Never Pay Retail?

[bassplayer7768521]

After being on this site for a little while, I've noticed many people suggest that you "never pay retail price" for your basses and equipment. (The prices listed on Musician's Friend, etc.)

What are the alternatives? Simply buying used from other bassists?

Also, for those who have bought from other TBers, how is the transaction typically handled? Thanks for any help you can provide!

Edit: I'm not talking about MSRP, but street price you'd be paying at Guitar Center or Musician's Friend.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

After being on this site for a little while, I've noticed many people suggest that you never pay retail price for your basses and equipment. (The prices listed on Musician's Friend, etc.)

What are the alternatives? Simply buying used from other bassists?

Also, for those who have bought from other TBers, how is the transaction typically handled? Thanks for any help you can provide!

I personally believe in buying used in most situations because if you buy it used and find out that you don`t like the equipment you can simply turn around and sell it at no loss besides time.

 

[savit260]

Most places, even GC and Musicians Friend will sell to you for less than what stuff is listed for.

You just need good negotiating skills.

 

[vinxbass]

I've only bought used once in the last 10 yrs. During that time I've purchased 7 basses. I prefer new and I pay accordingly because of it. I don't mind, I get what I want that way.

That doesn't mean I pay list price by any means.

 

[bassplayer7768521]

I've only bought used once in the last 10 yrs. During that time I've purchased 7 basses. I prefer new and I pay accordingly because of it. I don't mind, I get what I want that way.

That's exactly why I find it hard to buy used. I like getting exactly what I want, buying used limits your selection to what other people want to sell.

 

[troy mcclure]

I nearly always buy used..the orginal owner paid for the depreciation.

 

[mikeswals]

I've only bought used once in the last 10 yrs. During that time I've purchased 7 basses. I prefer new and I pay accordingly because of it. I don't mind, I get what I want that way.

I've bought a bunch of brand new, special ordered new, as well as a bunch of used.
Oddly enough I no longer own anything I bought new, but still own mostly everything I bought used.

In the car world there's saying I've told to people..."I got what I asked for, but it's not what I wanted".

 

[mikeswals]

After being on this site for a little while, I've noticed many people suggest that you never pay retail price for your basses and equipment. (The prices listed on Musician's Friend, etc.)

What are the alternatives? Simply buying used from other bassists?

Also, for those who have bought from other TBers, how is the transaction typically handled? Thanks for any help you can provide!

I'm re-reading what you are asking here. There are two prices you see on new gear:
-suggested retail price
-store selling price

Which one are you asking about?

So say Fender suggests a Jazz Bass retails list price at 1899, but just about every store tags them at 1399. This is what is called "street" price.
Often times you can negotiate a little off those asking prices if you convince the person you really want it, but only have X amount of money to spend.

 

[savit260]

After being on this site for a little while, I've noticed many people suggest that you never pay retail price for your basses and equipment. (The prices listed on Musician's Friend, etc.)

What are the alternatives?

The alternative is to simply ask for better pricing.

It the retailer/sales person knows. A) you will be purchasing a piece of gear. B) You will take your buisiness elsewhere if you don't get better than "retail" or "street" pricing...C) You do buisness with the seller fairly regularly D) You don't come off as a a Jerk to the saleperson.........you'll most likely be able to get "better than some guy off the street" pricing.

Simple as that.

 

[Nedmundo]

I'm re-reading what you are asking here. There are two prices you see on new gear:
-suggested retail price
-store selling price

Which one are you asking about?

So say Fender suggests a Jazz Bass retails list price at 1899, but just about every store tags them at 1399. This is what is called "street" price.
Often times you can negotiate a little off those asking prices if you convince the person you really want it, but only have X amount of money to spend.

That's right. You'll also sometimes see the Minimum Advertised Price, which is the lowest price the manufacturer allows the dealer to advertise. The actual selling or "street" price will usually be lower. Believe it or not, I found one dealer who didn't understand this, and thought he couldn't sell a G&L bass below MAP. I went up the road ten miles and saved about $400.

Also, savit260 is right about negotiating, and you'll sometimes get better results at locally owned shops than Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc. Then again, those shops won't match GC when it's blowing something out, like the MIM Classic '70s Jazz I recently saw for $649.

If there are guitar shows in your area, you can get good deals at those too. Some dealers really want to move stuff so they don't have to carry it home, and the prices drop accordingly.

 

[Nightlyraider]

Unless you need some specific oddball combination of features, you can probably find whatever you need for much less used, for a short amount of your time. It will definitely be quicker to buy new (and in-stock), and I am sometimes willing to pay that premium, but in the instrument market this can sometimes mean +$1000 or more. My tastes are not so finicky that I couldn't grow to love a bass in a different color then I originally set out for if it saves me a grand in the end.

A guitar is something that is good or its not. If you can pick up an instrument and try it, I'd always suggest used over new; and depending on the owner, cosmetics may not even be an issue. The instrument isn't going to change mysteriously because it is resold, only from it being mistreated by its previous owners.

