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Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 8:03 pm:   

http://www.qksrv.net/click-1802666-10381315?loc=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI .dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D7417715836

$900?!?!

That's robbery. Does anybody buy from these jokers?
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield

Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:42 pm:   

I feel very disappointed whenever I see a listing for a potentially nice item, only to discover it is being sold by a GC rep. I see how their normal stock is handled (or mishandled). Imagine not having the chance to inspect a guitar that's been sitting on the floor at a GC for God knows how long.

By the way, there is a new GC opening in San Jose this weekend.
Garyelcrrt
Username: Garyelcrrt

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:13 pm:   

I consider them to be the "used car salesmen" of the 21st century. And, after buying 2 new guitars from them over the years, they've managed to upset me enough over used guitar prices and policies that I'll never go back. Music Works is just a few blocks up the street when I need something NOW. For the rest, there's the internet.
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 1:06 pm:   

As far as the retail stores are concerned, just on principle, I prefer not to buy from them. Unfortunately, there's not many options in San Francisco - you have to head South. Not exactly a shopping mecca. Weird, huh?
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 1:32 pm:   

Guitartim's GC buying tips:

Buy USED gear...after tough negotiating;

Buy new gear ONLY when on sale and with another retailer's lower price quote in hand...after tough negotiating;

Buy new or used gear on the LAST day of the month, due to their sales goal-driven management...after tough negotiating;

NEVER buy from their Ebay listings;

and finally...

Negotiate EVERY purchase, no matter how small...or walk out. It's impossible to upset them too much, because the chance of seeing the same employee next month is so unlikely.
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g

Registered: 01-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 3:59 pm:   

There is an Electra Guitar that has been listed CONTINUOUSLY by GC for well over 14 months (thats 56 straight listings) The guitar is worth around $350-$400, but it is listed at $600 and they have never lowered the price and keep listing it (the fees at this point must be approaching $150+ Just stupid !
Markownly
Username: Markownly

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:44 pm:   

Guitartim,
I never thought about, "the last day of the month" idea! Excellent advice!!!!
Mark
Benito1300
Username: Benito1300

Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 5:13 pm:   

i enjoy waltzing through guitar center when i'm able to get there, so i can head on over to the 'amp room' and wail on a marshall or a mesa for a while without consequence. also, i found a used gibson sg-1 (single humbucker, bare bones) for only 225 bills there once... after tough negotiating.

that's about the only deal i've found there, though.

and i'm with Wildfield in that i HATE it when i find something that could be cool on ebay and it turns out to be a blurry, hastily photographed guitar center listing.
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 5:16 pm:   

I saw a beautiful Blazer there a wile back selling for $100. I'm still wondering why I didn't buy it.
Tubescorcher
Username: Tubescorcher

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 8:47 pm:   

I have to say I agree that their auctions are insanely high. I did have a good experience about 6 months ago. I bought a Tacoma JK50CE for $1000. It had been listed for 3 months starting at $1400. It said it had play wear and scratches. When I received the guitar it looked mint and unplayed. I put a Walrus saddle and pegs on her and it is the most beautiful looking and sounding acoustic I've ever played. I can't put it down. I added some Ibanez (Gotoh) perloid tuners in gold and it looks even more awesome now. I guess I got lucky in my case.
Peace All!!
Jazzzbo
Username: Jazzzbo

Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 5:43 pm:   

these guitar ctr reps must be slightly retarded, everyone of thier items is way over price to begin with, a real turn off, even thier score by ebay isnt that great, then figure in TAX AND SHIPPING.
Jazzzbo
Username: Jazzzbo

Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 5:46 pm:   

these guitar ctr reps must be slightly retarded, everyone of their items is way over priced to begin with, a real turn off, even their score by ebay isnt that great, then figure in TAX AND SHIPPING.
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 10:28 pm:   

I bought a ST100 of of them and got a great deal. $305.00 2 years ago but I picked it up myself. But I agree they are way overpriced on thier stuff.
Garyelcrrt
Username: Garyelcrrt

Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 10:05 pm:   

Maybe they think they can drive the market price up. Perhaps they're hoping everyone else sees their asking price, raises their own prices and then GC undercuts everybody to make the sale! It could happen! Really.

Or maybe they're just retarded. Nah, I'd have to vote for absolutely stupid, greedy idiots before I'd go along with retarded.
Captainibanez
Username: Captainibanez

Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 7:28 am:   

Breaks ya Ol' Cappys heart seeing a good axe like this spoilt. These AS120's were one of our top sellers "downunder". Thank goodness the Artcore range has filled the void these days.

Captain Ibanez :-)
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 7:22 pm:   

I agree with Cappy. The AS-120 is a good axe that deserves better. I have a sunburst AS-120, with gold hardware. I bought it from Joep Egmond, the grandson of the founder of Egmond guitars before his shop went bankrupt. I paid in guilders, I believe it was in the year 2000 and I was lucky then, because it had been in the shop before and it had been brought back because the first buyer wanted an Epiphone Sheraton II after all. I saved 600 guilders because of this stupid move. It's my best and most beautiful ES-335 type guitar, really bluesy as it should be. The only improvement I can imagine is an AS-200, but right now I'm not buying anything. My family comes first. I'm mainly consolidating my core collection, and before I buy a good piece, I will have to sell some of my cheaper guitars. I think 900 dollars is indeed a lot of money but on the list of the Swiss Argus (which some posters tend to suspect of playing the game of buying low and selling high) its price is €800,= which is about $960,= so what's the big deal. Not the price! But the false information! This guitar is NOT a 1980's guitar. The Artstar AS-120 was built in the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. It's good value as a second hand player, not as a vintage guitar.

Dave_G, you wrote that it's worth $350,= to $400,=. I dare you to bring me 5 good AS-120s for $1750,= with 5 Kahler tremolos. Can I keep the profit?
I think €485,= or $580,= is very reasonable with a stop bar. The Kahler is a very good piece of hardware. It's certainly worth €50,= to €70,= ($60,= to $85,=). Five replacement stop bars and bone nuts aren't that expensive.
Make my day!

I don't like auctions either, because I lack the bidding experience. What I like is a seller who sets his price, which is either good or bad. And then I either take or leave it. It's strange that other people, also people who have no actual buying plans, can boost the price. I know of people who say they're collectors, but who are actually semi-professional traders. They try to contact you under their girlfriend's name (because they sell under their own name), look at your axe, start low balling and if they don't get the axe for the low price they have in mind, they bid €100.000,= and block your auction. (This happened to a guy in my town who tried to sell his Yamaha SG-1500). On several Dutch and Belgian advertising websites this has no consequences for the bidder.

Shops are getting less interesting here too. Smart people sell their old gear on the web and take the 15% discount on their new gear.

Greetz,

Ginger Ale
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Thursday, June 01, 2006 - 9:54 pm:   

The AS120 is shown in the US catalogs from 1995 thru 2002. Definitely not an '80s guitar, nor "vintage". In '95 and '96 the body shape was very 335-like, with rounded horns.
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 5:31 am:   

That's right JohnS, and this one has sharp horns, not the Mickey Mouse ears!
At this moment a nice player, no more no less!
If brought back in its original state it's worth saving for the future, let's say 2020. This baby should be played instead of being hanging on the wall. Let the wood resonate, bring her alive. She ain't meant to be kept in the convent like a nun.

Ginger Ale
Johns
Username: Johns

Registered: 02-2001
Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 9:37 am:   

Definitely a 1997 model.

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