tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I was just at my local Long & McQuade, they're the holder of the Epiphone trademark for Canada <Yorkville Music> and our "big" chain up here, and they are pricing the LP Standard at $765!!! That wasn't for the plus top, that was 20 bucks more. So, congratulations Yorkville/Gibson, you just put the price, taxes included, of an Epi Les Paul at $900 -brutal!!! I talked to the guy at the counter and he said the increase is due to our dollar, which happily slumped recently :0( For a time recently, our buck was above the US greenback. Prices just went up this week. If memory serves me right, these guitars just went up about $165 in a week. I know that the Fender MIM's are going up, but I would hazard to guess they won't be at $765!!! Yes, there's a big difference in sound between a MIM Strat and an Epi Les Paul, but I can't help but think that given the choice, someone who's buying a first electric (or a third) will buy the Fender. 900 BUCKS for an Epiphone Les Paul Standard -I'll bet they sell like hotcakes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyushPresley Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 We have the same problem here in Australia ..an Epiphone Les Paul Plus costs about $1000+ now and the SG's price has increased drastically too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 I can't see how they'll sell a lot of them at that price. Seriously, you could probably get an HSS MIM Fe**er St**t for almost 200 less. Let alone Iba**z or Washb**n or God*n. It's an incredibly stupid price for a guitar that you need to mod to turn into a $900 guitar! lol So if you spent $300 on new pick ups and say 100 bucks more on other parts (taxes included) and do all the work yourself, You've spent $1300 bucks to get it CLOSE to a Gibson. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thing you can get a REAL Gibson for around $1300 Canadian (probably have to add tax). Pretty darn sure you can get a used Gibson Les Paul Standard up here for less $1300. What ARE they smoking in Toronto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydpink7 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I've been to that shop, nice place. Lots of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 Filled with $900 Epi LPs they can't sell! lol And yes, they have some nice stuff, I like that they have a decent parts selection and a good variety of guitars. BUT, keep in mind they won't touch your guitar's truss rod or adjust the action when you but it, like Steve's on Rideau will, they make you wait two or three weeks so they can do a real set up on it. $900 BUCKS!!! For an Epiphone? LOL!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I don't know who their biggest customers are, hobbyists or gigging musicians. I can see hobbyists buying Epis, but for that money not many will. As for musicians, I would guess that if they have to pay a high price for a guitar, they would just as well get a Gibson. Therefore, I would assume that Epis at these high-prices, would have alienated all the possible buyer groups out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 I'd have to agree with you Marcelo. Someone who plays for a living will spend that cash on a used Gibson. The guy or gal who likes to mess around on the guitar at home won't pay that much either. So who do they sell to? Anyone who does a little digging will learn that you have to spend around three hundred for some new Seymour Duncans and possible a new nut and bridge and then they might want to drop new tuners in it too. So you have a $900 guitar that needs $300-$500 in parts to get it up to par. I know that they overprice Gibsons, there are a lot of dentists out there, but I thought they made their cash on selling cheap Epiphones at volume. Fe**er must be pretty happy with this, hope they're smart enough to keep their prices down. Someone's got a niche to fill in Canada now, Epiphone has left the building -who's coming in the side door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I want one of these supposed $1300 used Gibson LP Standards... I can't find any used ones around here for much less than sticker price, maybe 1700 to 1900 if you're lucky. If I find a $1300 Gibson LP, there's something seriously wrong with it, or it's a Studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 But nobody has any cash down there right? Folks are losing their jobs, I'm guessing cash will talk pretty loud down there. And it's not really taking advantage of someone if you make them a fair offer and they need the coin. If you have the cash, I'd imagine you can get what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 But nobody has any cash down there right? Folks are losing their jobs' date=' I'm guessing cash will talk pretty loud down there. And it's not really taking advantage of someone if you make them a fair offer and they need the coin. If you have the cash, I'd imagine you can get what you want.[/quote']You would think so, but it's still at the stage of "I need cash, so I guess I have to sell my Gibson... But I'll be damned if I'll take less than 2 grand for it." there's a guy who relists the same black '94 Gibson LP Standard on craigslist for "2000 firm", week after week. You'd think he would try dropping the price even 50 bucks, but no deal. I offered him 1700, he didn't even bother to reply. So I put a new Traditional on layaway. It will be HNGD for me in another few weeks, LOL. Right now, it's just HNRD... "happy new reciept day"... I only owe another 900 now though, so it won't be long. Pics will of course be posted as soon as I crack open the case, no worries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Mr. Firm is clearly nuts!!! lol Yeah, everyone has 2 grand but him right? lol He'll cave eventually, hope he gets and gives a decent price. I hate to see people get screwed when they're broke, but ya gotta give a little right? HNRD!!! I finally picked up a Gibson today, I've only been playing a year and a half, it was an acoustic, a humminbird I think. It felt okay, sounded ok, but it was more exciting to take off the hanger and touch than the actual experience of playing it. It was like, "Wow, I'm about to play a $2500 guitar." Followed by a hmmmph. I'll try it again and see what happens...no wait, I don't think I need to get myself into the place where I'm dying for a Gibson -that would be TRULY horrific!