I’m looking for advice and tips on how to sell cigarbox guitars other than at a festival. I’m very soon going to have too many sitting around the house and will be looking for a way to sell some. I also would like advice or thoughts on how to determine a price for them. Is anybody out there selling them and if so where are you selling them and how are you determining your price? Thanks
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I'm new to CBG and just lurking. I'm not a builder nor seller. Just giving my two-cents as a newbie shopper and guitar player. I was intrigued when I saw one for sale at Goodwill for $20. (Unfortunately, I didn't buy it)
I looked around ebay, facebook market place, craigslist, etc. The prices still vary between $70-100 for the generic no-frills cigar box guitar.
I haven't seen cigar boxes guitars at my local craft fairs, farmers markets, swap meets, or county fair. I assume it would be difficult to sell due to the price points. Maybe it's different during holiday season.
I've seen local artists having their art work display at coffee shops and restaurants. If you have artsy unique cigar box guitars, how about hitting some local pubs, coffee shops, etc and asking them display with your contact info.
Best of luck.
I sell mine on Etsy and going to craft shows, at first Etsy I was doing pretty good but its getting over populated with them. I sell mine depending on time spent and what all i use (piezo vs humbuckers) type of wood vs exotic wood, anything special someone wants. I sell mine between $125-$250 and have had good luck in that area. I also at the craft shows sell cheap canjos for $25 and usually sell out of those by the end of the craft shows (usually take around 10).
But yes I've noticed the more people are making the more populated the sites are and harder it is to sell them onEtsy, Ebay, etc.
I used to sell on Ebay, and i see them on Etsy too, but the listings have just steadily increased, and there is plenty of competition. As far a pricing goes, I compared my product to others offered on the same sites. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I mostly sell to coworkers now. From my own experience, some people look at time plus materials, and feel there is no point in selling a build for less than $200. However, I have seen very nice builds sell for $49 plus shipping. Personally, $65 plus shipping works for me.
$65 for fretted with a piezo, economy tuners. Sealed tuners and a magnetic pickup, $85. Add a hardtail adjustable bridge, or anything fancy, I get to $100+.,. I have built some double necks too, but for the most part i favor the "plain Jane" builds., Lots of nice builds out there., $4000 is the most i have seen one listed for., many in the $1330 to $1880 range., ( lol )
If your paying that much to build one your paying way to much, do some research and find cheaper parts or find out how to build it yourself, that will cut costs in half. My fret boards use to cost $60, but then i figured I can make them myself and it only costs about $7-$8 only, thats a big diffenece but takes more time, so i looked again and found someone in California that I worked a deal with and makes the fretted freat boards for only $20 a pop. Pickup, you are buying way to expensive pickups, just do your research and see which is more cost effective, to build your own, to find a cheaper supplier, etc. Thats what I did and make a great profit, overall, my cbg cost around $25-$40 to make, so I make $100+ profit and one thing I found that Shane Speals does that I learned, make multiples at a time. Do multiple necks at once, multiple fretboards at once, cut the boxes and sounds holes in multiple cbg at once, so when done you all the sudden have 3-5 done at once.
I pay $15 for parts, put 2 hours labor in it, and list on Ebay. Ebay and PayPal take their cut., I still make $20 an hour, which is fine for me it is a hobby, and I have a day job., I commented on the expensive builds because I have seen them for sale., I see $350 builds listed for $1880.,,.or listed for $1330.,,. The most I have ever charged for a pro build is $100,. I agree about parts cost.,,. I buy bulk parts and strings to cut costs., my conscience would never let me list a build over $299 ., you can get 10 Lace CBG's for $300 plus shipping directly from the factory in China where they are built., That's $30 a piece, plus shipping for completed store worthy builds., "the morning rant".,., lol