How Shops Price Your Trade In Guitar

Baxter and Jonathan talk about how shops value your trade in guitar.

[@jtbandy1]

Thank you to the guy at the old guitar shop in Murfreesboro TN in 2005 for not buying all my guitars. I needed rent money and was in a tough spot. He turned me away and said I’d regret it for the rest of my life. He was right. I figured out the rent, and I still have them. One of them is even worth a little money these days!

[@thedude7726]

Ive had a simular thing happen to me

[@OrigenisAdamantios]

Our continuing health crisis has left us instrumentless 😢

[@charlesbolton8471]

Which shop? Music World?

[@jtbandy1]

@@charlesbolton8471 can’t remember the name. It was the one right up from the intersection on broad street. Don’t think it’s there anymore.

[@jtbandy1]

Or maybe it was Clark ave ? hahaha. Been a minute

[@tonefish3825]

It is crazy how many people do not understand basic economics. The retail store is not a collector or even a player. They don't WANT your guitar. They NEED to make money or die.

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

Exactly. There's no emotion to business, numbers are numbers.

[@TribalGuitars]

Amen!

[@sqlb3rn]

yea well there's a middle ground. they don't need to gouge folks for 80% profit either. music stores and car dealerships making more money of selling used stuff than new.

[@TribalGuitars]

@@sqlb3rn While it may seem greedy to those on the outside, you don't know their overhead. Where I worked we would only pay 30% to 50% depending on what it was for various reasons that were considered.. That was the market there. Nobody forces them to sell it. It's a offer. If they don' like it they can refuse.

[@sqlb3rn]

@@TribalGuitars yea, it's a shit offer. which is why people refuse, and get upset and rant online. making a profit is one thing, but I'm not trying to pay your utility bill for the month. there ain't much over head in hanging a guitar on an empty hanger on the wall. less over head than selling new gear which you don't mark up 80% profit.

[@Dram1984]

I once sold a snark tuner to GC to get 15% off a new Les Paul. They bought it for like $6 and then gave me $375 off the Les Paul. Best trade in ever.

[@klinks67]

No wonder they are going bankrupt

[@TheTactical6string]

did the same, brought in a recorder worth 10 bucks, they gave me $15 for and i got 15% off a BOSS ME-80. literally only thing other then strings i ever bought at a GC

[@kennethh2430]

GC employees can get guitars for cost +10%, which is about 1/2 the sticker price. If you have a friend working there, they won't be able to score you that deal, but every month they get a 20% off for Friends and Family. Musician's Friend Gear Advisor's have a bit of wiggle room when you call and work with them directly as well.

[@hybridblack]

A trade in is a trade in. I'm sure they were hoping for some better gear in trade but they sold a high end Les Paul, so a sale is a sale.

[@devinftf]

This might be the best guitar-related KZbin comment I’ve ever read

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

If you don’t like the offer, remember this.. you’re the one who brought the guitar in saying, “I don’t have the time or knowledge to sell this on my own, can you please make my life easier.”

[@don22b]

I work there, we make a living on people’s laziness

[@CarlandGrace]

I hope you think that when you trade in your car cause that’s not an accurate assessment of why I trade or sell equipment back to a guitar center or for my car.

[@david_cummings]

I don't use Guitar Center unless I absolutely have to. Where I live, there's a family owned store who's bread and butter is band rentals and worship sound installs. Their guitar rooms are well stocked with a variety of things to drool over. Fender, PRS, Gretsch, Vox and Mesa. They're a block away from my work and I have a full hour for lunch. I'm often there. They let me roam around and play things off their walls. If it has an "Ask for Assistance before Playing" card on it, I don't mess with it, but mostly they let me play everything else. They're good people and take the time to know you by name. The number one rule I follow is on every visit, I put some money in their till. Even it's picks or a pack of strings. I figure if I show a little love, they'll return it. And they have

[@dondeese7167]

Thanks for the honest info guys. Guitars are made for buying not selling, at least that’s what I tell my wife 😊

[@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward]

That's what I tell her as well

[@vdubbub9746]

I lived near a guitar center that was mostly staffed by people who knew nothing about anything. I would only trade my stuff to them because they gave me more than anyone else. They were awful at research and always came to the conclusion that my gear was amazing, lol.

