Bad Mojo worth considering when buying basses?

Stuggi · #1 12-23-2009, 08:53 AM

I'm in a bit of trouble. My local store has an almost new MIM Fender P, and it's really nice. It's also marked down to less than half of what a new one costs around here.

I talked to the store owner, and he said he was about to cut the price even more in a couple of days. I asked why, he responded that he doesn't own it, the real owner has cancer and needs to free up cash quick, and thus the price drop.

Now, the bass is nice, and I can more than afford it. But do I want the bad mojo that comes with buying the instrument?

My options at this point are; 1) walk away, probably resenting not buying the bass and helping out the owner.
2) Buying the bass.

If I were to buy the bass, I would pay the tag price on it, not the one he was gonna lower it to. I would also give a card with my number to the store owner so the previous owner could contact me if he wanted to buy it back.

What would you do?

VroomVroom · #2 12-23-2009, 08:57 AM

Sounds like you want the bass. Buy it. Let that be your guide, not the circumstances driving the price. And if you do buy it, you'll be adding GOOD mojo.

**lowendfriend** · #3 12-23-2009, 09:14 AM

You didn't give the guy cancer and the cash will help him out....I agree - you are injecting goodness and then growing your skills to deliver good music to listeners somewhere, even if only you!

Stuggi · #4 12-23-2009, 09:20 AM

Hmm. That's was actually my initial reaction, but somehow it feels weird since the guy need to sell his instrument. At least for me as a musician that would not be a very pleasant day.

I got a kinda weird pat on the back from the store owner when I told him I'd consider it though.

Pilgrim · #5 12-23-2009, 11:57 AM

I'd grab it. A bass is an inanimate object and conveys no bad luck, mojo or anything else.

rosanne · #6 12-23-2009, 12:06 PM

Bad mojo? How? The bass didn't give him cancer. He needs the money so you would be creating good mojo! Doing good for him and for you, helping out a fellow human being while you are benefiting yourself. What could be better?

LeonD · #7 12-23-2009, 12:12 PM

The fact that he NEEDS to sell it and you're there to buy it is not a bad thing.

What would be much worse is if he needs to sell it and nobody buys it.

I do believe in bad mojo with some instruments but I don't think this is a case of it.

Jeff K · #8 12-23-2009, 03:31 PM

Here's a suggestion if you feel bad about it. Buy the bass. Then get a message to the seller (via the store owner if necessary), that if things start looking up for him, you'd be willing to sell it back to him for the price you paid for it. Win/win. He gets some money that he needs and you get a decent bass. Plus, if he beats the cancer, you can sell it back to him and probably make a friend in the process...

duff beer · #9 12-23-2009, 03:34 PM

It's bad luck to be superstitious....

I don't believe in any of that "bad mojo" crap...I think that belongs in the same category as horoscopes and biodexes. If someone is willing to sell me something at a good price because they feel it has given them bad luck, then I'm all over it. I enjoy helping silly people part with their money.

That being said, I do feel for someone who has to sell their bass because they have cancer. While I like getting deals, I wouldn't go our of my way to lowball them just because they are desperate. Now, if they needed money because they blew their cheque at the casino, then I will go out of my way to get it for the lowest price I can.

cb56 · #10 12-24-2009, 07:26 AM

I think buying the bass for what the store has it priced for and leaving your number if the guy ever wants it back is a good thing. You'll be helping the guy out with cash that he needs, giving his bass a loving home with the option of getting it back if/when he wants it. How could that be bad?

gidbass · #11 12-24-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

Here's a suggestion if you feel bad about it. Buy the bass. Then get a message to the seller (via the store owner if necessary), that if things start looking up for him, you'd be willing to sell it back to him for the price you paid for it. Win/win. He gets some money that he needs and you get a decent bass. Plus, if he beats the cancer, you can sell it back to him and probably make a friend in the process...

