Customer Info

Browsing Questions

What is the best way to find what I am looking for?

On GearSource.com® we offer both search and browse based shopping experiences. Search is when you type an item name in a search field, click enter - and then wade through the results. Browsing is done by clicking a category, then a sub-category and continually drilling down until you locate an item. Shop by Brand and the internal search is available as an alternative. In 'stock items' view, once you find the item you are looking for, all new and used listings are assembled on one web page to speed the shopping process up for you. 'Listings' view shows every item for sale individually but they are not grouped like 'stock items' view.

By registering, what am I getting myself into?

We send out a Daily Blast each morning. This email has become a staple of the production industry and has been said to be "as important to my morning, as my first cup of coffee". This email includes the listings added or edited in the past 24 hours plus any new Need Zone listings and News items.

GearSource.com® will ALWAYS protect your privacy, and therefore, will not sell, rent or otherwise distribute your information. You can review our full Privacy Policy by clicking here.

I got a Login Failure how do I reset my password?

Assuming that you’ve already registered on GearSource.com®... if you get an Error stating that the Email or Password doesn’t match our records, enter the email address you used to register with GearSource.com® and click "I forgot my password”. Enter the email address you used to login and click the “email me my password” button. You will receive an email with instructions to reset your password.

What is 'Give Feedback'?

The Give Feedback icon and link can be found in the lower right corner of each page of GearSource.com®. The feedback system was added to provide our users with the opportunity to submit feedback (good or bad) that will help us to facilitiate a better environment for Buyers and Sellers on GearSource.com®. The feedback is confidential and the reports are only distributed to key GearSource personnel to respond to you when appropriate or make changes to the website or procedures to make your experience the best we can make it for customers and vendors.

Return Policy

In some cases GearSource.com® accept returns as long as the item is returned within 7 days in its original condition and has been approved in advance. For details concerning our return policies, please see our Buyer Terms Agreement by clicking here.

GearSource.com® requires a 48 hour warranty on all items listed. Buyers must be provided with the opportunity to inspect items they have purchased to confimr they are in the condition described in the listing. If you have questions about this policy, please contact our sales department at 866-669-GEAR.

Payment

Do I have to pay in advance?

Yes and no. Yes, all GearSource.com® orders are prepaid but not until once we've confirmed availability and shipping details. No - when you place the order, you are not required to pay. This system allows our system to work perfectly for both customers and vendors and keeps our prices down. Because we accept most credit cards or even approved checks and Wire Transfers, we are probably the most flexible company in our business. Your payment is held secure until you're happy with your purchase and the vendor has completed his obligation.

As a Vendor, am I paid in advance?

No, we do not pay our vendors in advance. The idea is that we act almost like an Escrow, protecting our buyers, and sellers. We want to wait until the buyer receives an item before we release his payment to you. To request an alteration to these terms, please contact accounting@gearsource.com.

Can I pay by credit card, and feel secure?

Yes. Your payment is processed using Verisign, a secure online payment gateway used many of the worlds largest e-commerce business'. PayPal is available as well.

How do I send a wire transfer?

When you login to pay - you will be given this option which was sent with the Wire Transfer instructions in the payment request email. You will take these instructions to your bank, and they will take care of the rest. Often, when you are buying from a location other than North America, a wire transfer is the best form of payment to use and typically only takes 24-48 hours for us to receive the funds. If you have any questions or require our wire information, please contact e-mail: accounting@gearsource.com.

Does GearSource.com® accept Foreign credit cards?

In some cases, we will accept a credit card from a foreign country, however, due to the high volume of credit card fraud in certain regions, most foreign credit card payments will require additional approvals and may be declined by management even though they are approved by the bank. This is for our protection, and the protection of our vendors. As an option, any foreign customer is able to send us payment via wire transfer with minimal cost to you.

Selling

How do I post a listing?

Assuming you have already registered on GearSource.com® and are logged in, now you want to list something for sale. So, here’s how it works.

Step 1 - Shipping information

Select the correct Shipping Address from Choose Address or add a new address.

Step 2 - Item name

Enter the name of your item (DO NOT include the brand or manufacturer). For example, if you are selling a Martin MAC2000, enter “MAC2000”.
As you enter the name, our system is looking for a match to your entry in our Stock Item Database and a dropdown wil provide you with options. Select one.

Step 3 - Listing details

This is where you provide the actual listing information.

