Selling gear to music stores: who pays more?

[Faldoe]

Guitar Center or a smaller local shop? I have a 4x12 I'm trying to sell and I may just end up taking it to a shop to see if I can sell it.

[doommeow]

Price at your local indie shop? Who knows.

GC has a formula that they use - no more than 60% of the lowest used price on eBay and or used.gc.com.

So if you look at the sold items on eBay and at the used listings at GC and the lowest the thing you want to sell is going for is $100, they'll probably give you $60 cash. Sometimes more if you're going to turn around and buy something new, but expect 60%

[lordgalvar]

GC used to also be pretty lenient on just making a deal for open box/demo stuff too. So if there is something you want, a trade toward an open box would be the best ay to maximize value. Gotta remember though (and I don't know if all the stores are like this) they are on a draw commision system (or at least used to be). They have to make their minimum salary and then they make more at GC. They other thing is that they may not take it (I know the one in my hometown, the last one I went to, was picky with more obscure/used/old gear). Craigslist, 5mile, or the newspaper would probably get you the best deals. Or trade at a local store (but those vary so much). I wouldn't be afraid to trade for something that is an easier sale via shipping though. It may take more leg work, but you might get your full value or more. Like if you are looking for 100, try to trade somebody for a good PS-2 or Big Muff of somekind.

[antennafarm]

another thing to consider with GC is that when you trade gear to them, you get 10% off new gear. I sold like, a Boss DS-1 for like $25 and got another 10% off on my Les Paul Melody maker (which was already on sale). If you're looking to buy something new, this can be huge.

[EDIT: Correct error from "10% new gear" to "10% off new gear"]

[Faldoe]

Good calls, thanks.

[Krosis]

They're not doing the 10% off new gear with a trade in all the time anymore. I think only during certain promotional periods.

[antennafarm]

They're not doing the 10% off new gear with a trade in all the time anymore. I think only during certain promotional periods.

That stinks. Other than convenience, that 10% off thing was the only real reason to go.