Buying New: Advice Needed

[BCSC]

I haven't bought a new guitar in years. In fact, it's been so long that I remember being able to get discounts on "suggested retail" of up to 40%. I know those days are long gone, but is there much dealing going on at the retail level or even the on-line stores like Musician's Friend? Are there any new "informal" guidelines in terms of discounts to shoot for off of listed price, etc., or are we living in a post-haggling world?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mikecraig1]

Those days are long gone. MOST of the time, you'll pay full retail or very close to it.

[L20A]

Today, there are more people wanting new guitars than there are new guitars being built.
No deals offered now.

Even used prices are way up due to this situation.
It will most likely stabilize sometime in the near future though.

[Osage]

Musicians Friend will still take a bit off if you ask. It's not at all like it was a few years ago though.

[b1j]

Fall 2021: I was pleasantly surprised when my shop threw in a 10% discount on my new J -45 just before I gave my credit card number. I didn’t expect it or see it coming, based on the prevailing sentiment you see it this thread.

I also think guitar Center was about to shave off 10% or maybe more, but that J-45 was kind of beat up, so I didn’t press for it.

Still, if you’re going to buy a guitar you like these days, I think you need to be ready to pay sticker price. However, if you’re an active buyer and you’ve formed a relationship with the salesperson, they might help you out price-wise if they think it’s a good bet you’ll be back. For my part, I probably just bought my last guitar (D-28 D-28 D-28…). Arrghhh.

[buddyhu]

The generalization that discounts are no longer common seems to be true.

But pricing of a particular guitar will depend upon the specific guitar you are looking at, the specific dealer you are interacting with, and the specific timing of your inquiry/offer. I have no doubt that there are discounts to be had, though they are more modest and more rare than they used to be.

[Lillis]

I've bought two guitars at Sweetwater recently and they gave me 12-13% off advertised price. They are both popular models too.

[RP]

Originally Posted by BCSC

Are there any new "informal" guidelines in terms of discounts to shoot for off of listed price, etc., or are we living in a post-haggling world?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Lillis

I've bought two guitars at Sweetwater recently and they gave me 12-13% off advertised price. They are both popular models too.

Over the years I've purchased items from a certain store that includes small bags of candy with your purchase. Hint, hint. I would get a small token discount, but nothing great. I recently purchased a Fender Robert Cray Strat and found my Sales Engineer, Cody, to offer the best deal yet. I don't know if I crossed a threshold at some point or what, but color me a very contented camper. I should add that last month I purchased a Fender Blues Jr. IV...

[zombywoof]

When it comes to price tags I always seem to do best with the larger local brick and mortar stores. While it was a year or so before the pandemic hit, the last two new guitars we purchased were for my wife. She got 15% off the street price of her Martin D12-28 and a 20% discount on an Epiphone Broadway which was oddly for her an impulse buy. I figure these places are less likely than the big box stores to be willing to sit on an instrument waiting to get top dollar so are more in a mood to do some wheeling and dealing to get it out the door.

[BCSC]

Thanks so much for the insights, everyone. I had suspected that, indeed, the old days are gone, but needed some confirmation. With this knowledge in hand I’m going to check out some local retailers and on-line stores and see how I do. Even if I can save a small amount on retail I will be happy. I think the Gibson L-00 Original is a good value.

[mawmow]

As far as I feel it, the pandemic made business hard and though I could see
some nice advertised deals, I could not get much bargain.

Last years, the rarity of guitars on the market made used guitars to be sold
the price of new ones...

[Mandobart]

Unfortunately for guitar buyers, prices shot up in the past 2 years. Even before the highest inflation we've seen in decades, guitar prices were climbing steeply as a result of labor shortage, increased demand, supply chain problems, and increased production costs.

Somehow I got lucky and timed it right. I bought 2 used and one new guitar from 2020 - 2021. I see all three models now being listed up to twice what I paid.

But these prices are not likely to drop, so if you find what you want I recommend buying.

[sinistral]

Not sure what other stores are having Memorial Day sales, but Sam Ash has a 15% discount on most items. I just picked up an HD-28 and a used, right-handed Larrivée D03R (for $600!)—the discount even applied to the used guitar. If you’re in the 34th Street shop in NYC (or you call them), ask for Andy—he’s great to deal with.