Guitar Center Trade In Offer...

[Kevmove]

I picked up a Schecter Stilletto Extreme 4 a couple of months ago. It fits in nicely between my Fender Jazz and my Yamaha RBX 765a. I like the short scale, but hate the twangy sound. so GC sends a post card that offers an additional 15% discount if you trade in towards new gear. I'm not looking to get another bass, but I would like to get a good paid of studio monitors or maybe a field recorder. So help me out:

Am I crazy for wanting to trade in my Schecter?
How much should I expect to get on a trade?
If you had an extra $250, what bass accessory would you get?

I am not into trying to sell the bass privately, so that's not an option. Thanks in advance!

[rapturebass]

Isn't it 34"? i don't think the Extreme is short scale. Any how, if you don't like the sound, just try new pickups or strings. If your going to get only $ 250 for it, i don't think you should sell it. If you hate it that much, go ahead and trade then. Or you could give it to me? (purrty plz, im so sick of my crapy old austin!)

[bassteban]

It is bad form & pretty much against TB rules to mention you're selling/considering selling a bass if you are not a supporting member. Look up prices on ebay or legit FS ads here- or better yet, cough up $20(well worth it)& post all the ads you want.

[PaulMacCnj]

No, you're not crazy at all. It happens all the time. We buy gear one day only to learn that it's not what we thought it was. I sold my first two basses and my first bass combo amp for that reason.

Trades vary greatly in stores. Usually, you're better off selling it yourself, sometimes not. It also depends what you want to put the trade towards. If there's enough haggle room on the other gear, then you might do pretty well. Just be sure to not act too interested in the intial offer. You can typically hold out for a better offer. I nearly walked out of GC when I was trading in a Fender ABG for my P-bass. The manager said, "Don't leave, yet!" and it was fun playing the game. I had cash in my pocket to make up the difference in price between the two basses. I was able to haggle pretty well and was happy with the deal.

[Kevmove]

Bassteban, I don't know if your comment was directed towards me, but you need to reread my post. I never said I wanted to sell anything. In fact, I said I was not into private sales. I also said I was considering a trade in at Guitar Center, and was looking for advice. You may continue your membership drive, but get your facts straight. If you have a supporting comment concerning my actual question, I would be interested in hearing it.

[mellowgerman]

kevmove, don't trade it in. i believe your bass lists for $499. GC sells them for $349. their general rule of thumb is they'll give you half of what they generally bring in on ebay. so you'd be lucky to get $150 for it on trade in.
http://completed.shop.ebay.com/items..._udhiZQQ_udloZ

[GeoffByrne]

Originally Posted by Kevmove

Bassteban, I don't know if your comment was directed towards me, but you need to reread my post. I never said I wanted to sell anything. In fact, I said I was not into private sales. I also said I was considering a trade in at Guitar Center, and was looking for advice. You may continue your membership drive, but get your facts straight. If you have a supporting comment concerning my actual question, I would be interested in hearing it.

I've looked.

He's right.

[jimmy rocket]

Originally Posted by Kevmove

Bassteban, I don't know if your comment was directed towards me, but you need to reread my post. I never said I wanted to sell anything. In fact, I said I was not into private sales. I also said I was considering a trade in at Guitar Center, and was looking for advice. You may continue your membership drive, but get your facts straight. If you have a supporting comment concerning my actual question, I would be interested in hearing it.

It was indeed directed toward you, but (I'm sure) only because of the "slippery slope" posts by non-supporting members who mention that they're thinking of selling something and ask how much to solicit a private sale w/o becoming a member.

I understand that's not what you were trying to do, but you can see how that might be something that can become a problem around here.

In answer to your original question, nope, you're not crazy. I find myself doing that with effects all the time. A slightly cheaper version of your quandary, but often just can't get the sound or feel out of something that I expect and I'd rather that instrument/equipment were a liquid asset. If someone gave me a Warwick I would trade that SOB in a second for an MIM fender just because the Warwick is not my thing. I realize it wouldn't be an equal value trade, monetarily speaking, but trades aren't always about money!

[flapbass]

no you're not crazy to want to trade it in.
you won't get more than 60% of what they would sell it for as a used item so its kind of a rip off. but don't go trading it in first thing. here's why, what if you trade it for something else you don't like? then you trade that for less than its worth too and you now have a diminishing return on your initial investment of the bass and the new item you traded it for. if you don't want to sell it privately try trading it privately, but only once you're doubly sure of what it is you truly want or need for your musical endeavors.
if i had an extra $250 in bass money lying around i would buy a ibanez ts7, and put the rest towards a savings fund for a gibson thunderbird.

