Act Acting » Method Acting » What the heck is up with resale values?????

What the heck is up with resale values?????

Question:

Joe, I was under the assumption that the person paid $600 for their bass. Again… I don’t disagree with you. However I can sympathize with the person selling the bass. I still hate to say it but you do sound like a musical instrument dealer. You have a vast knowledge of the sale and re-sale of guitars but not to good of understanding from a consumers stand point. I have in the past sold some of my first guitars back to a dealer and was not happy with the price they offered for it. But… I took it anyway probably because of convenience. I can’t make you understand what I am saying if you don’t all ready get it. It is a free country…. people don’t have to sell and dealers don’t have to buy. Its like anything used … cars etc. Maybe if the public wasn’t so lazy there would be more competition in the used guitar market.. phil p.s. Joe said "Are you a drummer?" no I play guitar..

Response:

{some stuff ( is his) relating to what Snakeskincowboy wrote ( is his), much of which I snipped…} I used a figure of $600 as the list price. I can almost guarantee you there are two large music chains in my backyard. Now what is the used item worth when the new item can be had for some 40% off of the list price?

I think that generally the list price on guitars listing for $500 is about 200% of what the dealer pays: a guitar listing at $1000 would likely cost the dealer somewhere in the neighborbood of $500. So if retailer sells the guitar for 35% off list (which is about the best I could work them down to), he’ll sell it for $650 which is $150 (30% of his investment) profit. But what does the buyer have? A $1000 guitar? No. The buyer has a $700 guitar. List price is a made-up number that should be thrown away as soon as it is negotiated away. So in your example, its confusing and wrong to call it a $600 bass… its a $360-375 or whatever the buyer paid for it bass, because thats what it really sells for. So what would be a fair price for the retailer to pay for a used instrument? Well, if all you have to go on is the $1000 list price, the standard 35% discount and the retailer’s assumed 30% margin and you further assume that theres a good market for used instruments that sell for 70% of the discounted price of a new one, you can figure out what is fair. Fair is that the new instrument would sell for $650 and the used one for $455. Fair is that the dealer would pay $500 for the new instrument and $350 for the used one. Fair sure seems a long way from $1000, huh? But hey, its fair. Its also fair for the retailer to decide he doesnt want the used instrument at any price. Its also fair that the owner refuses to sell his guitar which he foolishly supposes is worth $1000 for $350. {more snippage until} {…} So through the  eye of the person selling it is a rip off and ultimately the person who will buy the guitar from the dealer is a rip off as well.

You hang with some pretty strange people, dude… or at least they reason poorly. Are you a drummer? I don’t see how the person who buys an item from a retailer is in any way party to the transaction that brought the item to the retailer. {even more snippage until} Music stores are responsible for the discounting atmosphere that we have grown to expect. But I wouldn’t worry to much about that. I’m sure they’ll catch up with so many other industries by establishing a minimum retail price for their products. This will give every authorized dealer an equal chance for the sale and we will start shopping the stores with the best customer service and best after sales service.

Manufacturers are solely responsible for the eleventy-eleven prices being pasted on the equipment they sell. The list price originates from the manufacturer not the music store…. thats why they offen call it the MSRP: Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. I often wondered why they do it and all I can figure is they want the dealer to have room to make his own deal with the customer. I think this practice is falling by the wayside as more and more mail-order and mega-stores open up. The MSRP means nothing if all I have to do is look in Musician’s Friend for their price. So these days, instead of starting my negotiation at the MSRP and working my down with the dealer I can start with MF’s price and work my up. A manufacturer of equipment can choose to sell his equipment through dealers that are required to not sell it below a certain price and if the dealers refuse to hold the price line, they can be denied product. By and large, Mesa Engineering does this with their amps… and its legal: Mesa doesn’t have to sell its stuff to anybody. If a group of music stores got together and made an agreement to keep a certain margin on products they all sell then what they are doing is called price fixing and its not legal. Joe Sayers Thanks; Con

{"no email for me" crap deleted}

Response:

hello again.. I agree with your last statement. This will give every authorized dealer an equal chance for the sale and we will start shopping the stores with the best customer service and best after sales service.

