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baddarryl · #1 03-13-2009, 04:01 PM

How good are they at giving fair trade in prices? Anyone done this? Thanks.

RobertPaulson · #2 03-13-2009, 04:09 PM

better than a pawn shop, still way worse than here/ebay.

BigOldHarry · #3 03-13-2009, 04:10 PM

giving used gear to GC is just that - giving it.

Sell it on line or on your local Craigslist.

SpamBot · #4 03-13-2009, 04:12 PM

They look your gear up on eBay, then pay you half of that.
It's complete ********, go with Craigslist or TB classifieds.
I'd avoid eBay myself, they like to nail you with a billion fees.

baddarryl · #5 03-13-2009, 04:44 PM

Thanks, that's what I figured.

MikeBass · #6 03-13-2009, 04:47 PM

GC will screw you like a "lifer" does to 17 year old in prison for the first time.

Pilgrim · #7 03-13-2009, 05:51 PM

You sell at wholesale, buy at retail. Rest assured they will buy at wholesale. If you sell the instrument yourself, you're selling at retail and pocketing the difference.

monsterthompson · #8 03-13-2009, 05:53 PM

of course that 15% coupon would work out to be a nice equalizer if you are trading in a low-end model and picking up something expensive.

The Eristic · #9 03-13-2009, 06:31 PM

I personally witnessed a GC giving a woman and her preteen son $345 credit for a short heel PRS CE24 (kid was trading for a ~$550 Gibson SG Faded). Granted, the CE24 isn't *the* most desirable model, but a pre-'95 with a figured top and birds would've sold at that time (a couple years ago) for around $1500. If I'd gotten there sooner, I would've said something, but I was too late.

The Atlanta store tried to tell me my Roscoe LG-3005 would really only be able to be sold for around $800 when I was interested in trading towards a Eshenbaugh 7 (which I wound up just buying outright, eventually).

"Nobody really knows who Roscoe is, so it would be a lot harder to sell than the Eshenbaugh. We can only give you maybe $500, tops, if the manager is willing to take the risk on something that might sit here for months. I mean, Roscoes are ok, but THIS is an Eshenbaugh. They're way higher end, and way easier to sell."

Don't expect much.

Solarmist · #10 03-13-2009, 06:31 PM

I sold them a bass for $150, and they told me they have to get at least $300 for it or it wasn't worth it.

htharp · #11 03-13-2009, 09:20 PM

I bought a nice '77 telecaster custom from someone after watching them offer $500 for it with the original case.

malthumb · #12 03-13-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Eristic

....."Nobody really knows who Roscoe is, so it would be a lot harder to sell than the Eshenbaugh. We can only give you maybe $500, tops, if the manager is willing to take the risk on something that might sit here for months. I mean, Roscoes are ok, but THIS is an Eshenbaugh. They're way higher end, and way easier to sell."

Don't expect much.

My head won't stop spinning

sflajimmy · #13 03-13-2009, 10:31 PM

Just a bad idea all the way around to trade in anything there. They love used equipment because of the $$$ they make. I see their banner ad is running. Run away is more like it.

lindseyp · #14 03-13-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Eristic

I personally witnessed a GC giving a woman and her preteen son $345 credit for a short heel PRS CE24 (kid was trading for a ~$550 Gibson SG Faded). ...

"Nobody really knows who Roscoe is, so it would be a lot harder to sell than the Eshenbaugh. We can only give you maybe $500, tops, if the manager is willing to take the risk on something that might sit here for months. I mean, Roscoes are ok, but THIS is an Eshenbaugh. They're way higher end, and way easier to sell."

Don't expect much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthumb

My head won't stop spinning

Well, my head's not spinning, but I had to laugh pretty hard at both of those. The guys at the El Paso GC were up front about the trade-in policy and told me to go to e-bay.

hrgiger · #15 03-13-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindseyp

Well, my head's not spinning, but I had to laugh pretty hard at both of those. The guys at the El Paso GC were up front about the trade-in policy and told me to go to e-bay.

Yeah if you think GC is that bad, go to 'BIG $$$ PAWN' and see what they will give you...

Timlr · #16 03-14-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindseyp

Well, my head's not spinning, but I had to laugh pretty hard at both of those. The guys at the El Paso GC were up front about the trade-in policy and told me to go to e-bay.

Yeah I had a similar experience. I had a manager at the store flat-out tell me not to sell to the GC.

baddarryl · #17 03-14-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monsterthompson

of course that 15% coupon would work out to be a nice equalizer if you are trading in a low-end model and picking up something expensive.

I did think of that, but it would only be worth it if a Pedulla or something. That 15% sure would be nice.

Pilgrim · #18 03-14-2009, 06:27 PM

Just to illustrate this - I won't argue that you should trade. Any time you sell the item yourself, you do better than trading.

Here's how it works.....if they can sell a bass for $500, then wholesale is probably about $200-$250 and that's what they will give you for it.

And even is the bass is worth more, if it's an unusual or low-demand brand (even if it's high quality) then they know they'll probably have to have it in stock for months - which is NOT what they want. So they're going to knock a couple hundred dollars off what they offer you just because they know the instrument is going to take up space and tie up their capital for months.

Add to that the fact that they may not know anything about an unusual brand, and I wouldn't be surprised if you got a lowball offer. You're going to get a better offer on a mainstream instrument (Fender, Gibson) that they can re-sell within 30 days.

Here's how a trade works. Let's say they're selling a $1000 guitar and they have $500 in it. You bring in a guitar that should re-sell for at least $500. They're going to probably figure the wholesale value on that guitar is $200-$250. We'll be generous and say $250. So $250 is what your guitar is worth to them, period. That's the wholesale value, and they buy at wholesale, not retail.

But instead of making $500 gross profit on the guitar you're guying, let's say they'll settle for $400 profit. They can take your guitar and offer you $350 ($250 wholesale plus $100 of the profit built into the new guitar) for it.

That's how trades work - doesn't matter if it's guitars, cars or anything else. You ALWAYS get wholesale for your trade-in, but how they figure wholesale and how much profit they'll take out of the new item sold determine the DIFFERENCE in price, which is what really matters.

mike_v_s · #19 03-14-2009, 06:59 PM

If you're looking to get a below-low-balled offer served up on a platter of condescension, just PM me; I'll give you the same treatment without you having to leave the house. I promise to use the word "dude" as often as possible and I'll even throw in a personal insult or a back-handed compliment if you're really a glutton for punishment. And of course I'll make sure you feel lucky that I've responded to you.

Mike