Members d03nut Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 As you enter "negotiations" at a music store. It's important to know your "shortcomings" before you make any decisions, especially with trade-ins. I'm sure my "enthusiasm" cost me quite a few $$$ in my most recent transaction. What can I do? If I think I'm within "striking distance" of good tone, I become just an "open book"... BTW, I started out wanting to post something more "serious" but the PUI just has a way of taking over my typing hands. Hey, it's Friday.....
Members guitarist21 Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 I'm totally poker-faced. I wasn't at first though, and especially because I began making my own guitar decisions fairly young, some salesfolk would try to take advantage of my apparent lack of experience. At first I sucked at haggling (still kinda do) and so I made some terrible purchases (a Harmony semi-hollowbody for $300, probably worth $100-$150 at best, sticks out in my mind), but now I try to go in knowing what I want and how much I intend to pay. Helps to have cash on hand. Like, this is how much I have with me and that's how much I'm willing to pay, take it or leave it. Ellen
Members thedep3158 Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 I agree with Ellen. You have to be willing to walk away from a deal if it isn't right for you. Those dang salesmen can smell GAS a mile away. Dep
Members happy-man Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 Depending on the shop, if you can't get it right you can always come back when different salespeople are there and try again. I did this once at a pawn shop for a bang-around Tak that I really wanted but also wanted to get down to a very low price. Scott O
Members riffmeister Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 I'm a total sucker. Here's my latest: 48 hour approval period in my home. Tick tock tick tock tick tock........... .
Members daklander Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 Yeah, I'm a poker face as far as that goes.If I do see something I like I'll put my own figure on it, regardless of the asking price. I don't trade my instruments in so it's a cash deal and if they won't come down, I walk away.Quite a few years ago, '95 or so, I went into my favorite pawn shop. There were a couple of acoustics I saw that interested me, one a Yamaha FG411S and the other a red label FG180. The FG411S was pristine and the FG180 in good condition except the strings. (They may have been the orignals, they were so old looking.) Anyway, both looked good, played well and sounded good, even with those old strings on the FG180. Asking price on each was two bills. I figured I'd go $275.00 for the pair and it was shot down. We agreed on the price of the Fg411S at $150.00 singly but couldn't get the price where I wanted on the FG180 so I walked out with the FG411S. It was a year old and they were selling in the $350.00 range new so I got a decent deal. I went back several times over the next few months on the FG180 and couldn't get it done for the $125.00 I was willing to give. About 6 months went by after that before I went back in and that guitar was gone. When I talked to the owners about it, they'd finally cut the price on it and though they wouldn't tell me the exact price they got I got the impression it was under my offer because they told me they should have let me have it.That same shop is where I picked up my Fender Bassman 60 and a nice Beyerdynamics condenser mic for $200.00 after making offers singly and as a pair. Both were in like new condition.
Members SkippyX Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 Poker Face. the willingness to walk away from a deal and check back periodically isn't a bad thing. Something I've done in the past on pricier purchases is leave my name, number and offer w/ the guy trying to sell the item. "OK - well, you know what I'm willing to pay. Tell ya what - if no one else is willing to meet that offer, why don't you give me a call? Here's my name & number...." Bought a couple of cars that way.
Members Howie22 Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 Poker face. Some basics: -Determine a walk away point, stick to it, and don't be afraid to walk-Let them throw out the first number-Offer low, negotiations will only go up from your first number!!-Don't offer so low as to be insulting-Move up in small increments
Members Stackabones Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 I'm a total sucker. Here's my latest: 48 hour approval period in my home. Tick tock tick tock tick tock........... . Details?!
Members riffmeister Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 It's orgasmic......both in looks and in sound.....1976 spruce/Braz Velazquez, near mint condition. My GAS-mask has fallen off.......AGAIN! .
Members lauren Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 this one quiet! Can GAS cause even on HCAG:poke: It's orgasmic......both in looks and in sound.....1976 spruce/Braz Velazquez, near mint condition. My GAS-mask has fallen off.......AGAIN! .
Members riffmeister Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 Can GAS cause even on HCAG:poke: With me, I guess so, LOL! It was only two months ago that I got this one: so that means I'm up to six guitars by this builder now.........
Members JasmineTea Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 I always wear sunglasses, a hat, and keep an unlit cigarette dangling from my mouth. Really throws 'em off.