However I am not saying that you are wrong.. But I am able to look at it from 2 points of view , the dealer and the buyer (seller). Looking at it from the dealer side …. yes they do want to make a profit…… Now looking at it from the seller or buyer…. Its a rip off!!! I would never buy a used guitar from a dealer because I know im handing them doubble what they paid. I guess its the principle of the fact. What do you think will happen if people stopped buying used gear (which they wont) from dealers???? I think you would see a huge drop in price of the used stuff. They could still make a profit but it wont be such a fat one. Im not sure about this and maybe someone knows…. do dealers sell more used or new stuff??? If they sell more new stuff than the used stuff then all the used stuff there buying is all profit… person comes in …. store gives them $150 … store (maybe) cleans up the item a little, store slaps a $300 price tag on it. Instant profit, and there’re paying the rent on the profit from the new stuff theye’re selling while the used profit is going right to the bottom line. Knowing this makes it difficult for me to "sympathize" with the dealer… Im worried about my own wallet not theirs. Phil p.s. I never go by the List price….. we all know thats inflated

Response:

Obviously you are a re-seller… Which is fine because everyone has to make a buck.

I don’t sell music equipment. I as well am in retail (for A very large retail store) and am a higher up , so I understand about mark up and profit.

That’s great, so I’m sure that you do not sympathize too greatly with the end user as corporate profit is terribly important to your company. The margin tends to be much more important than the net profit. However to tell me that getting a $180 dollars for a $600 Bass is a "good Deal" for the person selling is ridiculous!!!

Ridiculous to whom? It is a free market society. It’s obvious that the dealer did not want the bass that badly or they would have been happy to offer something closer to the street value of the bass. I used a figure of $600 as the list price. I can almost guarantee you there are two large music chains in my backyard. Now what is the used item worth when the new item can be had for some 40% off of the list price? I admit that the dealer dose need to make a profit and there’s nothing wrong with that. However it IS NOT a good deal for the person selling the bass. So through the  eye of the person selling it is a rip off and ultimately the person who will buy the guitar from the dealer is a rip off as well. Oh and by the way … 100% margin IS a high mark up on anything even new stuff.

This is an arbitrary argument. How do figure that the person buying the bass is getting  "ripped off"? If he pays the "used" street value or less for the instrument then he has not been "ripped off". You ever thought about how much it cost to produce your designer suits? Yeah, your paying for the runway shows and the models that wear them. You ever thought about how much that 18K Cartier Tank wholesales for? Or the new Cartier Sunglasses? Music stores are responsible for the discounting atmosphere that we have grown to expect. But I wouldn’t worry to much about that. I’m sure they’ll catch up with so many other industries by establishing a minimum retail price for their products. This will give every authorized dealer an equal chance for the sale and we will start shopping the stores with the best customer service and best after sales service. Thanks; Con Remove "FILTERED" from my email address before replying via email… Thanks NOTICE TO BULK EMAILERS:  Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5,  Subchapter II,  227, any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee in the amount of $500 US. E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms.

Response:

What is wrong with resale values is actual wholesale cost of new instruments and equipment and the dealer markup, which is usually well over 100 percent.  A couple years ago I bought a "Squier Champ 25" practice amp from a local dealer for $150. A few months later I decided I didn’t care much for it and wanted to trade it towards a Pro Jr.  The same dealer offerred me $70 for it because he could buy a new one then for around 70 dollars.

This is odd! Why would the dealer offer you the industry wholesale price on a used piece of equipment? I’d rather buy the item new from fender and offer it at a lower price. I’d get the benefit of having a new item at a lower price, factory warranty, at least 30 days to pay for the thing, booking and or fill in discounts… I’d say that they pay about $90 for the new amp if it has a list price of $150 Regards, Con Remove "FILTERED" from my email address before replying via email… Thanks NOTICE TO BULK EMAILERS:  Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5,  Subchapter II,  227, any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee in the amount of $500 US. E-mailing denotes acceptance of these terms.

