Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

You can get the guitar for less than the tag price--sometimes lots less, especially in this economy (look for store closings in smaller markets in 6-9 months). After you've got a deal on a price, then you can sweeten it with picks, straps, and, yes, a case or bag.

still wrote:I've noticed on the GC receipts that they itemize the guitar and the bag separately. Makes me wonder if you could get the guitar for LESS than the tag price, if you said you didn't want the bag???

It would be worth inquiring about. GC was always famous for selling guitars without cases. When I bought my 325v59 from them, they tried pulling that **** about the case being sold separately, but I got them to include it in the price I negotiated. And yes, they adjusted the price of the guitar on the invoice so they could list the case separately and put a price on it.

beatlefreak wrote:

still wrote:I've noticed on the GC receipts that they itemize the guitar and the bag separately. Makes me wonder if you could get the guitar for LESS than the tag price, if you said you didn't want the bag???

It would be worth inquiring about. GC was always famous for selling guitars without cases. When I bought my 325v59 from them, they tried pulling that **** about the case being sold separately, but I got them to include it in the price I negotiated. And yes, they adjusted the price of the guitar on the invoice so they could list the case separately and put a price on it.

I wonder if it is related to their commissions that they insist on selling, or at least, invoicing the case separately, as it would then be considered an accessory, and maybe giving a higher percentage.

If they can keep the case and send you home with a cheap gig bag that came with another guitar, they will. They can always sell the case seperately to maximize profits. This generally doesn't work with the uneducated consumer, but the young people and unsuspecting get lured in to this practice by grifting salespeople. I used to take a lot of deals from GC in the stores I worked at over the whole case deal.

While GC deserves most of its bad reputation, alot of the Mom & Pop stores that I've delt with over the years, aren't any better.

In a way it's a pity that RIC doesn't include the case in its specifications list for the models..... then you could simply tell the dealer to refer to the official web site.

Oops!!!

The price list on the RIC site makes clear mention of the fact that cases are included in the prices set out.

Didn't look there, did I??

ozover50 wrote:Oops!!!

The price list on the RIC site makes clear mention of the fact that cases are included in the prices set out.

Didn't look there, did I??

And that's where they can make the claim that the retail price shown on the price list includes the case, but since they are selling it for so much less, their price doesn't include the case...

I don't know if that's the excuse they might have used, nor do I know what RIC's official policy is for dealers on pricing and cases, etc., I have no idea what all the reasons were behind their being dropped, but from the sounds of this discussion, the case issue might be just one of the reasons why they are not a RIC dealer anymore.

And that's where they can make the claim that the retail price shown on the price list includes the case, but since they are selling it for so much less, their price doesn't include the case...

Good point! Very shonky business IMO but there ya go!

ozover50 wrote:

And that's where they can make the claim that the retail price shown on the price list includes the case, but since they are selling it for so much less, their price doesn't include the case...

Good point! Very shonky business IMO but there ya go!

Just in case anyone is wondering if the case is actually included, the price list specifically says the price includes a "FREE" case, meaning you should always get the case at no charge. It's worded that way to specifically avoid situations where someone might try to pull that trick.

Another tactic for getting the very best price at GC is to wait for their Holiday sales .... Memorial Day, Fourth of July , Labor Day, etc. They usually have big quotas to make for those Holiday blow-outs and if you wait till about two or three hours before closing time on the final day of the Sale, you can find uncharacteristic salesmen suddenly willing to move on price, or discount a case substantially, etc. Of course that's only going to work on inventory they have in supply... not special orders.
Rich F.

8mileshigher wrote:...if you wait till about two or three hours before closing time on the final day of the Sale, you can find uncharacteristic salesmen suddenly willing to move on price, or discount a case substantially, etc. Of course that's only going to work on inventory they have in supply... not special orders.
Rich F.

...and if they have what you want at the time!