Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

[terrax]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

depends on how bad you want it back, i'd love to have the first guitar i ever owned or even the second, i wouldnt get raked over the coals for them, but there is that connection. you also said that it was pre rico sr's death, so that will drive up the price.

i've never seen this happen before, so that is something in it'self, almost fate.

1100 for a custom guitar, that has sentimental value?..... yes, i would.

Dave

[Tekky]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Terrax.. He's asking for 1100 MORE than what he originally paid for the guitar.

Quite a tough situation. I can see part of your conflict. One of the last guitars made by Bernie Rico himself... There's a reason to jack up the price a bit, but obviously this guy is trying to fudge with ya. Sure you can have another custom made, will Bernie have a hand in it? Sadly, no.

I have to agree with everyone else in telling this guy to take a flying leap. He's toying with your emotions and looking to make a profit off of it. You offered the original selling price. If he's just looking to dump the guitar, he'll break even with it and learn that not everyone will take that crap.

[sully]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Originally posted by terrax:
1100 for a custom guitar, that has sentimental value?..... yes, i would.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">no, it's 1100 over what he paid for it new... at least that's what i got from that...

sully

[Alexi7]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Dont get it, its probably infected with sars. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[jr73]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

if its who i think it is he is a dealer & he sells his guitars over in asia for what ive been told is a BIG profit. he buys & sells alot of BCRichs Luckily for you most overseas collectors want the old stuff . Was your guitar signed by Bernie....to some people thats a big deal.

[deviltronix]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Hey all.. I'm so glad to see this thread take off and the general solidarity of opinions. I had few questions thrown my way so I will address them..

Guitar was started by Bernie Rico but Bernie died during it's construction. Bernie Jr. signed the back of the headstock.

I was confusing bout the monetary exchange so I'll make it simple. I paid $2200 for the guitar. He bought it from me for $1450. Offered it back to me for $3000. Then said $2500 is the lowest he would go. So in essence, $1050 more than he originally bought it from me for.

As I said previously, I'm gonna take the advice here and tell him I have no interest in getting ripped off. The prospect of a new custom shop is much more appealing to me now, and I'll always have a chance to pick up a Bernie signed guitar somewhere along the road. Again, thanks to all who put me in the correct mindset.

Rich


Note: Much of that price was because of the custom flame inlays on the ebony. It had a hot rod flame paint, single angled humbucker, single volume knob, neck through body and floating floyd. Definitly an acquired taste.

[iron_monkey]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Finally they decide to bring their asking price down to $1100 more than they had purchased it from me for. I throw back a figure $300 less than that and they say no dice. So I say I'll have to think about it and left it at that.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So, in one sense you are only $300 apart on price?
I think the deal depends on if you just have an amount that you are going to pay and no more. If that is the case then you are done and shouldn't worry about it. If you pay more than you really want to, I think it would get in the way of your enjoyment of the guitar.

However, if there is a strong sentimental pull, then $300 isn't that much more. But, I think you really have to like the guitar. Would you have the exact guitar made again today or would you change some things? A new custom might be a better deal for you.

[ April 30, 2003, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: iron_monkey ]

[83SanDimas]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

This is not going to be the popular suggestion but what you have here is an opportunity and not a dilemma. You are dealing with someone who by your own account has a lot of money. What many times goes hand in hand with this is the buy low sell high philosophy. You are in a negotiation, nothing more. Do not take it personally. It is an opportunity. You have lost nothing. As mentioned above you are not far off ($300) so you are in decent shape. First, be true to yourself and get that, "I should have offered $100 more thing settled in your head first" If you have a breaking point, be there in your mind now, do not find out what it is after the fact and lament, "think opportunity". What is the guitar worth fairly today? I have done that to my self a few times and kick myself later...

If you have complained to him already than you may have started closing the door, open it again by again thanking him for the opportunity to reacquire the guitar, think "it's just a negotiation"

Think of something you can offer in return like fast payment or payment method of your choice etc. Also, let him know you really want it. He may just be fishing for your breaking point and when he is sure he found it he will sell. It may just be his nature. He may enjoy this stuff.. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Time is money and this is so so true with guitars. What will that guitar be worth 20 years from now? $300, $3000. If you think it will appreciate than by all means overpay. I have made more money by overpaying for an investment than from not buying at all. Think houses, you have a chance to buy one you owned before but the market is up. The owner should get a fair market value for it. You may pay above fair market value for it for personal reasons. If you keep it for 15 years who cares... If you may think of selling it again than none of this matters, just don’t pay more than fair market if you will be selling soon.

