Last week, a guitar center near me had an LTD KH 25. Made in 2012 and was a limited run. Going for around $2500 on reverb. They had this listed at $700 as a KH 602 in fair condition. I went out, bought it, and sold it the next day to a different guitar center (should’ve just did it myself, but didn’t want the hassle) and they gave me $1800 for it. Made out pretty good regardless
@@mat9161 I love that when it happens. The most recent one for me wasn't that good but I sold them a reissue and they valued it as an original item lol. I took my money and ran
With pedals and small amps there’s the “do you have the original box” technique. They hardly ever have the original box. I’ve gotten a little shaved off on pedals and a Mesa D800+ doing that.
Back in 2009-10, I had an Epiphone SG Custom EX Prophecy (2nd) sent to the store that is 60 miles from my town. I talked to the manager, and he came to my town with the guitar and hand delivered it to me. It was only $300 for the guitar with the case. I still have it and love it.
My local store had a Jackson SoCal that had sat in inventory for over 2 years. It was already marked down on clearance but it was also the store manager's last day. He took off another $50 and sold it to me for $800 (32%) off.
I cruise in to GC to check out used gear all the time (99% of my gear I buy used). On New Years Eve 2017, I rolled in bc I was just in the area and didn’t see anything in the used section. I went in to the acoustic room and saw they had end of the year clearance sale on ALL display guitars. Well, everything except the Gibson J15 of course. I always wanted a Gibson acoustic but they were way over my price range so I just figured I’d eventually snag a used one or something in a trade. Well, the display J15 was a 2016 (thanks to Gibson for putting the year on the truss cover 😉) which told me it had been sitting there for about 2 years. So I asked about it not being in clearance and being a 2016 model. Manager was feeling good and said he’d give me a clearance price and then some deal if I was going to buy it tonight. I said give me your best price so he said $1000 out the door (tax included)! They were $1400 at the time so I figured I saved $500 on it. It had the case and all that too. I even brokered in a free Gibson t-shirt. This guitar was up high in the room so it didn’t get much demo traffic so it was in excellent shape. Man, that was a great NYE…I’ve played so many gigs with that guitar and it sounds better the older it gets. Those guitars soon went up in price to around $1800 in 2018 so it’s even better of a deal story. I have nothing against GC, I’m just not usually a buy new type of guy and I can wait for the deal. That way I can sell gear and not lose money. The end. 😆
I just walk in and ask for the sales manager on duty. I tell him I really want to buy this guitar, but oh man that price hurts. What can you do? I have bought two new high-end Gibson guitars in the past 4 weeks for 15% off. Dude who sold them to me is a solid guy. He didn't mess around and got things done. Win/win! Remember, everything is negotiable.
Not all Guitar Centers are created equal. I don't even go to the closest one to me now. And I bought 5 guitars and two basses from them throughout the years. The inventory sux. Just bought a Stingray on vacation back home. Had a selection of six in the store. Local store to me only had 1. So honestly where I reside I buy strings and picks and amps from Sweetwater. If I want a bass or guitar I will drive 450 miles. Better deals and more helpful. Honestly though when you are looking up at a 2500+ dollar Stingray you may need to ask if the long haired dude needs help instead of noodle and show off with a Guitar Center shirt. Glad I waited though because I got the HH configuration cheaper back where I reside.
I got a white Univox Ripper from Guitar Center's website for well below what they're going for because they didn't know what it was. I used to check Guitar Center and Musician's Friend every morning because that's when they add new listings. Always ask them to give you more photos if you're buying used and ask for condition details -- I've been told by GC that a guitar was in excellent condition and then when I asked them to double-check everything and send photos, I've been told "Oh, well, the frets are very worn". I'm not going to buy something that's going to cost as much or more to fix up.
@@TheDistortionPrinciple I'll never understand why Guitar Center doesn't have guidelines for employees to follow for photos because most of the time there's only one photo and it's usually pretty tiny. Guitar Center is probably one of the best places to check for used stuff but actually getting the details is always a hassle -- I often get zero response from the e-mail form and actually have to call the store. It's also worth checking other music store chains (MusicGoRound is one, though they have a frustrating policy that precludes people from buying a used product online until it's sat in a store for 30 days) as well as just looking for the online presence of smaller music stores throughout the U.S.; I got a good deal on an MIJ MG-69 Mustang that way. Communicating with smaller music stores via Reverb is also a good way to get a discount. I got 20% off of a brand new guitar a while back after a random music store gave me a 10% off offer on it, and I countered with just a polite, "Thanks for the offer; a bit too much for me now, but if you can do 20% off I could buy this today" which won't always work, but in that case it did. I think the key to getting a discount without a pre-formed rapport is just always being polite and knowing when it's appropriate to ask and how much is appropriate to ask off.
