Was in a thrift shop yesterday looking for kid clothes and I saw a bass behind the counter. Squier Affinity Jazz. They had a $300 price tag on it. Those basses go for $270 new. Would it be cruddy to try and talk them down? The thrift shop donates their profits to all kinds of good causes, but they're charging far more than the instrument is worth. Any thoughts?
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Talk down a thrift shop?
- Thread starter alex1fly
- Start date
Perhaps some tact is in order. In your shoes in this situation, I would politely show the manager a few ads of the new version and let him/her come to a conclusion.
If you want a Squier Affinity Jazz, go buy a new one for $270. If you want to support one of the causes that the thrift shop supports, make a donation to it.
Many thrift stores have a day where certain-colored tags are discounted. Look at the tag and come by in the day that it’s on sale.
That being said , I have actually witnessed people asking “would you take x amount for this ?” . It was a rifle case , and they said no.
About the bass , do you really want it? I mean , they’re 300 bucks new,
That being said , I have actually witnessed people asking “would you take x amount for this ?” . It was a rifle case , and they said no.
About the bass , do you really want it? I mean , they’re 300 bucks new,
Seems like I wasn't clear. I would be interested in the bass at a thrift shop price. Hence the impetus to talk them down to something more market value like $180.
I did that once with some type of building materials - they were asking more for a piece of something than a whole 4x8 panel cost new. I showed the salesperson a Home Depot listing for it, and he marked it down to 1/2 of what they were asking. Keep in mind that items are donated, and the people processing them generally have no idea what items are worth. They'd certainly be better off getting $150 or $175 for it than having it sit on a wall. To be fair, I wouldn't look to pay less than fair market value for it, which shouldnt be hard to find out what it should be.
we get it and we want the needy thrift store to get their asking price.
But you also sounded as if you might (understandably) feel about guilty talking them down because they donate to good causes. That's why I suggested separating your bass shopping from your charitable giving.
This ^
The people doing the pricing aren't pricing them according to a budget or their revenue needs/goals for the month. Someone just googled it and priced it based on what they found or just estimated it. It was also donated, so it's not as though the OP is cheating anyone if offering a used market price for a used instrument.
It would not be unreasonable to talk to them about it. Ask them to Google "Squier Affinity Jazz" and "Used Squier Affinity Jazz for sale". They will see what the real value is. I'm sure it is just a matter of lack of familiarity with the product.
If the item is priced higher than new then no one is likely going to buy it anyway. Let them know what it's actually worth, then you get a new bass and they get some profit versus it sitting on the wall for the rest of time and they get zero.
Someone will buy it at that price or they will eventually lower it to move it.
Trying to wring every dollar from a thrift shop is not a good look.
Trying to wring every dollar from a thrift shop is not a good look.
Show them the MSRP, and then what they are going for on the used market. Make them an offer. If they understand that it won't sell at above new prices and realize how little (zero?) they have invested, then it's a win-win. Nothing cruddy about that.
If you think the current resale value is $180 and you still would like to donate to them with a clear conscience than offer them $220 for it. Assuming it's in good condition you still pay less than price and they make money on it.
I'm also assuming that by "thrift store" you're referring to a store that gets most all items donated. If so, the above would still be a win-win for both sides.
I'm also assuming that by "thrift store" you're referring to a store that gets most all items donated. If so, the above would still be a win-win for both sides.
Nope. I wouldn't buy it. I see them in pawn shops for less than $200. I love pawn shop finds but not Squiers. Look for that rare find.
