How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

[ibanezrocks]

The title of the thread pretty much explains it. To elaborate on it though, say you're buying a NEW guitar from a major retailer, how much would you try to bargain down off the sticker price? Or do you just settle for throwing in some free stuff like strings, picks, etc?

Example that I'm thinking about, say an American Standard Tele is $1095 CDN how much do you think I could actually get it for?

 

[Broke]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

Buy it used on ebay. You could probably get some off. At least the tax but you can get waaaaay better deals on ebay. Unless of course you just have to play it before you buy.

Anyways to anwser your question I probably averaged 15-20% off on a few guitars I picked up at various guitar centers.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I would try to get a case thrown in with extra strings for the price of the guitar. I haven't bought a new guitar from a store though, but considering the markup I would say that should be possible. Including tax in the price would be sweet too.

 

[Philcguitars]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I've generally done really well in guitar bargaining and got loads of extras, or a good discount. The key to the approach should be to let them KNOW that you are going to buy this axe, but don't care where. If they really want a sale they'll cave.

The last time I bought a guitar, the shop hadn't made a sale all day, and that was a Saturday in Central London.

 

[Redmist]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

Find the cheapest price on line, new, anywhere in the world, then add in cheap delivery cost and use this figure to bargain with. Use the line about wanting to play before you buy and dealing with someone local but only if the price is near your lowest quote, or else you will walk and buy elsewhere (and look like you mean it). Let him know you will pay cash! Any sale for the retailer over his purchase is a profit. How much profit you allow him is up to you but even five bucks over his cost is better than no sale!!! Always better for his turnover and retail quota.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I prefer to buy used online. As soon as you mke the sale, it loses 50% of whatever you paid, so it doesn't make a single bit of sense to me to buy in a store. No sense at all.

I hope in 50 years, I have never bought a guitar in a store.

 

[Glass Snuff]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I suspect things are the same in Canada - most stores "floor plan". That is, they buy guitars with credit, and hope they sell them before they have to start paying interest. You can get the best deal on a guitar that's been in the shop for a while. Once the interest starts, that guitar is costing them money every month it sits there.

 

[tubeman87]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

If your going to bargain in a guitar store with the rep, HAVE CASH IN HAND !!!

Cash always speaks louder than words, if the tele is $1095 and you pull out $900 cash and say I'll pay you 900 in cash right now, you have a very, very good chance that the rep will bite. If he says no, just say "ok" and walk away, its almost a given that he'll stop you rather that let you walk out, its like having a money giving ATM machine walk away from him/her; they can't resist. Try it, if after you walk away and he doesn't stop you, you know you didn't have a shot; but I'll bet another will.

 

[jeremy]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

if its an american made guitar it should come with a case included in the price, all american fenders come this way. even the hw1 comes with a gig bag, the rest should be a hardshell case and again it is included in the price not a throw in or deal or anything of the sort.

things may be a little different in canada but i typically will offer 60% of list price plus tax for instruments. im not sure how much more the canadian dealers pay but i know most american stores can do it. start there and work up. if you need stuff then its ok to get strings (what you use, not what they suggest) but dont let them talk you into getting stuff that you dont need and remember that those $10 strings only cost them $3-4

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I prefer to buy used online. As soon as you mke the sale, it loses 50% of whatever you paid, so it doesn't make a single bit of sense to me to buy in a store. No sense at all.

I hope in 50 years, I have never bought a guitar in a store.

That's true in most cases, but I got a good enough deal on my Jackson that I could probably make all of it back if I sold it.

Part of what you're paying for is service - something that can't be matched by an online store or a pawn shop, if the retailer is good. Some shops do free setups and discounted repairs (if not covered by warranty) if you buy the guitar there.

Don't get me wrong, though. I buy used when I can - the Jackson is the only new guitar I've bought, but I'm not opposed to buying one new when everything works out.


As for the price, I usually just make up my mind ahead of time what I think the guitar is worth. If they don't want to sell the guitar at that price they won't sell it to me.

 

[tone?]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I dont bargain at all with guitar salesmen here cause i know that they will 110% always rip me off. LOL!

