Is Reverb Legit for Guitars?

HasTrust rates Reverb Mixed (72/100), checked 2026-06-23: Customer support is often criticized for being difficult to reach, relying heavily on automated systems or chatbots; Return policies and shipping costs are set by individual sellers, leading to inconsistency; Some users report dissatisfaction with high fees and lack of transparency regarding total costs.

Wondering if Reverb is legit for guitars? HasTrust gives it a 75/100 (Trusted) rating: Reverb is a legitimate, widely used marketplace for musical instruments, owned by Etsy, and safe to use when you pay on-platform and check seller ratings. Buyers do report inconsistent customer support and strict buyer-protection timelines, so research individual sellers and return policies before completing a purchase.

reverb.com
72
Mixed🏪 MarketplaceUnsure
🔗https://reverb.com

What we measured

✓Domain registered 23+ years ago
✓On the public web since 1997 (Internet Archive)
✓Valid HTTPS encryption (certificate by Let's Encrypt)
Why this score?
Starting point (no evidence either way)50
Domain registered 10+ years ago+10
Among the most-visited sites (rank #8029)+12
Trust score72

Reverb is a legitimate and widely used marketplace specifically for musical instruments, owned by Etsy. While it is a safe platform to use when following standard precautions—such as paying on-platform and checking seller ratings—users frequently report frustrations with inconsistent customer support, strict buyer protection timelines, and variable seller experiences. It is recommended to thoroughly research sellers and understand individual return policies before completing any purchase.

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Video reviews

Pros

  • Largest dedicated online marketplace for musical instruments and gear.
  • Includes Reverb Buyer Protection for eligible orders to cover lost, damaged, or significantly not-as-described items.
  • Useful features like a price guide and extensive selection of new, used, and vintage gear.

Cons

  • Customer support is often criticized for being difficult to reach, relying heavily on automated systems or chatbots.
  • Return policies and shipping costs are set by individual sellers, leading to inconsistency.
  • Some users report dissatisfaction with high fees and lack of transparency regarding total costs.
  • There is a strict 7-day window for reporting issues to qualify for Reverb Buyer Protection, which some users find too restrictive.
  • Multiple reports of unresponsive customer support or difficulty reaching a human agent.
  • Risk of purchasing from dishonest or unreliable individual sellers on the platform.
  • Concerns regarding the strictness of the 7-day buyer protection reporting window.

Better options

💡 Smarter pick
eBay

Why switch: A broader marketplace that also features musical instruments, often with competitive pricing and established buyer protection policies.

LM
Local music shops or classifieds (e.g., Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace)

Allows for hands-on inspection of instruments before purchase, eliminating concerns about shipping damage or condition misrepresentation.

What web sources say (not checked by us)

+Established business
+Stated return policy
+Secure payment options
?Presence on scam-report/review sites (BBB)

Third-party ratings

bbb.orgBetter Business Bureau1.01/5
trustpilot.comTrustpilot4.0/5 (approximate)

Facts

Domain registered 2002-11 · 23 years old
Connection Valid HTTPS certificate
Certificate valid until 2026-09-08 (77 days) · Let's Encrypt
From web sources
Founded year: 2013
Headquarters: Chicago, United States
Parent company: Etsy
Buyer protection reporting window: 7 days from delivery
HasTrust summarizes public web sources and can be wrong or out of date. Not a guarantee of safety or quality — always verify before you buy or pay.

💬 Ask about this shop

Answers come from what we checked about this site — the AI only picks the topic, it writes nothing.

🛡️ Site safety check

✓Domain registered 23+ years ago
✓Valid HTTPS encryption (certificate by Let's Encrypt)
✓On the public web since 1997 (Internet Archive)
✓Among the ~1M most-visited sites on the web (Majestic Million #8030)

What you should do

  • Use a payment method you can charge back (credit card or PayPal) — skip bank transfer or "friends & family".
  • Place a small first order before trusting it with a big one.
  • Search the shop's name plus "reviews" or "scam" for recent experiences before paying.

🔍 What we checked ourselves

Each row is a check HasTrust ran, and the day it ran.

CheckWhat we foundHowWhen
HTTPS certificateCertificate expired 2026-09-08 — not re-checked sinceTLS handshake from our serversbefore 2026-06-23
Domain registration2002-11 (23 years old)RDAP registry recordbefore 2026-06-23
First seen on the web1997Internet Archivebefore 2026-06-23
Popularity rank#8030 on Majestic MillionMajestic Million listbefore 2026-06-23
BlocklistNot listedHasTrust blocklist
Trust score history3 recorded points since 2026-06-23, 75 → 72HasTrust score model
Trust score history3 changes · 98d
Low 72High 75Now 72
Compare Reverb with 2 alternatives →
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Checked 98 days ago. · How we score →

Frequently asked

Is Reverb legit?⌄

Mixed. HasTrust trust score: 72/100. Reverb is a legitimate and widely used marketplace specifically for musical instruments, owned by Etsy. While it is a safe platform to use when following standard precautions—such as paying on-platform and checking seller ratings—users frequently report frustrations with inconsistent customer support, strict buyer protection timelines, and variable seller experiences. It is recommended to thoroughly research sellers and understand individual return policies before completing any purchase.

Is Reverb a scam?⌄

Our check surfaced no major scam signals — still verify payment and seller details before you pay.

What is the Reverb trust score?⌄

HasTrust rates Reverb 72/100 (Mixed). Unsure

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