They are humans doing the pricing. Sometimes they err and the price is too high, other times you can get a good deal.
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Odd Guitar Center Experience (Sire Marcus Miller Content)
- Thread starter selowitch
- Start date
Hey, it's worth a shot, but that would be an extreme bargain.
Was the high quality gig bag, which comes with Sires ordered through the US site, included? Most people seem to think it would sell for about $75 in a store.
Based on the used ones sold here on the TB classifieds, they typically seem to sell (shipped price) for just a bit less than the original price of the new bass itself. So the seller lost the price of shipping and, maybe, $25 on the bass. And none of those sold here required repair. The best deal I noticed, by far, was a 5-string that sold for $150 less than the cost of ordering a new one - $500 shipped vs $650 shipped. The seller had ordered two of them and decided to sell one to finance another bass he wanted.
They all seem to sell quickly - within a couple of days. Obviously, they are in high demand.
I'd point out that all of these sellers paid more for the bass than they sold it for. GC, you can be sure, paid considerably less for the one they're selling, but they have overhead. They are in business to make a profit. A private seller is usually happy to get most of their money back so they can fund their next GAS attack. So you'll likely get a better deal in the TB classifieds.
We have a used tobacco sunburst fretless Sire bass at our shop and we have it priced at $399. It's in perfect condition. I wouldn't imagine charging more.
GC really sucks. I had a similar experience with a heavily used Peavey T-60 bass. It was beat up pretty good, and they wouldn't even discuss price negotiations.
No employee in GC can authorize any discount in excess of 10% off of the price that the item is listed as when it is added to their inventory. Only the manager can do that. I know a few people that work for them.
If it does come with the Sire gigbag, and if they repair the nut, I would think $500 would be a very good deal. Considering the demand and the fact that it was $650 shipped new. I'd be surprised if you could get it for that, though, unless it sits there, unsold, for a month or more. If so, I would make an offer near the end of the month. Sometimes stores have monthly quotas to meet so managers are more willing to deal if they haven't met them.
I haven't had any dealings with GC. I did visit one in a nearby town when I was looking for an Ibanez Talman. The GC here didn't have any and the one nearby claimed on their website that they had several in stock - one of each available color. Turned out they didn't have any at all. Lame. Bought one elsewhere.
Just order a new one, I received mine about a month ago and as just about everybody says it's an outstanding bass with a great sound both passive and active, you simply cannot get a active Jazz Bass new for this price that's this good., I waited almost 2 months to receive mine but that was during the holiday rush and wait times now are about half of that. Jim
It's a $500.00 bass, what were you expecting, a Sadowsky or Alleva/Copolla build?
I think everyone has these stories about almost every music store. It sucks, but it happens. My local GC has done this I remember they had an Ampeg SVT Classic on the floor for $900. It looked mint, untill you turned it around and saw that EVERY TUBE in the amp was missing. Re-tubing one of those thing is definitely not cheep (I think I got a quote for $600 at a local shop). They would not budge on the price. It sat there for ages.
I use GC for what its really used for, a quick stop to pick up standard stuff that I need (Strings, guitar stands, cables). The only major purchases I tend to make from them is lighting, as they are the only shop that has a selection of lights. I have a few other shops in the area, but they either don't have what I need or they are the elitist asshats that one would expect out of a music store (I seriously got major attitude last time I was in a certain shop just for buying strap locks... which were overpriced).
As for the MM bass.... I would move on and forget it. Do some hunting online if you like the bass. Check the classifieds here (always a good bet) or check out Reverb.com. I got a great deal on a Stingray 5 the other day on there.
I use GC for what its really used for, a quick stop to pick up standard stuff that I need (Strings, guitar stands, cables). The only major purchases I tend to make from them is lighting, as they are the only shop that has a selection of lights. I have a few other shops in the area, but they either don't have what I need or they are the elitist asshats that one would expect out of a music store (I seriously got major attitude last time I was in a certain shop just for buying strap locks... which were overpriced).
