Used bass pricing same as new - explanations?

[Killing Floor]

That’s nothing.
Used pedals are selling for more than new. Even when the pedal is still in production.

 

[denton57]

Glad I have everything I need at the moment. I wish I wouldn’t have unloaded a lot of gear in 2020 when I didn’t have to. I just knew the market would collapse. WRONG!

 

[LBS-bass]

Supply and demand. With a shortage of new instruments out there, some sellers are taking a harder line.

When supply lines open back up, things will change.

This is it. Is what you're wanting used even available new? If not, you're going to pay for it.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

The last two guitars and bass I have sold, sold for anywhere between a 40% to 50% loss. And took months to do so. I wish I lived in whatever market you are looking at.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

There's a lot of greed and ignorance out there. Personally, if I had a Squier to get rid of I'd just donate it to a school band. They're inexpensive enough that it's not worth the hassle of selling IMO.

Not a lot of folks can afford or want to take a $480 loss.

 

[coy garcia]

Maybe wait it out. People will either go broke and sell for cheap, or the ships will be offloaded.

 

[TonyP-]

I will say that for everyone asking more than a bass is worth there are 5 that will make a low ball offer

This statement I agree with %100.

 

[Ric5]

For the past year or so, I've been getting into refinishing basses as a hobby. I tend to look for good deals on used basses (especially Squiers) so I can do the refin and make a few extra bucks for my time and effort when I sell the finished product.

However, getting a fair deal on a used instrument has become near impossible. As we've touched on in other threads, the new normal seems to be pricing used instruments for new pricing (or more, unbelievably). I know there are some supply chain issues with certain manufacturers, but it's not like there's a scarcity of Squier Affinities out there that justifies the outrageous used pricing.

I've made fair offers and been flatly turned down on several instruments lately. The sellers won't even negotiate. Sorry, but I'm not paying new retail pricing for a used bass with damage/wear when I could get a NIB model shipped free with a warranty.

What's going on here, really? I just don't get it.

It's called runaway inflation ... kinda like the late 1970s ... hopefully it won't get too bad

have you noticed home prices, gas prices and car prices?

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

It's called, "Time to rediscover the joy of fixing up and playing all the basses you currently have, while waiting for the economic reality of late to correct itself."
Some one of a kind instruments will always be pricy, as there is only one... But dont pay one of a kind prices for mass produced instruments that are currently in short supply... Just find another mass-produced instrument you can find that is for sale.
"Oh no.. I can't find a Fender Squire... Why... Hello, Ibanez. Fancy seeing you here."
Some people will be angered by this... how dare I say that buying a cheap Ibanez is just as good as buying a cheap Squire?!?!?
Easy... I just said it.
;-)

 

[iammr2]

I do see lots of wishful thinking out there in the used market prices. This is a time where, if you have a bass to play with, just sit back and wait. Better times will come and prices will settle back down.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Due to 1.9 Trillion newly printed dollars creating major demand for goods during and after a period of interrupted manufacturing and the interruption of delivery logistics. Big demand, little supply; the perfect formula for inflation, and as mentioned, it’s definitely not just basses.

 

[Tommy V]

greedy sellers looking to accommodate stupid buyers. there's nothing new about that.

 

[ScottKeeler]

For the past year or so, I've been getting into refinishing basses as a hobby. I tend to look for good deals on used basses (especially Squiers) so I can do the refin and make a few extra bucks for my time and effort when I sell the finished product.

However, getting a fair deal on a used instrument has become near impossible. As we've touched on in other threads, the new normal seems to be pricing used instruments for new pricing (or more, unbelievably). I know there are some supply chain issues with certain manufacturers, but it's not like there's a scarcity of Squier Affinities out there that justifies the outrageous used pricing.

I've made fair offers and been flatly turned down on several instruments lately. The sellers won't even negotiate. Sorry, but I'm not paying new retail pricing for a used bass with damage/wear when I could get a NIB model shipped free with a warranty.

What's going on here, really? I just don't get it.

For the past year or so, I've been getting into refinishing basses as a hobby. I tend to look for good deals on used basses (especially Squiers) so I can do the refin and make a few extra bucks for my time and effort when I sell the finished product.