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 But nobody has any cash down there right? Folks are losing their jobs' date=' I'm guessing cash will talk pretty loud down there. And it's not really taking advantage of someone if you make them a fair offer and they need the coin. If you have the cash, I'd imagine you can get what you want.[/quote'] I have not see any desperation from Gibson owners to dump their guitar cheap either. I see a lot of Gibsons selling for only a few hundred dollars less than a new one, so you might as well buy the new one. I guess that in this recession, we now have Ebay out there and it tends to maintain prices steadier on these luxuries. In the old days, you had to grab the first person with cash that came along, now you can list with Ebay as a last resort. What bugs me are the people who list on Craigslist, they are firm on their price, then one day, they probably needed cash real fast, and practically gave the guitar away to a pawn shop. I just saw a Gibson LP Goth going for $499 at a local pawn shop, so I guess they offered the original owner 1/2 of that, or $250. How come the original owner would never sell it to me for $250?, but to sell it to the pawn shop for the same amount is no problem at all. Do you guys know if pawn shops are open to offers? I was thinking of offering them something in the $300-$400 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 The following prices are in Euros (taxes included). So how much is a Canadian/American and Australian dollar in Euros? Btw i can't find the Euro sign on my keyboard....oops#-o Epiphone Les Paul Standard: 399,- Les Paul '56 Goldtop and Sheraton II: 499,- Les Paul Custom, SG custom and Les Paul Ultra : 599,- Riviera: 699,- Dot: 319,- SG 1966: 339,- G 400: 299,- Peter from the Netherlands/Europe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Here's a fresh quote, the Euro is at $1.29 US right now, which means that $1 US = .77 Euros. So, $500 US is about 385 Euros. I know you guys in Europe are going to say, "man, that is a steal!", but from what I have seen, goods in Europe are artificially inflated with hidden taxes of 30% or more. The US is not into those taxation practices as most countries of the world are. Canada, on the other hand, is more like Europe, (in fact, actually more like Sweden, one of the most taxed countries on earth). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I take it back, it looks like prices are almost the same in the Netherlands. For example the SG400 goes for $400 here, so it translates to 288 Euros, and you are paying 299 Euros there. I have seen the Dot go for $299 US or 231 Euros, you guys are paying E319, so this model is way more expensive in your area. Are there sales taxes charged on top of these prices in the Netherlands? or are the prices on your list the final price? On top of our prices, we get charged an additional 6% sales tax around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I take it back' date=' it looks like prices are almost the same in the Netherlands. For example the SG400 goes for $400 here, so it translates to 288 Euros, and you are paying 299 Euros there. I have seen the Dot go for $299 US or 231 Euros, you guys are paying E319, so this model is way more expensive in your area. Are there sales taxes charged on top of these prices in the Netherlands? or are the prices on your list the final price? On top of our prices, we get charged an additional 6% sales tax around here.[/quote'] Marcelo, These are the final prices and you get a free gigbag. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Gibson has officially gotten greedy. The % increase on their new price list make no sense at all. Congratulations "three wise men", you've just priced yourselves out of the market with your insane price increase on the Epiphone Les Paul in Canada. $900 for an Epiphone Les Paul in Canada? It just won't sell and it ain't worth it either. WOW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gashole Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Yeah...raising prices during a global recession...that'll work! I keep hearing all kinds of concern about deflation, but I think all I see is inflation...followed by the collapse of companies that price themselves out of their market... However...might that not be part of the overall business plan? Run it into the ground quick while the government is giving handouts for business failure? Not to be overly cynical or harsh, but we are talking big business here with an obvious or not so obvious agenda-but some sort of plan non the less. Or maybe they are like the govenment too...grasping at straws? Or rather, currency and then hurling it into burning pit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I have not see any desperation from Gibson owners to dump their guitar cheap either. I see a lot of Gibsons selling for only a few hundred dollars less than a new one' date=' so you might as well buy the new one. I guess that in this recession, we now have Ebay out there and it tends to maintain prices steadier on these luxuries. In the old days, you had to grab the first person with cash that came along, now you can list with Ebay as a last resort. What bugs me are the people who list on Craigslist, they are firm on their price, then one day, they probably needed cash real fast, and practically gave the guitar away to a pawn shop. I just saw a Gibson LP Goth going for $499 at a local pawn shop, so I guess they offered the original owner 1/2 of that, or $250. How come the original owner would never sell it to me for $250?, but to sell it to the pawn shop for the same amount is no problem at all. Do you guys know if pawn shops are open to offers? I was thinking of offering them something in the $300-$400 range.