Response:

    This is going to be really unpopular to say, but I think alot of the problem is us as guitar players as well. I can understand mark up and making a profit (fuck, I was a banker for enough years) but I think we shoot our self’s in the foot a lot too. How? We’re cheap.     I know that’s an unpopular view, but I think it’s very true. We want the cheapest deal around.     Great example is a used USA Kramer Baretta in the local music store here. In it’s time it would have cost what? $1200? It’s in mint shape and it’s there for $200 and no one will even buy it at that price because we’re cheap. None of us want to pay that for a used, out of date guitar.     An other great example is PRS’s. There’s a lot of them showing up used lately for sale in my local area. Around here a new one costs $1800-$2000. People have a hard time finding guitarists hat will buy a used PRS at even $1250, and if they’re selling used for $1250 a dealer is only going to give around $1000 so he atleast makes $250 to keep the lights on.     I know this doesn’t apply to everyone, and it might not even apply to anyone in this group, but we all know the vast majority of guitar players are cheap, cheap, cheap. This also explains the sales of cheap Fenders, Epi’s and the like. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just the way we are.     Wolfgang – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok guys this is just my opinion…almost old fart that I am. Be honest as you can be when you sell or make offers. There will always be that dealer who just doesn’t care he knows you won’t be back (that’s why your selling your axe) so he low balls you. I’ve seen it happen lots of times. You live and learn..life is an education for which we pay dearly. Have paitience…something always turns up..be it a buyer or a seller. And as lame as it sounds do onto others as you would have them do to you. Good luck and good Deals. Bob

Response:

What is wrong with resale values is actual wholesale cost of new instruments and equipment and the dealer markup, which is usually well over 100 percent.  A couple years ago I bought a "Squier Champ 25" practice amp from a local dealer for $150. A few months later I decided I didn’t care much for it and wanted to trade it towards a Pro Jr.  The same dealer offerred me $70 for it because he could buy a new one then for around 70 dollars.   Guitar strings that you pay $10 or $12 a pack for, dealers get for less than 2 bucks a set.  Everybody is entitled to make a buck.  I have no qualms with the music stores making whatever they can.  As a consumer, don’t expect the music stores to buy back your used equipment (no matter what the condition) at what you consider a fair price, because they don’t sell it to you at a fair price to begin with. Maranata!

Response:

Here is the method that is supposed to work well for cars, maybe it works for guitars to some degree.  This assumes you are trying to trade in your guitar for a "new" one, whether new-new or used-new. Decide if you are serious about buying that new guitar, than go into the store acting like the very serious buyer you are, ready to buy it that day.   Have a good idea the maximum you would pay for it.  Don’t mention the other guitar you have.  Proceed to make the best deal possible on the new one.  Try to judge as best you can how much this guy wants to sell this thing, and work accordingly.   When you come to acceptable terms with the guitar you want, bring up the other one you want to get rid of.  The guy may now give a better offer in an effort to not jeporadize the sale he thinks he just made on the new one.  But he might not. The point is, there are really two transactions going on.  When the approach is to "trade in" the one for the other, it looks too much like a single transaction, which is not really the case.  This may tend to "blur" the reality of what is happening. If you make a good deal on the new one but he doesn’t offer you what you want for the old one, advertise it and take the best bid you can. I’ve never tried this with instruments, has anyone else?  Seems to me it could work…

Response:

Ok guys this is just my opinion…almost old fart that I am. Be honest as you can be when you sell or make offers. There will always be that dealer who just doesn’t care he knows you won’t be back (that’s why your selling your axe) so he low balls you. I’ve seen it happen lots of times. You live and learn..life is an education for which we pay dearly. Have paitience…something always turns up..be it a buyer or a seller. And as lame as it sounds do onto others as you would have them do to you. Good luck and good Deals. Bob

Response:

Obviously you are a re-seller… Which is fine because everyone has to make a buck. I as well am in retail (for A very large retail store) and am a higher up , so I understand about mark up and profit. However to tell me that getting a $180 dollars for a $600 Bass is a "good Deal" for the person selling is ridiculous!!! I admit that the dealer dose need to make a profit and there’s nothing wrong with that. However it IS NOT a good deal for the person selling the bass. So through the  eye of the person selling it is a rip off and ultimately the person who will buy the guitar from the dealer is a rip off as well. Oh and by the way … 100% margin IS a high mark up on anything even new stuff. phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HI I found out through much experiance that if a guitar cost $600 a dealer=20 will offer about 30% of that $180. then they will turn around an sell it= =20 for 3/4 of the price of a new one $450. Dealers are a rip off!!!!! your=20 better off to try to sell it on your own at least you can get closer to=20 what a dealer would get. Yes, you will net the greatest amount of money when dealing with individuals (end users), but some find that the hassle is not worth it. Margins… One person wrote that they found a 100% margin to be too high. Have you ever purchased jewelry for a loved one? I guarantee that you got the shaft on that sale. 100% margin on used gear may seem high, but it also allows the dealer room to discount after the item hasn’t sold for months. A standard margin is apx. 40% for many types of retail businesses (higher and lower in the music industry depending upon the equipment being purchased). It’s ridiculous to think that the dealer shouldn’t make money on the used items as well as the new. After all, he is paying you up front for an item (you’re not giving him terms, 90-120 days to pay, booking order discounts, free freight and or free point of purchase sales displays) that will probably sit for quite a while.=20 Let’s say the base has a MSRP of $600 US Dollars. Well, obviously the street price for this new item could be anywhere between $480/$360 depending on where you live. Now let’s factor in the depreciation value. Anywhere between 70-50% of the selling price in your area. Dealers are not a rip off. They are a company that is dedicated to generating positive cash flow. They are capitalists! Also remember that they are not obligated to buy your used equipment, so don’t be too offended when they low ball it. Do you really think they need another low-end guitar or bass in their store? They need products that have a quick turnaround, not dust gatherers. I hate walking into my local music store only to find the same gear that was there months ago. That tells me the place is a dive with little foot traffic and poor management. They need to sell gear, rotate the stock and merchandice the hell out of their stores. Oh yeah, one more thing to the music stores and pawn shops: Lose the attitudes! It does nothing but alienate your CUSTOMERS. That’s right, the same people you want to sell stuff to. Remember, your probably not the only music store in the county, so shape up or we’ll shop elsewhere… It’s a free market society for the consumer as well! Regards, Con…….

Response:

HI I found out through much experiance that if a guitar cost $600 a dealer will offer about 30% of that $180. then they will turn around an sell it for 3/4 of the price of a new one $450. Dealers are a rip off!!!!! your better off to try to sell it on your own at least you can get closer to what a dealer would get. phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s still better than being offered $160 for a $560 bass. That’s just insulting. HEY!, what the bass originally cost is of no meaning to the dealer!! He is only interested in what HE CAN SELL IT FOR. IE. if a seller walked in with a used guitar he bought new for 1000.00, it’s not unheard of for the dealer to say, "I had the same used piece in last year that went unsold for months at 700, then marked down to 500, then finally 6 months later it sold for 350.00."  Now would it make sense for this dealer to offer any more than 200.00 for it?? More likely he would probably pass on it all together.

Response:

Sorry, but not really. You just explained to me some basic principles of economics. What I want to know, is this an outrageous offer ($160 for a brand new $560 bass), or is this standard practice? In other words, if you were a dealer, what would you offer me? (Remember, it’s in excellent condition with h/s case)

Okay, a brand new $560 bass is "worth" 60% of the new price the second you walk out the door with it — ie: the retailer selling it used could expect to get about $340 for it. To make a decent profit (most of these guys can’t be bothered screwing around with anything that will make them less than $150), an offer of $160 to $200 is about normal. It sucks, but that’s the way it is… —

Response:

That’s still better than being offered $160 for a $560 bass. That’s just insulting.

