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

[bungalowbill]

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

If you can't get 35% off list, go elsewhere. If you want good service, you may have to pay more up front, but it is very beneficial to have the service after the sale.

 

[LoFiBrian]

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

oh but getting a bargain on a rescue and fixing her up and making her perfect again is quite amazing as well...like my Hamer...I have $350 put into that guitar and the guys at guitar center when I was playing AD120VTH's thought it was USA Hamer...

pretty amazing considering it was electronicless and had korean gold hardware a few months ago!

I only buy new if i cannot get a decent used one for a good enough deal and its something i need...like a silver MIM robert cray strat...

 

[devastone]

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

Store price is usually around 50% of the MSRP, some better some worse depending on brand, the store, the quantity they move, etc...

You can buy pretty much any guitar for 70% of MSRP, some dealers I know are closer to 60% on some brands which they probably get better deals on.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

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

I try to avoid buying from stores where I really NEED to haggle with them over price. From my experiance, the good stores (who have good service, intellegent sales men, and actually care about they're customers), Generally Give you a Pretty great price to start with, and haggleing down from a Great price just makes you look like a prick. It also helps alot if you consistantly deal with the SAME sales guy each time you go into a store. In all the stores I've made purchases from, I ALWAYS deal with the same guys. If I go into buy something (even just strings or picks) and my guys not there, I find out when he's working next and I come back and Make sure to buy from him, to make sure he gets the commission. It might seem strange, But when ya show someone that your a loyal customer to THEM and not the store, they're always more willing to cut ya a deal on stuff. It also helps if ya treat the sales guy like a PERSON rather than just like a sales guy. (this is how I managed to get my fender concert for $7, and also why I haven't had to actually PAY for picks in over 5 years)

The stores taht have High prices marked are usally just a bunch of swindlers, and If you ever had a problem with something you bought from them, you'de basically get no help from them. Ya know the stores that have list price marked on a tag, and you have to ask the sales guy for a price, Swindlers. Or They'll have they're "Crazy Low Deals!" sign up, an then ya go inside and they're selling mexi strats for $480, when everyone else is selling them for $400.
Theres no point in haggleing with people that are trying to rip you off right off the bat.

Now used stuff is a totally different deal. I always haggle over the price of used stuff, no matter what its marked. Even if its marked low to start with, I always haggle with em. An I might not get the price lowered that much, But as long as I can get $20 take off, and some free cords, straps, strings, or tubes I'm good. Haha.

 

[Reload in 5]

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

There is just something special about being the first owner of a guitar, it knows only you.

Yeah, you and the 400 15 year olds that all played crazy train on it at the guitar store !
Oh wait, they dont play that song anymore do they.........

 

[liono9]

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

I think there is quite a bit big retailers like GC can do, for example sbc pedal board available everywhere for $230.00 was purchased by me for $175.00 brand new with 20 mins of haggling.Thats a lot of mark down for something with a sticker of $229.99

 

[shogunlegend]

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

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

works for me. you're probably not doing it right. besides, you should just walk out. that's the idea. a salesman can either make some comission or none that day. like i said, it works half the time. half the time is worth it for me.

 

[Philcguitars]

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

I have a tact round that. Wait for another day and the salesperson will change. Especially Weekend Vs Mid-Week.

 

[ibanezrocks]

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

Good advice guys, I like the bit about having cash in hand and walking away if they don't match the price. I've hung around the store enough to know which salesman aren't cool, so I probably will wait until I get someone that I know isn't going to try to rip me off.

What exactly do you say? I've seen some good advice as to what attitude to have, but whats a good opener? I don't want to just hold the guitar in one hand, cash in the other and say "900, yes?"

 

[Bezmotivnik]

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

I am far more interested in guitar deals than in the guitars themselves. There, I've said it.

I could write a book on this -- and probably have, if I put together all the posts I've written on the subject over the years.

Usually, I don't haggle much as I just cherry-pick true clearance stuff (which will be substantially less than 50% MSRP), which will always be cheaper than regular stock no matter how hard you haggle, because there have already been pretty complicated price allowances applied to it behind the scenes by the retail chain and the manufacturer. The only trick there is to grab it before someone else does.

Because I buy a lot of gear (check profile), I have cultivated a single person, usually a manager, in the store who knows I never walk in the place without a lot of cash to spend on a long deal, and he will cut through the baloney and tell me what his best cash-now price on something will be when I ask. He goes to the computer, does the calculations and tells me to the penny. It's either go or no-go for me and we don't waste each other's time. That's appreciated.

 

[Glass Snuff]

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

Firstly, I have to say I think Low_fi has the best advice. Problem is, you need a good store near you, and I've learned there are areas where there are no good stores.

The idea is to bargain. Start low, but don't be insulting. Try 10% lower than the lowest price you can find on the 'net. Mention cash, and mention other needs. That implies you could spend more, but have a good reason for not doing so. Like, "I really love this guitar, but I need to get a Mother's Day present. Would you take $850 for it?" Then it's up the the salesman to make a counter offer. "Gee, I'd get fired... the best I can do is $950." "I've seen them on the 'net for $919, including shipping. Can you beat that?" And so on...

It helps to have a printout of the web ad. It does help if the salesman knows your face, and it helps to chat with him a bit before you start bargaining. Make him feel like you like him, and you'll give him a reason to want you to like him even more. "I'd rather buy it here than at GC." is always a good line.

 

[ibanezrocks]

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

Snuffy I like that last line, problem is theres only one place here that has Fenders, and its basically the Canadian equivalent of GC (might even be owned by them, I heard rumours of a take over a few years ago). I guess I have some work to do looking for a bargain online. Thanks for the help guys! I'm not set on the telecaster yet, but I did share something special with that guitar, and unless I find a G&L that really beats it I'll be going back for that one.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

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

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.

