Ridiculous Prices.

[Shredder87]

Right, I've just been having a look on the bay. For obvious reasons I will not name the seller or auction number etc. But this has really ruffled my feathers.

There is a UV777GR being sold from a supposedly reputable shop with a "buy it now" price of £1600. 1600 Quid!!!!

Perhaps I am being naive here, but I have been left asking "What the f*ck?"!

I understand that the Universe is a signature model, and hence will be expensive. I also understand that these "neon" colours are very highly sought-after. And with the guitar being a rare model, it will be all the more expensive. But 1600 quid! This is bloody ridiculous! It is bare-faced greed.

I am not an expert by any means, but I know enough about guitars to say that normally UV's of this age go for anything between £750 and just over a grand. Even for really good condition. But I find that asking 1600 smackeroos for any UV is insolence and stupidity of the highest order. Bloody ridiculous.

Demand has been pushing up the prices of early RGs, JEMs and UVs, but this is clearly getting out of hand.

To the mods: I have tried not to violate the rules here. However if I have, I send my apologies, feel free to lock this one up... sorry if I seem histrionic, I just find it very insulting that someone is so greedy as to offer an Ibanez Universe for over three times the value of my car.

Cheers

Smithy

[Andelusion]

It's life.

If someone wants one that bad, they'll pay through the nose for it.

If no one does, it'll pass on by and won't be sold.

There's one in my local guitar shop and they're wanting a similar price for it I should imagine.

[bikeman]

Calm down dear - it's only a commercial!

People can ask what they want, its supply and demand. Are you saying a vintage Strat at £30,000 is equally as offensive? That's just the way it is. You don't have to buy it you know! If you're after one of those guitars, then you have to be prepared to pay the market rate or hope you get lucky somewhere.

[Shredder87]

Yeah. Supply and demand is pretty common sense - but there's a limit you can take it to before it crosses the line of stupidity. What rattled my cage was that most UVs I have seen for sale from that era in good condition have been much less, i.e. hovering at maximum around the £1K mark. In fact, most I've seen have went for around £800. I just find it a little silly that it's roughly twice the rice of other equivalent UV's that I have seen for sale. Had this been one of Steve Vai's touring spares... then that is a different story altogether.

If someone advertised a vintage strat for £30K, unless it had been played by some famous guitar player and/or it had some famous history behind it, was a custom shop job, had platinum frets etc. then yes, I'd be offended. Grossly.

The way I see it: would you pay £10K for an early eighties Ford Capri, considering you can get one for a couple of hundred quid in good condition and low mileage?

P.S. Before you all begin laughing at Capris, they are immense.

Just my 2 pence

Smithy

[kennydoe]

if you really want to aggravate yourself, go to ed roman's site

[Shredder87]

Heh heh heh, good ol' Ed Roman. Heh heh.

[bikeman]

I think you're taking things way too persoanlly. So what if it's overpriced? Who cares?

[Demiurge]

Just laugh at the poor shmuck who will overpay for the guitar. If the general guitar-buying populace weren't so dumb (or, desparate in some cases), people couldn't get away with ripping people off.

[Shredder87]

Originally Posted by bikeman

I think you're taking things way too persoanlly. So what if it's overpriced? Who cares?

Quite simple, really. As Demiurge said, some poor idiot with more money than intelligence will think "Hey! A UV!" and go buy it. Yet, if they waited around they could pick up one that is just as decent and potentially save themselves over £600. That's a lot of cash. That's my point. Plus, sellers like this will push market prices up further. Plus it's of interest to me since I'm beginning to look for a UVGR, but I am prepared to wait until a good deal comes up, not a silly one.

That's all. I'm not taking anything personally - just stating hard fact.

P.S. Run your spellchecker ... I jest.

Smithy

[bikeman]

Anyone who walks into a guitar shop, sees a guitar and buys it without checking prices elsewhere (or being aware of the market) deserves everything they get in my opinion.

Given the rarity of the guitar, I don't think £1600 is that unreasonable. Prices are heading upwards these days and if it's mint who's to say it won't sell at that price? The seller isn't pushing up prices unless someone actually buys it...

[andy7jem]

I saw a 3 litre 'T' reg Capri today!! Didn't look 10K's worth though

[Shredder87]

Originally Posted by bikeman

Anyone who walks into a guitar shop, sees a guitar and buys it without checking prices elsewhere (or being aware of the market) deserves everything they get in my opinion.

Given the rarity of the guitar, I don't think £1600 is that unreasonable. Prices are heading upwards these days and if it's mint who's to say it won't sell at that price? The seller isn't pushing up prices unless someone actually buys it...

I have to say I totally agree with your first point.

The guitar is in good condition, though not mint. There is some wear on the fretboard, headstock is chipped and the trem spring cover on the back of the guitar is missing. But, anyways, that's just my opinion...

No Capri is worth 10K I'm the biggest Capri-lover ever... Mark 3 2.8 Injection is "the dream"... though I admit I would be just as happy with a 1.6 Laser

[fettouhi]

Originally Posted by kennydoe

if you really want to aggravate yourself, go to ed roman's site

Regards

André

[Shredder87]

Ed Roman's Rants are rather interesting to read. Man, that guy is pissed.

[fleeeep]

That particluar UV777GR you're talking about has been hanging in that shop in London for over 2 years and nobody's bought it coz of the huge price so i guess they're hoping they'll find a buyer though the miracle of the internet