Great video Bro!!! Off the top of my head, 3 times I got a GREAT deal; once in 2008 at the Naperville IL Guitar Center, it was a $3000 Manual Rodriguez classical guitar, got it for $598 after a few negotiations, the guitar was just too expensive for GC, 2nd time was in January 2014, got a brand new Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus, it just arrived at that same Naperville IL GC location from Gibson 3 days before, got it for $1899 with hardshell case, the sale after that on the same guitar only went down to $2699, & then just recently at the GC down here in Ft. Myers, FL, got a new PRS SE McCarty 594 single cut for $599 with PRS gig bag, it was going for $995. So yeah, there are deals out there, it reminded me of how we use to be able to negotiate deal at both Chicago Music Co. ( not Chicago Music Exchange) & Guitar Center ( when it first opened up in 1980/81, back int 80's, it was easier to do than now. Keep On posting, Rock On Brother & God Bless.
I lucked out years ago. I bought a used Fender Super Reverb reissue from GC. Then, it stopped working, so I took it back to have them fix it. When it went for repair, the tech basically told me that it was a real 1967 Super Reverb inside a reissue chassis (apparently, some owners do this), easily worth like 3-4x what I paid.
I love GC used. People love to hate on them but their return policy is so liberal, you can’t really go wrong. Black Friday is around the corner, i say to hold on all purchases till then.
I.got an Orange 20RT that looks brand new, and sounds incredible fo4 $99 plus freight and tax vs the 1lrlllr a new one. $ 100 is $100!! Thanks Chrystal (my sales rep)!!!
The best deal I ever got was me walking out the door, pledging to never go back. That was 2019. Still haven’t been back. About the full coverage; it’s pure profit for them and the guy that sells it gets a commission on it, or they used to.
Another tip. If GC online customer service can’t make it happen try Musicians friend. Same pool of online customer service reps but depending on the time of year they may have more leeway under the MS banner.
I wondered if selling a cheap product to get the 10% off would work. I'll have to try that out. I've been wanting a Vox AC15C1, but there are never sales for it. But I'll probably wait for after Black Friday.
The best deal I ever got was inventory mistake. I was buying a new bass and bunch of pedals and accessories for my wife who wanted a new bass. When they rung everything up it was really low but it didn’t seem to catch the guy’s eye. I took a second to look things up before saying anything, found out the bass she chose was not supposed to be at GC and was supposed to be a Musician’s Friend exclusive. Being a long time inventory manager, I saw what happened immediately after that: they got a wrong shipment, didn’t scan it into inventory manually, and ended up with a ghost instrument on the floor that their system wouldn’t recognize as ever being the store. Not only was I not super interested in paying another $500, I also knew as an inventory manager that if this was a ghost instrument, it would cause more trouble for the store and employees to bring to attention that they “almost” let it go out the door than if it actually did, so long store short I got a pretty nice bass for free due to not noticing a mishipment.
Somebody brought in a guitar for trade with a hardshell case. The case wasn't given any value. So after the guy left, the manager turned around and gave the case to me for free to go with my purchase. The case was an original 1961 Les Paul (SG) case worth around $5000.
Just a response to one of the comments. A few years ago I went to Guitar Center to sell not trade an Alhambra classical with a SKB hard case. They made an offer but said to honor the price I would have to change the strings. Did that, when I came back I was told the offer was for the guitar but didn't include the case. That was surprising, got paid and took the case with me. Guess whenever it sold GC would try to upsell a new case?
@Alwaysonly1forme Thst makes sense if they have a case to match what you're offering. They wouldn't take a very rare matching Epiphone Firebird hardshell case from me with the guitar. There's nothing else in the market that would fit that guitar, not even a Gibson case. So they'd be sending it home with someone either naked, in a bass gig bag, or with the headstock popping out of a guitar bag.
The best deal is always finding something to sell in person and then using that discount for ordering with them the same day, but also in finding the one disgruntled employee who DGAF anymore and gives you the max deal. When the newbie starts looking up every item and takes an hour to figure it out take your joyo pedal and leave lol
I got the employee discount when i worked there. Since leaving, I've just paid the price on the tag, because the salespeople work on commission. They deserve to eat and pay their bills too.
