value you bought it for. Then, after the five or six days the guitar has been in transit, do your due diligence in unpacking the guitar and taking photos of the condition of the box and of the guitar. If there's a problem with the guitar, notify Reverb immediately and open a claim. Reverb can be trusted to do what's right by the buyer.

[B0WIE]

I've had a lot of experience buying and selling guitars online. Reverb used to be pretty bad about assisting when there was an issue but they've gotten better. They're not super protective of the buyer like eBay, but they will offer some assistance.

Seller experience and feedback doesn't actually tell you much. I've seen bad sellers with perfect feedback because those who know better aren't buying from that seller, thus not giving feedback. Good sellers can also have a horrible buyer who leaves unwarranted bad feedback.

It's up to you to know what to look for. That will usually dictate the online buying experience. Going through reverb gives an extra level of protection, as does your payment method. I had a Larrivee dealer do me wrong and I relied on my credit card company to get my back and make sure I was able to send the item back when the dealer refused.

If you see an item and need advice, folks here are usually pretty helpful.

[Manothemtns]

In the last few years (current state of affairs) Reverb has gotten a lot better than you're giving them credit for.  They're a perfectly viable place to buy and sell guitars and musical equipment. A person isn't buying from Reverb, they're buying through Reverb. They're the layer of protection for a successful transaction between buyer and the posting shop or individual...in this case, the dealer.

[Manothemtns]

I'll add that the onus is always going to be on the buyer to make informed purchases. Check into the particular seller. Call them to make sure they're real. Obtain the right photos, not just a bunch of faraway snapshots. Look at their website. It's all of these things that when combined give you an impression of the seller. Don't assume bigger is better. Some of the best Reverb sellers are small businesses and individuals who take time to do things right. For them, one bad review knocks them back. But, for the most part, the system works. Just make sure you've done the appropriate due diligence before you buy. I would think if this entity is, in fact, a certified Larrivee dealer, that that too tells you something about the seller. Dealers don't generally want upset buyers calling the mothership to complain about particular deals gone bad. They can't do much at initially, but if the complaints start coming in regularly, the dealer can lose their privileges. Also, not just any shop can become a Larrivee dealer. Last, you should be able to check the Larrivee website to verify that dealer's claim. Are they real? Check.

[teh]

Bosco,

You mentioned that you've been playing fo 1.5 years and you are looking to buy your first real guitar. If possible, I would try to find a dealer that sells Larrivees and go play some. Also take advantage of YouTube including Larrivee's website and watch videos with Jean Larrivee himself and demos of different models to gain insights and help you make an informed decision. If you buy online, ask about the return policy up front before money changes hands. Online dealers like Reverb, Sweetwater and Muscuans Supply, can be a good alternative but if you are going to buy sight unseen, consider used. Lots of good choices out there.

Generally speaker, I like to play before I pay and in the last 53 years, the only two guitars where I paid before I played were my second Larrivee and a Martin, both custom orders from a dealer I trust.its also helpful to bring a friend when you are ready to buy. Have them play the Guitar(s) that make your final cut so you can hear what it or they sound like.

Personally, my two favorite Larrivee body styles are the Parlor and the L. Remember: Hunting for the right guitar is half the fun. Enjoy and welcome.