Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was just looking at an Azureglo 4001 on Ebay that Guitar Center listed for like $2599 and decided I just have ask..........what the heck are they trying to do??

Anybody know what they're trying to accomplish with their Ebay pricing? Nobody ever bids on their stuff.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.asp?news_id=21&news=recent

this might clear thing up maybe

GC tends to be high $$ on their used stuff.
They've had a National style 4 squareneck on and off
for 6500 or so.
Got mine for 3900......
Go figure.

It's part of a two-tiered strategy to fleece the uninitiated and jack prices in general up. So far it's been less than successful. But in the longterm?

I've seen quite a few GC auctions on ebay here latley. When I see it's an auction by GC I just close it out and move on.
Paul

It's like "why bother". Just junking up Ebay.

One can only imagine the Ebay fees that they must pay....

" Rickenbacker notifies Guitar Center that they are no longer authorized dealers.

Santa Ana, February 18, 2005: Rickenbacker notified Guitar Center today that it would not accept further orders for Rickenbacker products, that all existing orders have been cancelled, and no further shipments would be made. All Guitar Center locations will soon be removed from Rickenbacker's list of authorized dealerships and dealer referral system.
Rickenbacker CEO John Hall commented, “It’s a sad day considering our long history, however, it has become increasingly apparent that our style of business is not compatible with that of Guitar Center’s. Their business model and support systems are well optimized to suit sales of mass-produced goods but less efficient for small shop, craftsman-produced products like ours”. He went on to note that this policy will not apply to the Musician’s Friend unit of Guitar Center, which to date has remained under separate, autonomous management. He said, “We have a very positive relationship with Musician’s Friend and can only hope this success will not be affected: that’s up to management at Guitar Center to decide.”

Rickenbacker invented the modern electric guitar as it exists today in 1931 and remains the only major, original electric guitar maker to produce solely in the United States. "

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.... sorry, but I just had post the entire thing .... its classic "officialspeak" but them's some STRONG words. In "normalspeak" that statement would contain a number of explitive-deleteds. I've never dealt with a Guitar Center myself and from the sounds of it I'm not missing much.

Amazing stuff there Kent!
Not having anything to do with G.C down here in OZ, i cant help but have noticed all the negatives about them! I have seen their auctions on ebay, and even for aussie pricing, they are way off tap!
Imagine losing Rickenbacker as a client! Silly Boys!!

If you see GCrep in a seller's name run, don't walk.

But I have to say that I like GC in general. Yeah, can't really get much in the way of boutique items, like Rickenbacker, but they always have a decent stock of instruments and I never have a hassle trying out stuff.

And their pricing is competitive.

I order my Rics online and I buy amps, cabs and other instruments at GC.

"Not having anything to do with G.C down here in OZ, i cant help but have noticed all the negatives about them!"

Don't worry, GC is headed for Canada and rumor has it they have plans for Europe in the not too distant future. Oz can't be far behind!

Tahiti, here I come!!! ... or maybe New Caledonia...

That would be interesting - there are only a couple of 'chains' in the music business here - Allans and Billy Hydes. I'm sure GC would get a lot of initial support, probably largely from the 'thrasher' market. On the other hand, there are a lot of smaller, 'boutique' stores that have loyal customers who might look but not buy.

Every man and his dog sells mainstream stuff like Fender, Gibson, PRS, Ibanez, Yamaha and the 'cheapies' but few handle Rickenbacker, Gretsch and the like.

"I've seen quite a few GC auctions on ebay here latley. When I see it's an auction by GC I just close it out and move on."
Paul


Ditto.
GUITAR CENTER SUCKS!

At the risk of re-opening a whole can or worms, can someone summarize just why GC sucks? What problems have people been having? Why did Ricenbacker shut them off?