[@caiusmadison2996]

I only purchase rare, collectible, or FSR models for everything, down to pedals. Well, I do have some standard models, however, those are workhorses. Those go out to play shows. I have gear that's never gonna suffer this, like early 90's Fender Custom Shop. The best is this Tuxedo Tele, wonder if Casino would help out with a price that a store would offer on one of those... cause you're not getting one under $10,000 otherwise.

[@MatthewBaron]

Guitar Center does have a real robot. It's the "Happy Birthday Paulie" robot from Rocky IV.

[@stop736]

😂😂😂. Cutting edge technology right there!

[@rikkousa]

Lmao

[@michaelpolston5240]

Hey, I only recently discovered your channel and I love it. As somebody that's been on both sides of this dilemma over the years, I feel it in my bones. Keep up the good work, fellas!

[@zambufly1]

I brought a first act hello kitty guitar to guitar center to sell. they gave me $20 to leave with the guitar and never come back. I made out pretty well....

[@davidkastin4240]

You shoulda then proceeded to the next guitar shop and tried for the same deal. LOFL!

[@vegashdrider]

Why would anyone trade in a guitar, that gives you one less guitar?

[@floopusdoopus]

Because you want to get another, better guitar

[@paul38501]

So when your wife counts your guitars she doesn't notice a thing.

[@vegashdrider]

@@paul38501 😂😂😂

[@IAM_Reedy]

@@paul38501 this is why all my guitars are the same color. 😂 wife: did you get another guitar? Me: um.. you mean the blue one? (Points in a general direction towards a blue guitar… one of many) I’ve also learned years ago you need a collection so vast she has no idea if another item was added. Learn the barter system to stay off the radar! Think about this guys… if you only have 1 guitar and you add another… busted. But if you have 50… what’s 51? 🤔 Obtain so much gear that you need a large room and a few closets to keep things in. Keep it disorganized looking. She will eventually give up asking and tell you to “just keep the area clean”… that statement she just made is Nirvana, you have reached paradise. Enjoy!

[@vegashdrider]

@@IAM_Reedy learn my system, keep the guitars, get rid of the wife

[@markinthemix6055]

You touched on a GREAT POINT. BOUTIQUE GEAR and resale value. On to another great video discussion.

[@sirlost94]

Guitar center offered me $50 for a 2015 Fender MIM strat. Lol. They were like “we have a ton”. Ended up selling it for $550

[@Utubesup7890]

Yep. Every place gave me $500 for custom shops strats turned around and sold them more than twice that. Started selling them myself.. This was years ago. The strats we’re cheaper 10 plus yrs ago. Sold an Ibanez destroyer it was smaller sparkle wiine red $85? Then sold it for $300. Japanese fender $280 I think they got $500. A fender champ amp $100 I think selling for $300. I’m not sure it was $100. Pedals even worse.

[@nectarandice]

Holy sh*t!

[@anthonymarshall2653]

GC offered me $250 to sell or $275 trade for a near mint Washburn Dimebolt. They got their price from past sales on EBay that were either totally trashed or husks going for $600 Put it on Reverb and sold it for $1200 4days later.

[@Utubesup7890]

@@anthonymarshall2653 reverb is getting difficult to deal with lately. Etsy bought it so it’s not a 5% fee it’s 7.7% now. Taxed twice if used. Shipping is usually on me. I’m not a store. I’ve yet to make a penny profit and the clientele has changed. I don’t trust people like I used to. Not that I ever really did 100%. And a certain utuber ripped me off and nobody protected me. I’d love to say who it is. He’s bald and doesn’t live in this country.

[@gunkanjima3408]

“Cows kill more people than sharks” *Slowly looks out the window to my cow in my backyard pasture*

[@CasinoGuitars]

I love you for that comment!

[@caiusmadison2996]

Cow: slowly looks back. (Also spits out grass tuft.) The cow is compromised...

[@monstrok]

I'm thinking that a Cownado is a lot more likely than a Sharknado and that could explain a few things

[@nathanielm8116]

It's true. Cows do kill more people every year than sharks.

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

My uncle was killed by a cow.. but to be fair he worked with them for nearly 50 years before one got him.

[@scottmulrooney3130]

I run our family music store. We buy tons of used gear and also sell on Reverb. You guys are spot on.

