Im kinda angry at guitar center right now

[Mrsamlki]

So I went there, found a nice epi les Paul standard, and was talking to the guy about trading in my epi g400 sg and my cheapy Alvarez tele. He wouldn't take the tele, despite the fact that it was in the same, if not better condition than when I bought it from (a different) guitar center. Then he goes and insults me further by offering me $100 for my sg (which I bought 6 months ago, brand new, for $300, from that very guitar center. It's still in new condition too). All the while this guy is trying to assure me that he isnt trying to cheat me, which we all know is a blatant lie. Correct me if im wrong, but the deal is half the price i bought it for, correct? So I said, "no way", and walked out. Idiots

 

[TxTeleMan]

Yeah, it's a rip... sell your stuff yourself and get what it's worth.

(I was just in Lancaster three weeks ago)

 

[BritishBluesBoy]

Correct me if im wrong, but the deal is half the price i bought it for, correct

No, not at all. They can offer what they like and you can decide to take it or leave it. That's life.

 

[Dan German]

I don't know that there's any "deal." It's typical for stores to offer half what it's worth, not half the new price. They made you an offer, you didn't accept it, end of story. I have rarely found trade-in to be worth my while, so I use classifieds and post "For Sale" signs in likely public locations. Anyone who is willing to take a guitar off your hands right now, today, is going to take the cost of having it on hand taking up space out of your end. That's business. It's only cheating you if they pay less than you agree to.

 

[teal]

I don't know that there's any "deal." It's typical for stores to offer half what it's worth, not half the new price. They made you an offer, you didn't accept it, end of story. I have rarely found trade-in to be worth my while, so I use classifieds and post "For Sale" signs in likely public locations. Anyone who is willing to take a guitar off your hands right now, today, is going to take the cost of having it on hand taking up space out of your end. That's business. It's only cheating you if they pay less than you agree to.

Agreed.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

That's nothing. Watch some of the pawnshop reality shows for a course in low balling.

 

[twangjeff]

Hey, I hate guitar center as much as the next guy, but you have to think reasonably. They are a for profit business. The way they make money is by buying inventory and selling it for more than they bought it for. So let's say you bought the SG for $300 new, that means that used they would probably sell it for let's say $175-200. So they would make how much on the transaction? Probably a hundred dollars or less. It isn't insulting it is just business. It is like how when you drive a new car off the lot it automatically becomes a used car. I seriously doubt you would have a much different experience if you went to any other guitar store.

The other thing that complicates it is that you have to figure what Guitar Center would pay for a brand new SG from Epiphone. You think that they might get bulk pricing from Epiphone because of all the product that Guitar Center and Musicians Friend order from Epiphone and Gibson? Heck, they probably only pay $175 for a NEW guitar like yours. If that's the case they can buy yours for $100 and turn around and sell it for $175 making a $75 profit, or they could order a new one for $175 directly from Epiphone and turn around and sell it for $300, giving them a net profit of $125. Would you rather have $75 or $125? Well Guitar Center probably feels the same way.

I am fortunate enough that I have a very good relationship with one of the best local guitar stores here in Houston and I have bought and traded a ton of gear there over the past almost 20 years that I have been going there. One time I was trying to trade in a Strat that I had towards a nice Fender Bassman combo, and I wasn't given what I thought was the fair value for the Strat. The owner said, "Look at how many Strats I have on the wall! It doesn't help my business to have another one. In order for a trade to work the house has to win."

I said all that to say this... Don't get emotional about your gear as difficult as that may be. Any music store you go to is running a business and in order for them to keep the lights running, they have to come out on the winning end of trade in deals. Many times, if a music store is not interested in your trade, they will tell you outright, "Sell it to a private party on Craigslist or Ebay, and if you come back with cash I'll knock 5% off for paying cash."

 

[djphelan01]

+1 on what twangjeff said

 

[RubyRae]

It is really silly IMO to try to do trade deals with a big company like that, heck even the small shops. When you are dealing with low end (low price) equipment, there is really no room to negotiate. Especially in this economy, you need to try to sell and trade with other players or local craigslist. That is unless you want a new guitar and are fine with trading them in for a little cash off the purchase.

I almost traded my whole guitar collection once for a Gibson 335, and he still wouldn't do it even though he was coming out almost 2 grand ahead. Thank god he didn't do the deal. 2 weeks later I traded one guitar for it, and it all worked out. It was a wake up call for me when dealing with music stores. I'm sure it will all work out, just takes a little time to make it right for you.

 

[BradKM]

Rule of thumb on trades at the several small guitar shops I worked at: offer 50% of what you can sell the trade in for; most used prices are 50% off new price.

I've seen lots of used G400s going for $200 lately, and quite honestly if GC, MF and others are selling those Epis new for $350, his offer wasn't out of line at all.

Consider that a $200 used selling price is better than the standard 50% depreciation, which would have the G400 at $175, and your trade in value around $85.

You're always better to sell it yourself. I've been on both sides of the counter during these deals and know how they work, and only trade something in if I don't want to take the time and effort to offload it myself.

Don't take it personally.

 

[purpletele]

Always sell out right. You'll never get a good deal trying to do a trade in. It's bad business for them.

Try to get a trade in at a mom and pops store. Guitar center is usually (unless you're a lifelong customer etc) more generous.

