Rock N Roll Vintage

[EmpireStateTroopers]

It was a '79 if I remember correctly. great condition. do you think offering a full g below listed price would be insulting? I suppose I have nothing to lose...

[steve]

I was going to say $1500 sounds about right. He should turn a profit and you'll feel like you spent too much, but it will hold that value long term.

[EmpireStateTroopers]

I was going to say $1500 sounds about right. He should turn a profit and you'll feel like you spent too much, but it will hold that value long term.

Yeah, that's the consolation of buying old stuff as opposed to new. I would be psyched to pay 1500.

[enframed]

I was going to say $1500 sounds about right. He should turn a profit and you'll feel like you spent too much, but it will hold that value long term.

Yeah, that's the consolation of buying old stuff as opposed to new. I would be psyched to pay 1500.

You know what you have to do. Walk in there with cash.

[EmpireStateTroopers]

You know what you have to do. Walk in there with cash.

Will do (maybe). Anyone out there good at this sort of thing? If you can get the job done for me I'll take you out for drinks!

[MrFood]

You know what you have to do. Walk in there with cash.

Will do (maybe). Anyone out there good at this sort of thing? If you can get the job done for me I'll take you out for drinks!

He's not a Toydarian is he? You know those tricks won't work on a Toydarian, right?

[honeyisfunny]

Dammit. A job I could actually do and it's in America.

[Trey]

You know what you have to do. Walk in there with cash.

Will do (maybe). Anyone out there good at this sort of thing? If you can get the job done for me I'll take you out for drinks!

He's not a Toydarian is he? You know those tricks won't work on a Toydarian, right?

funny, this.

[night_tools]

Dammit. A job I could actually do and it's in America.

Rich, what is your policy on employing illegal immigrants?

[busbus]

It was a '79 if I remember correctly. great condition. do you think offering a full g below listed price would be insulting? I suppose I have nothing to lose...

All original? I'd pay about $1800 for a really tight late 70s on eBay right now, but it has to be a 9-10. I'm looking as well and the mid to late 70s P basses are still holding their value.

You say it plays good? I'd walk in there with $1700 and maybe $200-300 "really want it" backup cash, and then ask questions about originality/documentation and see what happens. Good luck.

[pwalshj]

I hate haggling and I suck at it. I will never buy on ebay- I can't spend this kind of money without playing it first, I've made that mistake. Where should I start?

Walk in the store. Make eye contact with and greet the sales folks on your way in.
"Hey. Howreya?"
"Something I can help you with?!!"
"Nah, I'm just snooping." (say any thing to keep them from following you around.)

Then browse a bit. Handle a few basses and linger with some but reject them all until you get to the p-bass. Pick it up. Play it. Ask, "Hey, umm. Can I plug this in?" Don't spend enough time on the amp to have the salesman return to you. A minute should do. Afterwards return the bass to it's hanger and return the cord to the salesman.

When he engages you in conversation (probably something like, "So you're into/not into that sweet P-bass huh, rocker?!") say: "I am interested but that price is insane*. Not what I intend to spend at all.** Seriously, what's the best you can do for me?" Whatever he answers is bullshit. He can go lower and will. Now you are bartering.

"Well, what did you intend to spend?" Now you reply 20-30% less of what you really intend to spend. He balks. You look him in the eyes and repeat, "Seriously, what's the best you can do for me?"

He will now walk over to the computer and hmm and haw. Then he will, "run to the back" and return and hmm and haw some more. He will then say, "Bro, this is the absolute best I can do. $XXXX.XX.... and that is a HELLUVA deal." (He's still bullshitting.) "My boss is gonna kill me." (Sure he will.)

Now you reveal your intended price. "I can do $XXXX.XX. That's my max. What do ya think?"

If you could take it or leave it at that price do so. "Oh well, it's a really nice bass. Thanks for your time." Turn and walk.

Sometimes at this stage the sales person calls you back. "Okay, I really shouldn't be doing this but you seem like a nice guy. I can do $XXXX.XX." If you have that original price set in your head but you really love the instrument, plan on overshooting about $200 and eating ramen for a few weeks.

Oh, don't forget to say right after the agreed price, "That's including a case, right?"*** If not, walk. "Now you're just fucking with me, Zack."

Welcome to bartering. It's fun. Good luck.

*This lets him know that the sticker is bullshit and you know it.

** This wording is very important to a salesman. Not: "I could", "I might", or "I was" or "I was thinking about" spending. You want a bass and you intend to spend money on one. Possibly at his competition or maybe even come back another time and let one of his co-workers get "his" commission.