[@Funkybassuk]

Very helpful video. I had to scroll back through the older videos to find this one. 👍🏽

[@DavidHBurkart]

He left IN the awkward moment 😂 "YOU STOLE MY THUNDER!" 👌🤣 Trade-ins have worked out nicely for me at times. I think the shops like it too because it helps change out inventory. When I was first learning to play, my local shop at the time (Roll Over Beethoven Music Store, Hesperia, CA) would often allow me close to retail value on a trade and discount retail a bit on the item I would trade for. They truly valued regular customer relationships. Nothing but love for those guys

[@markstiffler6898]

I: think it's EF Hutton - "they make ninety the old fashioned way -- they earn it". Dude from The Paper Chase was the voice. Great show as always

[@smelltheglove2038]

Dang, that’s a sick garage jacket!

[@WalkenDead]

I also had an experience where I took a major hit on a trade in, because there was this toohpaste logo silver sparkle Charvel that I had to have. No regrets on that one either cause that guitar is freakin' awesome!

[@dam7ri]

When I worked at GC back in 2001, there was no readily available interner resource, and the offer was half of what the store hierarchy thought they could resell it for. It was up to the salesperson (me) to sell on the tax benefits (in NY), massage the price on the item that they were buying (if it was a trade-in), and then worry about if it was stolen. I am so happy that I left the music retail business.

[@hellodrjeckyl]

If you go to GC and trade in your gear to buy something new they will give you an additional 15% off the new item. Take advantage of this when trading in and it usually works out to your advantage. This works on crappy things too. Have a cheap pedal, trade it in to GC for 10 to 15 dollars plus 15% off. Buying a $1000 guitar thats an additional $150 they just gave you for the pedal.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I totally agree!

[@srh361]

The only GC I have to go off is the one up from me and they only give ten percent now but the thing is they'll give you ten percent off even if you don't have anything to trade in if you ask for it.

[@hellodrjeckyl]

@@srh361 Cool man. Must depend on the employees. The ones by me never budge on price when I ask. I think they dropped it from 15% to 10% recently. I know you still can get 15% during certain events. Usually like once every month or two they'll give you 15%

[@Epiphoneplayah]

15% is a special promotion for a trade in trade up. Any other time which is the vast majority of the time is 10%.

[@srh361]

@@Epiphoneplayah The GC where I live doesn't do 15% on trade in or trade up anymore, it's 10% and that's it. It may be that way where you live but not where I live.

[@jackhood4448]

You guys are great keep it up thanks for entertaining the mail man!

[@timchalmers1700]

I was in a real bind about 10 years ago. I took my totally gorgeous 5-string Alembic bass to my local shop where I had been a frequent customer for years. They did some research and we agreed on a price to sell it on consignment. It hung on their wall for a month or two. Someone offered 25% less than my asking price. The shop owner said he would eat their commission because he knew my situation.

[@csnide6702]

damn nice guy.... !

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

@@kenichi407 probably tasted sweet in this case 😋

[@borafett3005]

I'm still baffled adults do not understand these basic economic concepts. Have they not seen Pawn Stars?

[@IceNein763]

This is the truth. Hell, I run a thrift store, and that's basically what I do for anything worth researching the price. People need to understand that the reason you sell to a store rather than doing it yourself is for convenience. You want the money, but you don't want to have to ship it, or you don't want to have to make time to have people come to your house to look at it and then not buy it. And those custom guitars. Everybody walks in and wants a Fender, a Gibson, a Gretsch etc, because those are the guitars that are heavily marketed. People want something that they feel is safe. That awesome custom guitar has to be exactly what the person walking into the store wants, or they're not buying it.

[@rb240tuner]

I appreciate this video. Very honest!

[@joeacebo9633]

In my town guitar center and pawn shops WANT to pay you 40% of what they can sell it for. They will all go as high as 60% easily. The key is to know what it’s worth. I have enjoyed buying, selling and trading for over 30 years.

[@klee_of_c8082]

The Mockingbird SR-71! HILARIOUS! I so love you guys & this channel 👍

[@michaeleaster1815]

Awesome topic!

[@arn999]

With reverb and eBay, it's usually a pretty easy process to sell a guitar. I wouldn't go through a store unless I get an interesting trade-in deal for something I really want.

[@sqlb3rn]

most people sell at music stores because they need money immediately and can get slightly more than a pawn shop offer.

[@EpictheEpicest]

You can sell for 40-50% more online BUT you also have to deal with tax, shipping cost, waiting time, and the 10% that's taken in fees. Your $1k guitar now costs $1250 to an online buyer and is less attractive and harder to sell

[@auggiecaiciedo4217]

Reverb are corporate thieves.