However, getting a fair deal on a used instrument has become near impossible. As we've touched on in other threads, the new normal seems to be pricing used instruments for new pricing (or more, unbelievably). I know there are some supply chain issues with certain manufacturers, but it's not like there's a scarcity of Squier Affinities out there that justifies the outrageous used pricing.

I've made fair offers and been flatly turned down on several instruments lately. The sellers won't even negotiate. Sorry, but I'm not paying new retail pricing for a used bass with damage/wear when I could get a NIB model shipped free with a warranty.

What's going on here, really? I just don't get it.

I too have turned into a post apocalypse ebay dr. Frankenbass and have created monsters out of mortally wounded new basses that have been returned because their necks had snapped from blunt force shipping or something. You can get them for 60- 80% of retail. The most fun are Epiphone EB-3's and Embassy Pro (when they're in stock)
As far as what is crazy pricing, when the fat lady sings, just be the guy laying down a complimentary bass line that keeps you in the game.

 

[lowphatbass]

With entry level basses I see silly prices everyday. I equate lots of this to the lack of understanding between “list” and “street”. Mom and dad buys kid a Squier bass/amp/chord/strap bundle for $399 that has a list price of $589…they think they got a steal and try to sell it for $500…I see this daily. For more serious used equipment I just figure people who have their gear priced high aren’t in a rush to sell…If it’s something I’m really interested in I’d make an offer to see how motivated they are.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

For the past year or so, I've been getting into refinishing basses as a hobby. I tend to look for good deals on used basses (especially Squiers) so I can do the refin and make a few extra bucks for my time and effort when I sell the finished product.

However, getting a fair deal on a used instrument has become near impossible. As we've touched on in other threads, the new normal seems to be pricing used instruments for new pricing (or more, unbelievably). I know there are some supply chain issues with certain manufacturers, but it's not like there's a scarcity of Squier Affinities out there that justifies the outrageous used pricing.

I've made fair offers and been flatly turned down on several instruments lately. The sellers won't even negotiate. Sorry, but I'm not paying new retail pricing for a used bass with damage/wear when I could get a NIB model shipped free with a warranty.

What's going on here, really? I just don't get it.

Have a look at this website's classifieds section. It's freaking ridiculous! Peoples' asking prices for decades old unpopular and undesirable models are way, WAAAAYYYY off. Time to come back down to Earth bro!

 

[TreySonagras]

Too much money chasing too few products.

 

[friskinator]

For those who responded mentioning vintage or current production models that are hard to find, I wasn't referring to those. I'm talking about inexpensive basses that can be found all day long on the big box sites. Right now on Reverb, the cheapest used Squier Affinity P is $230 with shipping. They're the same price new. And no supply/demand issues there.

I definitely understand that shipping expenses may account for some of this pricing, but it's the same on CL/FB/etc. for local sellers.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Cheap stuff often is being sold by non-musicians - photographers who used something on a shoot, or people cleaning out the house of a family member,etc. They are just guessing. Many non-musicians have no idea ther is such a difference between an MIA Fender and a "Squier by Fender".

 

[el murdoque]

In Germany, it is quite easy:

When you offer something used at a price higher than MSRP, you need to explain why you do that right there in the ad. Otherwise you will be flooded by messages telling you that your item is priced too high with links attached, pointing to shops where you get that new at a lower price.
People who are not even interested in buying (at any price) will feel compelled to tell you that your price is too high.

 

[J33]

For the past year or so, I've been getting into refinishing basses as a hobby. I tend to look for good deals on used basses (especially Squiers) so I can do the refin and make a few extra bucks for my time and effort when I sell the finished product.

However, getting a fair deal on a used instrument has become near impossible. As we've touched on in other threads, the new normal seems to be pricing used instruments for new pricing (or more, unbelievably). I know there are some supply chain issues with certain manufacturers, but it's not like there's a scarcity of Squier Affinities out there that justifies the outrageous used pricing.

I've made fair offers and been flatly turned down on several instruments lately. The sellers won't even negotiate. Sorry, but I'm not paying new retail pricing for a used bass with damage/wear when I could get a NIB model shipped free with a warranty.

What's going on here, really? I just don't get it.

I don't have any solid information on the subject but I do know that during the shutdowns there was a major guitar buying boom, especially in the 2 to 500 dollar range of instruments and a lot of people that were new buyers are starting to hit the market now not knowing what they have or understand much about the used market. The market is saturated right now so I'd just wait it out until it fluctuates back.