Bargaining at music stores?

Infiltration12 · #1 12-03-2009, 03:28 PM

Say I'm buying a bass for around $500, could I bargain the price with the salesman and try to get the price a little lower or get some extras thrown in? Especially at places like Guitar Center, I don't know if this is a common thing or if I would just look like an idiot.

**jmattbassplaya** · #2 12-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Sure thing.

You could probably get them down to $440 plus a gig bag if you say you`ll pay in straight cash and that it`s all you got.

JMac4strngr · #3 12-03-2009, 03:42 PM

I allways try to get the best deal I can out of those guys, but I am not one of those guys who will stand there for an eternity haggling over $20.00...... I allways figured my time has more value than that.

JTE · #4 12-03-2009, 04:19 PM

Never hurts to try, unless you're annoying about. That could backfire...

John

**TheMutt** · #5 12-03-2009, 04:36 PM

Typically from GC you may or may not meet with success when trying to haggle with them. Before the buyout, they were more than happy to haggle prices with you. Now you will more than likely get the canned "we can't offer bargains on our merchandise" response. You are more than welcome to try, and if there is precedence at another store, it will be to your benefit. (This is how I haggled down an MXR Distortion III to the same price as the limited edition MXR Classic Distortion) Honestly though, you'd probably have a much better time trying this at another chain store, or maybe the local shop that you go to all the time. It's also a great idea to make friends with the managers, as they can give you some deals from time to time that are not advertised but are given when asked for.

Thunderthumbs73 · #6 12-03-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infiltration12

Say I'm buying a bass for around $500, could I bargain the price with the salesman and try to get the price a little lower or get some extras thrown in? Especially at places like Guitar Center, I don't know if this is a common thing or if I would just look like an idiot.

I'd say if the bass is priced appropriately-ie-within norms of pricing which can be seen in most other places, then you have a little room to bargain, or try. I'm assuming they'd match a price, or some other place would match a price to try to get your business. But I also assume there is a profit margin like on cars and other items which are seen, somehow to have a "negotiable" price, and the lower you try to go and the less profit possible, the less likely they are to be interested to sell to you at the price you want.

I think a little bit off the price is perhaps fair, but expecting a fire sale price is not.

Steve · #7 12-03-2009, 05:15 PM

How bad do you want it? THAT is the seller's hole card.

You can negotiate any transaction to the limit of your patience or ability to walk away.

ESPECIALLY a new instrument at a brick and mortar store.

Ask that sales guy just exactly why you should buy it from him today when you can get the exact same thing online, cheaper without having to pay sales tax and you'll have it in a week, free shipping.

He has to cough up something to equalize having to pay sales tax if he has a hope of getting my money.

You'd be surprised how well you can do if you have cash in your pocket and an I don't care attitude.

Three weeks before Christmas is however a really lousy time for arm twisting. They expect high traffic and sales.

Thunderthumbs73 · #8 12-03-2009, 05:41 PM

Of course, you can always try something at a store, then buy it on-line. No need to deal with a salesperson. But if you want THAT instrument, and you want to try to get a discount, then being cool with a salesperson is the way to go. If you P-O the salesperson, you don't get a deal, but also if the salesperson gets you P-O-ed, he doesn't get the sale. It's of mutual interest to work together, within reason.

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 12-03-2009, 05:42 PM

One more thing, CHECK AMAZON! GC says they`ll match any price and will give you 10% off of that if you find something lower than their in store or online value. I typically can find the same product on Amazon for 5-10% less than what GC is selling the same product for.

Case and point, the new Sterling by MM Ray 34 model in honey burst goes for $675(give or take) at GC. I`ve found it on Amazon(new) for about $590.

Thunderthumbs73 · #10 12-03-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

One more thing, CHECK AMAZON! GC says they`ll match any price and will give you 10% off of that if you find something lower than their in store or online value. I typically can find the same product on Amazon for 5-10% less than what GC is selling the same product for.

Case and point, the new Sterling by MM Ray 34 model in honey burst goes for $675(give or take) at GC. I`ve found it on Amazon(new) for about $590.

Did you ever get a price match from GC that way, using Amazon.com as the quote?

MNAirHead · #11 12-03-2009, 05:52 PM

IF comparing to guitar center... may not work well... they drive prices.. your vendor may not have any price comparison.

Reality is that if you want quality stuff.. there may be more flexibility as the big brother stocks junk

B String · #12 12-03-2009, 06:02 PM

At the moment you can get 10% - 15% off anything just
by walking in the door. They've been sending me ads every
other day. Just be nice when you're asking. But firm.