[@R.L.Humpert]

I want to sell my Taylor 324ce almost brand new. I have never done this on reverb. Sweetwater even has their own buy sell page. My fear is not the price but the shipping. What if I ship to a phony person or what if it gets damaged in shipping from being dropped or weather etc. That’s my only fear in not selling it in person. I even have all the original boxing still too. Thoughts. Thanks

[@chris_2714]

I don't get people complaining about the trade in price they're offered at a guitar store. It's not like you're being forced to sell to them. If you think you can get more for it, sell it yourself. Seems fairly straightforward to me.

[@Utubesup7890]

Trades are very different than straight cash.

[@Black-Jack-2022]

My local music store will sell my guitars on consignment! This is a great help for me, because I change my mind about whitch guitars that I want to keep.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Always check what stuff is selling for on eBay and reverb. So you’re prepared with what you will probably be offered. On a guitar, take out any custom pickups you may have installed/upgraded it with and put the old ones back in. For example an old Epiphone Les Paul you upgraded with Bare Knuckles. You won’t get any more for your guitar because it has pickup upgrades. Sell the pickups later on ebay or use them later for another project. Take advantage of GC and the 15% trade in offers/promos they run. Maximize your options. Try not to trade stuff in general unless you bought the guitar so low you aren’t losing money (or that much money.) Keep all your gear and amass a collection so your friends and family think you’re a hoarder. It’s awesome.

[@Rogijimbex]

My experiences have been good - particularly in trading guitars. Living in Madison, Wisconsin I often travel to Dave's Guitar Shop in LaCrosse. I've traded numerous guitars there and have the following experience. I'd get the trade-in price, obtain the new gear, then look at their website to see what the new asking price is. I have to say it was pretty consistently at about 20% more than what I received. I think that's really fair given overhead etc. - all the things you mentioned. The only problem with it all is I wish I had those guitars back!

[@msumungo]

I have a story. I went to this Well Known music store to sell one of my late 80s made Japanese made Charvel Model 4s (I have two more from the era, bought all of them as new). The peculiar thing with this one was that I had earlier experimented with it by removing the original (and genuinely crappy) JT-6 bridge and replaced it with a surface mounted Shift 2001 (black with gold rollers) with a spacer plate which I machined myself out of 6061 aluminium, which I furthermore anodized in glossy black (I am a musical machinist :). I made this modification early 90s, maybe 1991 (yes, I am an 80s kid). The original factory made spacer plates coming with Shift 2001 for arch tops (read Gibson) indeed didn't really always fit with every superstrat design in the wild. If you want to make one then you really have to measure (and estimate) the spacer plate thickness based on 1) neck tilt angle and 2) fretboard radius. Because you want to have the maximum range of adjustability for every tailpiece. Ok, Shift 2001 didn't deliver at all what the factory promised. There was this expectation that I could dive with a strummed chord for at least two full steps (like with a slide guitar) and the chord wouldn't break down. Didn't happen at all even remotely at any setting of the bridge or sting gauge. I ended up removing the Shift 2001 assembly and re-installing the original JT-6. And now there were those two nasty screw holes decorating the top right behind of the JT-6. Small but ugly holes especially on a neon yellow flat top. I placed the guitar in a generic guitar case and packed with it the Shift 2001, it's accessories and the spacer plate I made for it, and forgot the whole thing. Might have been 1992. I found the guitar again a few months ago. 80s Japanese made American gear had seen a rise in appreciation and I thought that ok, why not. Maybe I could swap this one for a couple of decent inspirational modern foot pedals. I went to this aforementioned Well Known music store, opened the case on the counter and explained it's contents. And suddenly the staff and other people started swarming around it. I was completely ignored, until one of the staff said that yeah, there's an offer. I got $2200 for a late 80s neon yellow Japanese made Charvel Model 4 I myself bought back then as new, with screwholes in it, including a Shift 2001 trem bridge with full accessories including a spacer plate I made early 90s which fits with the holes. In a generic guitar case. I still have absolutely no idea which part of the set brought that money in. They never explained it.

[@klee_of_c8082]

Sometimes Life just throws you a bone. Congrats!

[@stratosexual1329]

Just sell it yourself! It’s easy now. Even with reverb taking way to much it’s still a better deal.

[@Utubesup7890]

Well now it is. It’s still risky shipping’s gotten very risky with amps and guitars.

