How do some people sleep at night

[John R]

I went into my local guitar shop to get some odds and ends. A young lad was playing a Les Paul so loud I couldnt see straight never mind hear anything, so off I went to the other shop in town. The owner was telling a tale about a young girl who went into a music shop, which one I dunno. Owner had on display a Gibson, lady says my deceeased Grandfather had  one similar to that its in the wardrobe at home. They arrange for her to take the guitar to the shop. He pays 300 pounds, say 350 USD.  Apparently it was a 1950s Gibson birdland, [not so sure about the name but apparently the guitar was named after some nightclub or other]. He sold it for 5,000 dollars, over 10,000 USD. The shop owner thought it was very funny. Wont be going there again.  John R

[jeremy3220]

I went into my local guitar shop to get some odds and ends. A young lad was playing a Les Paul so loud I couldnt see straight never mind hear anything, so off I went to the other shop in town. The owner was telling a tale about a young girl who went into a music shop, which one I dunno. Owner had on display a Gibson, lady says my deceeased Grandfather had  one similar to that its in the wardrobe at home. They arrange for her to take the guitar to the shop. He pays 300 pounds, say 350 USD.  Apparently it was a 1950s Gibson birdland, [not so sure about the name but apparently the guitar was named after some nightclub or other]. He sold it for 5,000 dollars, over 10,000 USD. The shop owner thought it was very funny. Wont be going there again.  John R

Yeh thats pretty low. She should have known better though, especially since they offered to buy(as in they initiated the deal). She could easily have found out its worth. The owner was still a jerk.


I don't know how I feel about situations were the person doesn't sell the guitar but keeps it to play. Say I found a vintage guitar at a yardsale that was worth way more than they were selling for and I bought just to play; what do y'all think of that?

[Caleb]

Say I found a vintage guitar at a yardsale that was worth way more than they were selling for and I bought just to play; what do y'all think of that?

wouldn't think much of it at all.  they decided the sale price and you paid it.  there is such a thing as being in the right place at the right time, ya know?

[robv]

wouldn't think much of it at all.  they decided the sale price and you paid it.  there is such a thing as being in the right place at the right time, ya know?

And if they were selling in a yard sale they didn't really care how much they sold it for. The girl selling the guitar was taking it to a place where she thought she'd get an accurate valuation and be treated ethically. I would concider her treatment as not only unethical but fraudulent. :POL> Definitely not a shop I'd deal with either...
Rob

[Crunchy Wacko]

And if they were selling in a yard sale they didn't really care how much they sold it for. The girl selling the guitar was taking it to a place where she thought she'd get an accurate valuation and be treated ethically. I would concider her treatment as not only unethical but fraudulent. :POL> Definitely not a shop I'd deal with either...
Rob

I agree.  He had no character and no heart.

[Blue in VT]

That pretty rough....theres something to be said for a shop owner making a decent profit off of a purchase but that was abuse for sure...



Blue

[tuffythepug]

Obviousle there are some people in this world who are severely ethically challenged.   The guitar shop owner was bordering on being criminal in my opinion. 

The analogy to a vintage guitar at a yard sale is a different story.   The person selling the guitar has fixed a price based upon their view of the value of the guitar.  It isn't your responiblity as a buyer to point out that it is worth considerably more.  If you were to offer them $200 when they were asking for $350 then you'd be stepping over the line.

I suppose the difference lies in the fact that when the woman took the guitar to the guitar shop she had a right to expect an honest appraisal of the value ( I know she didn't ask for an appraisal necessarily:  she was simply responding to an offer to buy it from her)  never-the-less, the guitar shop owner took advantage of a customer and doesn't deserve to be patronized.  If there is such a thing as Karma he will be dealt with in due time.

Maybe we need to re-word the old saying:   "Let the buyer AND THE SELLER  beware.


Lynn

[poki]

agreed, the bottom line is there was a breach of trust, while perhaps not illegal, it certainly stinks.
it might be worth letting the dealer know how you feel and that you posted the story online. 

[Ratishna]

Apparently it was a 1950s Gibson birdland, [not so sure about the name but apparently the guitar was named after some nightclub or other].

Might as well keep the facts correct.  The Gibson Byrdland was named for Billy Byrd and Hank Garland who contributed ideas to its short-scale, thin body design.  Both were jazz/swing players.  But in the end the instrument was made famous by rocker Ted Nugent. It remains in production today.  End of history lesson.

[FNG]

They had one on display, it wasn't marked with a price?  You would have thought she would at least looked at that price.

[ducktrapper]

Yeah but hers was "old" ya know. 

[bob_d]

I wouldn't frequent that shop either. If the shop owner knew the approximate value of that guitar when he made his offer he's nothing more than a common thief.

[John R]

Thanks for the history lesson Ratishna, I appreciated that. Its always good to know these things.
The guitar that was on display was one of the low end Gibsons
I was thinking of going into the shop and making my feelings known. I will let you know how I get on.

[Caleb]

And if they were selling in a yard sale they didn't really care how much they sold it for. The girl selling the guitar was taking it to a place where she thought she'd get an accurate valuation and be treated ethically. I would concider her treatment as not only unethical but fraudulent. :POL> Definitely not a shop I'd deal with either...
Rob

don't get me wrong....this person got screwed on this deal and any shop owner who conducts business in that manner is a dirt bag.

[bob_d]

Here's a Gibson Byrdland I saw while GASing over some Eastman guitars at Guitars n Jazz. This is a 2005 model 1959 Reissue. Note the price.

Mint with papers, Reduced to $5795 for fast sale. Owner has a purchase receipt from Gibson for well over $8k.

http://www.gbase.com/Powered/GearDetails.aspx?Dealer=973177a5-608b-4197-abf9-38b42f0d7a06&Item=867018

That shop owner should be charged with grand larceny.

[yettoblaster]

...
I was thinking of going into the shop and making my feelings known...

Don't bother.
You'd be trying to lay a ten pound truth on a one pound person.