What is the Process for Buying Used Gear From a Non-Local Guitar Center?

[Bones]

Guitar Center dot com. has something used that I am interested in buying, just looking at the page, it says it can ship to my local store in 3-7 days.

Do I have to pay for it and then they ship it and if I don't like it, I can get a refund right then and there, or will they ship it to my store so I can try it out and buy it if I like it?

Definitely don't want it shipped right to my house sight unseen.

Anyone have experience with these purchases, I do know that their idea of "good condition" can vary greatly from reality.

Thanks.

 

[Flat6Driver]

I think you're always shelling out before you get it in a box. You can buy it and have it sent to your house and 44 days later decide you don't like it.

I find it online and CALL the store. The photos usually suck. I was looking at a guitar and I wnated red but it looked orange. I talked to the guy that brought it in (and sold it originally). He said it was nice but it was orange. I passed.

They will look at stuff and shoot more cell phone photos if you ask.

 

[Toto'sDad]

I bought a Strat in Arkansas while on vacation one time, and took it back to the local GC when I discovered the pickups had been swapped out with some el cheapos. There was a little back in forth but I got my money in one day. Only one slight ketch they charged me seven dollars to issue a refund check since I had paid cash for the guitar, and they could't just credit my card back.

I think I've read here on the forum of people buying and returning at GC when it was an ordered used item. If you specify store pickup, there shouldn't be any freight going either way. BUT, things change so you might want to ask them.

 

[MilwMark]

Why are you asking an Internet forum rather than calling the store?

 

[theprofessor]

You have to pay the price of the item plus tax and shipping first. You can have it shipped to your house or to the store, but it's probably best to ship it to the store. That way you can check it out right in front of the folks at GC. But either way, you have 30 days to try it out. If you end up not liking it or whatever, you can return it to the local Guitar Center, and they will refund the price of the item plus tax. You will only be out what it costs to ship it.

 

[fendertx]

^^^^^^^^^^

Yep, this is my experience. I bought a used LP Jr and picked it up at the local GC. Had them unbox it and left all the packaging and cardboard in their store. Carried it out in one of my gig bags.
Good experience for me.

 

[theprofessor]

Yep, this is my experience. I bought a used LP Jr and picked it up at the local GC. Had them inbox and left all the packaging and cardboard in their store. Carries it out in one of my gig bags.
Good experience for me.

[Hey fendertx!]

Yes, I really like buying used from GC. Their return policy is hard to beat. I got my FSR tele off the website just as the OP described. Sometimes you get some surprises. Mine came with Seymour Duncan Antiquities pickups and a 4-way switch. None of that was included in the web description Sweet! If only all surprises were like that! OP: hope your experience is something like that.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

And - in the not too distant past, the shipping was virtually free.

They would only charge you for the packaging.

I bought a couple guitars and then a ridiculously heavy Ampeg Jet 20 and the combined shipping on all was less than $30.

And the amp shipped from San Francisco !

Last year when I found a cheap Gretsch Bo Diddley at a GC in Washington I was bummed to find out shipping was $26.

Still cheap but those are small guitars.

 

[Hexabuzz]

And - in the not too distant past, the shipping was virtually free.

They would only charge you for the packaging.

+1 on the crazy low shipping, at least in the past.

Bought a used Roland BC60-310 amp (3 x 10" speaker combo) which was HUGE and HEAVY, and the website computed shipping was something like $30 to ship it halfway across the US.

These are the same amps on Reverb that are almost always local pickup only, or $100 to ship, which is why I never bought one in the past, althought I really wanted it.

 

[william tele]

Bones, if it's any help at all I'm about 51% sure you won't like it...

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

Shipped to the store is free; shipped to your house costs $$$.

 

[theprofessor]

Shipped to the store is free; shipped to your house costs $$$.

You may be right, but in my experience it was going to cost the same to ship it either to my house or to the store. Depending on the item, I'd simply plan on being out about $30 for shipping. But that is a great price, in my opinion, for a 30-day trial period for a relatively expensive piece of gear. And I've almost always found their used prices to be reasonable, anyway, which makes the $30 sting a little less.

 

[fendertx]

The real advantage is being able to return it to your local GC if you are unhappy. If you get a better deal through an online dealer you would probably cover the return shipping if you are unhappy with the merchandise.

 

[nasonm]

I've bought two expensive guitars from GC used online (at least they were expensive to me). One arrived needing a set up bad, was all grungy (needed a good cleaning and polish), and had black, rusted strings. The other one arrived in so much better condition than I could have hoped for!

Lesson: I always call and talk to someone in great detail and request personal photos (not the low-res ones that are on the site).

 

[Pisgah]

I have done it six or more times and recently sent two guitars back because I just did not really like them enough. (M77 and Squier '51.) No problem on the returns. Shipping to the local store for pick up is definitely the way to go.

 

[Hexabuzz]

Shipped to the store is free; shipped to your house costs $$$.

Not sure how you're managing that, but I just confirmed that there's a shipping charge on web orders with either ship to store, or ship direct to home.

 

[rebelwoclue]

I once bought a '91 Gibson SJ (1 of 20 Banner RIs made that year in Bozeman) when I saw it for a good price (but still pricy to me) in a Maryland GC. I went to the local GC and had them call and find the right guy to pull the guitar out and give me an in-hand description over the phone before I pulled the trigger. I wasn't disappointed. He was true to his description.

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

Not sure how you're managing that, but I just confirmed that there's a shipping charge on web orders with either ship to store, or ship direct to home.

I stand corrected. I now remember asking this question to the Guitar Center rep, expecting her to tell me that it was free to the store, and her telling me that it wasn't, and me being astonished.

 

[Teleguy61]

I bought a used guitar from a GC in Atlantic City, and had it shipped to my house. Shipping was $20. Turned out the guitar was not for me, and I returned it to my local GC. No questions asked, and they refunded the whole price, including shipping. A positive experience.

 

[rz350]

Bought a bunch from other stores, they usually call to make sure I know it's left handed......

Bought an Epi Les Paul from Texas, $13 shipping to my house in Wisconsin, I really like this one.