[@omgdisfunny4852]

I work at a popular tech shop, basically if there's a item we don't need or there isn't a need for, we pay 1/3 of what we sell it for, that's because we're taking a gamble on the product it could be stolen, it might break or be broken , that costs to repair so we could still make 1/3 profit on it in that event, it let's us be able to discount it further if its unsellable, and it also account for the general price drops that happens for old products over time

[@AndresGonzalez-lg4ki]

This is great!

[@MicahRocksOfficial]

Jazz Hands! Love the pink Tele behind you

[@JohnvanCapel]

The things one has to remember about selling a guitar to a store: 1. You will get a better offer if you bring your guitar in clean, well-set-up, and with any major wear-parts (eg strings) being pretty much new. All of those are things the store would have to do to sell it to someone else. 2. Modifications will *not* help you sell the guitar for more. That new set of pickups, you're eating the cost because the store won't get anything more for selling your guitar with them on. In fact, any woodwork that you've had done - say, routing a Floyd Rose into a normally-hardtailed guitar - drastically lowers how much you'll get for it. 3. You will always get a better deal trading for gear than you will trading for money.

[@artbrock]

I have sold several things to you guys and also on consignment. It was a good experience every time and I was always happy with the price. Heck you sold 1 guitar for me for almost double what I thought it bring! It is worth the cost to let you guys do all the work & selling. I'll do it again if I thin the herd later.

[@CasinoGuitars]

Thanks a ton art and yes, sometimes we can do really well for you! We try to get you maximum dollar for your gear so again, thanks for sharing Art and we’ll see you soon!

[@bobbehers1625]

Thanks guys!

[@dxcman1]

I sold a pretty flame top MIM Strat to a shop locally one time. They were honest and upfront and gave me about what you stated. I still kick myself in the ass for it though. I should have kept it in the long run, but hey.. you live and you learn.

[@petelewis6920]

Cant stop seeing Baxter with those sonic blue strat horns (9.55) on his head.

[@AmericanVetMusic]

This was good information, thank you. I’m always selling my guitars

[@jeffgerndt2813]

Good video. Straight up truth.

[@dermpath101]

I find it boils down to patience. If you are patient enough to sell it on reverb, you will get top dollar. We lose patience and I am guilty of this in the past and trade it in for less to get that sweet guitar in the shop. So now I just buy what I want and then list the one I was going to trade afterwards. Having the capital to do this is king!

[@BasementGuitarSuperstar]

I think it depends on the store. The guitar center here used to pay 40% to 50%. Our local mom and pop place is closer to 60-70%. And sometimes if I’m trading a guitar for a different guitar. If what he can sell mine for used is the same as the one I’m trading for, he’ll just trade me straight across

[@DDPAV]

Actually traded some gear into GC and was surprised what they gave me for it. The gear was in great shape and they gave me 70% of the going asking price - when the salesperson looked it up online he just checked what people were asking for it, not what it was selling for. He said "we're not going to get that for it but it's in great shape so I'll go 70%" My one good, and only, experience with GC in the last 5 years....

[@BrianBrazilHarmonica]

Hey Baxter and Jonathan, If a guitar is less than a year old in very good condition and comes with a hard shell case for that model from the same company. Does the case bring any more value to the sale?

[@darnright]

Realizing this show is two years old, I have never been to a Guitar Canter. I did, however used to frequent a Music-Go-Round in Louisville KY. They always treated me fairly. If I remember correctly it was 50 or 60% value if the bought it, 60 or 70% if you traded it or 70 or 80% if you put it on consignment. Whichever % the "buy-it" price was, just go up 10% for each response. ( it's been almost 16 years since I moved, so I kinda' forget.) Simple economics, if the store can't make money, they probably won't last long....

[@duanewelsh5611]

Here in KS. When you trade in you only pay tax on the difference. Like getting more for your trade in!

[@Dram1984]

Same here in CO. It’s a nice little bonus.

[@77pearcearrow]

One of these days I need to head down to your shop!!!!!

[@gabrieltoneguitars9365]

Great video

[@levanblevins5401]

Well done video guys .love to trade with pawnshops ,they really don't like to trade , but when they have a guitar with damage they will pretty well trade easley especially if the guitar you bring has new strings easy to play no string buzz.and is clean. Things that are easy to fix

[@PeterMoore350]

i lurve your videos. But, something's been bothering me for a while so i have to ask - the pink strat with the white trimmings over JRs right shoulder - is the bridge pickup supposed to be slanted the wrong way ? Am i in need of glasses ? thx in advance and greetings from NZ

[@richardb3186]

100% agree on the Walking Dead commentary. Terminus was the high point of the TV series. Great videos guys!

