Brokering Service
Do you want to sell your synth but don’t have the time, or just hate the whole process of having to deal with people you don’t know, or so called tyre kickers?
Perhaps your synth needs servicing or some repairs before you can sell it and that’s just more hassle to deal with?
Wouldn’t it be great if someone else did all the work and you just got the cash once it’s sold!
The RL Music Synth Brokering Services has been designed so that we manage the entire servicing & sales process on your behalf and make it a simple, safe and painless way to sell your instrument. We have been Brokering Synths for 17 years and helped many customers in finding new homes for their equipment. The range of synths we have Brokered is very wide-ranging, for example; Moog Modular, EMS VCS3/AKS, Minimoogs, Memorymoogs, OB-8, MS20, Serge Modular, Roland System 700 Modular, Odysseys etc.
Services Options:
Commission Basis
We charge 25% commission of the final sale price and service the synth and sell it with a full 3-month warranty to the new owner. The cost of servicing and managing the entire sales process is all included in the 25% commission charge. The synth has a higher retail value than that of a privately sold item due to the servicing and warranty etc so the commission rate is relative. The warranty the instrument is sold with is 3 months full parts & labour.
For example: We advertise a serviced & guaranteed instrument for £2200 and upon sale, return you £1650 – our gross commission is £550. As soon as the synth has been sold and paid for then we would transfer the £1650 to your bank account. The private market value of the instrument could be around £1650 so the objective is to achieve a reasonable market price back to you.
Cost Plus Basis
We agree on a price that you would be happy to accept taking into account the current condition of the synth. We then sell the synth with the full servicing and warranty etc. but whatever price we managed to sell the synth for over and above the agreed sales value we had with you then we retain this to cover our costs & profits etc.
The reason we operate 2 different options is purely down to the type and value of the instrument. Cost Plus Basis is mainly used for high-value items usually priced beyond £30000+
For example: if you wanted us to Broker a large vintage Modular then the 25% Commission Basis could make that too expensive. On the ‘Cost Plus Basis’ we would (in advance) agree on the payment you want from the sale and then we would then find a buyer at a higher price to reflect our investment into servicing/restoration. Additionally, the warranty offered by supplying this high-end modular system from a specialist dealer, and the knowledge that we are experts and can support the system long into the future, adds a lot of assurance and value to the new owner.
Alternately You Can Sell The Synth To Us ‘as-is’
The alternative to all the above is to see if you would prefer to just sell the synth as-is now to us in order to release the cash from the sale straight away. The purchase ‘offer-rate’ is going to be lower than the perceived ‘market rate’ as we have to finance the purchase and take the synth into stock and invest in the servicing/restoration and other tangible business overheads – so this becomes a capital outlay rather than a service.
If you have any questions on the above service and would like to discuss your requirements then please contact Richard Lawson via the ‘contact us’ page.
TESTIMONIALS
“I have dealt with RL Music many times over the years buying (e.g. a Buchla 200e, parts of a System 700), using their brokering service for some very high-value vintage synths including a Moog System 55, LAMM, etc, servicing vintage synths (is there nothing super synth man Kent can’t fix?) and sales often involving complex international management and transport issues – And I wouldn’t hesitate to do so again, because of the very high levels of personal service, knowledge, enthusiasm, commitment, and integrity.”
John Grant, synth enthusiast and collector. London
“I’m very glad that I’ve trusted Richard to sell my Prophet 5 and Roland TR-808. His passion and care for vintage synths is amazing. I am really pleased he has managed to find the items new enthusiast owners and it has been an absolute pleasure to deal with him. Thank you! ”
Tim Tor, synth enthusiast. UK
RL Music – Synth Brokerage Terms & Conditions
1. Initial Assessment
The instrument must be delivered to our appointed technical service provider, KSR, for assessment before RL Music can agree to advertise it for sale.
2. Exclusive Brokerage
The instrument must not be advertised or offered for sale elsewhere whilst RL Music is engaged in brokering it on the owner’s behalf.
3. Minimum Brokerage Period
The minimum brokerage period is six months.
If, after six months, we have been unable to find a buyer, we will contact the owner to discuss whether a revised selling price should be considered or whether the brokerage arrangement should be terminated.
4. Transportation and Return of Instruments
All transportation costs associated with the brokerage arrangement, including delivery to our appointed technical service provider and the return of an instrument to its owner should the brokerage arrangement be terminated, are the responsibility of the instrument’s owner.
RL Music will be happy to assist with arranging suitable transportation where required, with any associated costs agreed with the owner in advance.
5. Servicing, Repairs and Ongoing Maintenance
All instruments must undergo any servicing and repairs deemed necessary by our appointed technical service provider before being offered for sale through RL Music.
Due to the age and nature of vintage electronic musical instruments, additional faults or servicing requirements may arise during the brokerage period, even where an instrument has previously been serviced and is not in regular use.
Should any additional work become necessary, RL Music will notify the owner and provide details of the recommended work and associated costs. No additional chargeable work will be undertaken without the owner’s prior approval.
The owner remains responsible for the cost of any additional servicing or repairs required to maintain the instrument in a condition suitable for sale.
Where necessary, RL Music may temporarily suspend advertising or sales activity until the required work has been completed.
6. Instrument Information and Photographs
Before an instrument can be accepted for brokerage, the owner must provide detailed, high-resolution photographs and a written description of its cosmetic and operational condition.
7. Acceptance of Instruments
RL Music reserves the right to decline an instrument for brokerage if it is not as described, requires substantial repairs or restoration, or has cosmetic defects that would prevent it from achieving an appropriate resale value.
8. Technical Assessments and Associated Charges
Instruments requiring technical assessment to establish their operational condition and identify any necessary servicing or repair work will be assessed by KSR.
The technical assessment will be provided free of charge if the owner subsequently authorises and proceeds with the recommended servicing or repair work.
If the owner decides not to proceed with the recommended work following the assessment, a one-off assessment fee of £80 will be payable.
Any servicing, repairs or restoration work identified as necessary before the instrument can be offered for sale must be authorised by the owner.
All associated labour and materials charges are payable in advance, and the work must be completed before the instrument can be offered for sale through RL Music.
9. Minimum Instrument Value
Due to servicing and general business costs, instruments with an anticipated market value below £1,000 cannot be considered for the RL Music Synth Brokerage Service.
10. General Terms & Conditions
These Synth Brokerage Terms & Conditions should be read in conjunction with RL Music’s General Terms & Conditions, which also apply to our brokerage services.
In the event of any inconsistency between the two sets of terms, these Brokerage Terms & Conditions will take precedence in matters specifically relating to the brokerage service.
