Advice with online purchase

[Rich007]

Hi everyone, I’m new here from the UK. I am about to purchase my first PRS from a private seller and I was just after your opinions.
I am a bit hesitant as this is the first time I have purchase a guitar from an online private seller before.
The guitar is a PRS Custom 22 serial number 61149. The seller says they are selling the guitar for a friend, advertising it on Facebook marketplace. I can’t post links yet as I have just joined the forum and I don’t think I can post pictures yet either.
I have come to a deal with the seller and arranging to pick it up on Sunday.

The advert says -
Pre owned fire red PRS custom 23 guitar with hard case.
Very well looked after.
No to trades.

It says it was listed 13 weeks ago in Monmouth, Wales.
When I click on the profile of the seller on Facebook, I can’t see a profile picture and I can’t see any think on the profile at all like, Friends, Photos etc. But could that be because they have everything set to private? I’m not too clued up about that.
Throughout my conversations with them they have said they have had to ask their friend who they are selling the guitar for my questions that I have had about the guitar before getting back to me. They come across very polite and well mannered.
I know it might be a bit hard to judge without seeing the advert and pictures but do you think it is legitimate?
I’m not going to transfer them any money until I have inspected the guitar.
Is there anything you think I should do first that can make sure that this isn’t a scam?
Any help or opinions would be really appreciated.

 

[veinbuster]

There’s no way of knowing if it is legit without looking at it.
I wouldn’t be especially concerned about their Facebook information being private.
Look closely at the guitar to see what shape it is in. If you can’t tell for yourself if it a real PRS, print out a few high quality photos of a custom 22 from the company website to take with you.
If you don’t feel comfortable with it, walk away.

Welcome to the forum.
Let us know how it goes.
I’m hoping you report back with a nice 35 year old guitar.

 

[Rich007]

Thank you for the great advice. I’m going to study a load of Custom 22 pictures before I meet them.
Hopefully it all goes fine. I will let you know how it goes and hopefully with some pictures.
Thanks again for your advice and the welcome.

 

[CandidPicker]

Rich, there are some safety protocols regards buying/selling on FaceBook...

Try to agree with the seller on meeting at a safe location, if you've not done business with FaceBook marketplace before. The parking lot of a police constabulary is usually a good place. I've done only 2 deals from Facebook MP or classified ads that weren't completed in a safe location, though on one occasion I brought my larger sized nephew with me for "moral support."

The seller was entirely agreeable and helped me load my new filing cabinet into the back of my vehicle with my nephew's help. The previous time were 2 PA speakers, in a large crowded mall parking lot. It was much more tense then, because the buyer had 2 people in their car, with me only myself. I've since learned to exercise the usual precautions, and be knowledgeable about what my purchases are.

If perhaps you've got a mate who knows guitars, you might enlist his assistance beforehand to check out the listing and confirm or deny the accuracy of the FB listing.

Otherwise, you can still reply to several more posts until you are able to post images, and we could help ID the guitar listing for you. More than happy to lend a hand. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Rich007]

Thank you Candidpicker, I really appreciate your advice.
Here is the link to the advert -
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/361245051593856/?referral_code=undefined
hopefully the link works.

The seller also sent me a picture of the hang tag

 

[SinSir]

I wouldn't be too concerned since you are meeting him in person. It's not really an online purchase. It's an online advertisement. I've sold many things in the past on line for less tech savy people. To field the questions to them is the same as I did. The link isn't taking me to the ad but the hang tag is legitimate. You c an also put that number on the barcode in a modcat decoder to get all the info on the guitar. I wouldn't be too concerned about knowing if it's a fake or not. In person it's pretty easy to tell if it's legitimate or not even not knowing a lot about PRS. These aren't cheap guitars and the fakes aren't good.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Looks legit to me Rich. The hang tag is a nice addition.

Hope it turns out to be a good one.

 

[Rich007]

Thank you SinSir and Alnus Rubra. I’m just a bit hesitant as I haven’t done this before and thought some things were a little odd. I’m sure I’m just being paranoid and the seller is legitimate.

I have arranged to meet them tomorrow so fingers crossed. I will let you know how it goes and hopefully post up some pictures all going well

 

[matonanjin]

I wouldn't be too concerned since you are meeting him in person. It's not really an online purchase. It's an online advertisement. I've sold many things in the past on line for less tech savy people.
...

Such an important distinction that SinSir just made that perhaps it warrants repeating. You are not sending someone money and then hoping they send the guitar as with some online purchases. You are physically going to meet him/her/them and can see the guitar and then can either 1) hand them money or 2) walk away.

@Rich007 you are not being paranoid. Certainly nothing wrong being cautious with hard earned money. But the fact that the seller is willing to meet you lends some credibility to the sale.

We all hope we soon see a new NGD post!

 

[veinbuster]

Thank you SinSir and Alnus Rubra. I’m just a bit hesitant as I haven’t done this before and thought some things were a little odd. I’m sure I’m just being paranoid and the seller is legitimate.

I have arranged to meet them tomorrow so fingers crossed. I will let you know how it goes and hopefully post up some pictures all going well

The listing looks good to me. Rotary switch and winged tuners...and you get to add it to the red thread.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Good luck guitar shopping.

 

[CandidPicker]

Thank you SinSir and Alnus Rubra. I’m just a bit hesitant as I haven’t done this before and thought some things were a little odd. I’m sure I’m just being paranoid and the seller is legitimate.

I have arranged to meet them tomorrow so fingers crossed. I will let you know how it goes and hopefully post up some pictures all going well

Looks good! Only thing I can't see well is the back clearly. Perhaps when you hold the guitar in daylight you'll see more clearly.

The guitar looks good and is in good condition, from what the images display. There may be some cosmetic issues (minor ones) that won't display in the images, but you can certainly use this as a negotiating fact, and kindly point out the issues before conducting the transaction.

Best wishes.

 

[DISTORT6]

Looks nice!
They almost got the wings right, too!
Be careful and good luck!

 

[Wailing]

The seller also has other random items for sale which for me is a positive, it does look kosher... As the other learned folk say here, don’t be rushed, take a tuner to test and check intonation.. spend time looking it over.. walk away if you have any gut feelings all is not as it should be... best of luck.. I traded to get my PRS Brent Mason via Facebook in a car park and am a very happy bunny ...

 

[bodia]

Hope things work out well for you. Looks like a great guitar.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

If you make a successful purchase today, looking forward to your new guitar thread

 

[Warmart]

I tried to click the link and it said "no longer available". Someone's rocking out!