How lucky (or unlucky) have you been with online purchases

[Charlie Bernstein]

Mostly lucky. I made one bad buy, and it taught be to pay attention to return policies. (Turned out I couldn't.)

I bought all but one of my acoustic string instruments online. Overall, a highly happy customer.

Now you know.

[ghostnote]

I’ve had good luck. I only buy new things online, however. I never buy anything used without being able to look and touch first, which means going to a physical space to buy or returning it - which process I hate, no matter how easy the terms are.

[gmel555]

I've been lucky. All guitars I've purchased online were as described and arrived in fine shape:
- Bourgeois LDB0 (AcousticMusic.org)
- Bourgeois 00-Coupe (AcousticMusic.org)
- Martin ’37 Authentic. 000-28 (Tone Shop)
- Taylor T5z (Tobias Music where I often buy in-person)
- MIJ Fender Strat (eBay)

Originally Posted by dilver

Is it luck or is it diligence?...

Good point, the Bourgeois and Taylor were bought from dealers I know and who know me and the Martin was from a Martin Expert Custom Shop dealer. I guess I haven't taken much risk. The Strat was from a private seller and was a "winner" at a great price).

[BoneDigger]

I'd say 95 percent of the guitars I've bought online have been as described and at least in decent playable shape. I did buy one Epiphone Excellente from an Amazon seller and it needed a lot of setup work. It cost me $150 to get it playable. But overall, not bad at all with online purchases.

[seaveez]

I've purchased two guitars from Sweetwater and had/have had no issues at all.

[The Bard Rocks]

Mostly, I have bought luthier-made guitars and autoharps. You'd expect there to be no problems, and there haven't been any. My National Duolian came off eBay and arrived as expected, not perfect, but you don't expect one to be which is 90 years old and selling at a discount. I've bought banjo-mandolins, a tiple, and a mandolin and mando-lute. One was returned as it was not as described. Had to hassle the seller on that, but he capitulated once the credit card company got involved. On one after playing it for a good while, realized I was not happy with the sound, so it was traded off, online, which worked great. The rest I still have.

[Mark Stone]

I got two Epiphone J-200s (at different times) from Sweetwater, and a Gibson Hummingbird Pro online from GC. All three were perfect. However, most of my purchases and trades are done locally.

[koko61]

I have been very lucky with my purchases since almost all my guitars have been second-hand and I have bought them online. The problem is that for a new guitar to come in, another one has to come out! Right now I have four, but in the last decade at least ten guitars have passed through my hands. The only one I bought new, made for me, is the Loef 00