Bongolation · #13 12-03-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

One more thing, CHECK AMAZON! GC says they`ll match any price and will give you 10% off of that if you find something lower than their in store or online value.

Generally, I've found such guarantees to be useless if the difference is significant. Everyone claims to do this (including GC), but they'll all balk if there's much money involved.

Also, run eBates or Bing for ordering online as that will get you a 4%-8% rebate, depending. MF was 8% over the weekend on eBates. I got $19+ (4%) rebate on a heavily discounted SamAsh.Com order, and that's free money for doing nothing.

I used to bargain at GC all the time. When Bain bought them out they forbade their staff to do this any longer, and after they took a huge hit in sales they reinstated the old policy -- but I haven't really tried it since. With sales tax at nearly 9% there's just too much of a loss in buying locally.

Single-digit percentages do add up!

EagleMoon · #14 12-03-2009, 06:50 PM

Just be prepared to walk away. If you are then you can usually get better deals. Most places will go 10 to 15% off without too much trouble. I've never bought an instrument for the tagged price.

EagleMoon · #15 12-03-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

One more thing, CHECK AMAZON! GC says they`ll match any price and will give you 10% off of that if you find something lower than their in store or online value. I typically can find the same product on Amazon for 5-10% less than what GC is selling the same product for.

Case and point, the new Sterling by MM Ray 34 model in honey burst goes for $675(give or take) at GC. I`ve found it on Amazon(new) for about $590.

Just a word to the wise. Be a bit careful of Amazon. I bought a bass from there a while back and it had a multitude of problems. I was told that they tend to get slightly defective instruments so that they can sell them for cheap.

~ignited~wings~ · #16 12-03-2009, 06:55 PM

I find Haggling rude, but perhaps I'm just a sucker.

Bongolation · #17 12-03-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

I was told that they tend to get slightly defective instruments so that they can sell them for cheap.

From whom did you hear this?

That's nonsense, and I've heard it about every major retailer for years. How a factory-sealed unit can be determined to be defective, I don't know.

I've bought instruments from Amazon and the stuff is factory-sealed A-stock that I've received and Amazon stands behind it if it's defective -- which in my experience it hasn't been.

I do believe that Amazon somehow manages to acquire stock in third-party warehouses through fairly mysterious means, but there's nothing wrong with the stuff they sell.

EagleMoon · #18 12-03-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

From whom did you hear this?

That's nonsense, and I've heard it about every major retailer for years. How a factory-sealed unit can be determined to be defective, I don't know.

I've bought instruments from Amazon and the stuff is factory-sealed A-stock that I've received and Amazon stands behind it if it's defective -- which in my experience it hasn't been.

I do believe that Amazon somehow manages to acquire stock in third-party warehouses through fairly mysterious means, but there's nothing wrong with the stuff they sell.

Excuse me? Nonsense? If you want to know who told me, PM me and I'll tell you. I just didn't want to name drop on the forum.

UncleFluffy · #19 12-03-2009, 07:11 PM

If you can't get a $ discount, the fallback position is to get them to throw something in the pot to sweeten the deal - set of strings, new strap, etc. That often works when a straight $ deal won't because it costs them less.

disasterline · #20 12-03-2009, 07:19 PM

guitar center keeps sending me a $25 gift card every month, because last year i spent over $3,000 in a few months and have yet to buy anything this year from them. to bad the gift cards expire at the end of the month, or i would have $350 in gift cards. i got them ever since the buyout when they sent me an invitation to a "party" and i keep getting them.

but one time after i had spent about $1000 and was in the store almost every day, i wanted to buy a jazz bass deluxe. i met a man in the bass department and i liked him, i told him that i would buy it from him but i didnt have the money that day, he said he worked that friday, so friday i showed up and talked to him. Guitar Center was selling for around $600. I went into the store with a $50 store credit and $200 cash. I asked what kind of deal he could do me he said $550 with no gig bag (even when i have payed full price i never get gig bags ***?) i told him i had $250 plus i could write a check for the deference. he goes and gets it all polished up and finds me when he was done. he said $550 out the door, with my cash and gift card i had to write the check for $300, i called my bank to make sure i wouldnt bounce it and turns out i had only $254 in my account. i told him i could only do $500. I then said i guess i could come back later. after a long sighhhhhhhh, he said ill sell it for $500 out the door. so i got $100 off but i think i got lucky, and im number 1 customer!.