Guitar Center Declared Value

['JC']

So my local GC now does repair work.
Normally I'd be cautious about this, but when I found out which GC employee does it, I felt comfortable enough to take my basses in.

Q: "Why not do it yourself?"
A: Don't have the time, or tools in some cases.

First up, my Warwick Streamer Pro has dirty pots and the soldering joints on the jack have broken. Take it in, sign a claim ticket and return later that afternoon. I notice the claim ticket has declared value of $600

...okay it isn't a rare Dolphin or Thumb but I never gave a declared value and if I did, I'd place it higher than that.


Later on my USA defretted J bass needs an action job. Take it and this time the claim check says declared value $200

Really?

A USA jazz bass for $200? Does defretting a J bass really kill the value that much? Who and how does GC come up with these values?

 

[tycobb73]

I'd say that's about right.

 

[Burlington]

My local guitar center in Tacoma has it's own "shop" inside, called Parson's Guitars. Ron there does a great job, and when I've taken instruments in there he asks me for a declared value. Guess it just matters where you are.

 

[Bardley]

That could be very generous considering what they give you on a gear trade in...

 

[Brad Johnson]

Both sound about right and yeah, defretting does not help at all. You now have a fretless, which most people are afraid of so sales potential is very limited.

 

['JC']

Had no idea the trade in values were so low ball then.
Makes since now. I guess.

 

[RNV]

That value is what they'll give you if they destroy it. You should've Oked the value before you left.

 

[tycobb73]

That's not trade in value.

 

[tycobb73]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=651743&highlight=streamer

 

[AlbatrossAudio]

apparently me having a nordstrand pick up and aguilar pre diminishes the value of my stingray. nice huh?

 

[Pilgrim]

Later on my USA defretted J bass needs an action job. Take it and this time the claim check says declared value $200

Really?

A USA jazz bass for $200? Does defretting a J bass really kill the value that much? Who and how does GC come up with these values?

Depends on the defret job. I've seen defret jobs that would have made a $200 value generous. I assume yours was not one of those....

 

[Brad Johnson]

apparently me having a nordstrand pick up and aguilar pre diminishes the value of my stingray. nice huh?

Unfortunately it does. Most people don't realize that about mods. You're typically better off putting it back to original condition and selling the mods separately.

Works the same with cars. If you only have a fraction of potential buyers interested in the mods, they're a hindrance to others.

 

[Coop Soup]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=651743&highlight=streamer

Not trying to nitpick, but wasn't the Streamer Standard the precurser to the rock basses?

 

[dalkowski]

Once you mod an instrument, you immediately s-h-r-i-n-k your resale market down to only those few who, like you, see those mods as desirable.

 

[TechJunky]

Not trying to nitpick, but wasn't the Streamer Standard the precurser to the rock basses?

Correct. The Streamer Pro M is a different model, with the curved/contoured body, twin J pickup, and active eq. Definitely worth more, easily $800-900 from what I've seen.

 

[lowendblues]

I'd just as soon shoot myself in the foot as to take a bass to GC for repair. ( Im speaking of my area GC..)

I would at least ask them what they thought the "declared" value of my bass was before I left it.

 

[vinxbass]

That's why Carvin's have such lousy resale value, they custom built for the certain Individual.

 

[Quadzilla]

Unfortunately it does. Most people don't realize that about mods. You're typically better off putting it back to original condition and selling the mods separately.

Works the same with cars. If you only have a fraction of potential buyers interested in the mods, they're a hindrance to others.

Bingo!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Bingo!

I know guys who've spent $20k+ in mods on their five year old $35k+ (new) cars who then have to settle for resale prices in the teens.

If you want the mods, it's great. Sucks for the seller though.

If you pay attention you learn this stuff... hopefully not the hard way.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

I'd just as soon shoot myself in the foot as to take a bass to GC for repair. ( Im speaking of my area GC..)

!