Reverb - does this sound scammy?

[tommy p]

I bought this Ceriatone 2202 to use in my AC/DC tribute.  Unfortunately I had my strokes before I got a chance.  Someone either modified it or custom ordered it to be in that vintage Marshall head cabinet which I loved because it had the right "look" for my band.

A couple of months ago I listed it on Reverb for $800 and got a few hundred views and almost 100 Watchers in just a week or two so I thought I had it priced fair and it would sell fast.  After being up for a few weeks, it had not sold so one day when I was checking on it, I saw that Reverb had it tagged "Great Deal" and showed the price range was $890-1180 so I decided to raise it to $900, still at the very bottom of the range.  Oddly, after raising the price I started to get offers but they were all low-ballers.  So, since I was hoping to $800-900 I raised the price again to $1000 so if people felt like they just HAD to haggle, I could go down on the price to get what I actually wanted and they could think they beat me down.  Don't get me started on people who see 1959 Les Paul for sale for $3000 and think "I bet I can get it cheaper.  I'll offer $2000."  I hate those people.

Note: you can get a new one from Ceriatone for $880.  (Not in a Marshall cabinet of course).

About a week ago I got a request from a prospective buyer for more pictures and asking a bunch of very specific questions pretty articulately.  I'm not a gearhead so I don't know if it has pre-1980 Russian tubes or XC-35 capacitors or whatever and I'm not taking it apart to see so I didn't even answer.  I've gotten in trouble before trying to answer questions like that.  A couple of days later he made an offer of $900.  I looked at his profile and he had ONE previous purchase ten years ago, no items for sale or ever sold.  I declined his offer and told him he didn't have enough history for me to feel comfortable.  He didn't respond but a couple of days later he makes an offer of $950.  I declined and messaged him "See my previous response."  A few days later he made an offer for $975.  I didn't even decline that one or message him again - I just let that offer expire.  Then he clicks on the full price and of course Reverb now says "Your item sold.  Time to pack and ship."  I get an message from him in horrible broken English saying "Thanks for letting me purchase amp.  I take best care of amp...etc."

Something doesn't smell right about this.  What do you guys think?

 

 

[velorush]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... 

I would contact Reverb post haste, expressing your concerns and asking for a review.

A few other details: 1. is the Ship-To Address in the Cont. 48 or over seas? 2. How is the buyer proposing payment? Through the Reverb system or some other? 

[Spinaltap]

contacting reverb is the best way to go, while you go through the process.  It may be a pain but may help avoid more pain later.

GLWTS

Edited February 25 by Spinaltap
spelling

[Dave Scepter]

I don't understand... if you receive the money, What's the problem? 😏

[tommy p]

52 minutes ago, velorush said:

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... 

I would contact Reverb post haste, expressing your concerns and asking for a review.

A few other details: 1. is the Ship-To Address in the Cont. 48 or over seas? 2. How is the buyer proposing payment? Through the Reverb system or some other? 

Ship to address is in CONUS.

Buyer already paid through Reverb.  If I were to now ship it, they would release the funds to me.

 

 

24 minutes ago, Spinaltap said:

contacting reverb is the best way to go, while you go through the process.  It may be a pain but may help avoid more pain later.

GLWTS

I think you're right.  I think I can just go in and tell them to refund the buyer.

 

4 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

I don't understand... if you receive the money, What's the problem? 😏

The problem is that he could claim to never have received it, it's broken, it didn't have purple wiring, the treble knob is sticky, or some other BS to try to get a full or partial refund.  To restate the reason I'm suspicious:

Buyer asks very technical and detailed questions about the amp.  I don't even answer.

Buyer makes offer on amp.  I look at his profile and due to an odd (lack of) history, I tell him I really don't feel comfortable selling to him.  Buyer doesn't respond.

Submits higher offer.  I message him "See my previous response.  Buyer doesn't respond.

Submits higher offer, now almost $100 more than a new unit.  I don't message him or decline the offer; I just let it expire.

Buyer submits full price offer.  Reverb considers it a sale.  Buyer messages weird "thank you for selling me this amp" message in broken English.

Why would he go up and up to an eventual full price offer after I didn't answer his questions and actually told him I didn't want to sell to him?

