The art of haggling at guitar shops

[Stephen_42]

Apparently my local guitar shop is getting a Jag-stang in. Despite initially baulking at the price, I've realised that with a bit of saving I can afford one. And I've wanted one for about a decade, so I'm probably going to buy it.

I have never spent this much on a guitar before. I bought a Squier from the same place and successfully got them to throw in a cheap strap and a handful of picks, but I feel like I can reasonably expect to ask for a little more given that it's a £1k guitar.

So, to the people who have experience buying at this price range, what have you managed to get thrown in? What's reasonable to ask for?

[Larry Mal]

Well, you are going to have a hard time with that, since the guitars are brand new and no one will be selling them for less than what Fender has indicated, or at least I would not imagine so. For one, Fender discourages their vendors undercutting each other, since that would just lead to a race to the bottom.

The world is kind of different now, the price is pretty usually the price on new stuff.

But by all means ask for them to knock off a hundred bucks, if they don't do it just come back the next day and buy it at the full price.

[Stephen_42]

Well, you are going to have a hard time with that, since the guitars are brand new and no one will be selling them for less than what Fender has indicated, or at least I would not imagine so. For one, Fender discourages their vendors undercutting each other, since that would just lead to a race to the bottom.

The world is kind of different now, the price is pretty usually the price on new stuff.

But by all means ask for them to knock off a hundred bucks, if they don't do it just come back the next day and buy it at the full price.

Oh this place is good for price - they price match online shops so I'm not expecting them to knock anything off beyond that.

I meant haggling for freebies - my logic being that if they'll throw in a basic strap and a few picks with a Squier, is it reasonable to ask for a nice (or at least nicer) strap / spare set of strings / something else along with it? What kind of freebies is the norm at this price point?

[alexpigment]

Personally, I would try for something like a gig bag or even a cheap hard case (unlikely, but hey). It's something that historically goes hand in hand with a guitar purchase and won't seem like you're just asking for free stuff. On the other hand, if they could do a professional-level setup that ensures that you don't have any high/low frets or dead spots, I think that would probably be the most valuable thing to bargain for. I personally wouldn't try to bargain for including a pedal/amp/etc; those are things that they can otherwise sell at full price, and you might sour the goodwill of the transaction.

And I guess it's worth mentioning that your bargaining power is quite a bit lower if they don't recognize you as a regular (paying) customer.

[Unicorn Warrior]

I love my small town guitar shop. On used gear, and even sometimes new gear, they’ll always try to give me a bit of a discount. Even if it’s small. Sometimes I’ll often go in and spend $100-200 on various supplies and it’s not unusual for them for knock 10% off. This is all without me asking. I’ve been a customer since they opened their doors. There have been times I’ve been given great deals and then times when I’ve traded them great deals. It’s even and I like it that way. They’re honest people and they’re making a living. I don’t want the world from them.

I also agree with Larry. Shop discounts have really diminished over the last 10-15 years. This is the same for the car industry too. Not nearly as much room for haggling like the good old days.

[Larry Mal]

Oh this place is good for price - they price match online shops so I'm not expecting them to knock anything off beyond that.

I meant haggling for freebies - my logic being that if they'll throw in a basic strap and a few picks with a Squier, is it reasonable to ask for a nice (or at least nicer) strap / spare set of strings / something else along with it? What kind of freebies is the norm at this price point?

Oh, I got you! So, what I might do is dick around, kicking the tires and shit, and then indicate that I would probably buy the guitar right then and there if only it came with a hardshell case and not the gig bag. Like, maybe you have an extra one in back or something?

That certainly might not apply for the guitar we are discussing, but that's the sort of thing I go for at times... it's a give and take. I acknowledge that the price of the original item is good and fair, and I have respect for the seller, but maybe we can make this work for me in a slightly different way.

I enjoy haggling.

[Larsongs]

As a rule If I can’t get 15-20% off MAP Prices I won’t buy it. I’ve done that for years & I’m still doing that even in this Sellers market..

I just got a new Epiphone USA Casino, which are very scarce, for 20% off MAP. I also got it right before the $300.00 Price increase..

About 2-3 weeks ago I got a 20% off Coupon from Musicians friend & bought a new Bigsby B7 I want for one of my Les Pauls or my ES335.

I just got the new Neve RNHP Headphone Amp & got 18% off.