+1

DaveDeVille · #12 12-24-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

Here's a suggestion if you feel bad about it. Buy the bass. Then get a message to the seller (via the store owner if necessary),
that if things start looking up for him, you'd be willing to sell it back to him for the price you paid for it. Win/win.
He gets some money that he needs and you get a decent bass. Plus, if he beats the cancer, you can sell it back to him
and probably make a friend in the process...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidbass

+1

agreed !!
+ 2 ...

dougjwray · #13 12-24-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

Here's a suggestion if you feel bad about it. Buy the bass. Then get a message to the seller (via the store owner if necessary), that if things start looking up for him, you'd be willing to sell it back to him for the price you paid for it. Win/win. He gets some money that he needs and you get a decent bass. Plus, if he beats the cancer, you can sell it back to him and probably make a friend in the process...

This is the answer.

Stuggi · #14 12-24-2009, 10:51 AM

Thanks guys, guess I'm buying a bass the 27th then.

ialma · #15 01-04-2010, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

Here's a suggestion if you feel bad about it. Buy the bass. Then get a message to the seller (via the store owner if necessary), that if things start looking up for him, you'd be willing to sell it back to him for the price you paid for it. Win/win. He gets some money that he needs and you get a decent bass. Plus, if he beats the cancer, you can sell it back to him and probably make a friend in the process...

+3

YL_Bass · #16 01-04-2010, 03:35 AM

I think the card to the owner is a nice idea.

BassBrass · #17 01-04-2010, 04:17 AM

It's not like the bass is a personal and beloved instrument, it's for sale, has it's own history and the store owner is just passing it along!
How do you cure superstition? (mojo type) By knowledge, knowing absolutely what really Is. If you are superstitious, do a ritual...it works for those who believe in the "curse" or superstition or whatever...but if you don't believe in mumbo-jumbo, just switch your conclusion to what is reasonable and know that you'll be OK. Of course too many cancer docs get cancer and psychiatrists go coo-coo, so it makes one think. ha ha

Joe Nerve · #18 01-04-2010, 04:40 AM

Wow. I think you're making a lot of assumptions. First one being that this guy actually even has cancer. Not that he doesn't, but people desperate to sell things can say a lot. The second assumption is that the bass means anything at all to the guy, and/or that he is in fact desperate for the money. To some people a bass is just an unused thing that hangs around the house collecting dust. Could very well be the deal for them. I have friends who had such basses and it didn't mean a thing. This guy might be lowering his price just to move it because he doesn't want to think about it, not necesarily due to desperation. If it were me buying the bass, none of the above, nor any of your thoughts would even cross my ming. And I consider myself a thoughtful person. Whoever is selling the bass is choosing to do so. A couple of hundred bucks isn't going to make or break anyone, and the bass is going to get sold because that's what he wants to do. If you buy it you're helping him. I would NOT make the offer of selling it back because that's unfair to you. Why should you have to be concerned with having to possibly sell it back if you fall in love with it? There's no reason for that.

Last note is that I believe the bass will only have whatever mojo you put into it. If you believe it to be 'bad', then sorry but that's what's going to follow you around because you're empowering it. I don't see anything at all 'bad'. I see a bass for sale. If you pay the present marked price then that's a very nice thing you're doing. I'd think it would then actually have some pretty darn 'good' mojo.

Iffin I were you, if I couldn't get the 'bad' idea out of my head, I'd let the bass go. If I believed I was doing something good (or simply getting a sweet deal) I'd jump on, pay the extra money if I felt that's what I had to do, and be happy. Last note on the assumptions - how do you know this guy would even want the option of having it back? What if THAT fact haunted him because he couldn't afford to ever buy it back? Wouldn't want that connection. Once it's sold it's gone - better IMO for both him, and you.

I say buy it and feel good about it, or move on.

lbanks · #19 01-04-2010, 05:05 AM

Buy it, nothing sucks worse than needing money and unable to get it and nobody's buying what you're selling.