1. Condition - be honest - like new is not new and, likewise, a beat up touring fixture is not Very Good. Entering a false condition may get your unit returned back to you.

2. Warranty - if you have warranty remaining, please click this box. Note: GearSource listings must provide a minimum 48 hour warranty to allow buyers to inspect items for deficiencies.

3. Quantity - enter the total # you have available. If you are selling a package of 8 – then this Quantity is 1 – not 8. Note: if you sell any of the items after your listings are posted, please remember to update your listings accordingly.

4. Description (DO NOT USE THE MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION) - provide an accurate description of your item, for example: the age, number of hours, type of use (touring, rentals, installs, etc), serial numbers, who and what types of companies have owned it, what additional items are included, etc. Again, honesty is key. If you say something is black, and it arrives purple, it will likely be returned to you.

5. Key words & Abstract Description - is supported by most major search engines. Keywords are very important to increase the ranking of the page in search engine. The Description provides a concise explanation of the listing's content.

6. Price - this price will be the price you will sell this item for – it includes our “Commission”. We ask that you do not add a commission on top of your normal sell price, to cause the price for this item to be higher than what you’d sell direct for - we do not like that. The price section will also show you our standard price (non-dealer) and your Bottom Line – what goes in your jeans!

6. Case & Voltage - self-explanatory

7. images (DO NOT USE FILE IMAGES) - provide REAL pictures of your item(s). The better your images, the higher the likelihood we will get it sold. Provide up to 5 images.The acceptabl format is JPG, GIF or PNG. Select the one you want as your primary images, to display beside your listing - the other 4 will be thumbnails below the listing. Click Save.

Step 4 - Save, preview, confirm

The final page is a Preview of your listing. If you want to change anything, click the "Back" button at the bottom of the page and make any changes you wish to make - click "Save".

If everything is ok, click "Confirm" and your listing will be submitted to our Listings Approval Queue for one of our Listings Specialists to check the validity, Images, etc. and approve the listing before it will go live. Generally this will happen within a couple of hours the same day or next business day, depending on what time it was added. During this process, you will NOT have access to the listing, nor will it display on the site.

Once approved, you will receive a confirmation e-mail advising you it has been approved and the listing will display in the appropriate category on GearSource.com®. You will also have access to the listing in your Account Center for editing, deleting, price change, etc. Each time you make a change, the listing will be resubmitted to our Listings Approval Queue.

Is there a cost for me to list my gear?

No, listings on GearSource.com® are completely FREE. In the listing process, you will establish the selling price, which will include a commission for the sale of your item. We do not charge for a listing, and spend a lot of time and effort marketing your item for free!

Is there a limit to the number of listings I can place?

No, of course not. We want to become your inventory partner and help you anytime you have items to move. You can list your entire inventory with us.

What is the difference between an item listing and a stock item?

Our new listings system is based on a backbone database that we call our "Stock Items Database". It includes every piece of gear that anyone might offer for sale. Vendors add their Item Listings under that stock item. So when you visit a stock item, you may see numerous listings within that stock item with price ranges, condition,... making for a very unique and simple shopping experience.

What is a NeedZone Listing?

The NeedZone is a special area we've created for items that you may be looking for, but do not see available on the site. You can post a listing, similar to a "want ad" and wait for our users to respond with their items that may match your need. If you're browsing the NeedZone, and see a listing for something you have sitting in your inventory, you have 3 options. 1) Call us toll free 2) Email us 3) You can click on that need, and either suggest your listing (if it's already posted for sale on Gear-Source) or add your new listing. This will send an automated response to the person who place the NeedZone Listing on our site.

What are my obligations as a seller/vendor to Gear-Source?

Below is a shortened version of your obligation as a seller. It is not meant to replace our User Agreement, which is the legal document you sign before listing an item. Please review our complete User Agreement for all the details.

