Bargaining

[b12]

I'll be heading over to either Guitar Center or Motor City Guitar tomorrow to buy a Gibson Les Paul Studio. At BEST, i'll be looking at spending $1000.

Unfortunately, that's not my ideal budget. I'm going to try to bargain it down to $900 including tax. Does anyone have any hints or tips on doing this? The guitar salesmen get paid on commission.

Right now my resevoir of techniques are limited to "This guitar is brand new? I see a couple scratches on it, right here." and "Well, this guy at (MCG/GC) said he'd give it to me for about $930. You can't beat that? I know you buy these guitars for around $500."

I got my first guitar for $600 when it was worth $1200. That was an absolutely stunning move on my dad's part. But i'm not 12 anymore, so my daddy won't be there to help me out.

:)

[ThePhobiaViewed]

Did you buy the guitar? If I were spending $1000 on a guitar I probably wouldn't get a Gibson myself, maybe a Carvin or I'd love a Paul Gilbert Signature. I buy my guitars online rather than at the local store which is way overpriced and cheats you out of everything. Btw how did you're dad get you that guitar so cheap?

Our high school band sells "win win cards" which are little yellow cards that give discounts at certain local businesses. They cost $10 each and I traded one of them for a guitar once (an old one that was missing some strings and some of the pickups don't work, but hey its another one to add to the collection).

[Kushna Mufeed]

I know jack shit about guitars. But bargaining, I know a bit. Ask them the price, say a ridiculously low amount of money, and slowly work your way up. Hopefully they will begin to lower their price bit by bit, until the two meet.

[b12]

I must be good, because i got a $1200 guitar for $750. It was on sale for $999.99 (discounted price), and i bargained it down.

It had a little scratch in the lacquer behind the neck and i made a huge deal out of it. It's a place in the neck that i'd never even touch while playing :)