I've been looking on Ebay lately seeing if maybe a good deal will come up... Are people crazy!!! What's up with people putting "Buy it now" prices on 5 year old American Std.s and Deluxe's that are the same or $200 more than what you can buy a brand new one for? Am I missing something here? I know that Fenders and Gibsons hold there value pretty well, but they dont go up every year. Anyone know the logic in these pricing? I'm wondering if its just people who have no idea what they're worth, like people who go to trade in a car and think they should get retail value for their trade in, or if im just missing something about used strats.

I think a lot of the listings on eBay are geared to buyers that may not have access to stores like Guitar Center or Sam Ash, and are living in rural/remote ares. They may be willing to pay those prices.

On the other hand, I have seen some rather very good deals on those same guitars on eBay.

I got my American Deluxe Strat on eBay and at a steal of a price.

You have to look for what you want at the price you will pay and know how to do the bidding so you can get the item you want.

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2007 American Deluxe Strat
'65 Deluxe Reverb RI
POD X3 Live
PreSonus FSP
Studio One Pro

http://soundcloud.com/wally-dow/sets/w
http://reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/371830
http://classicrockersnetwork.com/profile/WallyDow
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I remember when you could regularly get some decent buys on e-Bay. Now, you have to really hunt to find a 'sleeper' caused by the seller's improper spelling or an unpopular ending time. And even with these, you have to hope that your bid is not bombarded with last minute, automated snipers. Also, speaking for myself, I won't get involved with PayPal which so many sellers now demand exclusively for payment.

The only uses I have left for e-Bay are:

1. If I'm having a lot of difficulty finding something that I really want, I can probably find it there;
2. What stuff sells for on e-Bay tells me the 'real world' Blue Book value of what people are willing to pay for something;
3. A source for a person's references when trading with on-line strangers;
4. Viewing various and assorted nostalgia.

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You dig?

I sell some things I hand make on eBay.

I like to think what I do there saves people money, and from the number of sales I have made of my home made hand made cocking rope for crossbows, I think I have met my goal.

The usual selling price that the big guys charge for their cocking ropes, just cause they are fancy and have a big name, is, in my humble opinion, a total rip off. I sell mine for $11.99 and ship it for free. That is a little over one third of the MSRP of the big name brands, and mine is made from a stronger rope.

I also have invented a tool for the purpose or stringing/restringing/maintaining crossbows and crossbow pistols. The nearest thing to it offered for sale on the market is a bow press. The cheapest I have seen one of those is about $100.00 and you cannot take it with you on a hunt. Mine is a tool that does basically the same thing as a bow press, you can carry it in your pocket, and it sells on eBay for $49.99 and I ship it free.

My point is ... not all of us on eBay are bandits.

If you want to, check me out. http://wallys-innovations.com

BTW ... I am selling Samson wreless system on there at this time.

_________________
2007 American Deluxe Strat
'65 Deluxe Reverb RI
POD X3 Live
PreSonus FSP
Studio One Pro

http://soundcloud.com/wally-dow/sets/w
http://reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/371830
http://classicrockersnetwork.com/profile/WallyDow
http://facebook/wallydow

The whole problem with buying guitars on ebay is that they are such a personal instrument. The interaction between a modular instrument and player is always far greater then a linear instrument and player. How many pianists do you hear talking about how the instrument feels. I've never heard one, and i know a few good ones. Never heard any statement of that ilk from a brass player either. Whilst feel is atleast 80% of a guitars appeal. Everything else (e.g. pickups, bridge) can be quite easily changed to alter the tone with a minimum of fuss.
Its where ebay and internet shops fall down, you need to play before you pay. Sometimes you may find a local sale on ebay that offers you to try a instrument out, but they are rare.

Eloquently said !

It took me a month playing different strats before I decided to go with my deluxe .. I played not less than 40 strats at Guitar Center. On my acoustic guitars I was even worse ... the "feel" element is much more pronounced in acoustic instruments.


Cheers
HS

Primary tone is everything with acoustic guitars. Theres not much of a 'modding factor' to them should you need to change anything about their sound. You'd never catch me paying for one i hadn't spent an hour with. Consequently i dont own a acoustic

