Instrument Exchange on ebay?

[cellardweller]

Has anyone ever dealt with Instrument Exchange on ebay?
It seems their auctions are avoided.

With good reason, or is it because they are affiliated with Guitar Center?

[Outlaws]

Are you finally gonna buy an amp?

[rodvonbon]

I went through them to (try) buy a guitar. Had nothing but a headache. Following their instructions I did the "Buy it now" through their web site and shelled out $2,800 (thats american folks!) only ot find they decided to sell the guitar local and did not pull down the auction. I found this AFTER they took my payment on my credit card. Now I was in a situation where I did not have the guitar nor did I have the funds available to purchase another. I was furrious as I was getting set to leave on tour, so I was in a pinch. The GC rep called me at home and did his best finding me a diffrent guitar from another GC store @ 10% off. He also offered t-shitrs and coffee mugs and I told him "if I take up playing coffee mugs and t-shirts I will call you."
He did do a nation wide search for me and had about 5 guitars to choose from ( though not of the same calliber). I ended up setteling on one for $1,400 that charged to a diffrent credit card. Now I have $4,200 in outstanding balance for a $1,400 guitar. I was being told the charge will be reversed blah,blah,blah........ I left for tour.
Hated the guitar I settled on and on returning home.....no reverse charge. I ended up going around GC and went straight to the source - Instrument Exchange and went off on a tyrade about fraud, bait and switch, reporting them to some (unknown) law officials and the like ( It was actually kind of funny by now.......well looking back anyway) and the next day the charge was reversed.......whew!
In the end I took the guitar I didnt want to a local GC and traded it for a 1982 JCM 800 with a 1960 cab. Straight up.
In my mind (at least) I feel like I came out a winner in the end.

Before you buy make sure they actually have what they are selling.

rodvonbon

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by rodvonbon

I went through them to (try) buy a guitar. Had nothing but a headache. Following their instructions I did the "Buy it now" through their web site and shelled out $2,800 (thats american folks!) only ot find they decided to sell the guitar local and did not pull down the auction. I found this AFTER they took my payment on my credit card. Now I was in a situation where I did not have the guitar nor did I have the funds available to purchase another. I was furrious as I was getting set to leave on tour, so I was in a pinch. The GC rep called me at home and did his best finding me a diffrent guitar from another GC store @ 10% off. He also offered t-shitrs and coffee mugs and I told him "if I take up playing coffee mugs and t-shirts I will call you."
He did do a nation wide search for me and had about 5 guitars to choose from ( though not of the same calliber). I ended up setteling on one for $1,400 that charged to a diffrent credit card. Now I have $4,200 in outstanding balance for a $1,400 guitar. I was being told the charge will be reversed blah,blah,blah........ I left for tour.
Hated the guitar I settled on and on returning home.....no reverse charge. I ended up going around GC and went straight to the source - Instrument Exchange and went off on a tyrade about fraud, bait and switch, reporting them to some (unknown) law officials and the like ( It was actually kind of funny by now.......well looking back anyway) and the next day the charge was reversed.......whew!
In the end I took the guitar I didnt want to a local GC and traded it for a 1982 JCM 800 with a 1960 cab. Straight up.
In my mind (at least) I feel like I came out a winner in the end.

Before you buy make sure they actually have what they are selling.

rodvonbon

What kind of shirts?

[ljump12]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

What kind of shirts?

more importantly; was it a good mug? You know.. the ones with the lids...

[cellardweller]

Originally Posted by Outlaws

Are you finally gonna buy an amp?

Well... I thought I might post a thread or two first... ya know... make sure I'm making the right choice

[asulger]

Originally Posted by cellardweller

Has anyone ever dealt with Instrument Exchange on ebay?
It seems their auctions are avoided.

With good reason, or is it because they are affiliated with Guitar Center?

I tried to buy one guitar on ebay thru Inst.Exchange. I didn't like the guitar and made arrangements to return it. At that point their software had a lot of glitches and I spent a pretty hairy weekend thinking that I was stuck with an expensive guitar I didn't want. I'm not sure if it was server problems or software errors. There was no help line and no way I could find to talk to someone.

It all worked out in the end, and I would probably use them again for the right price and item, but it would have to be an exceptional deal.
I notice that Ins.Ex. guitars always have starting bids at about market price. There don't seem to be bargains. I didn't know they wer associated with GC. That kind of explains the pricing. The guit. I tried to buy came from a GC in Buffalo.
Art

[cellardweller]

Originally Posted by asulger

I notice that Ins.Ex. guitars always have starting bids at about market price. There don't seem to be bargains.

Yep. I've noticed that too.
Their amps seem to start +/- $50 of prior auctions.

[Treeline]

GC stuff on ebay seems pretty much for show. I'm a Gibson LG1, 2, 3 fan. They've had some auctions up with starting prices looking for $3K, $4K for these things. A fair price would be between $900 and $2K depending on condition and year. As far as I'm concerned, those are just trolling auctions.

[6gun]

Originally Posted by Treeline

As far as I'm concerned, those are just trolling auctions.

That's my take on it. I've never seen what I consider a 'good' deal, much less 'great'.

[ggunn]

This is probably a well-worn topic and YMMV, but personally I would never buy a guitar that I had never had in my hands.

[rodvonbon]

Originally Posted by ggunn

This is probably a well-worn topic and YMMV, but personally I would never buy a guitar that I had never had in my hands.

I would say I never would again, although I just ordered one from Warmoth.

[cellardweller]

MY AMP DID NOT SHIP WITH THE POWER CORD....

AS ADVERTISED ON EBAY!!!


THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING MY EMAILS.

How am I to try this amp out in 48 hours without a power cord?

[hungovermorning]

Originally Posted by ggunn

This is probably a well-worn topic and YMMV, but personally I would never buy a guitar that I had never had in my hands.

It's just so much cheaper sometimes, but I would never buy a new guitar. If I was going to get a new one I'd probably agree more.