Aloha_Ark
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2020
- Messages
- 154
This is a topic that has not been covered very deeply on youtube.
Do you feel guilty about squeezing the last dime out of a deal? I guess I do, which is why I basically only bargain hunt on ebay and reverb. Both online auction sites are loaded with sellers who misrepresent gear, so the only way to cover mistakes is to always underpay. Because, even if you think you got a good deal, you got shafted on another deal. With so many sellers on these sites, its is rare to buy from the same seller more than once, especially on expensive gear. Thus, there is no inherent mechanism to maintain loyalty.
Just about all dealers have an internet presence these days. My tip is to develop a relationship with a dealer. But this is tricky to maintain because you may be buying more gear than you actually need. I dumped thousand of dollars into Musician's Friend Private Reserve, and then my salesman left.
If you shop around for a pre-owned guitar, then you're faced with a dilemma when the same model sells for at least a 25% difference between competing dealers. Is it fair to lowball your favorite dealer to match the price? The worry here is that most vintage dealers are mom and pop operations. Do we risk their survival by not patronizing them on a regular basis? I have no idea what the profit margin is for vintage gear. The prices are all over the map, and encourage gouging by some dealers. I think elite customers like Joe Bonamassa and Kirk Hammett are the only ones who can score a great deal, right?
In conclusion, today I found a vintage Fender Jazzmaster (VG condition) for 25% less than the going price. I feel like a slug for this type of bargain hunting. Last month, I got a near mint Danny Gatton sig tele (with warranty) for a great price. I'm going down, down, down, down.
Do you feel guilty about squeezing the last dime out of a deal? I guess I do, which is why I basically only bargain hunt on ebay and reverb. Both online auction sites are loaded with sellers who misrepresent gear, so the only way to cover mistakes is to always underpay. Because, even if you think you got a good deal, you got shafted on another deal. With so many sellers on these sites, its is rare to buy from the same seller more than once, especially on expensive gear. Thus, there is no inherent mechanism to maintain loyalty.
Just about all dealers have an internet presence these days. My tip is to develop a relationship with a dealer. But this is tricky to maintain because you may be buying more gear than you actually need. I dumped thousand of dollars into Musician's Friend Private Reserve, and then my salesman left.
If you shop around for a pre-owned guitar, then you're faced with a dilemma when the same model sells for at least a 25% difference between competing dealers. Is it fair to lowball your favorite dealer to match the price? The worry here is that most vintage dealers are mom and pop operations. Do we risk their survival by not patronizing them on a regular basis? I have no idea what the profit margin is for vintage gear. The prices are all over the map, and encourage gouging by some dealers. I think elite customers like Joe Bonamassa and Kirk Hammett are the only ones who can score a great deal, right?
In conclusion, today I found a vintage Fender Jazzmaster (VG condition) for 25% less than the going price. I feel like a slug for this type of bargain hunting. Last month, I got a near mint Danny Gatton sig tele (with warranty) for a great price. I'm going down, down, down, down.