I cut the cord with guitar center long ago..too many bad experiences. Even if I need something simple like strings etc.i will go out of my way to go elsewhere.
I became friends with Carry at Johnson Music. I was just a kid but I went in there all the time. He gave me the Digitech RP20 for cost. We even hung out a few times outside the store. He was a good dude.
Absolutely. But theres the problem of if you want to try something in person first alot of smaller shops can't afford the buy in price to get certain guitars. If mail order doesn't bother people or the FB marketplace has what they need they can do better that way as well
@@TheDistortionPrinciple Yep - exactly. Trying gear @ GC to buy online at Sweetwater, AMS, or ZZounds is the only reason that I go to GC. However, I am always open to the possibility that they could sell me something. My advantage is that I never go into GC looking to buy anything. It is up to them to change that. For the right deal on something interesting, under the right circumstances, I buy gear from GC and I have been mostly pleased with the gear and the experience. Not sure if people know this - but the in-store CLEARANCE deals are some of the best you will find anywhere - but you have to go into the store to find out what's on clearance and there's always the risk that its nothing you want.
As a former GC employee I agree. It wasn’t a great store twenty years ago, now it’s a shit show. I will only go there now if they have a piece of used gear I want at a good price
The best deal I ever got was inventory mistake. I was buying a new bass and bunch of pedals and accessories for my wife who wanted a new bass. When they rung everything up it was really low but it didn’t seem to catch the guy’s eye. I took a second to look things up before saying anything, found out the bass she chose was not supposed to be at GC and was supposed to be a Musician’s Friend exclusive. Being a long time inventory manager, I saw what happened immediately after that: they got a wrong shipment, didn’t scan it into inventory manually, and ended up with a ghost instrument on the floor that their system wouldn’t recognize as ever being the store. Not only was I not super interested in paying another $500, I also knew as an inventory manager that if this was a ghost instrument, it would cause more trouble for the store and employees to bring to attention that they “almost” let it go out the door than if it actually did, so long store short I got a pretty nice bass for free due to not noticing a mishipment.
Last week, a guitar center near me had an LTD KH 25. Made in 2012 and was a limited run. Going for around $2500 on reverb. They had this listed at $700 as a KH 602 in fair condition. I went out, bought it, and sold it the next day to a different guitar center (should’ve just did it myself, but didn’t want the hassle) and they gave me $1800 for it. Made out pretty good regardless
@@mat9161 I love that when it happens. The most recent one for me wasn't that good but I sold them a reissue and they valued it as an original item lol. I took my money and ran
With pedals and small amps there’s the “do you have the original box” technique. They hardly ever have the original box. I’ve gotten a little shaved off on pedals and a Mesa D800+ doing that.
Yes! Done that before myself
Back in 2009-10, I had an Epiphone SG Custom EX Prophecy (2nd) sent to the store that is 60 miles from my town. I talked to the manager, and he came to my town with the guitar and hand delivered it to me. It was only $300 for the guitar with the case. I still have it and love it.
@@RemanentSphere that's a solid dude
@TheDistortionPrinciple fuck yeah he was. I wish he was still at the store.
Thanks for the tips! New to the channel
@@Geeb2fat glad you liked it!
My local store had a Jackson SoCal that had sat in inventory for over 2 years. It was already marked down on clearance but it was also the store manager's last day. He took off another $50 and sold it to me for $800 (32%) off.
@@gen4supra hell yea!
I cruise in to GC to check out used gear all the time (99% of my gear I buy used). On New Years Eve 2017, I rolled in bc I was just in the area and didn’t see anything in the used section. I went in to the acoustic room and saw they had end of the year clearance sale on ALL display guitars. Well, everything except the Gibson J15 of course. I always wanted a Gibson acoustic but they were way over my price range so I just figured I’d eventually snag a used one or something in a trade. Well, the display J15 was a 2016 (thanks to Gibson for putting the year on the truss cover 😉) which told me it had been sitting there for about 2 years. So I asked about it not being in clearance and being a 2016 model. Manager was feeling good and said he’d give me a clearance price and then some deal if I was going to buy it tonight. I said give me your best price so he said $1000 out the door (tax included)! They were $1400 at the time so I figured I saved $500 on it. It had the case and all that too. I even brokered in a free Gibson t-shirt. This guitar was up high in the room so it didn’t get much demo traffic so it was in excellent shape. Man, that was a great NYE…I’ve played so many gigs with that guitar and it sounds better the older it gets.