In fact i NEVER buy anything from this country related to guitars. Only from the good ole USA.




recently a friend of mine asked a price for a SG and the store owner went away punching numbers in his calculator. after a bit he showed him the price with a smile saying " now aint that a good price".
mY Friend saw the same guitar in a store in Germany for 200 euros less! Shipped!

"they're filthy little thievesses" in this country!

 

[pstarove]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

ok guys, now a direct question, if you don't mind: I want to buy a new Gibson CS '57 BB reissue that are around $4100 in most places. Do I have any chance to buy it cheaper (unused)? Oh, I forgot to add that I'm from Europe...

 

[Philcguitars]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

You may have a problem with getting US dealers to sell out of the Country, but then you may not!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

Walk into a store with cash, and make it clear you have every intention of buying a guitar that day, but not necessarily from that particular deal. The idea of cash walking out the door is a nightmare to a salesperson.

Never, never, never pay asking price on a showroom guitar. Also, you should bargain for a lower price plus goodies (within reason). If you start making absurd offers, you'll lose credibility quickly.

The keys are having cash in hand, and making it abundantly clear to them that you're going home that day with a guitar in hand, be it a guitar from their store or from their competitor's store.

- Keith

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

i research prices, come to a price that i think is a good deal, and then ask them to meet my offer. if they don't, i walk. half the time they don't want me to walk out, so they do it. the only thing is that you don't want to be a tight-ass about it too much because you might want to do business there again. if you drive a hard bargain, but are a good customer, you will always get a good deal from that place. it's all about relationship building and maintaining. if you're planning a big purchase try going in a couple of time and making minor purchases with the same salesman. then, hit him up for a great deal on what you really want.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

i research prices, come to a price that i think is a good deal, and then ask them to meet my offer. if they don't, i walk. half the time they don't want me to walk out, so they do it.

I've found that this approach doesn't work well if you don't have a backup. In my experience, many salespeople will just say "Good luck" and watch you walk out the door. After a time, you get to know what's a hard, yet ultimately doable, bargain, and what's a total low-ball attempt.

- Keith

 

[guitarded]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

Find the cheapest price on line, new, anywhere in the world, then add in cheap delivery cost and use this figure to bargain with. Use the line about wanting to play before you buy and dealing with someone local but only if the price is near your lowest quote, or else you will walk and buy elsewhere (and look like you mean it). Let him know you will pay cash! Any sale for the retailer over his purchase is a profit. How much profit you allow him is up to you but even five bucks over his cost is better than no sale!!! Always better for his turnover and retail quota.

The guy I deal with, automatically beats M.F. by 5% on new higher end guitars, and M.F. is generally pretty reasonable. I don't think there would much point in haggling over something like a new Epiphone, but a used Fender or Gibson would be a different story.

 

[EveryMn]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I don't bargain with salesmen at all. A friend of mine is the assistant manager at a nearby GC, so I can just come in when he's there (usually after emailing him). Lowest possible price, no haggling whatsoever.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

i know a lot of people that work in music shops.... There is not a huge mark up that you can play with price wise... Sure they are making money but in most cases it is not going to be reduced. The price on the axe is the price you will pay in most cases around here... sure some stores inflate the street price so you kind of have to know what a guitar is worth... The local shop knows me well and they do help me out from time to time.... mostly on used stuff.. but on new stuff the street price is pretty much the way it is...

I have seen a few American Standard Fenders reduced in the local shop from sitting too long... i'm not sure but i believe the Fender rep gives them a rebate to get rid of it cheaper after it sat for 2-3 years... Stuff that has sat for a long time with thick dust on it is the only new stuff i've ever been given a discount on...

plus i've seen special buys come in for a few Hundred less then the American Standard right beside it... a batch of American Standards all in the same finnish for $200 less...

 

[Smilemon]

Re: How much do you bargain with a salesman before buying a guitar?

I prefer to buy used online. As soon as you mke the sale, it loses 50% of whatever you paid, so it doesn't make a single bit of sense to me to buy in a store. No sense at all.

I hope in 50 years, I have never bought a guitar in a store.

There is just something special about being the first owner of a guitar, its truely your guitar, you give it life, it knows only you.