[/quote'] I imagine most Gibsons on pawn shop walls were not brought in with intent to sell, moreso as collateral on a short term high interest loan, and then the person wasn't able to make the payment on the ticket when it came due. I've lost a few things to pawn shops that way, mostly stacks of CDs, nothing as valuable as a guitar. I have pawned guitars before, but only when I KNEW I would have the money back in time to get them out. As for getting a deal, it depends on the pawn shop, and how long the guitar sits there. If he's had it for a while, he should be willing to drop 50 bucks off at least. It never hurts to ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydpink7 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Yeah...raising prices during a global recession...that'll work! Yeah, I've already seen commercials of satellite companies making fun of cable companies "Looks like we are gonna lose a lot of business" says an Exec. Then an adviser replies "Here's the solution in two words: Federal Bailout" Is it just me, or is all of this a big joke? Close to a TRILLION ($819 billion) dollars being spent everywhere, the last stock market bailout didn't turn out well, what's going to make this one succeed? And by succeed I mean, spent wisely and not used for corporate Bonus's? (The Salary cap Obama is working on should have been done a while ago...) And for Epiphone, the market changes have been fast and drastic. So it may be just the implementation of a plan from a while ago. But I hope they change their minds, cause when you lose your job you're not gonna go out and buy a 900$ Guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zobi2 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Wow, I called Long and McQuade just a couple of days ago, and they had a LP standard lefty for $ 680 CAD. That was fast. Anyway I found a new Custom lefty for $ 732 CAD on ebay, from a seller in Canada, I think you should do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 I'm not in the market for an new LP, I've got a Classic that I love! But I'm pretty darn sure that I wouldn't have bought it at the time if it was $900. More importantly, I don't think a lot of other folks up here will be buying one anytime soon either. If you look at it this way, Epiphone isn't Gibson, you're buying a knock off. Everyone's heard of Fe**der and Gibson and the new guy buying a first electric will be more likely to buy a Fe**der at a couple of hundred less (because it's a REAL Fe**der) on a MIM rather than REEEEEEEEEEACH for something that's not even a Gibson. Greed man, pure greed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrighty3693 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Annaul tax rate in the UK has gone down another .5% so that means guitars now cost less thankyou Mr Prime Minister supporting the Guitarists of Britain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gashole Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Is it just me' date=' or is all of this a big joke? Close to a TRILLION ($819 billion) dollars being spent everywhere, the last stock market bailout didn't turn out well, what's going to make this one succeed? And by succeed I mean, spent wisely and not used for corporate Bonus's? (The Salary cap Obama is working on should have been done a while ago...) And for Epiphone, the market changes have been fast and drastic. So it may be just the implementation of a plan from a while ago. But I hope they change their minds, cause when you lose your job you're not gonna go out and buy a 900$ Guitar.[/quote'] It all looks geared to maintain the status quo-which is what caused the problem. IMO, we either need to be capatalists, or socialists-not this strange middle ground we have been in. I can't believe that companies exist that pay their expenses with credit! What is that? If you are a business and you can't cover overhead anyother way but going in the hole, then isn't that business a failure, using the capatilist model of economics? But we prop them up. It's like the top of the chain gets socialism and the rest get the shaft. One or the other please- this makes us vulnerable to the weakness of both systems. They seem focused on all the lost jobs and paying little attention to maintaining the ones that are still here. Shore up what you have so you can build on a solid foundation. I'm just a guitar player and cook though. And amen to the 900$ guitar and the unemployed! Insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydpink7 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 It all looks geared to maintain the status quo-which is what caused the problem. IMO' date=' we either need to be capitalists, or socialists-not this strange middle ground we have been in. I can't believe that companies exist that pay their expenses with credit! What is that? If you are a business and you can't cover overhead any other way but going in the hole, then isn't that business a failure, using the capatilist model of economics? But we prop them up. It's like the top of the chain gets socialism and the rest get the shaft. [/quote'] Yep, Companies gain massive profits in the best of times with plenty of help from the government, and in bad times they get bailed out. While we get stuck with expensive guitars to buy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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