Those guitars soon went up in price to around $1800 in 2018 so it’s even better of a deal story. I have nothing against GC, I’m just not usually a buy new type of guy and I can wait for the deal. That way I can sell gear and not lose money.
The end. 😆
Lol, call the law this guys a bandit!
Call the law this.guys a bandit!
@@TheDistortionPrinciple play it like you stole it 🤑
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
Used buyer here also. I look for the almost unplayed gear. Just bought a traditional V Les Paul for 1399 still had the sticker on the pick-guard.
$99 Jackson Dinky. Made in India. Sealed hardware & manual w/gig bag($299 list). Like new, one of my favorite house strats...
Oh man nice!
I just walk in and ask for the sales manager on duty. I tell him I really want to buy this guitar, but oh man that price hurts. What can you do? I have bought two new high-end Gibson guitars in the past 4 weeks for 15% off. Dude who sold them to me is a solid guy. He didn't mess around and got things done. Win/win! Remember, everything is negotiable.
@@GloryOnHigh nice! Gotta love no nonsense deals
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
Not all Guitar Centers are created equal. I don't even go to the closest one to me now. And I bought 5 guitars and two basses from them throughout the years. The inventory sux.
Just bought a Stingray on vacation back home. Had a selection of six in the store. Local store to me only had 1. So honestly where I reside I buy strings and picks and amps from Sweetwater. If I want a bass or guitar I will drive 450 miles. Better deals and more helpful.
Honestly though when you are looking up at a 2500+ dollar Stingray you may need to ask if the long haired dude needs help instead of noodle and show off with a Guitar Center shirt.
Glad I waited though because I got the HH configuration cheaper back where I reside.
Definitely good tips!
@@mistershabadoo definitely a good way to work a little down
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
Love ur channel man in recent years i gained interest in stoner/doom/sludge n stumble upon ur channel is really a blessing
@@kimL93 thanks so much!
One other tip for used is to add the item to the cart, you can see the serial number if looking for something specific.
Nice!
@@TheDistortionPrinciple yeah I found a used 2015 EVH Wolfie bumblebee this way. Hardtail, only made 150 during this time.
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
I got a white Univox Ripper from Guitar Center's website for well below what they're going for because they didn't know what it was. I used to check Guitar Center and Musician's Friend every morning because that's when they add new listings. Always ask them to give you more photos if you're buying used and ask for condition details -- I've been told by GC that a guitar was in excellent condition and then when I asked them to double-check everything and send photos, I've been told "Oh, well, the frets are very worn". I'm not going to buy something that's going to cost as much or more to fix up.
Exactly morning times browsing and better pics is the wat
@@TheDistortionPrinciple I'll never understand why Guitar Center doesn't have guidelines for employees to follow for photos because most of the time there's only one photo and it's usually pretty tiny. Guitar Center is probably one of the best places to check for used stuff but actually getting the details is always a hassle -- I often get zero response from the e-mail form and actually have to call the store. It's also worth checking other music store chains (MusicGoRound is one, though they have a frustrating policy that precludes people from buying a used product online until it's sat in a store for 30 days) as well as just looking for the online presence of smaller music stores throughout the U.S.; I got a good deal on an MIJ MG-69 Mustang that way. Communicating with smaller music stores via Reverb is also a good way to get a discount. I got 20% off of a brand new guitar a while back after a random music store gave me a 10% off offer on it, and I countered with just a polite, "Thanks for the offer; a bit too much for me now, but if you can do 20% off I could buy this today" which won't always work, but in that case it did. I think the key to getting a discount without a pre-formed rapport is just always being polite and knowing when it's appropriate to ask and how much is appropriate to ask off.
Great video Bro!!! Off the top of my head, 3 times I got a GREAT deal; once in 2008 at the Naperville IL Guitar Center, it was a $3000 Manual Rodriguez classical guitar, got it for $598 after a few negotiations, the guitar was just too expensive for GC, 2nd time was in January 2014, got a brand new Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus, it just arrived at that same Naperville IL GC location from Gibson 3 days before, got it for $1899 with hardshell case, the sale after that on the same guitar only went down to $2699, & then just recently at the GC down here in Ft. Myers, FL, got a new PRS SE McCarty 594 single cut for $599 with PRS gig bag, it was going for $995. So yeah, there are deals out there, it reminded me of how we use to be able to negotiate deal at both Chicago Music Co. ( not Chicago Music Exchange) & Guitar Center ( when it first opened up in 1980/81, back int 80's, it was easier to do than now. Keep On posting, Rock On Brother & God Bless.
