How to Sell Musical Instruments in Australia
The best platforms for selling musical instruments in Australia are eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Playability matters more than cosmetics for most buyers; include setup details. Pack carefully — damage in transit is your responsibility.
Best Platforms for Musical Instruments
eBay
FreeAustralia's largest marketplace with 12M+ monthly users. Strong search traffic for musical instruments and built-in buyer protection.
Facebook Marketplace
FreeZero seller fees and local pickup option. Ideal for musical instruments where buyers want to inspect before purchasing.
Pricing Musical Instruments
Fender and Gibson hold value; most other brands depreciate 50%+ from new. Acoustic guitars ship easier than electrics with amps. Japanese vintage guitars (Tokai, Greco, Fernandes) are the current hot market. Factor in shipping — instruments need proper cases and careful packaging.
Market context: The global secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $367 billion by 2029.
Source: ThredUp 2025 Resale Report
Where to Source Musical Instruments in Australia
Garage sales and deceased estates surface instruments. Facebook Marketplace is full of abandoned hobby instruments at bargain prices. School instrument hire returns sometimes end up at op shops. Japanese-made guitars from the 70s-80s (Tokai, Greco) have shot up in value.
Photography Tips for Musical Instruments
Photograph the body, neck, headstock, fretboard, bridge, and any hardware. Show fret wear and any dings or cracks. For guitars, include the serial number. Video of the instrument being played adds huge buyer confidence.
Shipping Fragile Items
- Use double-walled boxes for anything breakable. Single-wall cardboard isn't enough for Australian postal handling.
- Wrap each item individually in bubble wrap with at least 3cm of padding on every side.
- Fill empty space with scrunched packing paper — items that move inside the box during transit get damaged.
- Mark the outside of the box as FRAGILE with a marker or tape, though carriers treat everything the same regardless.
- Australia Post Parcel Post with tracking is the minimum. For items over $200, add insurance or use registered post.
- Photograph the item packed and sealed before dropping it off. This protects you in damage disputes.
Sell Musical Instruments on Each Platform
Each platform has different strengths for musical instruments. Check the individual guides for platform-specific tips.
What Sellers Say
“eBay item specifics are not optional — they're the difference between ranking in search and being invisible.”
— Australian eBay seller community, 2025
“I cross-listed on three platforms and sold a jacket that had been sitting for four months within two hours.”
— Australian reseller, Shopfront user community, 2026
“Tuesday mornings at the Salvos. That's my edge. The stock refresh happens Monday afternoon and the regulars haven't got there yet.”
— Australian vintage reseller, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best platform to sell musical instruments in Australia?
eBay is generally the strongest platform for musical instruments in Australia, followed by Facebook Marketplace. Playability matters more than cosmetics for most buyers; include setup details
How much can I make selling musical instruments?
Fender and Gibson hold value; most other brands depreciate 50%+ from new. Acoustic guitars ship easier than electrics with amps. Japanese vintage guitars (Tokai, Greco, Fernandes) are the current hot market. Factor in shipping — instruments need proper cases and careful packaging.
Where can I source musical instruments for resale in Australia?
Garage sales and deceased estates surface instruments. Facebook Marketplace is full of abandoned hobby instruments at bargain prices. School instrument hire returns sometimes end up at op shops. Japanese-made guitars from the 70s-80s (Tokai, Greco) have shot up in value.
How should I price used musical instruments?
Fender and Gibson hold value; most other brands depreciate 50%+ from new. Acoustic guitars ship easier than electrics with amps. Japanese vintage guitars (Tokai, Greco, Fernandes) are the current hot market. Factor in shipping — instruments need proper cases and careful packaging. Always check recently sold listings on eBay (filter by "Sold" and "AU Only") to get current market pricing rather than relying on active listing prices, which are often inflated.
What shipping method works best for musical instruments?
Musical Instruments requires careful packaging. Use bubble wrap, foam inserts, and a sturdy box with at least 5cm padding on all sides. Australia Post Parcel Post with tracking is the standard option. For higher-value items, consider insurance or registered post. Always photograph the item packed and the shipping label as proof.
Sell Musical Instruments Across Multiple Platforms
List your musical instruments once and crosslist to eBay, Facebook Marketplace automatically. When an item sells on one platform, Shopfront marks it as sold everywhere — no double-selling, no manual updates.
Start Crosslisting FreeAU Reselling Market Data
Grailed has over 10 million active users globally with annual sales of US$718 million.
Source: Fashionopedia / eCommerceDB, 2024–2025
94% of retail executives say their customers already participate in resale — an all-time high.
Source: ThredUp 2025 Resale Report