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Hi Folks, So I've tried a great guitar at a reasonably big retailer which RRP's at about £800, however it's reduced by £100 due to a 1.5inch dent in the back of the body.
Do you think this is a reasonable reduction? I've never haggled and would like to get the balance between the best deal and avoiding being rude (While aware my own resale value is up in the air should I decide to pass it on)
Any advice around this is much appreciated.
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I remember one guitar that I got 10 sets of strings with. It might have cost me £50 to buy them so I effectively got £50 off, but the retailer probably bought them for £30 wholesale so it's not such a big loss for them. Sometimes that is easier to get than cash off.
Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
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What is the guitar (exact model, colour etc)? We might be able to help point you to another one.
A 1.5" dent is a fair old size and IMO £100 is not enough - but it would be helpful for some pics of the guitar and dent so we can see what you're seeing. The dent may also impact on resale - not just price, but desirability - even used buyers are likely to prefer non-dented guitars, and they would expect to pay a lower price for a used dented guitar than a used guitar in excellent condition .
Accordingly I'd personally want more off than that - at least £150. For the sake of £100 I'd want one that's perfect. But it needs to be a REAL saving compared to the best price I could find for a perfect one.
I suggest you first look for another similar guitar and see what the best price is you can negotiate for one that's new and perfect with a different store. Talk to the store manager & see what best price/package they can offer for a brand new one. Never be afraid to negotiate. Stores have to make a profit but turnover is important for them too. Depending on their circumstances, whether they might be having a slow month etc, you can often do deals - you don't ask, you don't get. Then you have a reliable starting frame of reference. For example, if the store knocks the price of a new one down by £50, you'd only be saving £50 by buying the dented guitar - you see what I mean?
If its a hard to find guitar and the rest of it is fine, plus it plays well and its the one you want, then buy the thing, I say.
Resale, I think is something else, if I'm worried about resale value at the point of buying, then I find myself wondering why I'm buying at all.
My reasoning being, if the dent annoys you, £100 off probably isn't enough. But the shop's within its rights to offer that, and if the dent doesn't annoy you (especially if it's rare and difficult to find another), it may be enough off to be worth it (though @Voxman makes a good point about making sure that it's genuinely £100 off).
Regarding the resale argument- while I do agree that if you're thinking of selling it already, that might not bode well for the purchase, I don't think keeping at least one eye on resale is silly, or even necessarily means that you don't really want it and therefore shouldn't buy it. I've never sold a guitar, and I'd still bear it in mind- you never know what's going to happen in the future, and even if you have no intention of selling it now, your tastes may change. Or, even worse, you may be forced to sell it if your financial situation changes.
I don't suppose you can steam the dent out?
£100 nicker off the price and the dent can be removed, seems like a win win.
Just in case my post above sounded a bit cagey- for me personally I doubt £100 would be enough, and I'd probably try to find one in perfect condition.