Trade-in Value

[Joel Wanek]

I'm thinking of buying a new bass and trading in the
plywood one I currently use. Its a Roth (the label
inside just says Roth, not E.H. Roth) plywood from the
1970s and I'm curious if most bass shops accept
trade-ins. If so, do they generally give you the price
of the instrument or considerably less?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Chasarms]

Unless they offer a specific upgrade program for basses originally purchased from them, I would expect to get far less than what they will ultimately sell the bass for. I would not be offended at all if a shop owner only offered 60-70 percent of the expected resale value of the bass. I know dealers of some types of instruments often offer as little as half.

In fairness to them, they have to account for any setup work they have to do for the future owner, as well as the amount of time they have to wait for a buyer to come in an pay for the rest of the bass you bought.

You are certainly better off financially to take a shot a selling it yourself before you consider trading it. Or, if you go ahead a buy the new bass, the shop owner may accept the bass for sale by consignment. I almost always see a few consigned basses in the local shop I frequent.

[mje]

Consider that a shop might have purchased a bass new for 60% of the advertised list price. A used one will sell for considerable less than a new one, so they might only be able to offer you 40% of the list price if you didn't buy it from them.

[nicklloyd]

Each shop has their own policy. Call around... I'm sure someone in Chicago would take a trade in w/cash.