Like reload said, floor models suck a lot of the time. And the *insert comment that some might find racist while I think it's true here* in me loves buying used guitars for 25% of what they cost brand new. Amps are even better! Buy an awesome old tube amp from the 70's or 80's and pay $150, while goofy kids are buying Solid State crap (not that all SS is crap, just a lot of it) for $350 new.

Being a smart consumer, or having 2% *insert comment that some might find racist while I think it's true here* blood in your veins pays off exponentially in the end.

 

[StratTom]

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

I've only bought one guitar from a store...ok, two if you count my first electric, my Cort.

My Cort was sold to me buy my guitar teacher at the time. He had a handful of guitars in his shop and would really only sell them to his students for the price I got mine for.

I paid full price for my Epi LP because I didn't think it was worth the trouble to bargin a price for it. So far it has paid off because when I've had to go back with a problem or question they have been very helpful and haven't charge me for any additional help or work. I plan on buying a new bass from the same shop soon. Hopefully, I can get a deal for being a new costumer of theirs.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

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

works for me. you're probably not doing it right. besides, you should just walk out. that's the idea. a salesman can either make some comission or none that day. like i said, it works half the time. half the time is worth it for me.

Not doing it right? How many ways are there to walk out the door? I've bought plenty of gear, and I manage to get good deals a lot. Maybe it's where I buy, but I've never had a salesperson chasing me out the door. I'm sure it works for you, but I don't think it's a personal approach thing.

- Keith

 

[Bezmotivnik]

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

Like reload said, floor models suck a lot of the time. And the *insert comment that some might find racist while I think it's true here* in me loves buying used guitars for 25% of what they cost brand new.

You're right, floor stuff is utterly trashed in no time at big stores. The real drag is parts-stripping: Missing knobs, covers, bezels, etc. I've even seen new floor stuff with the screws stolen out of the pickguards! I won't buy a floor model from a store unless it's a closeout for at least 60% off MSRP.

I no longer buy used gear from private parties because virtually all of it has problems (if you don't see it, you're not looking hard enough) or the seller has hallucinations about the market value of the gear.

Or -- usually -- both. I hate dealing with those idiots: "But...but...I can get a thousand for it on eBay!"

What I do is have an arrangement with a manager at my local GC to buy used gear for what they have in it (near-nothing, often well less than the usual 25% MSRP) just to get rid of it. They get a lot of stuff back in a couple of months from people who want to trade up or out and they don't give 'em much for their "old" gear. True used gear is a headache here because of "pawnbroking laws" that make them hang onto it for (as I remember it) ninety days or something before they can sell it. They hate used gear as it unprofitably ties up floor and warehouse space. Almost all the used stuff I've bought still had the factory stickers all over it.

If there's hidden damage, I can return it. Try that on CraigsList.

Amps are even better! Buy an awesome old tube amp from the 70's or 80's and pay $150, while goofy kids are buying Solid State crap (not that all SS is crap, just a lot of it) for $350 new.

Old amps usually need routine work -- which is expensive if you're not a tech and can't do it yourself. Considering the ruinous expense of Sprague Atoms these days, even doing a cap job yourself is getting absurdly pricey.

 

[shogunlegend]

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

Not doing it right? How many ways are there to walk out the door? I've bought plenty of gear, and I manage to get good deals a lot. Maybe it's where I buy, but I've never had a salesperson chasing me out the door. I'm sure it works for you, but I don't think it's a personal approach thing.

- Keith

maybe you get good deals, but i've been known to get great deals. i even got a free vox tonelab le for free because the local guitar store appreciated my business. like i said, salesmen have two choices: they can make a sale or watch you walk out of the door. they're more likely to cave in and take less commission that to let you walk out. think about it. it's really that simple.

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

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

Offering Cash is always a good starting point. That saves the seller at least 2-3%. Alot of places will honor mail order prices if they can verify the online price.

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

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

oh but getting a bargain on a rescue and fixing her up and making her perfect again is quite amazing as well...like my Hamer...I have $350 put into that guitar and the guys at guitar center when I was playing AD120VTH's thought it was USA Hamer...

pretty amazing considering it was electronicless and had korean gold hardware a few months ago!

I only buy new if i cannot get a decent used one for a good enough deal and its something i need...like a silver MIM robert cray strat...

HMMMM.....Looks familiar LOL!!!

 

[Fender_Punk]

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

Snuffy I like that last line, problem is theres only one place here that has Fenders, and its basically the Canadian equivalent of GC (might even be owned by them, I heard rumours of a take over a few years ago).

You mean Long & McQuade? Yeah.

The local Fender dealer in my town is probably the snobbiest, worse Fender dealer EVER! Over-prices, (had a Dan Electro Black Coffee, a $40 pedal for sale for $90). There's horrible people to deal with too, it's just a horrible place to be. Luckily, a 30-40 minute drive away to Cambridge there's McAuley's Music, which is AWESOME! Also 40 minutes away in Burlington is a Long & McQuade, and an hour and a half away, Toronto, there's a BUNCH of shops, the best being Steve's Music!!!!

As for haggling tips; become really educated on the things your intrested, be polite and chatting before talking a deal will always get them in a better mood. Let them know you want to spend money there, but you wont if the price isn't right. A good line is, "I've found a better price on this site, but I don't want to have to wait 4 weeks for it to be shipped to me, can you do this price?"

Also, like someone else mentioned, saying you could spend more but you have other priorities makes for good pursuasion.