[@slingman1981]

I bought an amazing tele from casino guitars. It is a super nice custom shop. Its been a year and i still absolutly love it. Sorry i wont sell it back! Lol

[@johnfritz15]

I gave up on the walking dead when the whisperers showed up. I’m surprised I lasted that long.

[@jcurdaneta]

Nice episode. You should do one explaining guitar’s shop basic economics

[@hangaroundrecords4761]

I love watching y’all! You remind me of my friends back in Nashville. If I ever am in the area I definitely wanna stop in the shop. I got an idea for a video. Technically good playing vs simple and soulful playing...or Yngwie Malmsteen vs Johnny Thunders! Haha

[@kennethh2430]

Love the content of your channel and the real world content. Do you know if GC or shops like yours will pay 'X' when the used guitar comes with a quality case or are you just better off selling the case alone. I'm sure this depends on if its a Gibson or other OHSC, Custom Shop, etc... Thanks!

[@rvaguitars]

I don’t know if they’ve changed this policy but when I used to be a GC manager we didn’t pay anything for cases and in fact if someone left them there they went into a pile that we would use to give people free to sweeten deals

[@fishpotpete]

I've had great luck with Music-Go-Round in St. Louis. I do a lot of Ebay/Reverb sales, but sometimes I'd rather have someone else deal with the selling and me not having to worry about shipping, returns, etc. If I do my homework I can generally come almost to the dollar what they'll offer me. If it's big ticket, I'll sell it myself. If it's small or I'm selling something for church and want to get the money back to them quickly - then off to Music Go Round I go!

[@seanc.5310]

Sound advice gentlemen, love the channel! - newly subbed

[@SG-wj2qj]

Honestly I always liked my guitar stores price strategy. If your trading in, You get 70% of what it’s worth new provided it’s in decent condition & works. major dings and you’ll get 60%. So essentially if I came in with a Gibson Les Paul that’s worth $2500 new, they’re giving me $1,750 no questions asked. That $1,750 comes out of the sticker price of a new guitar. So if I buy a Fender Stratocaster worth $2,500 I only pay tax on $750 instead of the full amount which saves me 13% on $1,750 that’s about $227 saved. If your guitar is Older and a recent MSRP can’t be found/isn’t accurate. They give you 80% of the average reverb price history, Which sometimes you can play to your advantage since you know how they work.

[@dangolguitartech]

Hey, Baxter… Here’s a fun fact for you: The Walking Dead was filmed in Atlanta. The original name for the city of Atlanta was Terminus. Now you know…🤠

[@YaYa-ke1zr]

Yeah, every shop I’ve sold a guitar to has charged me for any repairs to that guitar before the sale happens. It’s always good to have local choices for where to take your guitars. GC is at the bottom of my list unless they have something I want to trade for. I check sold for prices on eBy/rverb before prepping the guitars so that I can have a ballpark amount in mind. Doing that saved me over 1k once. One vintage guitar store owner told me that it was risky that my limited guitar would sell so he only felt comfortable offering lowball since ‘too risky’. I told him I’d take it across state lines to a slightly bigger store, he said fine before offering me a couple hundred more as I was walking out, lol. I took it to the bigger store, they took one look at it and guaranteed that it would sell online in 48 hours at the price that I was looking for. They gave me the check and that guitar was with its new owner by end of that week. When I first started playing guitars, I bought Highway 1 Strats. Then found that they weren’t my style. Had a jet black one that I was willing to part with. The store gave me all of the reasons why it wasn’t worth much and how there probably wouldn’t be much interest in it. Inexperienced me took their low offer. I hadn’t done any research. Came back two days later to check out some pedals, asked about the strat since I didn’t see it on the wall and the same sales guy told me that it sold out of the store before they could even hang it up. They also sold it for way more than they told me they would. Funny thing was that he seemed happy about how it all went down. He then tried to sell me a new guitar. Try to find an honest local store that will tell you the truth. Use recent sold for prices to get an idea of what to expect. It will help you know when to walk away.

[@terrillchristians]

Very interesting.. Hi there, my mom has a hawk 6 string guitar.. She bought it on the 70s.. It's hardly used, unfortunately she wasn't every good.. How do I go about selling it and what could it be worth today?

[@eanroad]

What is the avg consignment commission?