@@rockindavebyron3960 yep negotiation was easier back in the day for sure and you got some killer guitars there!
You are very right I just got my PRS multi foil been hunting for that guitar for years and I got it at a very good deal
@@rockgelio10 nice
I lucked out years ago. I bought a used Fender Super Reverb reissue from GC. Then, it stopped working, so I took it back to have them fix it. When it went for repair, the tech basically told me that it was a real 1967 Super Reverb inside a reissue chassis (apparently, some owners do this), easily worth like 3-4x what I paid.
Holy hell congrats!
@ Thanks 🙏
I love GC used. People love to hate on them but their return policy is so liberal, you can’t really go wrong. Black Friday is around the corner, i say to hold on all purchases till then.
Agreed I almost bought yesterday but gonna wait
@ good move
I got them to extend thei 12 mo no interest financing on a guitar to 4 years just by buying a pack of strings that qualified for the 4 year financing
What?????? 😂
How's things Mark? Did you like your Laney AOR 30 combo amp or was it to tricky to dial in? There's one I've seen for 250
@@deathmetalmadness4642 dude grab that! They sound just as good as the bigger ones and I haven't seen one anywhere near that Price in awhile
@TheDistortionPrinciple Cool dude thanx 🤘
I.got an Orange 20RT that looks brand new, and sounds incredible fo4 $99 plus freight and tax vs the 1lrlllr a new one. $ 100 is $100!! Thanks Chrystal (my sales rep)!!!
@@jessebatchelor nice!!! Tell her to cut me a deal in a knuckles pedal!
The best deal I ever got was me walking out the door, pledging to never go back. That was 2019. Still haven’t been back. About the full coverage; it’s pure profit for them and the guy that sells it gets a commission on it, or they used to.
Another tip. If GC online customer service can’t make it happen try Musicians friend. Same pool of online customer service reps but depending on the time of year they may have more leeway under the MS banner.
I need to try that. I want a knuckles pedal maybe they will cut a deal
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
I wondered if selling a cheap product to get the 10% off would work. I'll have to try that out. I've been wanting a Vox AC15C1, but there are never sales for it. But I'll probably wait for after Black Friday.
@@GuitarsRgood7 yep give it a try! I'm really jonsing to buy something but I keep telling myself to wait until black Friday
The best deal I ever got was inventory mistake. I was buying a new bass and bunch of pedals and accessories for my wife who wanted a new bass. When they rung everything up it was really low but it didn’t seem to catch the guy’s eye. I took a second to look things up before saying anything, found out the bass she chose was not supposed to be at GC and was supposed to be a Musician’s Friend exclusive. Being a long time inventory manager, I saw what happened immediately after that: they got a wrong shipment, didn’t scan it into inventory manually, and ended up with a ghost instrument on the floor that their system wouldn’t recognize as ever being the store. Not only was I not super interested in paying another $500, I also knew as an inventory manager that if this was a ghost instrument, it would cause more trouble for the store and employees to bring to attention that they “almost” let it go out the door than if it actually did, so long store short I got a pretty nice bass for free due to not noticing a mishipment.
Gotta take you with me lol
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
I bought a used barely played 1996 Gibson ES335 for 1/2 price of a new ES335.
Hell yea! Used gear ftw
Somebody brought in a guitar for trade with a hardshell case. The case wasn't given any value. So after the guy left, the manager turned around and gave the case to me for free to go with my purchase. The case was an original 1961 Les Paul (SG) case worth around $5000.
@@jonathanwapner6262 lol holy crap great deal
Just a response to one of the comments. A few years ago I went to Guitar Center to sell not trade an Alhambra classical with a SKB hard case. They made an offer but said to honor the price I would have to change the strings. Did that, when I came back I was told the offer was for the guitar but didn't include the case. That was surprising, got paid and took the case with me. Guess whenever it sold GC would try to upsell a new case?
@Alwaysonly1forme Thst makes sense if they have a case to match what you're offering. They wouldn't take a very rare matching Epiphone Firebird hardshell case from me with the guitar. There's nothing else in the market that would fit that guitar, not even a Gibson case. So they'd be sending it home with someone either naked, in a bass gig bag, or with the headstock popping out of a guitar bag.
Did not know about the bonus 10% when buying new with a trade-in. It's 15 for a couple more days too. Good looking out!
@@yesthatjake5601 yep good way to get a little extra off!