***He'll give you one. They have a basement full of generic bass cases. You just saved another $75-100.

Edited for clarity.

[EmpireStateTroopers]

advice

I don't know... It certainly can't hurt to try this, but I think CME is a different kind of store- they definitely don't give you the whole 'rocker' bullshit...it's almost like they leave you to your own devices until you prove to them you're serious about buying something. I bought a stupid awesome les paul there a few years ago and they really were low pressure about it...

[E. Norma Stitz]

Tell the sales guy you'll cut him a hundie out back for the best price.

[busbus]

I'd honestly consider flying pwalshj out to do the haggling. Between his accent, drive, heritage, and knowledge, you're going to end up saving hundreds and the CPD will probably show up to give you a "respect" style motorcade ride back home with the bass.

[ampeg77]

As far as pricing goes on the market, it is sadly inflated by the tone attorneys and these are the people that I have no interest in lowering prices for. As far as people who give a shit about what they do with music, I try to take care of people and I think that our shop does that as well. As far as the lengthy scenario laid out to negotiate prices, that might work at a commission based place but we don't work on commission. If someone is trying to lie and weasel around getting a lower price because they're trying to outwit me only pisses me off and then I don't move on price. In a perfect world prices would be low but the reality is that vintage instruments are collectible and as more and more musicians(or tone attorneys) buy them up, the prices go up, simple supply and demand. This is true with anything antique and collectible, cars, lamps, pocket watches, clothes, whatever, the only reason people complain about the prices so much with music gear is because it's used to create a form of art and usually the people without money are the ones more passionate about that art. My "not a douchebag" comment was a lighthearted joke because I don't want to hire a typical salesperson that forces shit down customers throats, I would much rather enjoy who I work with.

[tmidgett]

As far as pricing goes on the market, it is sadly inflated by the tone attorneys and these are the people that I have no interest in lowering prices for. As far as people who give a shit about what they do with music, I try to take care of people and I think that our shop does that as well.

I rather like this store, and I don't think the prices are that bad as they are, considering the market.

If I didn't have my various obligations in life, I would take this job in about two seconds.

Re CME and negotiating, my strong sense of the place is that they do not give a fuck if you buy their stuff or not. Not in a rude shitty way, just in that if you don't buy it, somebody else will, because they have an assload of good stuff.

I would figure out your limit and go offer them that in cash. One shot, like sniping something on eBay.

If they say no, give them a card with your name and number and the specs of the guitar and the price you can pay. Ask them to call you if they change their minds. Then they have a little card redeemable for actual money to think about.

I know someone who got a reasonable deal there on a 60s Gibson EB bass. I think she paid a grand or $1200 for it, but this was several years ago when the mkt was hotter. Her band was on tour, and she had just snapped the headstock of hers. Just went in and said she had $x, even though it said the guitar was two grand.

But sometimes if you want something, you just have to pay for it. We paid top dollar ($1500) for a 70s Guild F-50 in 1993 because we could tell it was magic. We didn't even want a jumbo acoustic--we wanted a small-bodied guitar.

Anyway, that guitar has been on a bunch of records by us and other people, I've written about a million songs on it, and it's so much fucking fun to play that I haven't thought for a second about the money or selling it or whatever. I've never really regretted buying an instrument I REALLY knew I wanted, however broke I was at the time. I have definitely regretted passing up a few!

[honeyisfunny]

I have definitely regretted passing up a few!

Or selling a few to make rent in my case...

[EmpireStateTroopers]

I have a few guitars/amps that I'd sooner whore myself out for rent than sell them.

As far as people who give a shit about what they do with music, I try to take care of people and I think that our shop does that as well.

Do you guys have any older p-basses at the moment? Maybe I'll swing by after work today if you're open.

[ampeg77]

Do you guys have any older p-basses at the moment? Maybe I'll swing by after work today if you're open.

We're closed on Sundays but I think we might have one, maybe two P Basses, I'll check tomorrow.

[projectMalamute]

If someone is trying to lie and weasel around getting a lower price because they're trying to outwit me only pisses me off and then I don't move on price.

Why does this piss you off? If you have the room to move the sticker price is just you trying to lie and weasel and outwit the customer around getting a higher price. Perhaps if vintage dealers didn't play these games their customers wouldn't feel the need to do likewise.

Seems a strange thing for someone in your line of work to be taking offense to.