Edited February 25 by tommy p

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, tommy p said:

The problem is that he could claim to never have received it, it's broken, it didn't have purple wiring, the treble knob is sticky, or some other BS to try to get a full or partial refund.  

I guess my point is, ANYONE can pull the same maneuver... I agree I would probably give Reverb a heads up on your concerns... but once you receive the money, pack it, insure it with the tracking number, it's pretty much out of your hands... unfortunately, that's the risk selling online... years ago, I sold a bunch of old JBL tweeters to a guy that opened them up to replace the guts, then try to file a claim that they weren't original... I spoke with an Ebay rep and determined that since he broke the original wax seals he had no claim... 

I'm wishing you good luck 👍 

[hamerhead]

What happens if you refuse to ship and just refund his money? Does Reverb send hired goons to break your kneecaps?

Sounds sketchy as hell. Good luck with it. 

[kizanski]

20 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

What happens if you refuse to ship and just refund his money?

This was going to be my suggestion.

I hate to paint with such a broad brush...actually, that's not true. Broad Brush Painting is my chosen modality.
But... the feeling that poked your ears up when you saw his Reverb "history" is the same feeling that is giving you pause now that he purchased it at full price after his specific questions were never answered.

Sometimes you just know.
 

[RobB]

I have recently faced my first Reverb hiccup. Ordered is DiMarzio pickup three weeks ago and I’ve not heard from the guy. I requested a refund and now they are going after him. I should see a refund in a few days.
 

 

Edited February 26 by RobB

[bry4321]

Maybe see if you can get his number and talk to him? He may sound like a normal guy with a good explanation. I would have thought he might have provided some of that info via Reverb though. Good luck!

 

Edit: sorry I didn’t read closely enough to see your comment about the broken English message. 

Edited February 26 by bry4321

[hamerhead]

20 hours ago, kizanski said:

This was going to be my suggestion.

I hate to paint with such a broad brush...actually, that's not true. Broad Brush Painting is my chosen modality.
But... the feeling that poked your ears up when you saw his Reverb "history" is the same feeling that is giving you pause now that he purchased it at full price after his specific questions were never answered.

Sometimes you just know.
 

What about the breaking kneecaps part?

[tommy p]

22 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

I guess my point is, ANYONE can pull the same maneuver... I agree I would probably give Reverb a heads up on your concerns... but once you receive the money, pack it, insure it with the tracking number, it's pretty much out of your hands... unfortunately, that's the risk selling online... years ago, I sold a bunch of old JBL tweeters to a guy that opened them up to replace the guts, then try to file a claim that they weren't original... I spoke with an Ebay rep and determined that since he broke the original wax seals he had no claim... 

I'm wishing you good luck 👍 

That's true, but if I saw a buyer had 200 transactions and all positive feedback, I would be a lot more likely to trust them.  Wouldn't you?

[hamerican gigolo]

Situations such as this is why I Fing hate selling online. It sounds a lil suspicious... 🤔

[diablo175]

Agree with the apprehensions listed above. Reverb does offer peace of mind for buyer and sellers so, if it's a matter of making sure you get paid, I think you're okay IF it goes through the proper channels in Reverb.  

 

[kizanski]

2 hours ago, hamerhead said:

What about the breaking kneecaps part?

My father taught me at a young age not to discuss things like this on the phone.
Had there been such a thing as the Internet back then, I think he would have included it as well.

[Dave Scepter]

2 hours ago, tommy p said:

That's true, but if I saw a buyer had 200 transactions and all positive feedback, I would be a lot more likely to trust them.  Wouldn't you?

It depends, I normally do not accept 0 feedbacks from buyers on eBay, but I've been surprised quite a few times where they've actually come through... life's a journey, Just relax and deal with it as it comes, you might be surprised... you've already had a stroke ffs and don't need the extra excitement... you have Reverbs protection and after the smoke clears, it's just stuff 🙏

[kizanski]

7 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

...you've already had a stroke ffs and don't need the extra excitement... 

Perspective.   

[LucSulla]

On 2/25/2026 at 11:33 AM, hamerhead said:

What happens if you refuse to ship and just refund his money? Does Reverb send hired goons to break your kneecaps?

