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Selling on Reverb vs Selling to a Dealer: The Real Math (Fees, Time, Risk)
Selling on Reverb vs Selling to a Dealer: The Real Math (Fees, Time, Risk)
On a guitar worth $3,000 at fair market value, a dealer offer nets close to that number the same day. Selling on Reverb at the same $3,000 list price nets roughly $2,650 to $2,750 after fees and shipping, and only if it sells at that price within a reasonable time. Here is the math, step by step. Edgewater Guitars: (440) 219-3607.
Why “List Price” Is Not “What You Net”
Most comparisons between a dealer offer and Reverb stop at “Reverb sellers get more.” That is only true if you compare a dealer’s wholesale offer to Reverb’s full retail list price, which is not an apples-to-apples comparison. The number that actually matters is what lands in your bank account after fees, shipping, packaging, and the real chance the guitar does not sell at your first asking price. Below is a worked example using a round hypothetical guitar value, not a real transaction, so you can run the same math on your own instrument.
The Worked Example: A $3,000 Guitar
Say a guitar has a genuine fair market value of $3,000, meaning that is roughly what a knowledgeable buyer would expect to pay a private seller for it in good condition.
Step | Dealer (Edgewater) | Reverb |
|---|---|---|
Starting point | Fair market value: $3,000 | You list at or near fair value: $3,000 |
Platform selling fee | None | 5% selling fee: about $150 |
Payment processing | None | A little over 3%: roughly $95 |
Your shipping and packaging | None, we arrange and pay for insured shipping if needed | Typically $30 to $150 depending on size and destination, plus packaging materials |
Time cost | One phone call or visit, paid same day | Hours of photos and listing, then 3 to 8 weeks of messages and waiting, unpaid |
Estimated net | Close to $3,000, paid same day | Roughly $2,650 to $2,750, if it sells at list price within a reasonable window |
These figures use Reverb’s published seller fee of 5% plus a payment processing fee a little over 3%, for roughly 8% in combined platform fees, current as of this writing. Fee schedules change, so check Reverb’s current fee page for your category and seller tier before you list. Shipping costs vary with the size and value of the instrument and where it is going.
The Part the Math Above Does Not Show
The table assumes the guitar sells at your full asking price on the first try. In practice, that is optimistic. A listing that does not sell in the first couple of weeks often gets a price cut, then another. Every week it sits unsold is a week without the money, and a guitar that sits too long can start to look stale to buyers browsing by “newest first.” There is also the real, if uncommon, risk of a return: a buyer who changes their mind, a shipping dispute, or an item that arrives with new damage. None of that shows up in a simple fee calculation, but all of it is part of the real math.
Where Reverb Genuinely Wins
This is not a case against Reverb across the board. For a genuinely rare or highly sought-after guitar, a specific collector may be willing to pay meaningfully above fair market value to get that exact instrument, enough to absorb the fees and still come out ahead of a dealer offer. If you know the market for your specific model, have the time to manage a listing properly, and are comfortable with the shipping and packaging involved, Reverb can be the right call. The honest answer is that it depends on the guitar, not a blanket rule either way.
Where a Dealer Wins
For the large majority of vintage guitars, a same-day dealer offer at fair market value beats a Reverb listing once fees, shipping, and the real chance of a slow or discounted sale are factored in, and it does so without weeks of your time or any shipping risk. A dealer offer is also the more reliable path when you are not certain of the guitar’s exact model, year, or condition grade, since an experienced buyer can identify and value it on the spot rather than you having to research and describe it accurately in a listing.
When to Choose Each Option
Choose a dealer if you want certainty, speed, and a number close to fair value with zero fees and zero shipping risk.
Choose Reverb if the guitar is rare enough that a specific buyer may pay a real premium, and you have the time and comfort level to manage a listing, packing, and shipping.
Run your own numbers before deciding: take your guitar’s realistic list price, subtract roughly 8% for Reverb’s combined fees, subtract your actual shipping and packaging cost, and compare that number to a dealer’s same-day offer.
What Sellers Say About Edgewater
“Their customer service was excellent and they made me a fair offer within minutes of submitting info about my old guitar.” Stephen Schaefer, Google review
“No pressure to buy or sell. I gained a free education ... transparency and honesty ... I genuinely trust Stephen.” Winston Woodward, Google review
Related Reading
Where to Sell a Vintage Gibson: Dealer vs Reverb vs eBay vs Pawn Shop
Where to Sell a Vintage Fender: Dealer vs Reverb vs eBay vs Pawn Shop
Where to Sell a Vintage Martin: Dealer vs Reverb vs eBay vs Pawn Shop
Local Guitar Shop vs a National Vintage Buyer: What’s the Difference?
Consignment vs Selling Outright: Which Is Better for Your Guitar?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Reverb actually take in fees?
Reverb charges a 5% selling fee plus a payment processing fee of a little over 3%, so roughly 8% of your list price goes to fees before you subtract your own shipping and packaging costs. Check Reverb’s current fee page for your exact category and seller tier, since fees can change.
Is a dealer offer always lower than what I could get on Reverb?
Not always. A dealer offer reflects fair wholesale value paid same day with zero fees and zero risk. Reverb can net more only when a specific buyer pays a real premium above fair value, which happens most often on rare or highly sought-after guitars, not on typical examples.
Does this math change for a less valuable guitar?
The percentages stay roughly the same, but the dollar gap shrinks. On a lower-value instrument, the flat costs of packaging and the time spent listing matter proportionally more, which often tips the math further toward a same-day dealer offer.
About This Guide
By Stephen Pedone and Gavin Coe, co-owners of Edgewater Guitars. We’ve appraised and purchased hundreds of vintage guitars across Ohio and nationwide, with over 30 years of combined experience in vintage guitar authentication.
Last updated: July 2026
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