Members totamus Posted December 1, 2007 Members Posted December 1, 2007 definately poker face. Buying a guitar is like buying a car - you have to be emotionally ready to walk away from the deal if it doesnt go your way. A salesman will cut prices doewn to whatever it takes to salvage a deal thinking that some profit/commission is better than none. But if he/she knows that are buying because you just have to have the guitar, then you'll be lucky to get a few strings and a capo thrown in. Be ready to walk away - and do it!
Members d03nut Posted December 2, 2007 Author Members Posted December 2, 2007 I always wear sunglasses, a hat, and keep an unlit cigarette dangling from my mouth. Really throws 'em off. Post a pic, JT, a "pick". Come on.......
Members lauren Posted December 2, 2007 Members Posted December 2, 2007 can't wait:love: Post a pic, JT, a "pick". Come on.......
Members basschick22 Posted December 2, 2007 Members Posted December 2, 2007 I told a fellow guitarist friend of mine once: sometimes it's a good buy and sometimes it's just good bye. that being said, i'm sure that i've spent more than i should have on a couple of instruments. however, i've had a couple deals that i thought i came out on the better side,too.
Members carguy Posted December 2, 2007 Members Posted December 2, 2007 I hate to say it, but I'm a pushover. I know all the rules of negotiating, but they fly out the window when I see a guitar I really want.
Members d03nut Posted December 3, 2007 Author Members Posted December 3, 2007 I hate to say it, but I'm a pushover. I know all the rules of negotiating, but they fly out the window when I see a guitar I really want. Well carguy, judging by your updated sig, looks like you have found a "life" if you know what I mean. Consequently, our very "exclusive" little club loses another member. Ahh well........
Members Samilyn Posted December 3, 2007 Members Posted December 3, 2007 GAS-face here. When I play a truly beautiful sounding git that really turns me on, it shows. Can't keep the smile and the look of wonder off my face. Good thing I'm perpetually broke. Knowing that writing bad checks will get me a rather long stint in Club Fed, I don't make impulsive purchases. I'm honest with the sales clerk. I just tell them I can't afford such-and-such git, but always wanted to play one. They're cool with that, knowing from the look on my face, if I ever hit the lotto, I'll be back.
Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 3, 2007 Members Posted December 3, 2007 Are you a "GAS-face" or a "poker-face"? I find it works to my advantage by cleverly mixing the two.
Members d03nut Posted December 3, 2007 Author Members Posted December 3, 2007 I find it works to my advantage by cleverly mixing the two. So u're "cleverly mixing" but who's doing the "mastering" is what I wanna know?
Members dhoenisch Posted December 3, 2007 Members Posted December 3, 2007 Definately poker-faced here. The good thing about when I used to shop at Guitar Center is that you couldn't get anyone to help you in the acoustic room if you ran around the store screaming that you just won the lottery and want to buy every guitar in the store, so I can be as GAS-faced as I want to be while I'm playing. Than, I go and ask for a manager, and that's when I put my poker-face on. I remember buying my banjo at GC. I looked as goofy as anyone who would be excited about buying a nice instrument. It is a Fender FB-59, which, fortunately, isn't a Fender at all, just stamped as such. I compared it to a Gibson RB-250, and thought it sounded much better, which was great, since it was half the price, at $900. Anyhow, got a manager, and pretended to be just OK with the banjo. Than he started playing "used car salesman: with me. Well I told him that I wouldn't pay more than $600 since it was a Fender. Well, after much talk, I got the fender for $750 after tax and all. I figured it wasn't a bad deal, especially since I would have been more than willing to pay the $900 for it. Dan
Members Fred Fartboski Posted December 3, 2007 Members Posted December 3, 2007 So u're "cleverly mixing" but who's doing the "mastering" is what I wanna know?
Members Picker Posted December 3, 2007 Members Posted December 3, 2007 It depends... Generally I can be pretty poker-faced, but sometimes I just cant help it... Like when I bought my Martin for example. I took a vaction and went to Nashville a couple of years ago. Natually, I had to stop in Gruhn's guitars and it was all I could do to keep ahold of myself [do not drool on the guitars.... do not drool on the guitars... do not....]. Anyway, I fell in love with one of the Martins they had custom ordered (basically a D-28 with a couple of added features). Fortunately, I wasn't negotiating for price. Either I bought it or I didn't. I'm still paying it off, but I love my guitar
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