Used gear prices and delusional people...

[Heritage Softail]

The pedal that is stickered at 299 at every major dealer, that always will give you 10% off at least...

It is up used for 259.

Such a tough choice!

 

[jlbaxe]

I expect people to barter or offer. But the Irish/Scottish/indian in me always tries to get the most

 

[bubbastain]

I have seen this in the Seattle CL for about 6 months. Same price. I just can't believe it hasn't sold yet.... Maybe someone will buy it sometime but I kinda doubt it at that price.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/msg/3550430495.html


.

 

[Anonymous]

The way I see it, anyone is entitled to price their used gear for whatever they think they can get. I may think the price is stupid, but who cares what I think? Someone will either buy it or they won't. Once again, who cares?

I'll say that there have been times where I've seen something I just "had to have" and paid more than market value for it because a guy wasn't willing to come down on his price. Way over the magic "60% of new" number. Hell, I traded a gorgeous tea burst R8 (worth ~ $2500 at the time) for a 1985 Kahlered Charvel Pointy back years ago. (Ok, I know that was stupid ) I ended up selling the Pointy years later for like, $1300 or so. Not only that, I had it repainted for like $500 or something. Yeah, I'm quite a gear dealer!

To me there is no "rule of thumb" that makes sense for pricing used gear. I mean, sure, if you want to sell it fast, look at some comps in the market and price lower. Otherwise, why not take a shot? You might find an idiot like me who just "has to have it" and is willing to pay.

Steve

 

[Woodsie]

Fine! I'll go lower my price!!!! No need to be mean

 

[ttosh]

Although I agree with the overall premise of the OP, I disagree with some other comments in this thread.

For example.....

1.) Just because something hasn't sold after 25 bumps doesn't mean it's overpriced. It might just be an expensive item and nobody of the board can currently afford it, or currently has interest. For example, when I parted out my rack rig in 2011, I probably bumped my thread 40 times. However, I never needed to lower my prices to ultimately sell the gear. It was selling slowly because it was all high end (e.g., Bogner Fish, Soldano X88R, Egnater M4, etc.) and, therefore, expensive. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of people aren't comfortable or quick to shell out $2k on gear. Anyways, it all sold. "Bump count" was irrelevant to the prices being asked.

2.) When it comes to high end gear, the concept of 'market value' tends to go out the window somewhat. Sure, everybody has a general feel for what some of this stuff typically sells for, but if someone has, say, a MINT used 20th XTC and wants to ask 25% off the new price, what's the big deal? Someone out there might be ecstatic to get a next-to-new amp at 25% off the cost new. The bottomfeeders will wait for one to pop up at 50% off. The bottom line is, when you're dealing in expensive, high end/boutique gear, the 'market value' comes down to what a purchaser is willing to pay, and every purchaser has a different threshold of 'reasonability' when it comes to used prices.

This ^^^^^^

 

[Steinmetzify]

Although I agree with the overall premise of the OP, I disagree with some other comments in this thread.

For example.....


2.) When it comes to high end gear, the concept of 'market value' tends to go out the window somewhat. Sure, everybody has a general feel for what some of this stuff typically sells for, but if someone has, say, a MINT used 20th XTC and wants to ask 25% off the new price, what's the big deal? Someone out there might be ecstatic to get a next-to-new amp at 25% off the cost new. The bottomfeeders will wait for one to pop up at 50% off. The bottom line is, when you're dealing in expensive, high end/boutique gear, the 'market value' comes down to what a purchaser is willing to pay, and every purchaser has a different threshold of 'reasonability' when it comes to used prices.

I get this part of it.....and there are a LOT of things on RT that you can't get cheaper anywhere else if you're looking used...Bogner, Diezel, etc...

The guys that get me are the ones that want $700 for a used LTD guitar PLUS shipping....cmon...I could see that maybe if I lived in the sticks, but I live in a major metropolitan area, and so do many of the RT nation....WTF would I buy a used guitar for almost the whole MAP and then pay shipping costs as well when I can pick one up here in the same shape for less $$ and gas money to drive to the store?

