Guitar price

[Soulkeeper]

I bought an $800 guitar for $519 (discounted because they were bringing in new stuff I guess) 2yrs ago and didn't use it, after taxes, case, and accessories it cost about $650 (already had a cheapo amp).
So I ended up not even using the guitar because I suck at it.

I took it back to the place I purchased it and they offered me $250
The person told me because there was a record of what I payed for it that made them offer $100 less ...
I would have taken $400 maybe $375 with amp/stand/tuner/case/etc.... it just seemed like they were trying to get one over on me.

The guitar is a Gibson 2013 SG '70s Tribute. What do you think It should go for ? and where should I sell it ?
I mean really, for $250, I'd rather just give it to someone I know as a gift and that's what I told them. Am I wrong here ?

The employee insisted that someone would have to be stupid and not know about guitars to pay over $350 for it ....

 

[Newbian]

Go in front of the store and do a guitar smash and walk away.

That will show them.

 

[DigDog]

Five hunner bux

 

[UncleWai]

 

[Craig234]

Tell the manager about the jerk employee. Unacceptable behavior.

Have you checked ebay or guitar selling forums for the value? Sorry you had a loss, but be careful buying, don't blindly trust claimed sales and discounts.

 

[Craig234]

Alternatively, consider buying a couple lessons which can give you ways to get better practicing. I haven't bought a guitar because I'm aware it's terribly hard to get good at IMO.

Or, as Foreigner probably should have said:

"Standing in the rain, with his head hung low
Couldn't get a ticket, it was a sold out show
Heard the roar of the crowd, he could picture the scene
Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream

He heard one guitar, just blew him away
He saw stars in his eyes, and the very next day
Bought a beat up six string, in a secondhand store
Didn't know how to play it, but he knew for sure
CRAP this is hard to use"

 

[Thebobo]

This could be you. Just need some stickum toit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpz7FtZ16Jg

 

[PJFrylar]

One thing to consider is the store isn't in the business of buying a used guitar for the price that they think they can sell it for. They are always going to lowball you compared to what you could get for selling directly to another person. However, $250 seems like a lowball even for what a store would offer you. I would check sites like ebay or reverb to see what the guitar is actually selling for used. If you're not in a hurry to get rid of it, I'd list it at sites like reverb and craigslist (do remember that shipping guitars is not cheap though). You could also try bringing it to a different store, but they would likely just give you a slightly higher lowball offer.

 

[nakedfrog]

I don't know, that sounds about right to me. You're not going to get the same price from a store that you'd get from a private buyer. They need to pay that employee you were talking to, etc. Generally the only time selling your used music gear to a store is a good option is if you don't feel like dealing with the hassle of selling it privately, and you have to accept you'll get less money for it.

 

[sourceninja]

https://www.replayguitar.com/
Put it up there and see what you can get.

 

[PJFrylar]

It seems a bit on the low side to me, that they were holding the discount he originally paid against him. There is a bit of truth to what the employee said, although it sounds like he said it in a rude way. I wouldn't anticipate getting an offer much, if any, better than $350 from a store.

 

[snoopy7548]

You could probably get like $600 for it on Reverb - I see some for around $700.

It's like Gamestop... you buy a brand new game for $60 and they'll pay you $20 when you sell it to them. Stores are in business to make money. Same with trading in your car at a dealership vs. selling privately.

 

[PJFrylar]

It can also be helpful to look at listings that actually sold on websites. For instance, I just googled: gibson sg 2013 70s tribute reverb. I found several listings that sold over the past couple years. They tell you when it sold and how much it sold for.

 

[dr150]

The very BEST place to sell guitars is Reverb (https://reverb.com/)! Less fees than Ebay and you'll very likely get a faster sale. Reverb has a database of previous sales that'll help you set the correct price for a similar model.

In tandem, you could put it up for sale on Craigslist once you know the the "fair price" from the Reverb database.

You have to be patient nowadays though. Guitar isn't as popular as it used to be. You may have to leave the ad in for 6 months before you get a hit (if your price is fair). Price fairly! MANY knuckleheads price their Gibsons at almost the price they bought it for and predictably you see those ads are STILL listed a year afterwards, LOL! So price fairly!

And forget trying to consign or sell your guitar to Guitar Center. They WILL ALWAYS rape you on an offer price! Always sell it yourself. Reverb.com should get it done for you! Also keep the faith. Gibson is a VERY popular brand and the SG is actually their highest selling model. So don't despair. It will take time though, so just put the guitar under your bed and wait it out for the next several months until you get an offer email from Reverb.

