I hate selling gear!

[Papazita]

I picked up this really nice bass 2 months ago. List price is around $1600; I paid a hair under $1100.
After a while, I decided it just wasn't doing it for me. I never gigged with it or anything; just kept it at home.
So I put on a new set of strings and took it out to the nearest used gear dealer. I've dealt with this place several times before and they've always given me a fair deal.
Now, I know all about depreciation, the profit margin of the shop, etc etc; all those things that affect the price you get for your bass.

But their offer was $65!

I had been expecting closer to the $500 to $700 range; $450 at a minimum. But $65????

Um...no, I'll be keeping that, thanks!

[troy2003]

65 bucks?Scheisters-probably thought it was stolen.I've taken a bath on gear before-because needed money,but usually got a decent price for it.

[MoD_Scotty]

I'll give you $150 for it.

Seriously though, if you're not in a hurry to sell it, put it up on Craigslist. Or upgrade your Talkbass membership and sell it here. And then there's always ebay. But if you don't want to deal with shipping, use Craigslist.

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by Papazita

I picked up this really nice bass 2 months ago. List price is around $1600; I paid a hair under $1100.
After a while, I decided it just wasn't doing it for me. I never gigged with it or anything; just kept it at home.
So I put on a new set of strings and took it out to the nearest used gear dealer. I've dealt with this place several times before and they've always given me a fair deal.
Now, I know all about depreciation, the profit margin of the shop, etc etc; all those things that affect the price you get for your bass.

But their offer was $65!

I had been expecting closer to the $500 to $700 range; $450 at a minimum. But $65????

Um...no, I'll be keeping that, thanks!

What kind of bass is only worth $65?!?!?!

+1 on the thinking it was stolen

Was this at GC? They are offering crap for trade ins now, not that they were THAT generous before. (No I wasn't selling gear. I was in line behind a guy who sold them a $800 guitar
for like $175.)

[Papazita]

Uh.... no, most definitely NOT stolen! Ask my wallet...

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Papazita

I've dealt with this place several times before and they've always given me a fair deal...But their offer was $65!

Sounds like a bunch of weasels to me. That's an insult. I wouldn't do business with them again...

MM

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by Papazita

Uh.... no, most definitely NOT stolen! Ask my wallet...

I didn't think you stole it. I thought that price was how much they would offer if they thought it was stolen.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

[Joe Nerve]

$65 was most likely his way of telling you he has no use for it. I've had stores do that to me, but they'll usually be thoughtful enough to say, "I'm not going to be able to sell that. If ya wanted like $65 for it I'd take it."

I too would like to know what kind of bass it is?

[Croox]

i've been there. what the hell makes people think that you'll accept it?

you: I've got ___ for sale i want 800 bucks
ass clown: I'll give you 35 for it.

what ever some of these morons are smoking, I want some
*this is across the board, from my experience (CL, eBay, etc)

I think Craigslist is the worst for the low balling ass clowns

[lefty007]

What kind of bass are we talking about?

Anyhow, that what TB classified and eBay are for.

[Pilgrim]

Their offer was insulting - it simply told you they didn't want it. They should have just told you that.

But..............

WHY would you sell it to a shop when you can sell it yourself???? You automatically throw away hundreds of dollars when you do that.

Use TB Classifieds, Craigslist or Ebay. you'll come out way, way ahead.

[The Golden Boy]

I hate selling things too.

[thumpbass1]

NEVER SELL YOUR STUFF TO A MUSIC STORE LIKE GC! Actually that advice applies to most guitar retailers. A legit instrument dealer will usually offer 50% of blue book value for used gear taken in trade, and if it's cash you want, they go even less, unless you have a vintage item they want badly enough to haggle over.

If I want to sell gear I'll be posting on the Bay or running a for sale ad in the local newspaper. I'd have to be absolutely desperate before I'd try to sell directly to any standard guitar retailer be it a GC or someone like them.

[Papazita]

IT WAS NOT GUITAR CENTER!

It was a Music-Go-Round, the same location I've gone to for years. They've always been more than fair in the past, and I've never had issues like this with them...untill now.

[mrokern]

So what kind of bass was it???

[baalroo]

yeah, they just didn't want it.

also, as someone else said... never sell your gear to a shop unless you are hella desperate. remember, they will be selling it for approx what it would sell for on ebay, so thus they have to give YOU less for it in order to make a profit. cut out the middle man and sell it yourself.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

NEVER SELL YOUR STUFF TO A MUSIC STORE LIKE GC! Actually that advice applies to most guitar retailers. A legit instrument dealer will usually offer 50% of blue book value for used gear taken in trade, and if it's cash you want, they go even less, unless you have a vintage item they want badly enough to haggle over.

I completely agree...but what this post doesn't say is: "...and there's nothing wrong with that."

Why?

Because the store MUST buy equipment at a price which allows them to re-sell it and still make a profit. That means they will estimate the wholesale value and probably offer a bit less.

Works the same with cars or anything else you sell used or trade in...and there's nothing wrong with that. The alternative is to sell it yourself and make the money that otherwise would be profit to the store.