That true, nut, bridge, pins and strings thats it
Cheers

HS

I went back on to look at the items that were, in my opinion, over priced. There was a common thread running through all of them, none of them had any bids on it. After being in auto sales for over a decade, one thing always holds true; things are only worth what a buyer is willing to pay! I think allot of time sellers of products hold what various "blue books" say values are as gospel, when they aren't. An example; I remember back in the late 90's, I worked at a Ford dealer. The biggest sellers were what were referred to as "program cars." These were used vehicles, usually a year old, that were former rentals or corporate cars. As a point of reference, we sold program Taurus' for 11,988. I cant tell you how many people came in to trade their year old Taurus towards a new vehicle. When you offered them 8500-9000 for trade it, which was more than fair, they would always come back with; Kelly Blue Book says my car is worth 13000 trade in. I would tell them, that although Kelly says that, they aren't the ones cutting you a check. They wouldn't budge. You could tell them plainly "look, I have them same car here that you're trading, with less miles, and more options, we're selling them for under 12000, if that's the case, how could yours possible be worth more on trade in value than we're selling them?" And we still had to run them through the shop, clean them, apply for title release, etc. No matter how well you explained it, they thought you were lying. It drove me crazy. I think it all comes down to, to people, their cars, guitars, boats, whatever are worth more to them than they are to someone else. Maybe it holds sentimental value or something like that. I understand that its easier for me to go to a Guitar Center because there are probably a half dozen in a 30 mile radius, and there are some places in the US that you'd have to drive 3 hours to get to a music shop, but you can always go online and buy a new axe through many of the countless reputable online stores like Musician friend, or Harmony Central. I dont know, it just kind of frustrates me when people over price their used instruments, I mean I understand if you're selling a 1952 original strat for 15000or whatever, but there is no way I'd buy a 2002 American Standard for $1000 when I can buy a new one for 950. It just floods the market with over priced instruments, and it makes it harder for someone who is selling a used guitar for a fair price. Because after going through 30 5-10 year old American strats for a ridiculous price, I get fed up and stop, and dont end up seeing the good deal. I went on craigslist recently and put a posting up saying Wanted; 1-5 year old American std,or deluxe strat. I had to put in it, "New AM std.s are 1000, new Am dlx's 1225, dont send me an email trying to sell me a 5 year old for the same price." I still had people sending me offers like that. I dont know, im venting, trying to replace my stolen 07 Am Deluxe (or seeing if the thief trys to sell me it back), and Im finding it hard to get a solid offer.

Ebay Logic
1. Some Sellers are idiots.
2. Some Sellers are greedy.
3. Some Sellers are just clueless.

Just last week I was looking on Ebay for a specific amp. First I checked prices at Musicians Friend, Sam Ash, and Guitar Center (2 of the 3 offered free shipping). Then I checked Ebay. Ebay was the most expensive location (cheapest Ebay price was $30 dollars more not counting shipping costs!)

I like Ebay alot when it was a true auction site where people were cleaning out their closets and garages. You could get some really good deals. Now it's populated mostly by "Lugnuts" who are trying to run an internet business through Ebay. JACKHOLES every single one of them.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

[quote="mthorn00"]Ebay Logic
1. Some Sellers are idiots.
2. Some Sellers are greedy.
3. Some Sellers are just clueless.
I like Ebay alot when it was a true auction site where people were cleaning out their closets and garages. You could get some really good deals. Now it's populated mostly by "Lugnuts" who are trying to run an internet business through Ebay.

I think your answer is most likely the correct one! Too many people have seen stories of people buying pieces of toast that look like the virgin Mary that sell for $15000, and think avryone who buys off the site ar morons that are more than willing to be seperated fron their money. Its too bad, the days of getting good deals are long gone. I guess its back to going to yard sales and want-ads for used stuff.

You will make out better at a pawn shop then you will ebay. For one you can try it two they have a store front which means they are less likely to rip you off though they still can if you let them. Third pawn shops give hard up people a little money for things that may cost a lot so when they sell they can keep it well under wholesale and still make money. As you can tell I like going in pawn shops and most will have several nice guitars in them.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Ive been checking a few strats on Craigslist in my area, the price keeps dropping and dropping every week. Obviously they couldnt sell it for their original overpriced asking price. While a couple Ive watched on ebay that dont sell just keep getting put back up at the same price. Thats the problem, sellers who really dont know what ask for their instruments when they go to sell them go to Ebay for an idea of what it should be worth, and they get it from these guys who are attempting to gouge people. People know better, thats why I see someone trying to sell there 2003 American Standard for $1100 as the "buy it now" price, then they try to start the bid at $1050, but nobody bids on it. WHat a bunch of do@*ch bags

What really gets me is people who sell their Gibson SG Special Faded for $600... now, I'm sure some of them paid $800 for it, which is the current retail price (if not higher), but I know that only two years ago it was $580, and people are now profiting off of their lightly-used, few-year-old guitar.

I agree with the original poster 100 percent! I dont know what it is are people paying these inflated exaggerated prices? or are they just unaware they are being ripped off?! I think fenders are way overprices nowadays anyways. they were originally designed to be a working mans easily servicable practicle guitar as opposed to the Gibsons of the day back in the 50's. now people have totally ruined that initial spirit that leo fender had for his instrument company IMO