Across the board discount at Stratosphere

boris bubbanov · January 22nd, 2008, 11:19 PM

I guess in this new economy the wild spending days are over.

I see where Stratosphere has a 10 percent across the board discount on their 'buy-it-now' prices. I'll bet they're hurting, I'll bet the folks are thinking about having a lil extra cash just in case things get hectic. Bidding don't look 2 energetic, no.

At what point does their business model crash, since they don't build and don't actually create anything? I mean, perhaps FMIC or others will need cash and may want to dump guitars whatever the consequences, but Stratosphere strikes me strictly as a fair weather venue.

Thoughts?

Bubbanov

Colt W. Knight · January 22nd, 2008, 11:36 PM

I think another question is, Is there a saturation point to selling chopped guitars? I personally believe that if the partscaster market got to big, Fender would respond with cheaper guitars. I know a lot of people feel Fender quality is degraded, but I happen to think they are putting out a lot of good product.

slack · January 23rd, 2008, 12:22 AM

I think you may be reading way too much into the use of a common eBay store tool for Power Sellers. Those are temporary markdowns and this seller has been doing that for a long time.

Shepherd · January 23rd, 2008, 05:47 AM

With all the idiots on Ebay, alot of the stuff they auction goes for more than retail. I dont think they're hurting.

thaus · January 23rd, 2008, 05:57 AM

I am not into the 'chop-shop' thing but sometimes you really want an authentic Fender body or neck and places like this make it possible. If there are customers willing to pay, why not make a business out of it? I have no problems with a place like this; I just know I couldn't take apart guitars..........I have a problem even selling my guitars (which is why I have 15 of them sitting upstairs right now!). I still have my first guitar, an 80's Washburn shredder special, converted into a roland guitar-synth thing. Can never sell it (not only because no one would buy it!!)

Snide · January 23rd, 2008, 11:31 AM

I think that issues with the economy will help them if anything. If there is an impact it will likely be on moderate to higher priced guitars. The $700-$2000 guitar may get out of reach, but new pickups or other parts will seem more attractive. GAS will still need to be fed, but people will look for cheaper ways to do it.

I would also imagine that they will be able to buy guitars for less as some people become distressed and are forced to sell off portions of their collections.

bowlfreshener · January 23rd, 2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slack

I think you may be reading way too much into the use of a common eBay store tool for Power Sellers. Those are temporary markdowns and this seller has been doing that for a long time.

Yes, they have some clever ones as I was told through these that a certain item was 10% off, but the offer ends within 2 hours. But apparently 2 hours on eBay must mean 96 hours for the rest of us, because this item that I only had 2 hours left to get at 10% off was, in reality, 10% off with just "2 hours to go" for at least 4 days!

odiemann · January 23rd, 2008, 07:08 PM

Regardless of whether you like the chop shops or not . . .

Back to the original idea.

Quote:

I guess in this new economy the wild spending days are over.

I see where Stratosphere has a 10 percent across the board discount on their 'buy-it-now' prices. I'll bet they're hurting, I'll bet the folks are thinking about having a lil extra cash just in case things get hectic. Bidding don't look 2 energetic, no.

At what point does their business model crash, since they don't build and don't actually create anything? I mean, perhaps FMIC or others will need cash and may want to dump guitars whatever the consequences, but Stratosphere strikes me strictly as a fair weather venue.

Thoughts?

Bubba, I think you are correct in your observation. Basic Economics agrees with you too. The model may not collapse, but it is open to wild fluctuations. EBay seems to be drying up a little. Two years ago, you would hit the sme search and get twice as many items. The prices also seem a little more in line with current items, won't even address vintage.

That 10% off with few bidders, and cash becoming hard to come by (possibly) means hards times for scavenger markets.

psychotelepathic · January 24th, 2008, 10:05 PM

Things are tough all over right now. In past downturns (.com crash for example) luxury goods held pretty strong. This one is different. It's hurting the premium segment in most every category right now. Everyone is pulling back and we should see this play out in our favorite discretionary categories...Who really NEEDS a guitar? You need to eat, pay our electric bill, mortgage, gas, car payments etc. We haven't seen the worst of it yet.

chet · January 25th, 2008, 08:01 AM

Thier credo is "Buy low- sell high".

stevieboy · January 25th, 2008, 01:27 PM

Lot's of retail outlets have sales in January, to drum up business in what's always a slow time, after the holiday spending frenzy. Ten percent off is not exactly a fire sale.

