Martin pricing?
Greetings, do the online dealers typically offer the standard approx. 40% off msrp on the lower end Martin models such as the 15 series?
Thanks Chris |
I’ve never experienced, seeing, 40% off new guitars.
Only way to know is to call and speak with sales to see what you could get |
Yes, I can't speak for the dealers but you will most likely get the 40% discount on the 15 series.
Maury's will and they discount the Road series about 35%, but they don't discount the X or Junior guitars. |
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Just a thought....... whm |
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You won’t ‘see’ that level of discount in dealers’ advertising because CFM’s rules limit dealers to the discount levels they can advertise (around 23%, I think), but some will offer more than that if you contact them. Buyers can benefit greatly if they do their homework. |
And, you don't have to negotiate. Just ask for their online price.
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Try our forum sponsors who are Martin AD's.
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I find Martin’s pricing culture to be unduly complicated and undesirable. Most consumers are not interested in becoming skilled purchasing agents. They just want to know what the price of a guitar is. But, like buying cars, it’s survival of the fittest when it comes to buying a new Martin. The very slim minority of players who know there is room to negotiate and also have the will to negotiate on a new guitar have an opportunity to land a better deal than most people looking for a Martin guitar. Nothing wrong with that, just not what I like. Tell someone who received 25% off a new D28 that you bought one the same day for 40% off and see how they feel.
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You don't have to negotiate with any of our forum sponsors. You just call and ask for a price. The guys at Music Zoo have told me that they will match online prices. So have the guys at GC near me. Again there's no negotiating. Just say; I can get this guitar from (sponsor's name) for this price, will you match it?
If they say no, I could pull out my phone in their store, call Maury and have my guitar the next day. It's that easy! One thing to think about with buying online is geography. I deal with Maury. He's less than an hour from the Martin factory and about 2.5 hours from me. My new guitar spends a lot less time in transit than it would if I ordered it from someone in L.A. |
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That extra bit of margin helps them cover a lot of other expenses, and in the case of many of the online shops that have financing, their no-interest deals at longer terms go out the window the minute they start shaving that advertised price. And, for places that do have large staffs and maybe a debt load, they might have varying flexibility, but they often have more liberal exchange policies (and the mentioned financing). So, whether someone overpaid or simply bought what they wanted at a price they thought was fair, I'm not going to judge. (Or rub their noses in what I might have paid.) Nice to have options :). |
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If you're not buying, just move along. Anything you do falls into the "unasked for advice" category, IMO. Or, you could write a letter to C.F. Martin, I suppose, since that's where the problem starts :). Edit/P.S. I looked at the price history, and *some* sell for near $2k. I'd have to guess not a lot are being bought new for $2039! (Average does seem nearer $1600, but not "mint" versions. Well, I'm not shopping now, anyway...) https://reverb.com/p/martin-standard...17#price-guide |
I've never purchased a guitar from Jon @ My Favorite Guitars https://www.myfavoriteguitars.com, a longtime AGF Sponsor; but I wonder if he'll be sharpening his pencil even more given that he's announced that he's retiring from the business...
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Thanks for the replies guys.
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Speaking of Maury’s, since they were one of the dealers I was considering anyway, is there any benefit to ordering from them, being that they are so close to the factory? Do they get to “hand pick” their guitars or are they getting the same as all the other online dealers?
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wheather it is a guitar, a car, or an appliance, or even a home it pays to become an educated consumer. |
I never did get the supposed benefit of getting 40% off MSRP on an item that the manufacturer has inflated over its actual worth by 200%.:rolleyes:
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With the dealers we’re talking about, there is just one simple question - “What is your best online price?”. They will give you the fully discounted price straight off the bat. Honestly! The downside of course is that you don’t get to play the guitar first. That might freak some buyers out but, if you choose your dealer wisely, they will do right by you. BTW - many (though not all) of these dealers ship outside the US so, when the X-Rate is right, there are some great bargains to be had by ‘aliens’ like me! Gotta time it right though! The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc. |
FYI--I bought my new D-18 from a mom and pop store a couple of years ago.
They beat even the "secret handshake" price. Actually, they discounted it so when they added sales tax the price was equal to the "best price" discussed here. And i didn't even have to ask. I played it for a while and he said, "Do you like it? Take it home! Here's what I can do..." Either way--great price, got to play it before I bought it, and didn't have to wait for it to be shipped. He even threw in a new set of strings. |
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See . . many of us are fundamentally introverts, and DESPISE dealing with commissioned salesmen . . .
You put your stuff online and tell me the honest price I'm buying from YOU, and not from ANYONE that I have to talk to. Sweetwater has in my file "Never call him, 'cuz if you do, he'll ream you about how he's told you a BUNCH of times not to call him." |
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Did I mention I never will buy anything from my local shop? |
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YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! |
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A cold way of saying 'they don't care whether their dealers sell at MAP or at wholesale, as long as the product keeps moving.' And the 40% off MSRP thing has been status quo for decades now. |
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Do music store salespeople get commissions though? |
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