Impala
Has everybody else noticed that for some reason the prices for second hand guitars and amps have sky-rocketed and every one with some old junk somewhere is trying to cash in on the situation. For example, as I am speaking there is a Roland Cube 40XL second hand amp on Junk-mail selling for R2900.00. A1 Sound have brand new ones going at R2760.00 with warranty and all!!
I think it started with people going back to vintage gear due to lack of faith in new Chinese made instruments, and from there second hand generally became desirable, and greedy people started cashing in on it.
Wizard
Just go to Gear Junkie. Sanity prevails there ...
GuitarDoge
People can ask anything they want for secondhand gear. It doesn't mean they're gonna get it haha.
babbalute
These guy's must have heard that the Rand dropped 25% in the last year against the US$ and then base their demand pricing on UK or USA ebay prices ?
Pays to shop around and spend time on internet. Google or Bling reveals many good bargains if search correctly.
Chocklit_Thunda
Yep..... It's been bugging me. Especially now that you can't get a Bullet Strat for 800 bucks anymore..... When that's what they're worth around ? 2000 bucks? Not so much....
Rabbit
I have also seen a bunch of cases where people advertise second-hand equipment for more than one can get it for new. And this trend is not limited to musical gear. Surely a quick search of local suppliers or BidorBuy should be basic homework before posting an ad?
Also, about a week ago, bunch of people were posting to Gumtree complaining about the number of commercial ads being placed. So perhaps people are confusing new and used prices.
V8
I keep a eye on 2nd hand stuff, I'm always looking for a "bargain" - but I've noticed the last 12mths that I've been a bit more active on gumtree/et al that I have "groups" of peeps that I use as a classification... :?
1. Wannabe traders - peeps who are always looking to profit on gear. They use Ebay as a bible. One fellow popped in the Gear Junkie, bought a 80's Jaguar (7k) and promptly advertised on gumtree at roughly double the price. There are 4/5 around Cpt and they all get on my nerves, everything they advertise is amaze-ballzzz, rare, vintage, great tone etc... One or two also on facebook SA music groups and GFSA. I've had errr -chats- with a few guys trying to low-ball and baffle brains w/BS....awwww, gimme a break!
2. Gear Junkies - peeps who genuinely have a problem...just one more piece of gear ?. They'll sell on at below their cost (not tooo much though) &/or trade..unless there is another toy they have their eye on!
3. Noobies - Peeps that picked up the guit, didn't haggle with the music store (paid full retail) and want to try get as close to their cost as possible. There are the fellows you want to email with the title "C'mon be realistic!"
4. The hoarder...Me. Cheep-ass mofo, with more equipment (opinions and storage space) than talent. not to be confused with the builder who actually does something with their gear!
5. Barn finds. THE peeps to look for, usually found something in storage and just want to get rid of it. May/may not know what they got and if you get there first..mazeltov!
6. Pawn shops/other. ATM, this seems the best source of gear at musician friendly prices. Like a box of chocolates, you'll never know what you'll find, occasionally a bargain - more often than not - somewhat overpriced or in tragic condition.
7. The builder. A fellow that has a stash of gear/bits for use in projects. And usually has 20 projects going at anyone time and the best of intentions of finishing them all. They are a great trading source - when they need a bit and you have it...
8. The collector. Usually has a load of cash, a ebay app on their phone and loves to share pics of their ladies...not that the ladies ever leave their case(s). If they sell, it'll usually be a trade or a bucket of $.
9. Chock-lit Thunder. Has his own group, because he is that guy and Alan isn't around anymore :'(
10. The holy grail....the emigration special! It's all gotta go and the more you take, the better the deal. My personal favourite 8)
studmissile
even pawn shop prices have sky rocketed!
LooneyAtTheGate
Hehe spot on list, V8!
There's another one though which I've seen a lot of:
The AxeFX/Kemper GASser who's selling all his gear at a steal so he can replace it with these handy units. There's been a lot of valve amps going for 1/4 price lately cos of this. :dance:
Chocklit_Thunda
V8 wrote:
I keep a eye on 2nd hand stuff, I'm always looking for a "bargain" - but I've noticed the last 12mths that I've been a bit more active on gumtree/et al that I have "groups" of peeps that I use as a classification... :?
1. Wannabe traders - peeps who are always looking to profit on gear. They use Ebay as a bible. One fellow popped in the Gear Junkie, bought a 80's Jaguar (7k) and promptly advertised on gumtree at roughly double the price. There are 4/5 around Cpt and they all get on my nerves, everything they advertise is amaze-ballzzz, rare, vintage, great tone etc... One or two also on facebook SA music groups and GFSA. I've had errr -chats- with a few guys trying to low-ball and baffle brains w/BS....awwww, gimme a break!
2. Gear Junkies - peeps who genuinely have a problem...just one more piece of gear ?. They'll sell on at below their cost (not tooo much though) &/or trade..unless there is another toy they have their eye on!