HEY!, what the bass originally cost is of no meaning to the dealer!! He is only interested in what HE CAN SELL IT FOR. IE. if a seller walked in with a used guitar he bought new for 1000.00, it’s not unheard of for the dealer to say, "I had the same used piece in last year that went unsold for months at 700, then marked down to 500, then finally 6 months later it sold for 350.00."  Now would it make sense for this dealer to offer any more than 200.00 for it?? More likely he would probably pass on it all together.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         When you sell your used guitar, or jewelry, or car, to a dealer, the dealer is buying from you at "wholesale".  When he resells it, at a profit, he sells it at "retail".  If you sell the item privately, you can get closer to retail, but you now have to hustle, advertise, show it, answer phone calls, etc.  Hopefully the difference in price makes it worth the effort.  This is just how it is.  The "value" of your guitar is not in a book, it’s what you sell it for.         Generally, anything bought new, at retail price, immediatly depreciates as soon as you walk out the door.  If you don’t want to pay full retail only for that asset to depreciate, buy used stuff. Buy from a dealer if you don’t have the time and expense to shop around.  Otherwise, deal privately.  This is also true when selling. There are always exceptions that crop up.         The best deals when buying are usually from "distressed sellers"  who need to pay the rent, buy drugs, etc.  They are in a "must sell" position.  Conversely, the best way to get a good price when selling is to not be in the position to "must sell".  Also, if we value dealers, we can’t begrudge them making a profit.  Keep this in mind for your cars and houses, that would normally carry much greater prices than guitars.  Hope this helps… Sorry, but not really. You just explained to me some basic principles of economics. What I want to know, is this an outrageous offer ($160 for a brand new $560 bass), or is this standard practice? In other words, if you were a dealer, what would you offer me? (Remember, it’s in excellent condition with h/s case)

        Since I am not a dealer I don’t know what to offer.  "Standard practice" is to buy low and sell high.  It may be his standard practice to always first offer considerably less than what he really would pay for it on the chance that you would go for it.  You said it is a year old, so get out of your mind that it is brand new, cause it isn’t, no matter what the condition.  I would think you could get more than the 160 he offered, especially since it was for a trade in.  He might  give you more, but only after you tell him no to his first offer.  If he is really interested, he will go "wait a minute, I’ll give you 260" or whatever.  But if his best offer is 160, it’s outragous to you, but not to him.  You have to deal with the guy to find out.         How much do you think he would sell your bass for?  I think you are right that a 100% profit margin on guitars, either new or used,  is high.  Maybe someone can tell us more about the margins dealers typically enjoy, but I don’t know what it is.           My own opinion on any well built goods, like musical instruments, is to let someone else take the depreciation by letting them buy the item new, and I just buy used stuff that’s in good shape. If you trade this in for another new instrument, keep that in mind.         Good luck!

Response:

(snipped) Sorry, but not really. You just explained to me some basic principles of economics. What I want to know, is this an outrageous offer ($160 for a brand new $560 bass), or is this standard practice? In other words, if you were a dealer, what would you offer me? (Remember, it’s in excellent condition with h/s case)

The deal is… you pay 560, he figures it’s worth half that because it’s used… he offers you half that so he can make a profit. greedy? Who knows? maybe it sits on his shelf a year. Maybe he’s got a shitload of money in used gear, or gear he can’t move already. Time to move on… your best best is always to sell it youself… especially if it’s really in nice shape… you can give the next guy a good deal, make more profit yourself, and then try to remember what a hard ass dealers are on these things when you go to spend that money. If I were a dealer, I don’t know what I’d offer you for it.  How much profit a person thinks he has to make is different at each store, I’m sure.. although the blue book guidlines and give as little as possible are the general rules. It depends on the brand, the model, the condition, the color, the market, and more. hope this helps. Twang!

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He says how they take the original cost and cut it in half, because it’s used (it’s barely freaking used!), then they cut that in half again, like they were buying wholesale. So this guy thinks he deserves to make 100% profit on everything he sells. So, my question is, is this regular practice? Yes, for most major dealers. Guitar Center goes 20-25% of original list

Are you sure you mean list, or average market value? Because we all know that list prices are the biggest rip-off ($3,999 for a Les Paul!!) If you do mean list, then I would have gotten more than what I asked for. Am I the only one that thinks this is a sham? No, but it is a fact you have to live with. You never get what it’s worth from a dealer. Why should the dealer give someone even the cost value when they can buy a NEW one at that price ? Dealers don’t really want your trade in, unless it’s something very special they can turn over quickly at a goot profit.