I started buying guitars again only recently. I bought my first guitars when I was in my teens and I still have them. I can not remember what I paid for my first San Dimas in 83. I know a guy who would pay $500 to get back the model 2 he sold that he owned new. He may even pay more. These are guitars and for us they are not a necessity. I friend of mine who buys and sells hollow body guitars will ***** and dwell on $100 on a guitar. That same guy blows $100 on drinks. I told him to stay home one night and have a six pack and you got the hundred back

Someone else I know bought a San Dimas that was parts for $XXXX, since he found out it was not all real he dumped it at a loss. Time is money, that parts are now worth more than he paid for it.

My friend has a jet ski that in 2 years is worth 1/2 as much as what he paid. He is selling it to buy another one that will depreciate the same. Everyone and I mean everyone here accepts serious losses on their car purchases. Yet a guitar offers fantastic fulfillment and the chance to appreciate. If you have more than one guitar than you may know that we are not talking about being practical, we are talking about passion. If you connect with that guitar what is $300 over 20 years on an appreciating asset... nothing...

Kevin

[deviltronix]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Kevin,

Excellent advice...and I would apply this to most guitar purchases..but not this one because they are banking on the fact that they can scew me. If it was a matter of appreciating value, I could definitly find other places that money would be better spent. I've owned 30+ guitars in my 13 years of playing, so for me it is a passion. Hell, If I lost my fingers I think I would still own guitars. Something about getting screwed in the deal takes the passion right out of it. As Iron Monkey said "If you pay more than you really want to, I think it would get in the way of your enjoyment of the guitar.
" and I beleive this to be true.

[roodyrocker]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Rich, for the amount of money you mentioned I'd just order a new custom shop Jackson [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Seriously, you mentioned it had the least amount of sentimental ties to you originally. Its now a couple years older (i.e. used) and you believe the seller will have a hard time moving it. Therefore, there should be no rush to jump on it on your part. Time is on your side. And if he does happen to sell it to someone else in the meantime its no big deal if you're not that attached to it.

Rudy

P.S. Did I mention buying a Jackson instead? [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] instead [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[charvelguy]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Well, my opinion is of the advice everyone else has already offered. Guitars have the unusual ability to raise in value overnight or within a couple years. You used be able to buy a Fretlight for 250.00 solid in '98 even '99...not so anymore. They go solid 400+ on up to as high as a 1000+. Thats just one example of many, I had a feeling about them and now I wish I would've jumped on a few back then.

You pay what you think it's worth, you assess the value based upon market and take into consideration depreciating factors as well as appreciating ones.
Had it been signed by SR, probably be worth more as it was a trasistion period, but the fact that he worked on it has it's appeal as well.

I wouldn't burn the bridge unless you want it crispy. Doesn't sound like you had any hard feelings in the dealings..I'd just leave it hang. If he wants to move it, he'd contact you again. say no thanks, this is what I would pay and if you wish to consider selling it in the future, this is where you get ahold of me.

[deviltronix]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

Yeah, I've kept things civil. And my next contact, I will simply tell him I cannot afford that price right now.

Roodyrocker, Jackson are definitly my favorite and always have been (I started playing in 1988, when you could walk into Sam Ash and actually buy American Jacksons there). I'll probably pick up an S2h Bengal Soloist sometime real soon. I just would like to own 1 nice Warlock. Presently, I don't own a single BC RICH.

[GWARGHOUL]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

You need an Ibanez, mayn.

[roodyrocker]

Re: Anyone else ever in this position? Advice needed....

I know what you mean sabout wanting to own a certain brand. Most of my stuff is Jackson as thats my favorite but I also own some other brands. Oddly enough, like you, I don't have a single BC Rich either. Hmm, I might have to fix that situation some day [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Of course, most of the time I just can't bring myself to buy other brands when I start thinking "I can have a USA Jackson for that price" [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
If you do go for a Bengal Soloist I'm sure you'll love it. One of mine is a Blue Bengal SL2H.

Rudy