Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Well... First, why are you looking at new ones when you can pick up great condition second hand ones for R10K - R12K?
Secondly, it's common for shops to look at replacement prices - it's no good them selling you one at the lower price if the cost to replace it is much higher - especially with big price jumps where the cost price of the replacement can conceivably be more than the selling price of the old one. It's not nice, but it's part of business.
Alan,
Thanks for you response.
Firstly, the reason for me looking at new guitars is, if I can get a new guitar for a grand or two more than a used one, why not?
Secondly, I understand how some of these stores run their business, however, it's not about replacment costs. They're in the sales business. If a store bought a guitar from the distributor for R10000 and marked it up to R18000, but with a price adjustment from the importer/distributor pertaining to newer stock, I would think that raising the price of the old stock to reflect the new adjustment is not prudent. Furthermore, these guitars don't exactly fly off the shelves. I've seen the same guitars at the same store hanging there for more than 18 months. The only thing that has changed is their pricing. Let's face it, if they weren't flying off the shelves at the old prices, they're certainly not gonna fly off now. I agree that new stock should reflect the newer pricing. I'm also involved in other hobbies/professional activities and know first hand how business' tend to conveniently adjust pricing of their old stock and blame the R/$ exchange rates. When the rand does strenghthen against the dollar, we don't see the prices coming down on that same old stock, do we? But, we can agree to disagree ?
Thanks.
cheers
