Hi all, Josh here. I started The Music Room.
I’ve been following the thread and wanted to chime in - not to win an argument, but to add context for the many people reading who may be wondering how this side of the hobby actually works.
First, I understand the reaction that comes up when you sell a piece and later see it listed for more. Even if you agreed to the deal, it can feel off in hindsight. That’s not people being unreasonable. It’s just how our brains work. It’s important to recognize that those two moments are solving different problems. When we make an outright purchase, we’re not really buying at “the market price.” An outright purchase is basically a trade we're making: you get immediacy and predictability, and we take on the waiting and the risk. You get fast payment - no waiting months for a buyer, no pack and shipping risks, no returns, no disputes, no “item not as described” claim 20 days later. Some sellers value that. Others prefer to chase the last dollar themselves. Both approaches are completely valid.
The minute we buy something from you, all the risks and unknowns shift to our side - how long it sits, whether it comes back, shipping damage, market changes, warranty coverage, lost or damaged shipments, customer complaints - all of it. Occasionally we do very well on something. Just as often we don’t. The price you see later when we list the item we bought from you isn’t what we “made.” Rather, it’s the starting point of a different gamble we’re now taking. Also, what you see in our inventory is mostly the gear that hasn’t sold yet. The well-priced pieces that are in high-demand usually disappear before most people ever notice them.
On growth and profit, I want to address that directly because it came up a few times: We are 100% family owned and operated. There's no investors, no outside pressure to maximize extraction, no plan to sell. Growth for us has mostly meant being able to hire technicians, answer the phone faster, test gear properly, and stand behind it with a return policy and warranty. Those things only exist if the business is sustainable over decades, not just good months.
We’re not prioritizing profits over our customers. In fact, profits are the fuel we need to be able to deliver more of what our customers are asking for. It takes investment to build something great for you. If we consistently overpaid, we wouldn’t be here. If we consistently overpriced, customers wouldn’t be here. The business only works in the narrow band where both sides feel like they’re getting a fair outcome.
For anyone uncomfortable with our cash offers, that’s exactly why our consignment program exists. When we share the final sale outcome, there’s no second-guessing later about which path was better. Our stake in the deal is completely up-front and transparent, and you still get all the same benefits of working with us rather than selling on your own. Appraising used gear is an art and science - we'll never get them all "right." Consignment solves this.
Lastly, there’s been a few posts that referenced specific transactions and numbers that just aren’t accurate. Rather than debate details publicly, I’m always happy to personally look into any deal and explain exactly what happened. You can reach me by email - [email protected]. Transparency beats speculation every time.
I appreciate the discussion - positive or negative. This hobby runs on trust, and conversations like this are part of maintaining it.
– Josh