1. You must own the equipment you are listing, free or any liens.
2. You must warrant the condition on the equipment you are listing by selecting the appropriate condition and write a good item description.
3. Even if you select the "No Warranty" button on a listing, the buyer still has 48 business hour inspection period on the piece of equipment you sold.
4. It's your obligation as a vendor to resolve any issues the customer may have regarding functionality of the gear (unless otherwise noted). You are also responsible for the freight cost of resolving any issues.
5. Pack you items for shipment well! Common sense applies here but it's your responsibility to pack your equipment as if it's going across the country or overseas because often times it is.
6. If you are selling large ticket items, photograph the items before they leave your warehouse. Any large item packed in a roadcases with wheels will need to be placed on a palette or have the wheels removed to avoid freight damage.
7. Freight claims are rare but they do happen. All your items ship fully insured but we are at the mercy of the freight companies. Gear-Source does not assume any financial obligation for freight claims but will work with you to get any issues resolved.
8. As part of the Gear-Source " escrow process" we do not prepay for any equipment unless otherwise arranged. When the customer gets the gear and it meets the terms and conditions, you get paid.
9. Once your item is shipped you will need to bill Gear-Source for the amount indicated on the purchase order. This will help you get paid quicker.

Fully manage your own listings

Manage all listings, pricing, availability, etc. in your personalized "My Account" area.

Full Service Selling

We are a ‘Full Service’ company and help with everything from pricing to pickup arrangements and documentation

Better exposure for your gear

We have Global reach with staff in N American and European locations, plus expertise in Asia, Middle East and South America. Additionally, we send the industry’s only Daily Listings Update, exposing your latest gear to the biggest buyers.

Expanded Selling

Sell almost anything related to professional sound, lighting, video and staging (plus a few others!) One site does it all.

Haggle Free

We won’t ask you to dramatically lower your prices unless we think you should!

Buying?

Full Service Purchasing

We are a ‘Full Service’ company - we handle shipping, document preparation, online payment and more.

Escrow Style Purchasing

We utilize a superior payment collection process to eliminate the potential fraud found in other ‘marketplaces’

Knowledgeable Sales People

‘We Know Gear’ - industry experts from Paris to Palm Beach to help answer your questions

Complete selection of stage products

We carry everything you need for lighting & video, pro audio, rigging, trussing, staging, parts.

What is the order process at Gear-Source for customers?

Below is a shortened version of your obligation as a buyer, it is not meant to replace our User Agreement, which is the legal agreement you accept when you register. Please review our complete User Agreement for the details.

1. We pride ourselves on processing your order as quickly as possible. When you place an order on our website this indicates your intent to buy the item. While you are under no obligation to pay for an item once you have placed it in the cart and checkout out, we'd prefer you call a salesperson at Gear-Source if you are just out "kicking the tires". We'd be happy to help you with whatever information you are looking for - 866-669-GEAR.

2. Once you have submitted an order, it may take up to 72 hours to verify that the equipment is available and to calculate freight on an order. Since Gear-Source sell's items as small as a microphone or as large as a semi truck, it's impossible to provide a freight calculation at checkout. If you have questions call us - 866-669-GEAR.

3. We accept the following forms of payment: Matercard, Visa, American Express, Bank Wire, and Personal Checks. If you are a new customer and are purchasing a large ticket item, Gear-Source will require you to provide additional information to verify your identity

4. When you receive your order, you have 48 business hours to inspect the item and report any issues. Remember you are buying preowned gear so inspect it carefully for damage or and check that it works according to the description.

No Credit Card Fees

We have no additional charges for the convenience and safety of paying by credit card

Secure Shipping

We insure all shipments

Want to Buy Section

Post any item into our NeedZone (wanted items) and within days, get results!

Superior Shopping Experience

We have superior website features including; listing and stock item views, numerous sorting filters, shop by brand.

Payment

As a Vendor, am I paid in advance?

No, we do not pay our vendors in advance. The idea is that we act almost like an Escrow, protecting our buyers, and sellers. We want to wait until the buyer receives an item before we release his payment to you. To request an alteration to these terms, please contact accounting@gearsource.com.

Shipping

I have received an order inquiry, but it's asking me for Measurements and Weight. What for?

Because we typically handle shipping calculations, we require accurate measurements on all items we're shipping. You will receive an email for each order asking you to confirm shipping details. Just measure the weight and dim's of each separate shipping package and let us know when we can pickup.

Tutorials & Podcasts

What if I need more information or help wading through your site?

We offer Video based tutorials covering all of the GearSource.com® major functions including Listing, Shopping, Registration and more. These will be constantly updated, and more will continue to be added so check back. Our tutorials are located HERE.

We also offer ongoing Audio/Video Podcasts on various topics. Our first Podcast on "Knowing when the time is right to upgrade..." was laucnhed last month and each month we will be releasing a new one on a new topic. Our Podcasts are ocated HERE.