Conference napalm::guitar

    Use the force, Luke.  The darkside of GTS will have you writing checks
    just to exorcise the urge.  I would expect the Guild could be had with
    a case for under $500, assuming that the quoted $699 is retail.  I
    would set 40% off retail as a goal and don't pay more than 30% off.
    
    Lessee,
    
    Guild @ $699 + $80 fer a case = $779 - 40% = $467 + tax = $495
    give 'er take a few bucks!
    
    Play hardball, and be prepared to walk, ya got nuthin' to lose!  Don't
    be embarrassed to make an offer, but make sure he knows you're serious.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Steve

    GO FOR IT!! There like car salesmen now.$#%. You be the BOSSMAN!!

     It's a Guild F4-CE , thier price is $699 , case $80-$100
    
     Harry Tong of Hampshire Music wants me to look at an:
     
    " Oscar Shmidt" @ $210 , or a "Morris" @ $285   Aaackkk

    I believe Washburn has some half decent models similiar to that, not
    sure of the prices though.
    
    Greg

    re .1
    
    40% off of the *retail* price ?!?!?!?!?!? 
    
    Where do you shop ??  40% off of *LIST* price is tough to get unless 
    you have a really good source, especially on American-made guitars.
    No dealer that I have ever encountered will knock 40% off of the
    *retail* price.
    
    The Guitar .0 is looking at is part of Guilds satin series, which
    has lower prices than guitars with gloss finishes. This model is
    basically a low-priced version of the "Songbird" guitar which has
    been around for about 8 years. I would suggest you look for a used
    Songbird which you should be able to find for about $500 especially
    if you buy privately. 
    
    I don't think a Ferrington or Washburn guitar will have the same
    tone or overall quality as a Guild Songbird. Your' mileage may
    vary.
    
    Mark
    

    RE: -1
    
    I'm not sure what the diff is between "list" and "retail"....I consider
    them the same. My new Am Std strat had a MSR (Manuf suggested RETAIL)
    price of $849.  I got it with a case, strap, strings, and a stand for
    $509 plus tax.  It took two visits and a THT (total haggle time) of
    about 1 hour.  The first Les Paul I bought in 1975, I paid 40% off
    retail, and the Am Std strat I bought with Odie in 1989, we paid 40%
    off retail.  All of these deals were at reputable dealers.  Send me
    your cash and the specs of the axe you want, I'll be glad to give it a
    go for ya!!
    
    Steve

    MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) is the same thing as "list
    price".  "Retail" price usually means what the music store marks on the
    tag, kinda like "asking price".  
    
    You should expect a substantial discount from the list price at any
    reasonable music store.  The amount of discount will largely depend on
    the brand of the item and how much dealer profit the maker builds into
    their MSRP.  For instance, a friend at a music store once told me that
    Yamaha electronic gear can't be discounted as much because they set
    their list prices lower (percentage wise to the dealers cost). I've
    usually seen discounts in the range of 30-40% off MSRP.  
    
    You can almost always get a decent cut off the asking price too with a
    little careful haggling.
    
    Greg

    Don't forget to have them throw in the miscelaneous stuff too. Like
    guitar strap,picks,cord...Shop around too...Some places try to rip you
    off. Check prices out. 

My trick is that I have this attitude, "I've got the cash, you've got the
goods, and YOU'RE the salesman, now sell it to me!"  Kick back, relax, act
like you don't really like it.  I go to have a good time, and help them have 
a good time selling it to me, too.  

I usually try to buy two or more things at once, and that also makes them 
willing to deal.

Rule of thumb for is is take 30% off retail, and they'll usually settle for
that so I'll start at about 40%.  Or I'll ask what they're willing to let it
go for, and they usually start at 20% off.

If you don't like the deal you're getting, keep playing it and keep it in
your posession as long as possible.  Let them walk off to help other customers.
Sooner or later, they'll just get tired of having you in the store and give 
you a deal.  8*)

Becoming a part of their clientel really helps, too.

Jmystr

PS  My friends used to HATE going music or car shopping with me cause I used
to drive them nuts!!!

    GTS has subsided......
    
    
     I just put a Dean Markley into my old dreadnaught Acoustic along
    with a new set of strings......
    
     There I was last week , credit card in hand....
    
    
     Gonzo

     Well...I finally gave in to the force of GTS and picked up an
     Ibanez PF-10 CE  cutaway electric-acoustic.