Not ragging; people are entitled to sell for whatever they want to, it just doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[eljodon]

I saw a Axe FX II on ebay and they were asking $2,600 when you can buy it for $2,199 on the website. I also saw a 1965 Marshall Kitchen Sink( I think that's the year or 66') for $29,000! He had it on ebay for a long time! Who's going to pay that much for an amp? I'm sure is a nice rare amp, put that's a bit much

 

[Badronald]

There are items on my local CL that I've seen up for longer than a YEAR. With no price drop.

These people have to keep reposting the items too. Crazy.

 

[racerevlon]

Although I agree with the overall premise of the OP, I disagree with some other comments in this thread.

For example.....

1.) Just because something hasn't sold after 25 bumps doesn't mean it's overpriced. It might just be an expensive item and nobody of the board can currently afford it, or currently has interest. For example, when I parted out my rack rig in 2011, I probably bumped my thread 40 times. However, I never needed to lower my prices to ultimately sell the gear. It was selling slowly because it was all high end (e.g., Bogner Fish, Soldano X88R, Egnater M4, etc.) and, therefore, expensive. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of people aren't comfortable or quick to shell out $2k on gear. Anyways, it all sold. "Bump count" was irrelevant to the prices being asked.

2.) When it comes to high end gear, the concept of 'market value' tends to go out the window somewhat. Sure, everybody has a general feel for what some of this stuff typically sells for, but if someone has, say, a MINT used 20th XTC and wants to ask 25% off the new price, what's the big deal? Someone out there might be ecstatic to get a next-to-new amp at 25% off the cost new. The bottomfeeders will wait for one to pop up at 50% off. The bottom line is, when you're dealing in expensive, high end/boutique gear, the 'market value' comes down to what a purchaser is willing to pay, and every purchaser has a different threshold of 'reasonability' when it comes to used prices.

This ^^^^^^

A second to ^^^^^This with an additional comment, which some have already noted. While sellers are indeed entitled to ask for whatever price they want, a couple of things factor in:

As mentioned, if you're discounting 3-8% off street price and adding shipping, there's no incentive for anyone to buy your gear instead of getting a new piece shipped free.

Some people don't grasp the idea of depreciation and don't want to lose ANY (or at least very little) money on their purchase. Try that with a car... See how you do. (Conceded: it depends on the car.)

Some people are simply delusional. Example: there's been an ad on the local CL for the last 15 months for an empty Crate 2x12 cabinet. Price started at $75. I watched it go down to $25, contacted the seller, and said I would take it at the posted price ($25) and come pick it up the following day. Guy said forget it--if I couldn't come today I was wasting his time. Indeed!! The listing then went back up to $75 and it's been that price for MONTHS. My singer contacted him and said, "I'll come over right now and give you $60 cash for it" (knowing it had previously been listed for $25). He got back a 2-Page email about what an idiot he was and how he couldn't read and how he should stop wasting people's time by being a "low-baller." Unreal. I've seen 5 or 6 other items from this same seller that have been up for over a year with no movement and no reduction in price. Some people are just simply crazy. Best to just realize and move along.

BTW--that cab is still on CL for $75.

 

[D-Rock]

Yeah^^^seems like some sellers are just looking for confrontation or some sort of interaction with strangers with no intention of selling the item. Crazy fucks out there. Like they are fishing for a fight or argument or something.

 

[JerEvil]

Speaking from experience, I feel as a seller I price my stuff pretty fairly and always include shipping. I don't mind taking a loss but that doesn't mean I want to take a beating either.

Say I'm selling a guitar that costs $1200 new shipped from overseas that used fetches $800+ on eBay, my asking $725 is reasonable IMHO. Go ahead and snicker but as a seller it is up to that individual as to how long they'll sit on something that is priced competitively. I'll bump that fucker until kingdom come but I'm NOT going to offload it for $400. That's just dumb.

Some folks price too high, that's for damn sure. Many times this comes from trying to cover a new purchase in it's entirety.

 

[xzyryabx]

I like to jack up the price whenever I need to sell something but secretly want it and hope nobody goes for the price!!
Kinda like appeasing myself and justifying having to keep the gear b/c " I tried to sell it, nobody bought it, nothing else I can do...guess I'll have to play this lovely guitar for a another few years!
;-).