 

[BoomerD]

I bought an $800 guitar for $519 (discounted because they were bringing in new stuff I guess) 2yrs ago and didn't use it, after taxes, case, and accessories it cost about $650 (already had a cheapo amp).
So I ended up not even using the guitar because I suck at it.

I took it back to the place I purchased it and they offered me $250
The person told me because there was a record of what I payed for it that made them offer $100 less ...
I would have taken $400 maybe $375 with amp/stand/tuner/case/etc.... it just seemed like they were trying to get one over on me.

The guitar is a Gibson 2013 SG '70s Tribute. What do you think It should go for ? and where should I sell it ?
I mean really, for $250, I'd rather just give it to someone I know as a gift and that's what I told them. Am I wrong here ?

The employee insisted that someone would have to be stupid and not know about guitars to pay over $350 for it ....

Hell...gift it to me then!

It sounds like, from your last line...the store employee was calling you stupid....

 

[Soulkeeper]

Yeah, exactely seemed like she was calling me stupid for purchasing it in the first place.
Ohh well, thanks for all the replies everyone. I'll look into the links and advice above. Tons of other things i'm trying to sell, most people seem like they wanna pay half price. It's tough out there.

 

[PJFrylar]

A few last thoughts.

I guess I'm kind of trying to think the best of this random guitar shop employee that I don't know, but I don't think she was calling you stupid for buying it. I think she just rather poorly communicated the reality of what a guitar shop could pay for a used guitar, cover their operating costs, and also make a profit from buying and reselling a used guitar.

If you really want to sell it, again as I and others have suggested, reverb.com is a good way to go. As I didn't really communicate as well as dr150 did, cross posting to craigslist after you figure out a good price would be good. You might find someone local looking for that type of guitar and bypass shipping costs.

Although as Craig234 suggested, maybe as you're waiting for the sale ... give it another go. I know I hit a wall and felt like quitting, because I felt I would never be good at guitar. I have kind of fleshy fingers, and I felt like I could never get certain chord shapes to work. Yeah I was wrong... just took a bit of practice. I don't even remember what chord it was that made me want to quit. So I would suggest to do a bit of research and list it at a good price, but maybe instead of hiding it under your bed ... give it another go.

You can do it buddy,

 

[lytalbayre2]

Where are you located? I'd be interested in buying. Always wanted to learn guitar.... Not like I have any free time though.... Send me a PM

 

[dr150]

Although as Craig234 suggested, maybe as you're waiting for the sale ... give it another go. I know I hit a wall and felt like quitting, because I felt I would never be good at guitar. I have kind of fleshy fingers, and I felt like I could never get certain chord shapes to work. Yeah I was wrong... just took a bit of practice. I don't even remember what chord it was that made me want to quit. So I would suggest to do a bit of research and list it at a good price, but maybe instead of hiding it under your bed ... give it another go.

Try a guitar with a wider nut and neck. It makes all the difference in the world! If you have an electric already where you can switch necks, buy a Warmoth neck that's sized to fit your hams (http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/GuitarNecks.aspx)

 

[PJFrylar]

Try a guitar with a wider nut and neck. It makes all the difference in the world! If you have an electric already where you can switch necks, buy a Warmoth neck that's sized to fit your hams (http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/GuitarNecks.aspx)

Oh I got over it with practice. I would probably never buy a guitar thinner than the 42mm nut width that the thinnest of my guitars has. I have thought about getting a new neck for my Stratocaster in the past, but I didn't end up doing it (at least yet). I really like the flatter radius and stainless steel jumbo frets that my Chapman's neck has.

Edit: I guess that's kind of my point too. That's fairly thin as standard neck widths go, but I was able to get used to it with a bit of practice. On second thought, I'm not sure I'd have all that much trouble with a slightly thinner neck.

2nd edit: Hey @dr150 .. while on the subject, what is your opinion on the fretwork by companies like warmoth? I'd probably be cool with having to roll the edges, but I'd be pissed off about having to do (or more likely pay for) more extensive work like leveling and crowning.

 

[NesuD]

Store is like a car dealer. they want to get it cheap and flip it. Reverb is showing listings for that from about 700 -900. Try listing it on reverb and see what you get offered.