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Getting low balled

Sonic

Sonic

Lord of the Grump
Oct 6, 2002
524
13
38
Fredericton, New Brunswick
#1
Hey guys,

So I took a few basses in to the local second hand shop today to see if they'd do a trade on an Ibanez Rb690 and Yamaha BBN5 for a Modern Player Jazz.

So the guys last night made me a somewhat low offer that still resulted in me having to pay 100 bucks for the Jazz but said the head dude would be in today. I left my basses there for him to take a look.

I go back today and the guys greets me with "You should have taken the offer last night." He proceeds to tell me that the Yamaha is something he'd sell for $175 ($199 last night) but then proceeds to tell me that the Ibanez would only sell for $150.

Now, if you're not familiar, Rb690's are from 1986, have active pickups, and are valued among a few vintage Ibanez collectors. He said that because it was "covered in dings and dents" (we clearly have a different definition of covered) that it was only worth about $150. My gut reaction was something like "What the hell did you just say about my kid?" I wasn't looking for a grand or anything, but I did feel a bit offended by that statement (probably not helped by the fact that this thing has been a main workhorse of mine for years).

I figure he was either the computer guy, a Fender knob ($420 for a used modern player is high IMO), or just a ripoff artist.

Anyway, let's share some good stories of people who thought you had no idea what you were talking about.
 
#2
Sonic said:
I go back today and the guys greets me with "You should have taken the offer last night." He proceeds to tell me that the Yamaha is something he'd sell for $175 ($199 last night) but then proceeds to tell me that the Ibanez would only sell for $150.

Now, if you're not familiar, Rb690's are from 1986, have active pickups, and are valued among a few vintage Ibanez collectors. He said that because it was "covered in dings and dents" (we clearly have a different definition of covered) that it was only worth about $150. My gut reaction was something like "What the hell did you just say about my kid?" I wasn't looking for a grand or anything, but I did feel a bit offended by that statement (probably not helped by the fact that this thing has been a main workhorse of mine for years).
Click to expand...

I see two completed RB690 sales on eBay. One had an electronics problem and sold for $113. The other sold for $210 with a Fender hardshell case. His $150 estimate doesn't seem outrageous.
 
#3
Yeah, he sounds extremely reasonable and you went in with high expectations.

He is running a business, he does have overhead. It costs him money to let it sit there and show it to people, you get cash in hand and never have to worry about the item. Obviously he needs to make money somewhere.

Low balls are not personal, they are business. Sentimental value isn't value. Just say no and move on.
 
#5
I went to my local Guitar Center in Sacramento, Ca the other day trying out some amps and some total nut job who worked their came up to me and said he'd give me $500 cash right now on the spot for my 1979 Rickenbacker 4001.
I told him to go away and he can try to pry it from my dead fingers in a few hundred years.
I was only in there trying amps, not trying to get rid of my baby!

btw any pics of th RB? I have an 85 RB850
 
#6
Wow, so feebay says $210 (mines in gigging condition and has the original hardware). I can't say I'm terribly bothered to part with this bass for that price. I've turned down $300 cash for it before. I know sentimental value doesn't equal value but how is this worth less than an entry level yamaha (I'm saying in general, not just this case)? What is wrong with the world!?!
 
#7
zhollywood said:
I went to my local Guitar Center in Sacramento, Ca the other day trying out some amps and some total nut job who worked their came up to me and said he'd give me $500 cash right now on the spot for my 1979 Rickenbacker 4001.
I told him to go away and he can try to pry it from my dead fingers in a few hundred years.
I was only in there trying amps, not trying to get rid of my baby!

btw any pics of th RB? I have an 85 RB850
Click to expand...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/nbd-old-ibanez-rb690-836258/index2.html last post in the thread is me and the RB. I love that thing.
 
#9
His offers seem right for what you were trading. Most places will only give you between 1/3 to half of what they could sell it for. I once a Guitar Center offer me $500 for a 1976 Precision. I put in on Craigslist and sold it for $1,500 the next day.
 
#10
zhollywood said:
I went to my local Guitar Center in Sacramento, Ca the other day trying out some amps and some total nut job who worked their came up to me and said he'd give me $500 cash right now on the spot for my 1979 Rickenbacker 4001.
I told him to go away and he can try to pry it from my dead fingers in a few hundred years.
I was only in there trying amps, not trying to get rid of my baby!

btw any pics of th RB? I have an 85 RB850
Click to expand...

That's interesting, I had my '83 Precision in there to see what I could get in trade. The local GC told me they would have to take pics and send it in to corporate hq for a quote since it was 20+ years old. (I didn't move forward at that point.)
Guitar Center can be a funny thing.
 
#13
Based on a couple of things i've bought or looked at at GC they must 'lowball' everyone selling something.

I got a BP355 pedal yesterday, looks new, w/box and everything for $119 (new is $199 there). A couple of weeks back bought my son a washburn acoustic for $189, list is close to $400. I passed up and will likely forever regret not buying the schector through neck 5 string...$449. My wife would have killed me.

My GSR200 I got used at a local store - $99 including new cord, new strings installed, new strap and gig bag. Makes the axe worth what, $50-60?

Next on my list is an amp, once I sell some cameras I've had laying around..they're value is in the toilet, but $150-200 times 2 will get me a decent amp. A few years ago I was at a photo convention and used camera buyer was there...the prices they offered is TRULY lowball. $20 on $200 items. I can see how they make money, what I can't see is why anyone sells anything to them.

That 'we buy anycar' outfit isn't far off either. Online it was '$2900" and in person..$500!:bawl:
 

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