Sounds sketchy as hell. Good luck with it. 

This is the way. 

There is nothing that will come from refunding the transaction will be anywhere close to the pain in the ass that dealing with this if it goes sideways. 

Yeah, if the ship address is the same as the account address, you'd more than likely be fine in the long run, but why put up with it? If you're already getting a bad feeling, I wouldn't let it out the door. 

[velorush]

I've likely posted this before, but there was an attorney in our little town who was quite the wordsmith, a master of dry humor and even taught B-law at the local "at school."

Hear now, Bob Hearn's Golden Rule (never to be confused with the golden rule): "He who has the gold makes the rules." 

You, sir, have the gold. You get to make the rules. Exercise your dominion over the transaction. Agree to do only what you feel comfortable with and nothing you feel uncomfortable with. As soon as the "gold" is in the hands of the common carrier, however, you no longer hold the "gold" and thus the power. [/opinion] 

and RIP Bob Hearn!

[Dave Scepter]

😀

Edited February 26 by Dave Scepter

[tommy p]

On 2/26/2026 at 12:17 PM, Dave Scepter said:

It depends, I normally do not accept 0 feedbacks from buyers on eBay, but I've been surprised quite a few times where they've actually come through... life's a journey, Just relax and deal with it as it comes, you might be surprised... you've already had a stroke ffs and don't need the extra excitement... you have Reverbs protection and after the smoke clears, it's just stuff 🙏

You normally don't, but sometimes you do?  If a buyer on Reverb or eBay has zero transactions or feedback, I delete their bid.  This guy did have ONE, but as I said it was ten years ago.  WTF?  On eBay you can actually set your listing so that buyers with less than a certain amount of time/feedback/rating/etc can't even bid which I have done there.

I have to tell you I resent you commenting on my stroke(s).  I'm about as laid back a person as you're likely to encounter (I've met several HFCers and they can probably tell you that's true).  My strokes were ischemic, meaning they were caused by blood clots.  I'm 6'3", weighed about 185 (now 175), never smoked, barely drink, excellent blood pressure, etc. so there were no lifestyle factors.  We spent nearly two years trying to find a cause and it turns out I have a clotting disorder.  I could keel over right now typing this or I could live to 100, who knows?  We are managing it the best we can.  So...there's no "extra excitement" here.  I just don't want someone trying to scam me out of a $1000 piece of equipment.  Even if you have a medical degree, I'm not your patient and a comment like that is not helpful nor appreciated.

 

 

On 2/26/2026 at 12:40 PM, LucSulla said:

There is nothing that will come from refunding the transaction will be anywhere close to the pain in the ass that dealing with this if it goes sideways. 

I have come to the same conclusion - thanks for your input!

 

 

On 2/26/2026 at 12:46 PM, velorush said:

I've likely posted this before, but there was an attorney in our little town who was quite the wordsmith, a master of dry humor and even taught B-law at the local "at school."

Hear now, Bob Hearn's Golden Rule (never to be confused with the golden rule): "He who has the gold makes the rules." 

You, sir, have the gold. You get to make the rules. Exercise your dominion over the transaction. Agree to do only what you feel comfortable with and nothing you feel uncomfortable with. As soon as the "gold" is in the hands of the common carrier, however, you no longer hold the "gold" and thus the power. [/opinion] 

and RIP Bob Hearn!

Love that!

 

To close out the saga: I let the guy know I would be refunding his money and he got PISSED.  He said I should have put in the listing I wouldn't accept buyers with insufficient history on Reverb.   I replied that I told him that when I declined his first offer but he still made three more.  He claimed he never got any of my messages so I screen-shotted them and sent them to him again.  He then sent a "What?  My money's not good enough for you?" rant and he got belligerent and accused ME of scamming HIM.  So basically, ya know, fuck that guy.

Edited February 28 by tommy p

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, tommy p said:

I have to tell you I resent you commenting on my stroke(s).  I'm not your patient and a comment like that is not helpful nor appreciated.

You know what man, I was actually trying to be friendly and helpful, and quite honestly was thinking about actually buying the amp from you and relisting myself just so you didn't have to go through the process yourself... again... glad you sorted things out