[debassr]

I wish people would use the report post function and let the mods make judgments instead of taking it upon themselves to interpret and enforce rules.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Kevmove

Bassteban, I don't know if your comment was directed towards me, but you need to reread my post. I never said I wanted to sell anything. In fact, I said I was not into private sales. I also said I was considering a trade in at Guitar Center, and was looking for advice. You may continue your membership drive, but get your facts straight. If you have a supporting comment concerning my actual question, I would be interested in hearing it.

Dude, I mentioned a method for ascertaining values as well as pointing out a possible(perhaps unintentional)violation of TB's stated rules. Those of us who have contributed don't much care for thinly-veiled FS ads(again- not saying this is the case here, but clarifying the reason for the rule).
The fact is, your OP featured the words(correct me if I'm wrong)*Thinking of selling.* Again- know the rules or play elsewhere.
As for membership drives, you are a member- a non-supporting member.
Lastly, of course my earlier post was directed at you.
Have fun at guitarbage center.

Edit: After rereading your retitled OP, here are my responses to your questions, in reverse order:
*If I had $250 I'd get a nice used 1x12.
*How much? Not enough to make it worthwhile, IME.
*Are you crazy? IMO, no- perhaps misinformed/taken in by GC hype. New stuff is always alluring, but take your time & do your homework. I honestly hope you get what you're after.

Re-edit: Oh- and debassr, I do use that nice red button, but I like to talk to people too. I cannot enforce anything here, though. Probably a good thing.

[Kevmove]

Bassteban, I totally get your point, and I hope you notice that I amended the title of this thread to address your concern. It never was my intention to draw anyone into a negotiation and I apologize to all supporting members for the perceived slight.

To be clear, the point of my original post was not merely to ascertain a value, but to check to make sure I wasn't undervaluing my bass. Have you ever watched the "Antique Road Show"? It never fails to amaze me the number of times that a person says that paid a really low price for an item that was extremely valuable or its opposite, where a person overpays for something as common as tissue paper.

I have a knack for finding things that end up having great value. Unfortunately, there is not alot of information about Schecter Basses floating around on the internet, so I came here to get a sense of what I should expect.

I am also sorry that you have such a low opinion of Guitabage Center. I have had extraordinary good fortune with them, because:

I always make friends with people who can assist me in finding "the too good to be true deals"

I do my research to know when is the best time to look for the best deals, like when a store needs to get rid of inventory that has been idle for over a year, has already been paid for, and is merely a stranded asset that needs to be converted to cash. When a store reaches this point, any offer will be accepted. You just need to know when and who to ask.

I hope someone benefits from this pointless dialogue.


Peace!

[davidguevara80]

Become a Supporting member for $20 and sell it in TB,is a great place to deal.GC will give you nothing for your bass or will trade it for a headphones.A few years ago i took my bass there (Yamaha TRB-JP) And they offer me $700 Dollars MAN!! i sold the bass on ebay for $1600.

[Spinal Tapper]

Sell the bass on Ebay or Craigslist...Guitar Center won't give you crud on trades.

[jimmy rocket]

+ 1000 on becoming a supporting member.

[bassteban]

Kevmove, I apologize for the high snottiness content of my initial response, & applaud your level-headedness here. [bowing in respect smilie]
I did notice the title.
On the Roadshow- just be sure that when they ask you what you *think it's worth, say, 'I have no idea'. Whatever the item, it will be worth $30,000.
If OTOH you say, 'I've done a bit of research, seen a few of these go for X, but I have the original box & instructions, so I'm thinking Y', they will say, 'Well it's really too bad you cleaned off the patina because now it's pretty much worthless'.
I must admit I have not been in a GC for months, but have had always gotten better deals here. It sounds like you know what you're doing in there, so(in all seriousness this time)have fun.
Lasly for now, your post is/was not pointless & I hope my isn't either.

[deathbyjune]

What are the benefits of becoming a supporting member? (aside from simply contributing to this lovely forum we all enjoy so much

[gkbass13]

A talkbass supporting membership and a healthy relationship with fedex or UPS will save you a lot of money in the world of GAS.

after reading this thread, it either seems like a weak forsale ad or a guitar center employee trying to advertise their new sale idea.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by deathbyjune

What are the benefits of becoming a supporting member? (aside from simply contributing to this lovely forum we all enjoy so much

Ta sell junk (in a git r done voice)

[deathbyjune]

Nice..i've never scoped the classified section on here until today. Sweet!