Sweetwater extends NO FEE Gear Exchange marketplace

Online retailer Sweetwater is extending the no-fee option for its Sweetwater Gear Exchange which facilitates the sale and purchase of used musical equipment and instruments.

“Gear Exchange has been up and running for two full months now,” a Sweetwater spokesperson told Hypebot. “Customer response to the no fee for gift card payout program has been beyond expectations, and as Sweetwater always strives to do the right thing for customers, they have decided to extend the program.”

Sweetwater Gear Exchange transactions using PayPal’s Hyperwallet incur a 2.5% processing fee and a 5% seller fee. But the Exchange will waive both fees if the seller takes the payout as Sweetwater e-Gift Card.

Gear Exchange sellers create a customized storefront, including a store address, outlining policies for returns, and adding a bio to let buyers learn more about them.

The Exchange also has built-in fraud prevention measures, including requiring photos of the exact item listed. There are badges on storefront pages showcasing how long Gear Exchange sellers have been verified as Sweetwater customers and a team of administrators monitoring transactions.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown, which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.