Plus Epiphones are priced to low to get good trade in value. Why would someone pay $300 for a used guitar that they could pay $100 more and get a brand new one?

 

[studio1087]

So I went there, found a nice epi les Paul standard, and was talking to the guy about trading in my epi g400 sg and my cheapy Alvarez tele. He wouldn't take the tele, despite the fact that it was in the same, if not better condition than when I bought it from (a different) guitar center. Then he goes and insults me further by offering me $100 for my sg (which I bought 6 months ago, brand new, for $300, from that very guitar center. It's still in new condition too). All the while this guy is trying to assure me that he isnt trying to cheat me, which we all know is a blatant lie. Correct me if im wrong, but the deal is half the price i bought it for, correct? So I said, "no way", and walked out. Idiots

Trades are horrible business. Horrible for the retailer and just as bad for you.

Sell your stuff privately and shop with cash. It's better for everyone.

Here's the problem.....

The retailer had money and then the retailer bought inventory.

After buying inventory, the retailer has "stuff" but very little cash in the bank.

Yesterday's cash is now "stuff".......it's inventory now.

You walk in with more "stuff"....you want to trade your old used stuff and get new gear. Your trade causes a situation where the retailer has even more stuff, no cash flow income and some of the new stuff that the retailer just bought is walking out the door in your hands.

It's bad business.

Habitual traders screw themselves over and over and over. The retailer has to offer you next to nothing for a trade if the retailer is going to be financially stable months after the deal.

When I worked in a guitar shop we used to explain this to customers again and again and it was shocking how many guys would hand over a guitar in trade for 20% of what it was worth.

Don't trade your gear. Sell it on craigslist and then go to the local guitar shop with money so that you can actually negotiate.

Cash = leverage.
Trade = you're gonna get screwed.

I worked at a nice mom & pop Fender, Martin, Gibson dealer and we would have behaved just like the Guitar Center guy. It's not a Guitar Center problem.

If the guy offered you $100 for a $300 guitar you were lucky. He might have sat on your old guitar for three months and then sold it for $140 (after paying his electric bill and lease and employees for three months). Ouch.

That's just business. It's not personal.

 

[jdaunt]

The only time I trade with GC is when they have a Trade In Trade Up sale. They pay you what they're gonna pay you for your gear, plus give you 15% off the new item you're trading for. That's how I got my MIM Tele! Traded in a Swollen Pickle and got $60 for that plus 15% off the $399 guitar so ended up with another $60 off (and they took the percentage off the original price, not taking the discount off first then applying the 15%). Otherwise I'd say put it on ebay or craigslist or whatever and you'll likely get more out of it. Sidenote-my Swollen Pickle is still there two months later, they have it listed for $89, I gave them the original box and everything, and it hasn't resold yet.

 

[elicross]

That's nothing. Watch some of the pawnshop reality shows for a course in low balling.

Man, ain't that the truth.

"People just aren't buying Princess Diana's fully authenticated, 5-carat-diamond engagement ring the way they used to. I can give you fifty bucks for it."

(Which is almost always followed by "Okay...I guess I'll take it." Which is why I had to stop watching those pawnshop shows. )

 

[wshelley]

But seriously, they don't have to make you an offer at all. If you don't like the offer, don't take it.

 

[elkhart1956]

So I went there, found a nice epi les Paul standard, and was talking to the guy about trading in my epi g400 sg and my cheapy Alvarez tele. He wouldn't take the tele, despite the fact that it was in the same, if not better condition than when I bought it from (a different) guitar center. Then he goes and insults me further by offering me $100 for my sg (which I bought 6 months ago, brand new, for $300, from that very guitar center. It's still in new condition too). All the while this guy is trying to assure me that he isnt trying to cheat me, which we all know is a blatant lie. Correct me if im wrong, but the deal is half the price i bought it for, correct? So I said, "no way", and walked out. Idiots

They aren't ripping anyone off.

As much as I personally dislike GC, this is life in the retail world. How would any retail chain stay in business by not buying wholesale? They have to make a profit to cover overhead, pay the employees etc. They aren't a museum. They buy cheap and sell higher.

That's retail brother. Don't take it personally. Had he pulled on a gun on you in the parking lot and taken the gtr off your hands that way, then sure, that would certainly be a rip off.

They made an offer and you declined. Simple.

 

[stantheman]

Never got to ANY store with the hope of being treated right when selling any item.
Always sell it yourself.

 

[Mrsamlki]

I see all ur points, and I understand what ur all saying, but it doesn't help at all. I'm sure u all get what I'm saying too, I'm just frustrated. That being said, anyone want a g400? $200...

 

[babalooga]

To the OP, the Lancaster Craigslist has butt loads of like new Epi LPs all the time. You could sell your SG and pick up what you want locally and not have to pay the dreaded PA sales tax. Also check out Harrisburgh and York, good luck.

 

[studio1087]

I see all ur points, and I understand what ur all saying, but it doesn't help at all. I'm sure u all get what I'm saying too, I'm just frustrated. That being said, anyone want a g400? $200...

I'll bet you could sell it on craigslist for $225.....easy.

Get out the digital camera and go on a mission. You can sell it. It will take a week or so but it's time well spent. Shine it up. Take some nice photos.