 

[guitarmike]

I saw a Axe FX II on ebay and they were asking $2,600 when you can buy it for $2,199 on the website. I also saw a 1965 Marshall Kitchen Sink( I think that's the year or 66') for $29,000! He had it on ebay for a long time! Who's going to pay that much for an amp? I'm sure is a nice rare amp, put that's a bit much

I have watched that amp bounce from $19,000 to 25,000.

You can always drop your price, its hard to raise once you get an interested buyer.

I do not mind high prices, I do wonder about the guys that over price stuff and say "no low-ballers." If they have really priced it like a dope I low ball them anyway

 

[bigdaddyd]

People bitch when something is too high, yet don't buy when shit is priced super low either. Most don't even make offers on stuff when it is priced low and you say make offer. You can't win either way. So how about this...if you don't like the price, don't buy it, or make an offer and perhaps get lucky. You can't please everyone, or as it seems, anyone.

 

[cacheek]

Great. Now I'm always going to be paranoid about setting my prices. I do think that Ebay can be a decent indicator for average going rates when you check the completed listed option.

 

[Mailman1971]

I do think that Ebay can be a decent indicator for average going rates when you check the completed listed option.

+1 on this!

Pretty much how I judge when I sell. Take the Highest to lowest prices sold....find a good solid price in the middle and start there. Never failed yet. But I am always open for trades so my gear used to roll out pretty quickly.

 

[richardt4520]

I can't speak for the other Cameron owners, but....coming from a guy who's had a Cameron up for God knows how long now... I see it this way: selling it for what I am, I'm gonna lose probably $150 in shipping and fees. So I'll get $1900 for a 3 channel, hand made amp that I have about $2400 invested in. That's ok. Don't mind the $500 loss. What happens when I drop it lower- to say $1800? Then I'm getting about $1650, losing about $750 and I still bet no one's going to come running for it. Can't go back up! So then I'd be forced to drop it even lower and end up eating a helluva lot of money. Drop it down to $1600 and get $1450 back on my investment? Still not selling? $1400 and get back $1250? And for what? That Ocean is one of the best sounding amps I've ever owned. If I decide to get a backup for my Aldrich at some point, I'm not going to find an amp that badass for that price. So I don't mind holding my ground for a while. Gotta draw a line somewhere. I'm recording and doing gigs with it so I'm enjoying it while I have it. Nothing wrong with that. Better than giving away an amp I love, can't get anywhere else, and would regret giving away. Cameron might've ruined his name and might not be in demand anymore but he does make a badass amp!

 

[crankyrayhanky]

You know what cracks me up?
The old 15 bump with no price drop accompanied by begging "c'mon guys I really need to move this"

 

[guitarmike]

I can't speak for the other Cameron owners, but....coming from a guy who's had a Cameron up for God knows how long now... I see it this way: selling it for what I am, I'm gonna lose probably $150 in shipping and fees. So I'll get $1900 for a 3 channel, hand made amp that I have about $2400 invested in. That's ok. Don't mind the $500 loss. What happens when I drop it lower- to say $1800? Then I'm getting about $1650, losing about $750 and I still bet no one's going to come running for it. Can't go back up! So then I'd be forced to drop it even lower and end up eating a helluva lot of money. Drop it down to $1600 and get $1450 back on my investment? Still not selling? $1400 and get back $1250? And for what? That Ocean is one of the best sounding amps I've ever owned. If I decide to get a backup for my Aldrich at some point, I'm not going to find an amp that badass for that price. So I don't mind holding my ground for a while. Gotta draw a line somewhere. I'm recording and doing gigs with it so I'm enjoying it while I have it. Nothing wrong with that. Better than giving away an amp I love, can't get anywhere else, and would regret giving away. Cameron might've ruined his name and might not be in demand anymore but he does make a badass amp!

When I tried to sell my CCV to pay for my BE it was the same thing. When the stigma dies down people will start to remember just how good these amps are and the prices will go back up. Now that I paid off both amps, neither will be for sale.