Selling Used Gear to Guitar Center? (2024)

Curious who does this and what they tend to offer? I'm considering putting an amp and cabinet up on Craigslist to fund a new amp purchase, but GC in another town has a used model of the same amp I want. Perusing GC's used gear for examples of what I have reveals I'd be trading something they sell for $350-400 and something they sell for $644 (an AC30cc2, but mine has UK Blues and that one has the Wharfedales, so mine would go for a couple hundred more). So figure $800-850 for the amp (their sale price) and $350 for the cab (same). That's $1150-1200 they'd sell it for, and what I want to buy has a price tag of roughly $1050.

Would you consider just driving the gear to the local GC and see if they'd work a swap or is this just too far out of range? I know they have to make a profit on used gear, but I won't sell it for half what it's worth. I'd rather keep it or go through the hassle of a CL sale. But if they might do this, I'd absolutely package it up and head their way and see if I can work out a deal.

Thanks guys -- that probably makes this a no deal. I'd rather list them on CL or keep them than take that kind of hit. They're selling below what most folks on CL are anyway, so they may be cornering the used market, but I'd rather take my chances.

I have a friend who's been eyeing my AC30, so I might see if he still wants it.

rickt said:

It's hard to say if they'd swap you even. Basically you are offering them the opportunity to sell 2 items when they are just trying to get rid of one. But, it never hurts to try. Besides, you should at least try out the amp to see if it is really something you want.

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The amp is in another state, but I will say their return policy is something I'm taking into account. I've been planning to sell this gear anyway, so if this amp isn't what I'm after, that's no problem.

Lung plunger said:

Your best chance would be when they run their "Trade In Trade Up" campaign. The criteria on used for used are kinda blurry though, and may depend on what associate does the deal.

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Last time I traded something in, they almost always offered a good discount on new gear with a trade in, 15% IIRC. That takes a bit of the 40% sting out.

They basically do the trade in thing as follows: you bring in the item, they briefly examine it, then have you sign a form where you state the item is in good working condition. They will then offer you 60% of what they can sell it for. At that time you can either get a payment of some time (not sure if it is a check, cash or card), or apply it to a new item. You could also park it as store credit. They seem to treat the trade in of your item as a straight purchase on their part. As I mentioned before, they often offer a good discount on new gear if you trade in for it, and occasionally offer a discount on used gear (but that isn't as often). It's a smooth process the few times I've done it.

IMHO it's a good deal if you need to unload something big and fragile like a tube amp, but I've had better experience selling guitars and pedals on Reverb. And often GC has great prices on used gear, so a trade in makes even more sense. And you can consider the 40% loss as a "no hassle" tax; no shipping hassles, no buyer scams or ripoffs, no dealing with lowball offers, no waiting for the gear to sell after being in an auction for months, no tubes going bad in an amp shipped across the country, no getting your money jerked out of your account by PayPal when the buyer complains in 6 months, no inaccurate auction feedback, etc. You trade the item in to GC, get your cash, and you're DONE.

I really think it's a great deal overall. But I don't understand how you work trading in something for a used item located at another store. But I'm sure they have that worked out and I haven't asked yet.

David Garner said:

Thanks guys -- that probably makes this a no deal. I'd rather list them on CL or keep them than take that kind of hit. They're selling below what most folks on CL are anyway, so they may be cornering the used market, but I'd rather take my chances.

I have a friend who's been eyeing my AC30, so I might see if he still wants it.

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See Also

Can You Sell Your Guitar at Guitar Center?

I think GC is pretty much a last ditch, “I'm desperate”, avenue.

Hell no. I tried it once, looking to trade a PRS and a Martin toward a used Collings acoustic. What they offered was truly insulting. And uninformed. I had to clarify the guitar models I had in hand.

So, if you mix ignorance with greed, you have my local GC.

skydog said:

I think GC is pretty much a last ditch, “I'm desperate”, avenue.

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I think GC can also be for people who are okay with less drama from buyers and see some value in that as it is shifted to GC. GC basically already deals with that so it isn't any extra trouble. In that scenario it's a win-win.

None of this has been with music gear related transactions, but I have showed up to meet a seller and they didn't show. I've had them try and lower the price at the meeting to buy something. I also had one guy who wanted me to refund him for something cosmetic I disclosed during our initial emails. So there is some value in just selling the item and moving on.

GC is pretty much for alot of places

CL, Facebook, Let Go.
And if you want to take more risk than a CL deal,
with returns, drama etc-- Online

I stopped using Ebay, Reverb, and the other selling places years ago after dealing with the a-holes.
I now only take my gear to GC and get what they offer for it.
I work in a band so the 60% sting mentioned in an earlier post is not felt nearly as it would if I didn't earn money with my gear.

Our local GC loves me as my gear is always immaculate and they told me everything sells within day s of bringing it in.

Even the manager buys my gear as soon as it arrives sometimes.

David Garner said:

Thanks guys -- that probably makes this a no deal. I'd rather list them on CL or keep them than take that kind of hit. They're selling below what most folks on CL are anyway, so they may be cornering the used market, but I'd rather take my chances.

I have a friend who's been eyeing my AC30, so I might see if he still wants it.

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People on Craigs List are generally crazy on what they think their is worth. Unless you have a really unusual item that is no longer being made just expect about 70% of what it sells new for is what you can usually sell it for. If you are much higher than that most of us are just going to buy a new one with a warranty.