Shepherd · January 26th, 2008, 01:49 AM

I dont think business is very slow for these guys. As an example, a pair of Tele knobs just went for $26. I think they are $15 from Fender. A Tele bridge went for $56 and they are $40 from Fender. These guys are making a killing.

Nick JD · January 26th, 2008, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shepherd

I dont think business is very slow for these guys. As an example, a pair of Tele knobs just went for $26. I think they are $15 from Fender. A Tele bridge went for $56 and they are $40 from Fender. These guys are making a killing.

A fool and his money....

January 22nd, 2008, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,684	Across the board discount at Stratosphere I guess in this new economy the wild spending days are over. I see where Stratosphere has a 10 percent across the board discount on their 'buy-it-now' prices. I'll bet they're hurting, I'll bet the folks are thinking about having a lil extra cash just in case things get hectic. Bidding don't look 2 energetic, no. At what point does their business model crash, since they don't build and don't actually create anything? I mean, perhaps FMIC or others will need cash and may want to dump guitars whatever the consequences, but Stratosphere strikes me strictly as a fair weather venue. Thoughts? Bubbanov

January 25th, 2008, 08:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
chet Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 6,417	Thier credo is "Buy low- sell high". __________________ In Brett We Trust.

January 25th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Posts: 2,287 6 Photos	Lot's of retail outlets have sales in January, to drum up business in what's always a slow time, after the holiday spending frenzy. Ten percent off is not exactly a fire sale. __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

January 22nd, 2008, 11:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Virginia Age: 24 Posts: 1,823	I think another question is, Is there a saturation point to selling chopped guitars? I personally believe that if the partscaster market got to big, Fender would respond with cheaper guitars. I know a lot of people feel Fender quality is degraded, but I happen to think they are putting out a lot of good product.

January 23rd, 2008, 12:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
slack Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,915	I think you may be reading way too much into the use of a common eBay store tool for Power Sellers. Those are temporary markdowns and this seller has been doing that for a long time.

January 23rd, 2008, 05:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
Shepherd Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maple Ridge, Canada Posts: 189	With all the idiots on Ebay, alot of the stuff they auction goes for more than retail. I dont think they're hurting.

January 23rd, 2008, 05:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
thaus Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 442	I am not into the 'chop-shop' thing but sometimes you really want an authentic Fender body or neck and places like this make it possible. If there are customers willing to pay, why not make a business out of it? I have no problems with a place like this; I just know I couldn't take apart guitars..........I have a problem even selling my guitars (which is why I have 15 of them sitting upstairs right now!). I still have my first guitar, an 80's Washburn shredder special, converted into a roland guitar-synth thing. Can never sell it (not only because no one would buy it!!)

January 23rd, 2008, 11:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Snide Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 149	I think that issues with the economy will help them if anything. If there is an impact it will likely be on moderate to higher priced guitars. The $700-$2000 guitar may get out of reach, but new pickups or other parts will seem more attractive. GAS will still need to be fed, but people will look for cheaper ways to do it. I would also imagine that they will be able to buy guitars for less as some people become distressed and are forced to sell off portions of their collections.

January 24th, 2008, 10:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
psychotelepathic Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charlotte Posts: 452	Things are tough all over right now. In past downturns (.com crash for example) luxury goods held pretty strong. This one is different. It's hurting the premium segment in most every category right now. Everyone is pulling back and we should see this play out in our favorite discretionary categories...Who really NEEDS a guitar? You need to eat, pay our electric bill, mortgage, gas, car payments etc. We haven't seen the worst of it yet.

January 26th, 2008, 01:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
Shepherd Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maple Ridge, Canada Posts: 189	I dont think business is very slow for these guys. As an example, a pair of Tele knobs just went for $26. I think they are $15 from Fender. A Tele bridge went for $56 and they are $40 from Fender. These guys are making a killing.