Are you wanting to sell your used flute? Perhaps it is time to upgrade your flute or maybe you wish to trade-in your flute. Whatever the reason you have to sell your flute, there are a number of different ways to do this. London Flutes looks at the pros and cons of selling a used flute and how to do it.
SELLING A FLUTE ON EBAY
Ebay is a common selling site to sell a huge range of products and can be very effective if you have an account. The cost of listing is not expensive and you can add photos and description. You can opt for a 7 or 10 day auction, where the highest bidder wins or a fixed price. If you opt for an auction then you do take a risk on what your flute might sell for so it can be worth starting the auction a little higher or putting a reserve price.
The downside of Ebay is that Chinese accounts dominate the website now selling thousands of cheap flute related items and counterfeit flute makes.
SELLING ON GUMTREE
Another popular website is Gumtree for selling items and inexpensive. There is an initial listing fee but no selling fee and so this is a simple way of listing your flute.
The things to be aware of are the amount of scams that are instigated on this and also social media selling platforms. Hacked paypal accounts, hacked bank accounts, fake ID, promises of payment or even problems with face to face sales. A useful platform but it is best to be very vigilant.
SELLING ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE
More and more over the last few years, Facebook Marketplace has become a popular way to sell items. It is free to list and you can also choose for your listings to be seen in specific groups like ‘Flutes for Sale’ or in more local groups to your area.
Here there are the same problems with scams that Gumtree have and it pays to be extra vigilant. You might also find that you will receive a lot more low offers on here by those seeking a bargain.
SELLING TO A SHOP
This is probably the safest option and the most immediate. If you are looking to trade in your flute for another one then a shop might take this and offer you a price on yours.
Of course, you are selling here to a business and so they will need to make a profit. This means, like part exchanging a car or selling to a car website, you will get less than the market value. It may be roughly 20-25% less than the current market value. Shops quite often will then carry out any work that needs doing, including servicing and cleaning, before relisting your flute to sell.
There are also very few shops that will purchase your used flute outright. Most will want to sell for you. London Flutes is one of the only well-known UK shops that will consider purchasing a used flute.
SELLING THROUGH A SHOP
Many flute shops will offer to sell your flute on what is known as ‘consignment sale’. This means that they will advertise your flute on their website and when it sells they will charge you a commission on the sales price. This can vary from shop to shop and might be negotiable so always worth asking, especially on valuable flutes. On average the more expensive flute shops charge 20% but you may find options as low as 12%. Just Flutes and All Flutes Plus charge between 18-20% on average and London Flutes, as an online seller, only charges 15%.
Please note that any used flute for sale must be serviced ready to sell. Flute shops can do this for you at a cost.
DONATING YOUR FLUTE
Depending on the value then donating might be a worthwhile option. Flutes can be expensive to service or overhaul and sometimes a student flute that has seen a lot of use, might need more doing to it than the value of the flute. A repad for instance, can cost around £350. Most used beginner flutes are between £200-300 in excellent used condition and so a repad would not be viable unless you really wanted to keep the flute.
There are many council based Music Services that offer instruments to schools, some in disadvantaged areas. Speak to your local council as they may be able to guide you.