[@JiminTennessee]

I figure if the shop can make double what I am selling to them for, it's all good. This is probably because I'm a small business owner myself :)

[@srh361]

The store manager at GC I go to said that on import guitars they offer half of what they're going for, $250 for a $500 guitar and so on, and they'll offer up to 60% on USA made guitars that are in really good condition. Pretty much the same as a pawn shop will offer you.

[@CasinoGuitars]

That can be the rate at some shops but most we work with get closer to 60%. Thanks a ton for sharing that!

[@alandunn4459]

@@CasinoGuitars In Australia stores rarely offer more than 30% for trades unless you have something like a pre cbs fender.

[@Bidwellz9]

sounds like a bad shop, more like a pawn shop like you said. those prices at pawn shops make sense because everyone going in is desperate lol

[@Bidwellz9]

@@alandunn4459 30 percent is the same as the store saying we dont want it lol because im clearly not giving it away

[@christyrpak4378]

A couple years ago I took a Taylor 714ce in near mint condition into a reputable guitar shop near me (not a chain) to inquire about a trade. I knew what the guitar was worth. When they offered $800, I laughed and walked out. I sold it myself for $1750. I understand profit margin and a shop's need to make money on a transaction, but that seemed ridiculous.

[@usmcyounggun6879]

Most of the time with pawn shops they will give you about a 1/4 of the retail price if that is available. Because they will usually list it for about half of the retail price and give you half of what they will list it for. So sometimes you pretty much know that if the guitar sells new for $400 that they will probably give you about $100.

[@joshuajkoplin]

Depends on how much a bag of dope costs in the area, if you can get a bag for 50 that’s what they’ll offer 😂😂😂😂

[@BillMWirth]

Went to GC with a mint 2019 LP Studio and 2020 MIM Tele trying to get close on a LP Trad Pro. Only offered me $850 total, leaving me $1,000 short. Decided to sell both on Reverb, then bought a mint 2021 Classic used for what I sold the others for.

[@bruceselenka7181]

"We make money the old fashioned way. We earn it" Smith Barney commercials.

[@davidwarren5785]

Spoken by the crusty old law professor from the Paper Chase movie/TV show.

[@kissfan003]

Done by the late John Houseman

[@abstractvisions]

Where is this room in your store, or is it just green screen?

[@ThatGuysGuitars]

GC typically pays 50-60%, based on condition, and what it is. It does vary a little too, depending on the store and manager. They’ll be up front with you what they’re gonna charge for it. Some mgrs wanna move stuff quick so they’ll buy low to sell cheap and move it faster. All that said. When you consider selling on your own, sure; you’ll get more money, but you’ll still have to pay reverb/eBay fees, shipping, and deal with potential problems or customer service. Depending on the item too, you’ll often struggle to get the same price GC does, cause the buyers still have to pay tax, shipping - and if they don’t like it, or it’s blemished or damaged - they can always return it. Overall, it’s a fair trade off. You’re paying for the convenience, and speed of receiving money.

[@chucknorrismustache]

Any thoughts on whether the 2021 Murphy Labs heavy relic Les Pauls will retain the $8-9000 price over the years? Do you think that premium will hold up over the years? Assuming LP's remain a popular.

[@stevencancel1727]

Dealer cost can be anywhere from 30% to 70% less than list price so he gets them new with warranty for that much less than list price He would probably rather do that than buy our used gear If he buys our used gear price would vary based on his want or need to acommidate us generally stuff sells for 30% to 50% less than new Now some guitars hold their value or increase in value Guitar Center has sold many instruments for less than dealer cost because of discontinued or other reasons

[@MinivanMegafun100]

aaaaay you fixed the lighting!

[@jameslees9512]

Most guitars have a dealer cost that is 50% of MSRP. I am amazed that most guitar buyers don’t know this.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

In my experience, which isn’t much, you’re better off at GC than the pawn shop. GC has usually offered more than I expected, and they have that deal where if you trade for something you only have to pay sales tax on the difference. Better to sell yourself though

[@dsan3516]

HOW DARE A BUSINESS TRY TO MAKE MONEY OFF ME?! 😂 Jonathan still reppin that magnatone hard huh?