All the above also had free shipping.

If I can’t get a great deal I’ll wait or pretty soon there’s something new that I want & I’ll get that instead.. Cool Guitars are like Bus’s.. There’s another one right around the corner..

Good luck…

[vistavision]

As a former guitar salesguy who threw in stuff we always subtracted the cost of the item thrown in off the price of the instrument. That's how shop owners think of "throwing in" stuff with a sale. The price of the guitar is lowered for the "free" stuff, which aren't free, so it chews into the instrument's profit. In this current sales environment the owner may not get another Jag-Stang for 8-10 months. Your guitar shop and it's owner may have no interest in lowering the price so don't be surprised when they don't do what they used to, pre-Covid.
By the way, the Jag-Stang comes with a bag. Worth shooting for strings or an under $25 strap.

PS Fender's street prices are what the old MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) was in relation to dealer cost. The shop's profit on the Jag-Stang is about 25-35% of the street price. Before online sales the full list price/MSRP afforded dealers roughly 50% so the dealers could "throw in" cases and pricey straps. That's ancient history now.

[marqueemoon]

Not a great guitar to haggle on.

A niche interest thing that’s sat for a while and you might have some luck.

[Mechanical Birds]

Well, you are going to have a hard time with that, since the guitars are brand new and no one will be selling them for less than what Fender has indicated, or at least I would not imagine so. For one, Fender discourages their vendors undercutting each other, since that would just lead to a race to the bottom.

The world is kind of different now, the price is pretty usually the price on new stuff.

But by all means ask for them to knock off a hundred bucks, if they don't do it just come back the next day and buy it at the full price.

Oh this place is good for price - they price match online shops so I'm not expecting them to knock anything off beyond that.

I meant haggling for freebies - my logic being that if they'll throw in a basic strap and a few picks with a Squier, is it reasonable to ask for a nice (or at least nicer) strap / spare set of strings / something else along with it? What kind of freebies is the norm at this price point?

You could just order one from MF or GC, over the phone, and ask for a 15-20% discount on listed price, which is pretty consistently a thing they’ll do - just gotta ask.

[Stephen_42]

You could just order one from MF or GC, over the phone, and ask for a 15-20% discount on listed price, which is pretty consistently a thing they’ll do - just gotta ask.

Sadly not an option in the UK - but has anyone had experience of similar at British guitar shops?

[Larsongs]

You could just order one from MF or GC, over the phone, and ask for a 15-20% discount on listed price, which is pretty consistently a thing they’ll do - just gotta ask.

Sadly not an option in the UK - but has anyone had experience of similar at British guitar shops?

People don’t haggle in the UK? If that’s true I want to open a Guitar shop in the UK! LOL!

[JSett]

To be honest, if it's a small independent I won't try and get much out of them apart from a set of strings and a handful of picks. I'd rather they made some money and stayed open.

On used gear though, I will always try and haggle. Normally it's there because they took it in as part exchange so more wiggle room than something new. I just today got £50 off a used Peavey Classic 30 amp a shop had in. I saved a bit, he made a bit...everyone's happy

[Stephen_42]

You could just order one from MF or GC, over the phone, and ask for a 15-20% discount on listed price, which is pretty consistently a thing they’ll do - just gotta ask.

Sadly not an option in the UK - but has anyone had experience of similar at British guitar shops?

People don’t haggle in the UK? If that’s true I want to open a Guitar shop in the UK! LOL!

Haha no, hence this thread about what's reasonable to haggle for! I meant that there aren't any big chains like Guitar Center in the UK - maybe GAK or Gear4Music are the closest equivalents, but GAK has only one physical store in Brighton and G4M is is entirely online.

[Larsongs]

Sadly not an option in the UK - but has anyone had experience of similar at British guitar shops?

People don’t haggle in the UK? If that’s true I want to open a Guitar shop in the UK! LOL!

Haha no, hence this thread about what's reasonable to haggle for! I meant that there aren't any big chains like Guitar Center in the UK - maybe GAK or Gear4Music are the closest equivalents, but GAK has only one physical store in Brighton and G4M is is entirely online.

Most Guitar Centers are a joke… Unless you’re looking for Entry level Gear.. There are some exceptions but they’re in Big Cities like Hollywood G.C. in L.A.

I thought Thomann was in the UK & other parts of Europe? Even available in USA…