Riley Stokes - Posted - 05/04/2012:  10:16:05

I  wish someone would buy the Bart Reiter Standard currently (as of May 4th) riding on Minneapolis-St. Paul Craigslist.  I mean... oh, the temptation.  The seller wants a little under $900 for a banjo that appears  nearly new.  That model is  offered by Elderly Instruments at $1200, so $300 off strikes me as an OK deal.  But you can decide that.

Full disclosure:  I have no connection to the seller except that we have similar taste in banjos.  On the other hand, I'm keeping mine, while he's foolishly selling his and will probably squander the proceeds on frivolities like rent and groceries.  The priorities of some people.  And no connection to Bart Reiter other than I own a '92 Special.  Next time Bart is in Dresser, Wisconsin he can call me and I'll take him out to lunch.

Riley Stokes  

Dexter - Posted - 05/04/2012:  11:33:46

quote: Thanks for posting Riley.....I would buy it but I live in Montana and I'm afraid of having something shipped through Craigslist...It's the model I want.....Regards, Rick

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Originally posted by Riley Stokes

I  wish someone would buy the Bart Reiter Standard currently (as of May 4th) riding on Minneapolis-St. Paul Craigslist.  I mean... oh, the temptation.  The seller wants a little under $900 for a banjo that appears  nearly new.  That model is  offered by Elderly Instruments at $1200, so $300 off strikes me as an OK deal.  But you can decide that.

Full disclosure:  I have no connection to the seller except that we have similar taste in banjos.  On the other hand, I'm keeping mine, while he's foolishly selling his and will probably squander the proceeds on frivolities like rent and groceries.  The priorities of some people.  And no connection to Bart Reiter other than I own a '92 Special.  Next time Bart is in Dresser, Wisconsin he can call me and I'll take him out to lunch.

Riley Stokes  

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Riley Stokes - Posted - 05/05/2012:  11:59:11

Gee, Rick, Minnesota to Missoula isn't far. And banjos are pretty hardy and should ship well, especially in these moderate-weather months. I once sold a Martin HD-28 guitar to a guy in South Africa. What a headache. But got it and in fine condition (I double boxed it).

What you do is get on the phone with the seller, make a little small talk, get on a wavelength, get a feel for what
kind of a person you're dealing with. If you get "bad vibes" (to use an old term), don't deal. It's true that in a long-range transaction the seller holds most of the cards, but most people are honest, and musicians moreso than average. You can pay with a U.S. Postal money order, good at any bank. Three different long-range buyers have trusted me, for example, and I did not disappoint them. (I'm still in regular contact with one, some eight years later; he emails me clips of new pieces he's composed on the Martin OM-16 I sold him.)

Well, that's what I'd do. To get the exact model I wanted at $800 less? Absolutely. Of course if the seller won't ship it, well then, there's no deal.

Riley

Dexter - Posted - 05/05/2012:  19:29:19

quote: Thanks Riley...great advice....I did email the seller and have not yet heard back yet. Rick

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Originally posted by Riley Stokes

Gee, Rick, Minnesota to Missoula isn't far. 

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the-fish - Posted - 05/05/2012:  20:42:45

Im in the area if I can help. I seen it as well

Edited by - the-fish on 05/05/2012 20:43:20

erikforgod - Posted - 05/05/2012:  20:45:41

Good luck Rick with the Reiter banjo...hope you can close the deal and get it!

Edited by - erikforgod on 05/05/2012 20:46:06

Dexter - Posted - 05/06/2012:  08:26:18

quote: the-fish....thanks very much....I still haven't heard from the seller....so maybe he sold it or just wants to stay local....if you ever see a banjo in my area that you need me to check out...just let me know. Rick

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Originally posted by the-fish



Im in the area if I can help. I seen it as well

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Dexter - Posted - 05/06/2012:  08:27:45

quote: Thanks Eric....eventually I'll get one.....I want a Bart Reiter for my "long-term" keeper.......Rick

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Originally posted by erikforgod

Good luck Rick with the Reiter banjo...hope you can close the deal and get it!

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erikforgod - Posted - 05/06/2012:  08:41:20

quote:

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Originally posted by Dexter

quote: Thanks Eric....eventually I'll get one.....I want a Bart Reiter for my "long-term" keeper.......Rick

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Originally posted by erikforgod

Good luck Rick with the Reiter banjo...hope you can close the deal and get it!

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I too have looked at the Bart Reiter fretless...for around U$S 900 from Elderly it seems a steakl...only thing is you might have to wait a year or so before another one comes and then fight the wolves to hopefully secure it before it is sold! I dont know when I will get another banjo...with the baby coming and other financial pressures...we need a bigger place to live as well.

Edited by - erikforgod on 05/06/2012 08:42:52

Riley Stokes - Posted - 05/06/2012:  10:48:09

Ooops! I see that I mistyped, saying "$800 less" when I meant "$300 less." My implied point was not an original one,
merely that when you run into a solid instrument, particularly from a "name" maker, and the condition is good, and the price is a reasonable step down from the current new price, it's usually a pretty safe buy. Evaluating condition before making a long-range deal is tricky, I admit, and many people have horror stories about shipping and so on. Still, music people strike me as more honorable than most (we could debate that but let's not).

By the way, it doesn't apply here, but dealing long-range with a HANGOUT MEMBER would give me extra confidence. There's a great club-like atmosphere here.

Riley

Dexter - Posted - 05/06/2012:  10:58:55

quote: Riley, I knew what you meant.....looks like ad has been removed....sure he sold it.....not surprised it went fairly quickly....thanks, Rick

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Originally posted by Riley Stokes

Ooops! I see that I mistyped, saying "$800 less" when I meant "$300 less." My implied point was not an original one,

merely that when you run into a solid instrument, particularly from a "name" maker, and the condition is good, and the price is a reasonable step down from the current new price, it's usually a pretty safe buy. Evaluating condition before making a long-range deal is tricky, I admit, and many people have horror stories about shipping and so on. Still, music people strike me as more honorable than most (we could debate that but let's not).



By the way, it doesn't apply here, but dealing long-range with a HANGOUT MEMBER would give me extra confidence. There's a great club-like atmosphere here.



Riley

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