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
I talked to Zach Adkins about you two doing a collaboration video. He said he’s down with it. His channel is growing and he can really help you out.
@@Nothing-h3x oh wow! That would be cool wonder what we could do together
@@Nothing-h3x I enjoy his videos. He had some great.topics
@@TheDistortionPrinciple He’s down with it. I love both of your channels and want to see both of you grow.
@@TheDistortionPrinciple Dude, all I did was ask him in the comments section. It was that easy.
@ please make it happen.
The best deal is always finding something to sell in person and then using that discount for ordering with them the same day, but also in finding the one disgruntled employee who DGAF anymore and gives you the max deal. When the newbie starts looking up every item and takes an hour to figure it out take your joyo pedal and leave lol
Lol true story. The guy who doesn't even plug your pedals in is gonna hook you up
@TheDistortionPrinciple exactly !
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.
I got the employee discount when i worked there. Since leaving, I've just paid the price on the tag, because the salespeople work on commission. They deserve to eat and pay their bills too.
Yep. They also have to sell tons of protection as well
I cut the cord with guitar center long ago..too many bad experiences. Even if I need something simple like strings etc.i will go out of my way to go elsewhere.
Best deal? A $6799 Gibson historic 60's reissue in tangerine vos for $4500
Nice!
The last place i want to try and make a friend is at GC
@@AJC-jo3ds lol I get that, it's been rare, but I have met some decent guys working there just trying to make rent money
@@AJC-jo3ds the rest are kinda shitty and not knowledgeable about the gear
15% is not enough.
Sales tax is 8%.
Sales tax is a deal breaker.
I'd say 30% off if I have to pay tax.
But, I never buy new, so....
Just want a good deal on one guitar I want. I hate flippers.
Flipping really ruins the market for everyone
Want a guitar that no one has touched except for the luthier who built it and 5he guy who packaged it at the factory...
@@DanielCastillo-cn3pp totally understandable. What's your thoughts on sweetwater? The 55 point inspection things adds another set of hands on it
I became friends with Carry at Johnson Music. I was just a kid but I went in there all the time. He gave me the Digitech RP20 for cost. We even hung out a few times outside the store. He was a good dude.
Nice! Not a bad deal on that especially for a kid just starting out
Sorry if I give out my secrets to success they won’t be secret anymore
@@CarolLove-u7l teach me! 😂
The best way is to avoid guitar center all together
Absolutely. But theres the problem of if you want to try something in person first alot of smaller shops can't afford the buy in price to get certain guitars. If mail order doesn't bother people or the FB marketplace has what they need they can do better that way as well
@@TheDistortionPrinciple Yep - exactly. Trying gear @ GC to buy online at Sweetwater, AMS, or ZZounds is the only reason that I go to GC. However, I am always open to the possibility that they could sell me something. My advantage is that I never go into GC looking to buy anything. It is up to them to change that. For the right deal on something interesting, under the right circumstances, I buy gear from GC and I have been mostly pleased with the gear and the experience. Not sure if people know this - but the in-store CLEARANCE deals are some of the best you will find anywhere - but you have to go into the store to find out what's on clearance and there's always the risk that its nothing you want.
Their new CEO has actually been doing a lot of positive things this year. They basically restructured the entire store.
As a former GC employee I agree. It wasn’t a great store twenty years ago, now it’s a shit show. I will only go there now if they have a piece of used gear I want at a good price
@g0stkid8_3 pretty much all the used stuff is poorly set up with rusty strings and damaged so I can agree
These tips require far too much human interaction for me...
@@mykneeshurt8393 haha that is the downfall
The best deal I ever got was inventory mistake. I was buying a new bass and bunch of pedals and accessories for my wife who wanted a new bass. When they rung everything up it was really low but it didn’t seem to catch the guy’s eye. I took a second to look things up before saying anything, found out the bass she chose was not supposed to be at GC and was supposed to be a Musician’s Friend exclusive. Being a long time inventory manager, I saw what happened immediately after that: they got a wrong shipment, didn’t scan it into inventory manually, and ended up with a ghost instrument on the floor that their system wouldn’t recognize as ever being the store. Not only was I not super interested in paying another $500, I also knew as an inventory manager that if this was a ghost instrument, it would cause more trouble for the store and employees to bring to attention that they “almost” let it go out the door than if it actually did, so long store short I got a pretty nice bass for free due to not noticing a mishipment.
Sneaky AF! 😂
I bring my poop bucket and breathe in my spunky vapors like the gentlemen I am. A kernel of truth or a kernel in my poop.