There is no way that a dealer bought this $560 bass for only $160 bucks, then sold it for said amount. That’s like 500 percent markup! Shouldn’t your instrument be worth more if you want a trade than if you just want some cash? Yes, generally, but it depends on the value of what you are trading for. If you were trading against the list price of a Fender Custom Shop Strat or a PRS, you would probably get a better deal.

Obviously Should I be able to go into a store, see an amp for 400, and tell him I’ll give him 100 bucks for it? Because it seems to me that’s what they’re doing. Sure you can do this…all day. But don’t expect positive results.

Joke. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – blaine

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         When you sell your used guitar, or jewelry, or car, to a dealer, the dealer is buying from you at "wholesale".  When he resells it, at a profit, he sells it at "retail".  If you sell the item privately, you can get closer to retail, but you now have to hustle, advertise, show it, answer phone calls, etc.  Hopefully the difference in price makes it worth the effort.  This is just how it is.  The "value" of your guitar is not in a book, it’s what you sell it for.         Generally, anything bought new, at retail price, immediatly depreciates as soon as you walk out the door.  If you don’t want to pay full retail only for that asset to depreciate, buy used stuff. Buy from a dealer if you don’t have the time and expense to shop around.  Otherwise, deal privately.  This is also true when selling. There are always exceptions that crop up.         The best deals when buying are usually from "distressed sellers"  who need to pay the rent, buy drugs, etc.  They are in a "must sell" position.  Conversely, the best way to get a good price when selling is to not be in the position to "must sell".  Also, if we value dealers, we can’t begrudge them making a profit.  Keep this in mind for your cars and houses, that would normally carry much greater prices than guitars.  Hope this helps…

Sorry, but not really. You just explained to me some basic principles of economics. What I want to know, is this an outrageous offer ($160 for a brand new $560 bass), or is this standard practice? In other words, if you were a dealer, what would you offer me? (Remember, it’s in excellent condition with h/s case)

Response:

        When you sell your used guitar, or jewelry, or car, to a dealer, the dealer is buying from you at "wholesale".  When he resells it, at a profit, he sells it at "retail".  If you sell the item privately, you can get closer to retail, but you now have to hustle, advertise, show it, answer phone calls, etc.  Hopefully the difference in price makes it worth the effort.  This is just how it is.  The "value" of your guitar is not in a book, it’s what you sell it for.         Generally, anything bought new, at retail price, immediatly depreciates as soon as you walk out the door.  If you don’t want to pay full retail only for that asset to depreciate, buy used stuff. Buy from a dealer if you don’t have the time and expense to shop around.  Otherwise, deal privately.  This is also true when selling. There are always exceptions that crop up.         The best deals when buying are usually from "distressed sellers"  who need to pay the rent, buy drugs, etc.  They are in a "must sell" position.  Conversely, the best way to get a good price when selling is to not be in the position to "must sell".  Also, if we value dealers, we can’t begrudge them making a profit.  Keep this in mind for your cars and houses, that would normally carry much greater prices than guitars.  Hope this helps… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -we have a new music-go-clown here in town. he buys from the bluebook price guide. he finds the "used retail" and offers 40-60% of the used price. its kinda wierd because he seems to live by the bluebook. he doesnt seem to know much at all about guitars (or basses or amps or drums) but it seems that music-go-down has a formula for all these stores, and at some it may work, and occasionally it may work for others, but he has got some foul stuff (and foul prices) hangin’ in his mega-buck shop. sell that bass yourself, then go looking armed w/cash, that way you’ll get a better deal. good luck stu

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The only reason to sell your guitar to dealer for cash is if you need heroin *real* bad.  Much better to put it on consignment, giving back 15%, and waiting a while.  Best, of course, is selling it yourself, though some items can take a while to move.

Response:

        When you sell your used guitar, or jewelry, or car, to a dealer, the dealer is buying from you at "wholesale".  When he resells it, at a profit, he sells it at "retail".  If you sell the item privately, you can get closer to retail, but you now have to hustle, advertise, show it, answer phone calls, etc.  Hopefully the difference in price makes it worth the effort.  This is just how it is.  The "value" of your guitar is not in a book, it’s what you sell it for.

