Super good deals, where are you?

From what I’ve seen, prices were lowest in March. There were a few good deals, but now prices are back up. Reverb has a search tool that shows a graph of how much things are selling for. Search for a particular style guitar there - and you’ll see the low point seems over.

 

I'm not working. I'm playing my guitar. And keeping it.
Sorry, move on......

 

Good point. I also think people were busy modding their guitars. Buying parts, pickups, maybe amps, pedals, other toys.

 

Tips to finding The Good Deal:

That money burning a hole in your pocket, sit in a bucket of ice water.

Got GAS, take Tums.

In other words, DON'T get in a hurry.

DO:

Know EXACTLY what you want.

Know the price range on that piece.

Begin watching Reverb, Craigslist, store sites, wherever you usually browse online, and find another couple of REPUTABLE ones. Be prepared to wait this out, just like fishing.

Buying from a real brick and mortar store is always preferable to 'some guy' with 2 sales and an iffy seller rating plumb across the country from you !

Once informed and coached-up, you'll know when THE DEAL pops up. THEN pull the trigger.

I'd decided that I wanted one of those Contemporary Jazz Squire five-strings. I knew the 'going rate' new was $400-$450 bucks, and OK used ones from $300-$395. I waited and watched. Sure enough, one 'mint/used' showed up at Chicago Musical Exchange, who were great to deal with, and I got it and a Fender FB60 bass bag for a little over $400. I got essentially a new bass and bag for less than a 'brand new' one in a box.

I'll take a deal like that all day long. You should too.

 

The excrement has not fully engaged the oscillating, air displacement device..........give it 6 months. I suspect retail deals will be less plentiful, because I anticipate inflation, but I fear used deals will abound. Fantasy and denial are still florid.

 

What he said.

 

I've come across a few of these "deals". Guy wass selling his SVT 4 Pro set up for $300. Included rack and rack tuner. Only reason I didn't snag it was the fact it turned out to be an hour and a half drive in each direction.

 

Call me strange, but if somebody was selling something for a super, ridiculously great deal because they're in distress and legitimately need the money, I wouldn't feel right taking said deal. Happy to haggle in normal times, but growing up without a lot of money, it feels way too much like taking advantage of someone else's misfortune to give them anything less than what would be a fair price in a normal market.

I'm happier by far seeing everything staying normal or the used market drying up because people are at home practicing on their instruments, not selling them to be able to afford a week or two of food.

 

just wait...i just read an article on states removing the eviction ban, that should put a few more instruments and pedal boards up for sale, lol

 

You've been seeing lots of sales on new instruments for years already. There comes a point where rather than committing financial suicide by selling stuff at a loss, manufacturers of consumer goods would rather destroy inventory instead. Like this rather distasteful display...

 

the selloff didn't materialize as some anticipated cos half the country ignored basic instructions of proper behavior, seeing spike zones like Atlanta being busy as tho things are normal is no surprise, but overall there's just been a slowdown on sellers as some people practice distancing and many more face serious financial concerns. hang on to your britches cos there will be further pain felt in millions of households and hard choices will be made, those able to capitalize are waiting. fortunately, there are still the occasional 'normal' deals to be had, I'm over the moon with my latest NBD
NBD - a kool Korean Epiphone Thunderbird IV

 

I sold some stuff for a little under market value, but a little under market value is as far as I'm willing to go.

 

I fully agree, with the caveat that on the ground, situations are seldom black and white.....if someone is selling something for a crazy low price, it's often because a "normal" price wasn't getting any bites.......and there are also some buyers who don't "need" that additional piece of gear, but for a particularly low a price, are willing to go for it. I get the general impression that much, if not most of the current used market availability is a result of people having an uncertain, not so bright next 12 financial months as far as they can see.....but not currently in acute distress.....looking around and realizing they really don't use/need this or that piece.....so up FS it goes at somewhere close to recent market value, at least to begin with.

 

I see high prices people who didnt sell or buy for years trying to sell and dont know how to price.
The rest is just normal pricing.

BTW Just like the seller might be in need to sell I lost much of my income too so all I can do is buy when a crazy good deal is there.

 

there are 2 basses for sale on the tb classifieds (won't call them out but you know the basses) that have been for sale for over a year and a half, they keep getting bumped daily, am soooooooo tired of seeing these 2 basses, lol, i wish these 2 sellers would do a covid mark down just to move them

 

Well, on my local CL there is a Squier VM 5 string jazz that sells new for $350 listed for $650. It's been upgraded, though.

 

Wait until the unemployment benefits run out.

 

I've bought 2 Squier basses, a CV 70s that I got the week the world shut down back in March and a CV 60s that I got a couple of weeks ago.
The only things original left on the 70s are the tuners, neck, nut, neck plate and body.
So far on the 60s I changed the bridge and pickguard with more mods in the making.

 

As always, merchandise is worth only what the buyer is willing to pay. Good deals are not judged by asking price. They are judged by selling price.