Anyone able to haggle on GC used gear?

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Webb

Webb

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I'm interested in a Les Paul on the Guitar Center used site. It's been listed there for awhile and they recently did a price drop on it. My question is - has anyone had any luck getting a 10-15% discount on used gear?
 
I have at my local GC, but if they just did a price drop that tends to make it harder to get any more of a discount in the near future.
 
stratotone":2dpfw1i0 said:
I have at my local GC, but if they just did a price drop that tends to make it harder to get any more of a discount in the near future.
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This.
 
It's only hard to haggle if you really want the piece- they can smell the GAS on you. If you present a take it or leave it attitude, you'll get a lower price everytime
 
I havent had a problem when I tell them I am a buyer and not just tire kicking.....I have actually grown to like dealing with GC and I first completely dismissed them as source for gear....I have had them take 10-15% off the top without really even trying that hard....My local GC gave me $30 off three pedals which were $143 after the deal - not even a big ticket item
 
Doesn't really work as well as it used to. They know I'm serious when I make an offer or ask about gear, my wife would have a fit if she knew how much I've spent there last 4 or so years, mainly on used stuff. I had a bandmate who worked there who I tried to buy everything through, he used to be able to hook me up pretty good on most stuff new and used, but the last few years it became much harder to deal.

Understand this though - if you put them through the wringer for a lower price and then they come to your terms and you pass on the deal, they WILL remember you as a time waster and bullshitter and you will have a lot harder time doing it again. Don't try to get the epic deal unless you can follow through.
 
Webb":32ra6cwn said:
I'm interested in a Les Paul on the Guitar Center used site. It's been listed there for awhile and they recently did a price drop on it. My question is - has anyone had any luck getting a 10-15% discount on used gear?
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Yes, you CAN "haggle" for a lower price.
I've been testing out tons of amps over the past few months and most of them have come from GC used and new.
I've gotten lower prices by asking.
If you're familiar with the item, and you know it's been sitting there for a while, then that's when you've got a good opportunity to offer a price. I've noticed that if it's a new item, not more than 30 days old, then they don't like to lower the price.
But if it's over 30 days or longer, go for it.
Also, I believe that even GC stores will start lowering prices on used gear that's over 30 days old.

BTW, don't forget that if you get the extended warranty on new or used gear, you then get 60 days to return it instead of 30.
It lets you try things out longer with no worries.
And, if you decide to keep the item, then you can keep the extended warranty, or you can cancel just the warranty.
 
i buy a lot from gc, I have never payed their asking prices. In some cases I've payed the store cost on used pieces
 
I have gotten them lower by quite a bit. I'm not sure why they always charge tax when buying out of state? I argued it on three occasions with different stores and they said they have to charge your States tax
 
Stratotone and cl are both right.

Fact = GC employees can not discount like they used to.

Fact = the longer they have had the item the more they will budge.
 
I have one salesman I've done lots of deals with. Always setting me up with good deals both new and used.
 
Rezamatix":2v38vbbn said:
Just ask for a manager, tell him you'll take it for x amount.
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This, kind of....

I usually call, ask for a manager, nonchalantly ask for some info on a piece of gear and say "Ok, so I'm interested, but I only have $xxx". Act as if it's not something I was looking for, but like I was browsing the website and happened to see it. You just need to act as if you're not emotionally invested. If they can't meet me my previous $xxx price point then, they will usually tell me their bottom line soon after. If it seems it's as far as I'm going to get, I'll pull a "gosh, I guess I can swing that if I borrow some money", I'm sure they know it's bs, lol.

Tried it four times with GC. I got my $xxx price twice, lower than asking price on the other two
 
glip22":2eh64boc said:
I have gotten them lower by quite a bit. I'm not sure why they always charge tax when buying out of state? I argued it on three occasions with different stores and they said they have to charge your States tax
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It's most state's law.
If the online store operates a brick and mortar sales location, or a distribution center, in your state, then they have to charge the state's sales tax.
Sucks, but what can you do.
 
Well no luck getting any type of discount on a used guitar. I tried and they wouldn't budge on the price even though it's been sitting there for quite awhile. They told me they already dropped the price and cannot go any lower. It's at the Concord, CA GC so if anyone has connections there, hook me up!
 
lol, I haggle everything like I said. I also point out to them when I buy to look me up in their system because I spend $10-15k a year with them. Even new, clearance used etc. Depends on the store I guess but I usually ask to speak with the dept manager or even store manager if possible. The Gibson Axcess and Bogner Ecstasy I just bought were on clearance new old stock and I even got them to go WAAAAAAAAYYYYY below even the clearance prices, like you almost wouldn't believe what I paid for each lol
 
lessthan12":2pwqr0fa said:
lol, I haggle everything like I said. I also point out to them when I buy to look me up in their system because I spend $10-15k a year with them. Even new, clearance used etc. Depends on the store I guess but I usually ask to speak with the dept manager or even store manager if possible. The Gibson Axcess and Bogner Ecstasy I just bought were on clearance and I even got them to go WAAAAAAAAYYYYY below even the clearance prices, like you almost wouldn't believe what I paid for each lol
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Well I guess spending $10-15k a year there helps with getting a discount. I spend maybe 10-15 dollars there a year on strings. lol
 
A lot of used stuff that has been hanging around awhile gets blown out during the memorial or labor day sales. Might try again then.
 
If they've had the item for 90 days they will work with you on the price.
 
I have had decent luck with that. I just picked up a new close out Egnater tweaker 40 for less than most of the used ones on there website! Was pretty happy with that but it was a bundle I planned on buying one thing and the wife pointed out the amp while I was paying told them what I had to spend and they took it!
 
100% of the time, if people ask nicely and I can still make my bosses happy, I'm willing to deal. It's the offers that are flat out insults and people that act like I'm the "Man" and they are out to stick it to me because I work for GC. I'm not GC, I'm a dude trying to make a paycheck that loves gear. I get a small chance at bettering my career the more I sell. So it obviously behooves me to send more gear across the counter that makes sense for both customers and my store. Probably sums up why I rapidly went up through management and have a solid customer base locally. * shrugs *
 
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