3. Noobies - Peeps that picked up the guit, didn't haggle with the music store (paid full retail) and want to try get as close to their cost as possible. There are the fellows you want to email with the title "C'mon be realistic!"
4. The hoarder...Me. Cheep-ass mofo, with more equipment (opinions and storage space) than talent. not to be confused with the builder who actually does something with their gear!
5. Barn finds. THE peeps to look for, usually found something in storage and just want to get rid of it. May/may not know what they got and if you get there first..mazeltov!
6. Pawn shops/other. ATM, this seems the best source of gear at musician friendly prices. Like a box of chocolates, you'll never know what you'll find, occasionally a bargain - more often than not - somewhat overpriced or in tragic condition.
7. The builder. A fellow that has a stash of gear/bits for use in projects. And usually has 20 projects going at anyone time and the best of intentions of finishing them all. They are a great trading source - when they need a bit and you have it...
8. The collector. Usually has a load of cash, a ebay app on their phone and loves to share pics of their ladies...not that the ladies ever leave their case(s). If they sell, it'll usually be a trade or a bucket of $.
9. Chock-lit Thunder. Has his own group, because he is that guy and Alan isn't around anymore :'(
10. The holy grail....the emigration special! It's all gotta go and the more you take, the better the deal. My personal favourite 8)
Woah woah woah.... Explain number 9 :roflmao: unless "That Guy" means I'm awesome, then yes, I agree ?
On the whole I'm pretty much number 4 and number 7 combined..... Way too much gear and project bits and pieces lying around..... 8)
But I do agree, those guys who are clearly flipping gear for a profit P*ss me off more than anything.... They're rife in the facebook groups... And on gumtree.....
Keira-WitherKay
well as for higher 2nd hand prices ..... as said above peeps can ask what they want but don't mean they gonna get it....
also i see a LOT of ad's repeated and repeated so not many buyers .....
and bargains are out there ...in jhb gumtree a week or so ago i saw someone selling a USA fender tele for R7500 ...i seen MIM's on sale for R9000
so long as you have cash and can make offers .... do so ...the deals are there ..... so don't despair ...haggle !!!
V8
Julian Emdon wrote:
There's another one though which I've seen a lot of:
The AxeFX/Kemper GASser who's selling all his gear at a steal so he can replace it with these handy units. There's been a lot of valve amps going for 1/4 price lately cos of this. :dance:
+1 - that slipped past me! Heh, I flogged my 2xamps for a NI Rig Kontrol many moons ago, that fellow GFSA'er got such a steal...
Chocklit_Thunda wrote:
Woah woah woah.... Explain number 9 :roflmao: unless "That Guy" means I'm awesome, then yes, I agree ?
On the whole I'm pretty much number 4 and number 7 combined..... Way too much gear and project bits and pieces lying around..... 8)
But I do agree, those guys who are clearly flipping gear for a profit P*ss me off more than anything.... They're rife in the facebook groups... And on gumtree.....
Mentioned in the same sentence as Alan and you ask why...? Tsk-tsk ? Of course you're awesome - hence your own grouping! Would be
even more awesome if that scarlett of yours got some airtime on challenge (poke) ?
I saw BigG got into a minor spat with the wannabe-trader on FB a while ago, I had to chime in - that was the same guy who pulled a 100% markup on the Jag. I'd name & shame, but it wouldn't change a thing! Though...if I do see it on FB, I'm gonna have a growl - this fellows wife will probably come to his defense...again! ???
But it's a free market as Keira rightly points out = Wizard's Wise Words..."Caveat Emptor"
Chocklit_Thunda
Oh I always have to refrain from getting involved... Especially in the group I'm admin in.... :?
As for the recordings.... ☹ They're rather terrible at the moment.... Still need to get a proper mic. Doesn't help that all my effects are on my amp..... One day.... ?
Big-G
I did indeed get into a spat with 'That guy' on FB, although that was kind of unusual for me, as I tend to just keep my business to myself, and don't get involved, but that day, I'd had enough!
The way I see it, there are few camps with regards to pricing....
Firstly, there are those that bought at a bargain price, usually before new prices got insane, then sell onto others at this same price or better.
Then there are those that see that with the rand collapse, the cost of music gear has near doubled (new) in the past 5 years, so adjust their price to fall in line with a reasonable level in respect of the current new price.
Then there are those that are just off on one, and go stick a price that is totally unrealistic on stuff.... One recent example was an acoustic guitar that a guy bought new for R4k, then a month or two down the line decides he HAS to sell it, and will advertise it, at a price of around R3600, then claim its an 'absolute steal' at this price....
And finally there are those that see someone selling rediculously cheap, snap it up, then sell on at a 200% to 400% (or even higher) increase, with no intention of playing the instrument, and are just in it to make a quick buck! And these are the sort of people that usually 'fall in the dirt', and come up holding a nugget of gold!
