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Showing posts with the label Rants

Wanna know how I got these scars?

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Remember the guy that tried to pass off that Squier Affinity Series Tele as "Made in Japan?" Remember him offering a trade? He's back, and he's officially my nemesis.  That makes him Batman, I think. Or Joker.  Maybe both?  Either then? Doesn't matter. He's definitely Batman, because he's made me lose my goddamn mind via email (as opposed to a really bad day I guess).  Also his name reminds me of "Cornish Game Hen", which is closer to a Bat than a clown if you ask me. Like this, but instead of killing Batman, Guitars. If you spent the kind of time I do on Kijiji, you eventually start running into some familiar folks.  Not faces mind you - No no, these people rarely even deal.  They are the classic tire kickers.  Interested at a distance, ready to spend, then suddenly nothing. I've had the Squier Standard Stratocaster posted for awhile.  I'm only asking slightly more than I bought it for, and figure my attention is worth

Kijiji Comandments

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Eventually, I'm going to get around to writing a "Ten Commandments" of Kijiji. Two reasons for this.  First, people internalize rules if they're presented in easy to digest formats, like "Top Ten" lists. Maybe one day, Kijiji could adopt the list, and I could become the Billy Graham of Kijiji, travelling the land, spreading the gospel according to GuitArcher. We could call the "kijijiments" instead of commandments, except I just read that and it is tucking ferrible. Second though, and way more importantly,  the internet frickin' loves them some Top Ten lists. "You WILL succumb to my click-bait!" "Thou shalt honor thy word." This is definitely going to make the list, maybe even at the number one spot.  I posted the Squier Standard Stratocaster recently for a very reasonable price, and have had a few trade offers, none of which blew sand up my skirt.  Patience as always.  40 years in a desert this is not. Even

Kijijiots at it again...

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When you "watch" an ad on Kijiji, you're doing it for one reason and one reason alone - you want to see how long the ad will stay up.  If you wanted to buy, you'd send an offer then and there.  But the longer the item remains unsold, the more likely the seller will accept an offer under the ask (and the more likely you can justify the purchase in your head).  Or so the thinking goes anyway... If you do this, you'll notice that sellers fall into a few categories:

Damn "Tele" - or is it "Teley"?

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Here's a post I saw come up locally yesterday: "Squier Teley - $200 - Made in Japan Squire Teley sehs a beauty. 200.00 or best offer may consider trade. Pictures don't want to load will send" Made is Japan you say?  For $200 bucks you say?  "sehs" a beauty you say? Too good not to ask, I say:

Unknown Excitement / Known Disappointment

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No more than 48 hours passed before I posted the Squier Stratocaster back on Kijiji.  It isn't that there is anything wrong with it, but it isn't dear, and I have a fever to feed. The fever is not cowbell, and certainly not more of it. I got a ridiculously good deal on this one, so after a good cleaning, a few high quality photos, and a quick check of market conditions, it was ready for the block.

Ripoffs - Upgrades and Packages

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I doubt that Kijiji will ever run out of people trying to rip other people off. In fairness, I don't think many of these folks are actively trying to screw the next guy.  They just don't understand the value of what they have.  Knocking $20 off the new price isn't going to move your item, and while I suppose there's nothing saying that you can't waste your own time, I think we'd all be better off if folks understood value. These ones have left me shaking my head this week Blacktop Stratocaster (Upgraded) - $550 I have a Blacktop Stratocaster I've modified myself, and while mine is pretty much priceless, this is more than a bit silly.  The "upgrades" here are locking tuners and aftermarket knobs. Whoa there Nelly.  Slow down.  You're blowing my mind. $550 is absolutely insane for this guitar - and yet 24 hours later I can't find the listing.  Either I'm an idiot, or I'm severely underestimating the number of them out t

Top 5 Kijijiot Tactics

kijijiot (n): A person who posts and responds to ads on Kijiji with either no intention of completing a transaction, or one who offers insulting terms.  You've dealt with these people before - either a buyer or a seller who is window shopping and wasting everyone's time.  I don't think these people are actively trying to screw with anyone, but whether it's a severe case of GAS, second thoughts, or something else, these people make dealing on Kijiji a pain in the ass. Here are my Top 5 Kijijiot Tactics: "Is this still available?" This one is tough, because there are legitimately people out there who don't bother taking down their ads once items have sold.  Sellers are trying to combat this with ads that have "If you see this ad it is still available " or "Ad will be deleted when sold" included in the description. Some sellers remain lazy though, so I'm not going to knock the question. Still, I can't count how many

Finding Value

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I could be wrong, but I think Gibson made a serious mistake in 2014 with the introduction of the SGJ.   I know.  Gibson?  Make a mistake?  Never.  Their decision making tree can never be questioned, right? For those unfamiliar, the Gibson SGJ is the lowest cost, "full featured" guitar you can currently buy from Gibson.   For under $650 CAD , you too can have your very own, brand new, USA made Gibson.  When you consider that the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro lists for almost 15% more, you have to wonder if the product folks at Epiphone got the memo about the 2014 product lineup.  I know, I know, they're not the same guitar, but stay with me.  Why would you buy the Chinese Les Paul when you could have the USA SGJ and a couple of $20s in your pocket instead?   Well, for the most part I blame teenagers and their parents (AM I RIGHT?!?!).  Parents won't deal on the used market, convinced that a "warranty" is of great value, so they'll happ

Snooze and Lose

If you ask me, Long and McQuade's Boxing Day sales have been getting worse as the years go on.  It isn't surprising given the ever eroding margins in retail of any kind, combined with what must be approaching near market saturation for ownership of electric guitars, thanks to lower entry level price points. A few years ago the featured deal was an American Stratocaster with maple board, in red (Hot Rod Red maybe?), for $699.  I wasn't interested - I'm in Japanese territory at that price point - but I recognize that it was a pretty good deal.  I could be wrong, but I believe that each store had a reported minimum quantity - kudos to L&M if that were the case.  I'm sure there were more than a few kids (and adults) who took all their Christmas money, lined up on Boxing Day, and left with an American Stratocaster.  A good Christmas if you ask me. In 2013, perhaps in an attempt to catch lightning in a bottle again, L&M put a couple of Fender Guitars on sale

Limited Editions?

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You can't swing a cat without hitting something that is "limited edition" these days. Manufacturers are sticking the "limited edition" stickers on everything, from cars to coke (automobiles to Zima?), in the hopes that we'll convince ourselves that we're just as special as the 500 other schlubs down the street. Guitar makers aren't any different. Fender wants to believe that every guitar or amp is the naturally blonde Japanese unicorn - a rare prize reserved for those of discriminating taste, now available for slightly more than the standard model (which is a regular Japanese unicorn , in case you're wondering how the metaphor works). Epiphone is into redheads. Suffice to say, "Limited Edition" production guitars should be taken with a grain of salt. Limited edition salt obviously.  Regular salt is for losers. Hold the salt here though.  This one is actually pretty cool. Gibson SG Limited Edition (1996)