[@AintNobodyAtAll]

I'm still sore over a bad trade in at a local shop ten years ago. CIJ Jag bass and CIJ Jag Special HH, amp, cases, etc... But I was desperate and now those instruments are twice as much to replace them as when I originally bought them. I really wish I would have just hunkered down.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

I recently sold a 2016 Gibson ES335 Studio to Guitar Center for $685. While I was disappointed with that price, I had offered it on Facebook Marketplace and only got one offer for less than GC and the guy wanted me to pay shipping. A search of Reverb shows two for 8 months and another one for over a year. GC offered to knock 15% off a Player Series Tele if I sold them the 335 so in the end I was happy with what I got. I didn’t want to wait a year or more to unload a guitar I never played

[@davidkastin4240]

In 16 I was at G.C. I wanted a Gibson 335. A used one would have set me back $3k with tax. FTN! I bought a Gretsch Streamliner very similar brand new, got a deal on it, and a SKB heavy duty case for around $730. They took advantage of you. I refuse to pay big money for the name on the headstock. It's not worth it. It's all hype. Plenty of other less expensive choices out there.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

@@davidkastin4240 I had the 335 for about 4 years. It was a 335 Studio. I just never bonded with it. I know that 2016 isn’t a very desirable year for Gibson’s, but I was shocked at how little interest there was. Could have I gotten more than GC gave me? Sure. Did I want to wait 6 months for more to get it? No. I’ve had the Tele around 4 months and play it every day, I didn’t with the 335

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Casino 😎

[@JoeKyser]

8:13 speaking of UAE, I get a lot of customers out of there and notice they probably came from my little guitar videos because the analytics show UAE watching them

[@contrabandjoe7974]

Hey Baxter & Jonathan, I get the MO. Been doing this game for years. Curious, how many of your personal guitars do you let go for wholesale? This is an industry that for us private sellers led to the Reverb and Ebay empire. Too many options to give a shop your gear wholesale.

[@LeanBackMac]

Bought a Les Paul Classic from GC in January. Went to sell it to them in April still with the stickers on the pick guard. They offered 950, I sold it Privately for 1700 and met a famous artist in the process.

[@POOKIE5592]

Mac How famous?

[@cpainyourass]

I feel like vintage acoustics are really tricky at guitar center because they basically assume your guitar will sell for the lowest sold on reverb. They don’t really factor in that those usually have repaired broken head stocks, cracked tops or need a neck reset.

[@tlister67]

If the store sells a new version of your guitar remember they can (under normal times) readily buy wholesale from the maker. That sets a ceiling on the value.

[@ColinDymond]

Phone the store in advance to find out when the best time to come in is. You’ve just made a friend by not bringing gear in that you might want to sell on a busy Saturday morning or wasted your time by turning up when the boss is on holiday!

[@darrylthomas8428]

Loving Baxter’s Strat Devil horns 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TribalGuitars]

I worked at a 2nd-hand store for almost 16 years (I was the guitar guy, but not in charge of making the deal) and I would get people complaining to me outside of work. Sometimes it wasn't even the person, it was a friend or relative. I had to explain that: 1) The store wasn't a charity. 2) They had to make so much on the guitar because there's overhead, as we all need to get paid so we can support our families. 3) There are other places they can try to sell it (already rejected by the seller or the place, or deemed too much hassle and too much waiting). 4)That particular store had clientele that are only going to pay so much for certain things. (see Reason #2). 5) No one forced them to sell it.

[@clovergrass9439]

I've only sold gear to guitar stores if I was desperate for some quick cash to pay for bills, rent, car repair etc. I never liked to doing it.

[@drewbybee4074]

Where'd you get the Magnatone jacket? ;-)

[@aaronp6426]

I had to sell an ultra strat 2019 due to financial woes. I got 900. I wasn't totally in love with that guitar that's why I chose to sell that one, but I thought that was kind of a crappy deal.

[@blakebruner6173]

On the buying end of this, I will ask for a couple of small things to be included, like strings and el cheapo gig bag, etc instead of haggling, or after getting a sense of their lowest price. The strings are $12 to me, but what, maybe 5 or $6 to them. I've saved $30 they've conceed, $12. It's a small concession to them, but allows for a sense of dealing for me.

[@alandunn4459]

I traded two guitars cheaply to a local store on the basis that they would sell them to students / kids cheaply. Instead they sold them for four times what they paid me in the trade. Prior to this I spent around $30k in cash over three years or so with this store. I was warned and expected as much - which is why I tested them out with relatively cheap guitars. I guess for some people money is everything.

[@emmanuelibus]

I live in Honolulu, but I'll someday eventually make it out there to Casino and buy a Fender Custom Shop stratocaster.