G!
serven
Personally I also think quite a lot of the overpriced-second-hand-selling is people that genuinely think that lesser-expensive kind of equipment hold their value. Normal solid body electric guitars for example, we all know "those two" guitar brands who really keep their value but the rest (for the most part anyway) decrease with use. A lot of honestly inexperienced people buy a guitar for R 3000 and expect to get R 2800 for it 3 years later after some use.
That doesn't mean that you can't find amazing deals
In 1998 I bought a MIM Strat for R 1500. I have also acquired a BOSS GT-100 pedal for R 2700 in perfect condition.
However the most insane best deal ever was a Marshall JVM 410C combo amp, in as-new condition (manuals, box all included) for R 11 000. It can happen ?
Attila
My take on this is that the ZAR has lost 25 - 30% of its value.... so on a 1-to-1 comparison for say a middle road instrument you would be hard pressed to shelve out another R3k on what used to be a 10k price tag ..... Never mind Gibson who have unilateraly upped their prices by 30%
The demand for second hand instruments has rocketed and pricing have followed this trend ....just have a look at the used instrument stores springing up all over the place, e.g. Music Worx, The Gear Junkie etc ..... lead by the various online sites such as FB ......
Trades have taken over in a big way because price (paid and asked) falls by the wayside......
The power ultimately remains with the buyer, to pay the coin or to wait it out until "the right one" comes along
Peace.....
chris77
A product is worth exactly as much as somebody is willing to pay for it. The seller asking a ridiculous price might have bought it at a ridiculous price as well, in which case the price probably would then seem fair to him/her. After all, if somebody was willing to pay that much once, why not again?
What I'm in two minds about is whether I should just let these ads go past and not say anything about the ridiculous price or to warn potential buyers that the same can be had for much less. On the one hand I reckon if you get overcharged you deserve it and it isn't really my place - or anybody else's for that matter - to spoil a sellers ad. If he gets what he asked then I was wrong and if he doesn't it is up to him to drop his price. Unless it's a friend or somebody asked me for my opinion, this is what I'll do.
But on the other hand I can't help but feel that if I can save somebody a few hard earned Rands by pointing out a ridiculous price to potential buyers, I should do it. I would have really loved it had somebody done so to me when I started out.
But really, in the internet age there is no excuse for being taken in by a seller charging too much.
aubs1
chris77 wrote:
A product is worth exactly as much as somebody is willing to pay for it. The seller asking a ridiculous price might have bought it at a ridiculous price as well, in which case the price probably would then seem fair to him/her. After all, if somebody was willing to pay that much once, why not again?
What I'm in two minds about is whether I should just let these ads go past and not say anything about the ridiculous price or to warn potential buyers that the same can be had for much less. On the one hand I reckon if you get overcharged you deserve it and it isn't really my place - or anybody else's for that matter - to spoil a sellers ad. If he gets what he asked then I was wrong and if he doesn't it is up to him to drop his price. Unless it's a friend or somebody asked me for my opinion, this is what I'll do.
But on the other hand I can't help but feel that if I can save somebody a few hard earned Rands by pointing out a ridiculous price to potential buyers, I should do it. I would have really loved it had somebody done so to me when I started out.
But really, in the internet age there is no excuse for being taken in by a seller charging too much.
+1
Nitebob
chris77 wrote:
A product is worth exactly as much as somebody is willing to pay for it. The seller asking a ridiculous price might have bought it at a ridiculous price as well, in which case the price probably would then seem fair to him/her. After all, if somebody was willing to pay that much once, why not again?
What I'm in two minds about is whether I should just let these ads go past and not say anything about the ridiculous price or to warn potential buyers that the same can be had for much less. On the one hand I reckon if you get overcharged you deserve it and it isn't really my place - or anybody else's for that matter - to spoil a sellers ad. If he gets what he asked then I was wrong and if he doesn't it is up to him to drop his price. Unless it's a friend or somebody asked me for my opinion, this is what I'll do.
But on the other hand I can't help but feel that if I can save somebody a few hard earned Rands by pointing out a ridiculous price to potential buyers, I should do it. I would have really loved it had somebody done so to me when I started out.
But really, in the internet age there is no excuse for being taken in by a seller charging too much.
I think Chris nailed it here. Problem is there is no set price for new gear. New sellers try and get as much as possible for their products and if you want a better price you need to haggle or shop around...I am a co-owner in a tyre shop and my staff gives their BEST price, I even work it out for them. If I catch them selling it for lower there is hell to pay. If that customer finds out you stiffed him, you won't see him again, and there is too much competition out there.
Don't get me wrong there still is hagglers and I do sometimes lower the price, but then I'm moving into the 10% margin range...hoping to create secondary sales...suspension or alignment...