I would recommend being a little bit more wary of used electronics, because User Abuse can be a much larger factor in the micro circuitry we have today, but even still, electronics work, or they don't. An amp isn't going to "sometimes" work. If you can use the item long enough to heat it up to full operating temps, and it works, go for it!

 

[Headless Llama]

When I bought my Fretless Wick, I told the guy that my wife would only let me spend X. So the salesman at GC called the manager over and I told him the same thing, with my wife (and 2 screaming kids) beside me. Anyway, I got it for about half off of the "sale" price.

So, yes. You can haggle down the price, and I'm not even that good at it! I guess it was my lucky day!

 

[savit260]

Unless you need some specific oddball combination of features, you can probably find whatever you need for much less used, for a short amount of your time. It will definitely be quicker to buy new (and in-stock), and I am sometimes willing to pay that premium, but in the instrument market this can sometimes mean +$1000 or more. My tastes are not so finicky that I couldn't grow to love a bass in a different color then I originally set out for if it saves me a grand in the end.

A guitar is something that is good or its not. If you can pick up an instrument and try it, I'd always suggest used over new; and depending on the owner, cosmetics may not even be an issue. The instrument isn't going to change mysteriously because it is resold, only from it being mistreated by its previous owners.

I would recommend being a little bit more wary of used electronics, because User Abuse can be a much larger factor in the micro circuitry we have today, but even still, electronics work, or they don't. An amp isn't going to "sometimes" work. If you can use the item long enough to heat it up to full operating temps, and it works, go for it!

I've seen used gear fetching the same or more than I payed for the same instruments new a few weeks earlier.

Put on your negotiating hat, and you can get great deals on new gear. I'm also a BIG fan of buying used, but when I can buy new for the same or less than used... that's kind of a no brainer. You just have to be good at negotiating.

 

[Headless Llama]

I've seen used gear fetching the same or more than I payed for the same instruments new a few weeks earlier.

Great point! Thats why I jumped on my Wick! I'll never loose money on it!

 

[jwsamuel]

If you want to buy new, keep an eye open for sales, coupons, online codes, etc. Musicians Friend, for example, had a 20% off code during October. Just about anything was 20% less than the Web price with that code.

Jim

 

[michael_atw]

Buying from places like Guitar Center and musiciansfriend is pretty much buying used equipment anyways. That's why they can be that cheap - because they sell overstocks, blems, and used. If you're gonna buy from those places just buy used from someone else (omitting pawn shops: since you don't know where they came from and how they've been treated). I'd say, if you could, to always try to check the local music stores first. Support your local entity before you go wiring money to some gnomes out halfway across the country selling "new" goods.

 

[bassplayer7768521]

I'm not talking about MSRP, I'm talking about "Street Price." I've seen posts on people against paying even that.

 

[Nightlyraider]

I've seen used gear fetching the same or more than I payed for the same instruments new a few weeks earlier.

Listed at, or actually being sold for?

What portion of the product market is simultaneously for sale new and in used\like new condition at such different prices? I can think of concert tickets being hawked, but what in-production music gear?

You might have some "In" with a music store or something, but being able to talk down an average salesman to below going "Used/Like New" prices is, IMO, quite unusual. This does not take into account the use of limited time promotions, coupons, etc. or location (shopping in one market and then shopping in another 2,000 miles away, this can make a huge difference in "street" prices.)

I'm all for buying "new for cheap" too, but I think "saving" by buying new only happens once in a blue moon.

 

[Bottoms_Up!]

Funny, the only time I bought brand new was because it was something I really wanted (ebmm stealth Sterling-5 HH) and I was not happy as it was setup-worthy to say the least.

The basses I bought here on TB have been stellar ('cept the Electra)!

 

[savit260]

Listed at, or actually being sold for?

What portion of the product market is simultaneously for sale new and in used\like new condition at such different prices? I can think of concert tickets being hawked, but what in-production music gear?

You might have some "In" with a music store or something, but being able to talk down an average salesman to below going "Used/Like New" prices is, IMO, quite unusual. This does not take into account the use of limited time promotions, coupons, etc. or location (shopping in one market and then shopping in another 2,000 miles away, this can make a huge difference in "street" prices.)

I'm all for buying "new for cheap" too, but I think "saving" by buying new only happens once in a blue moon.

Selling prices, not asking. Stuff sold in the "classifieds" here on TB, and ebay "completed" auction prices as examples.

This isn't just an "in" at one local store, and I've never used a coupon or special promotion, it's just a matter of actually trying to get the best price possible. I'm NOT affraid to walk out of a store on a deal that I don't like, and most salespeople want to make a sale. This goes for internet/catalouge sales as well.



If you buy one set of strings from a retailer every six months, I wouldn't expect to see any kind of deep discounts. Having a well established track recored with sellers is a big help.