Korg Forums

I've heard a lot about Oasys scams recently, so where can I get a good legitimate deal on a second hand Oasys-76? How do I check whether the seller is legitimate, since I'm visually impaired? I don't care if the Oasys I get is two years old, as long as it works, and as long as it has the serial number. A brand new Oasys-76 is out of my price range right now, so I want to try and find a good deal on a used one. I'm not interested in the Oasys-88, because I don't like playing synths with weighted keys.

Your best source will still probably be eBay.

Regarding legitimacy, I would suggest the following:

1. Send a message via "Ask the Seller a Question", and ask for their phone number, then phone them and talk about the keyboard. If they don't seem to know much, be suspicious.

2. If there is an auction in which you are interested, have a friend look at the pictures, or ask us (feel free to PM me about any auction). I would suggest avoiding any auction that does not have real photos of the actual keyboard. If someone can afford an $8,000 keyboard, they should be able to find a digital camera and take some nice photos. I look at OASYS auctions frequently, so I could tell you when I think I see "stolen" photographs.

3. Ask the Seller for their real name and the OASYS Serial Number. Also ask them where and what store they purchased it at. After you receive the information, call Korg USA Product Support. Tell them you are considering a used OASYS and want to verify the information you received is correct. While Korg would be hesitant to provide ownership information (due to privacy laws) they should be willing to VERIFY information. For example, if you called Korg and said "Martin Hines, OASYS 88, Serial Number 000030, Sterling, Virginia" they could verify my info.

4. Buy only from your country. Assuming you live in the U.S., only buy from inside the U.S.. Trying to go after a fraud is alot more difficult when you go outside your home country.

5. If the price is too good to be true, it most likely is. Any legitimate OASYS owner should be able to quickly determine how much their keyboard is worth, and they are going to want to get the most money they can for it. For example I would be suspicious of any OASYS 76 selling for less than $5,000.

6. Trust your instincts. Regardless of how eager you are to buy an OASYS 76, be prepared for the process to take six months or more to get a reasonable price and one where you are comfortable with the Buyer.

7. Never pay via Western Union. If the Seller requests it, walk away.

8. This is just me, but I would only be interested in buying if the Seller kept their original OASYS box, packing materials, and manuals. At the very least the Seller should have a custom case for the OASYS. The key point is you want to make sure the product will survive shipping. When items are packed in their original packaging, you have a strong case against a shipping company, since they can't claim "not packed well" (which they often do).


Another safer alternative would be to simply wait for 1 year (exactly 12 months) and buy a new unit. You already have a Motif XS7 which I am sure you have not fully conquered yet. Also, I would assume we will see another OASYS price drop during 2008 (if history of other Korg keyboard can apply to the OASYS).

I know you are eager to buy an OASYS, but would it really kill you to wait 12 months? Just a thought.

Whats your price range? I know one valid deal.

MartinHines wrote:Your best source will still probably be eBay.

Regarding legitimacy, I would suggest the following:

1. Send a message via "Ask the Seller a Question", and ask for their phone number, then phone them and talk about the keyboard. If they don't seem to know much, be suspicious.

2. If there is an auction in which you are interested, have a friend look at the pictures, or ask us (feel free to PM me about any auction). I would suggest avoiding any auction that does not have real photos of the actual keyboard. If someone can afford an $8,000 keyboard, they should be able to find a digital camera and take some nice photos. I look at OASYS auctions frequently, so I could tell you when I think I see "stolen" photographs.

3. Ask the Seller for their real name and the OASYS Serial Number. Also ask them where and what store they purchased it at. After you receive the information, call Korg USA Product Support. Tell them you are considering a used OASYS and want to verify the information you received is correct. While Korg would be hesitant to provide ownership information (due to privacy laws) they should be willing to VERIFY information. For example, if you called Korg and said "Martin Hines, OASYS 88, Serial Number 000030, Sterling, Virginia" they could verify my info.

4. Buy only from your country. Assuming you live in the U.S., only buy from inside the U.S.. Trying to go after a fraud is alot more difficult when you go outside your home country.

5. If the price is too good to be true, it most likely is. Any legitimate OASYS owner should be able to quickly determine how much their keyboard is worth, and they are going to want to get the most money they can for it. For example I would be suspicious of any OASYS 76 selling for less than $5,000.

6. Trust your instincts. Regardless of how eager you are to buy an OASYS 76, be prepared for the process to take six months or more to get a reasonable price and one where you are comfortable with the Buyer.

7. Never pay via Western Union. If the Seller requests it, walk away.

8. This is just me, but I would only be interested in buying if the Seller kept their original OASYS box, packing materials, and manuals. At the very least the Seller should have a custom case for the OASYS. The key point is you want to make sure the product will survive shipping. When items are packed in their original packaging, you have a strong case against a shipping company, since they can't claim "not packed well" (which they often do).


Another safer alternative would be to simply wait for 1 year (exactly 12 months) and buy a new unit. You already have a Motif XS7 which I am sure you have not fully conquered yet. Also, I would assume we will see another OASYS price drop during 2008 (if history of other Korg keyboard can apply to the OASYS).

I know you are eager to buy an OASYS, but would it really kill you to wait 12 months? Just a thought.

Hey, if I have to wait a year, then so be it! I think it will be worth the wait. I had to wait almost two years for my Yamaha Tyros2, so it probably won't hurt for me to wait a little while for an Oasys. I'll just keep doing as much research as I can in the mean time. BTW, thanks for all the tips!