As for the MM bass.... I would move on and forget it. Do some hunting online if you like the bass. Check the classifieds here (always a good bet) or check out Reverb.com. I got a great deal on a Stingray 5 the other day on there.
Despite all the discussion, I suspect you are correct. The risk and hassle are not worth the few bucks I might save dealing with GC in this instance.
Long a ago, waaaay back in the 90s, a friend of mine who's crazy and super weird, albeit in a harmless and somehow very charming way, went to a GC about 10 minutes before closing. He picked up an Epiphone SG, and just kept smiling, strumming, and half yelling about how awesome it was until about 20 minutes after closing. We were asked repeatedly to head home. He said he wasn't leaving until they sold it to him for ~$150 less than the listed price, since he was in absolutely in love with it, making up songs about how he wanted to make love to the perfect Epiphone SG. I sat there quietly, trying not to laugh, also semi-scared. They eventually sold it to him for what he wanted just to get us to leave.
No need to be defensive, friend. Based on the raves here, I was just expecting a better bass. Quieter electronics, better fretwork and better fit and finish. What a saw was exactly what you said...a $500 Chinese bass.
That said, the finish was DRAMATICALLY better than either AC I briefly owned.
No problem, interesting that it was Chinese made as most of the owners in the Sire club report an Indonesian build, and the one Chinese one had a construction issue, there was a gap in between the pickguard and the control plate and was returned. Mine is Indo and no issues, the neck is a little more beefy than I'm used to in a 5 string and I could do without the heavy gloss on the back of the neck but other than that for the money hard to beat. Jim
Only a few of the ones from their factory in China have been sighted here, so far, and there does seem to be some concern about them. I suspect you came across an early example. I admit I was relieved that mine was Indonesian and it has none of the issues you mentioned.
I think it's an outstanding bass but, GAS being GAS, I'd love to hear about other brands in this price range ($400-600) that are comparable (or better).
To be fair, I didn't actually notice the country of origin on the one I played. I assumed they were all made in China. I learned something new....
I wish more GC locations were as good as my local (Wilmington, DE) store. They've maintained a solid, core-staff for years, they're friendly*, dependable and their guitar tech really knows his stuff and is gifted with enough patience to tackle my ideas and questions with aplomb. Also, the "no state sales tax in Delaware" is a nice bonus! 
*: Friendly, with the rare, but completely understandable "grumpiness caveat" that comes with working any retail job.
I often make concessions to my GAS by perusing their used database. I've spotted errors both beneficial and detrimental every once in a while. One time, I scored a wonderfully awesome Squier Classic Vibe Jazz, along with an included-but-unadvertised Gator tolex case, for $205 shipped. It seems it had been misinterpreted as a Vintage Modified Jazz, so their error was my gain!
Perhaps a Hipshot Drop-D tuner would be of some utility, mein freund?
*: Friendly, with the rare, but completely understandable "grumpiness caveat" that comes with working any retail job.
I often make concessions to my GAS by perusing their used database. I've spotted errors both beneficial and detrimental every once in a while. One time, I scored a wonderfully awesome Squier Classic Vibe Jazz, along with an included-but-unadvertised Gator tolex case, for $205 shipped. It seems it had been misinterpreted as a Vintage Modified Jazz, so their error was my gain!
Perhaps a Hipshot Drop-D tuner would be of some utility, mein freund?
yea GC's policy on equipment i am told is half of street value not msrp or retail. I brought in a 2015 fender american deluxe pbass 1 month old, bought it new for $1750 they offered me $600 for it.
The profit margin and markup is way off balance way too high.
The profit margin and markup is way off balance way too high.
Having played and been impressed with the quality offered by Ibanez, Fernandez, and Yamaha over the last ten years my two brief experiences with a Sire left me thinking, "yeah, about the same." Better than a MIM or less money, but the other makes I've mentioned have been there for a while.