Exactly!!! Here’s a good example: Take a hypothetical $500 guitar, the wholesale is about $250, retail actually about $350-400 depending on the dealer. OK, you pay the $350 and walk out the door, now it’s used. The best the dealer can sell it for used is about $275 because he sells new ones for $350, right? So he offers you half his resale price, $138. Your paper loss is $212, more than half what you paid. Sell it privately for that same $275, you lost only $75. You can even beat the dealer’s price and sell it for $200 (which makes it more appealing to buyers) and you STILL do better than trading it in for $138. Some sellers don’t understand the idea of **used** in the first place. Unless the manufacturer allows transferring the warranty AND most of the warranty is still in place AND the dealer will treat me the same as the original purchaser in terms of things like free setups, loaners, etc. AND the piece is in showroom condition, then why should I pay as much for it as a new one and give up all those benefits? Easy answer to that one! That’s why gear depreciates so quickly once you walk out of the door. —                                                 Brian Rost                                                 3Com Corp.                                                 978-264-1550      Playing the bass is like dancing the limbo: how low can you go?

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we have a new music-go-clown here in town. he buys from the bluebook price guide. he finds the "used retail" and offers 40-60% of the used price. its kinda wierd because he seems to live by the bluebook. he doesnt seem to know much at all about guitars (or basses or amps or drums) but it seems that music-go-down has a formula for all these stores, and at some it may work, and occasionally it may work for others, but he has got some foul stuff (and foul prices) hangin’ in his mega-buck shop. sell that bass yourself, then go looking armed w/cash, that way you’ll get a better deal. good luck stu

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just sell to a person and not a dealer. NEVER sell to a dealer. you will NEVER get full value.

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Yeah it sux. I bought my Fender Deluxe 112Plus for  $540 Cdn less than a year ago and I’ll be lucky to get $275 for it.

That’s still better than being offered $160 for a $560 bass. That’s just insulting. I wonder where I could get a look at one of those blue books?

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He says how they take the original cost and cut it in half, because it’s used (it’s barely freaking used!), then they cut that in half again, like they were buying wholesale. So this guy thinks he deserves to make 100% profit on everything he sells. So, my question is, is this regular practice?

Yes, for most major dealers. Guitar Center goes 20-25% of original list (and they have a book that tells them this info) which is about the same formula. Maybe a little higher if your trading in on something of much greater value which will give them a good profit as well. Am I the only one that thinks this is a sham?

No, but it is a fact you have to live with. You never get what it’s worth from a dealer. Why should the dealer give someone even the cost value when they can buy a NEW one at that price ? Dealers don’t really want your trade in, unless it’s something very special they can turn over quickly at a goot profit. Shouldn’t your instrument be worth more if you want a trade than if you just want some cash?

Yes, generally, but it depends on the value of what you are trading for. If you were trading against the list price of a Fender Custom Shop Strat or a PRS, you would probably get a better deal. Should I be able to go into a store, see an amp for 400, and tell him I’ll

give him 100 bucks for it? Because it seems to me that’s what they’re doing. Sure you can do this…all day. But don’t expect positive results. blaine

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So me and a friend were out shopping around looking to trade his bass for something today. It’s a nice bass, a five string Hamer with h/s case that he bought a year ago for about $560. It’s in very good condition, no scratches or dings anywhere, and he never played it. So it’s not like it was a piece of junk or anything. Well, we take it to this one place called Music-Go-Round in Monroeville, PA. The guy is praising it: "Yeah, we need a five string bass, blah blah blah. I’ll give you $160 for it." WHAT?!?! He says how they take the original cost and cut it in half, because it’s used (it’s barely freaking used!), then they cut that in half again, like they were buying wholesale. So this guy thinks he deserves to make 100% profit on everything he sells. So, my question is, is this regular practice? Am I the only one that thinks this is a sham? Shouldn’t your instrument be worth more if you want a trade than if you just want some cash? Should I be able to go into a store, see an amp for 400, and tell him I’ll give him 100 bucks for it? Because it seems to me that’s what they’re doing. Opinions, please. blaine

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