Used Ellis A5 at Arlington, TX Guitar Center...

[Scott R]

Listed at $3799...

[colorado_al]

Looks like a sweet deal, if condition is good! New, that mandolin would be $5900

[Mike Martin]

If GC is selling it for $3799, they paid what, maybe $3000 for it? I suppose it could have been a trade-in, but jeez. What's wrong with it?

[Luna Pick]

I called, it is sold. . . should have called sooner.

[Dave Sheets]

Guitar center often seems to have low prices on good acoustic instruments (like this Ellis). I think they just buy them cheaply and sell them cheaply, it's not their main business, so they just don't worry that much about maximizing the profit. Buy cheap, sell cheap and quickly, take a modest profit from it. You really don't want to be in the position of having to sell to them, I'm afraid.

[Scott R]

LOL, it was available when I called this morning to confirm. So you are welcome to whomever here on the cafe picked it up right away....

So, who was it?

[Michael Neverisky]

If GC is selling it for $3799, they paid what, maybe $3000 for it?

The policy may have changed, but several years ago a friend managing the local GC told me they pay 60% of the selling price. So I'd guess they paid more like $2300.

If it's not a big manufacturer name, they don't really want it. I bought an A. E. Smith banjo from GC for $200 once. As well as a top-of-the-line Gruhn-era Guild for $700.

[colorado_al]

The policy may have changed, but several years ago a friend managing the local GC told me they pay 60% of the selling price. So I'd guess they paid more like $2300.

Ouch-town for whoever sold it to them!

[Josh Levine]

First rule of finding a bargain online: don't post it on the cafe if you are thinking of buying it yourself.

[MikeEdgerton]

First rule of finding a bargain online: don't post it on the cafe if you are thinking of buying it yourself.

True, It's never a good idea to share these things with two or three thousand of your closest friends.

[Mike Martin]

Hmm, coincidentally there is now an Ellis A5 in the Classifieds....

[Scott R]

I had no intention of buying it, figured somebody here might enjoy it. Or flip it, whatever

[Northwest Steve]

Hmm, coincidentally there is now an Ellis A5 in the Classifieds....

Not that flipping a mandolin does not happen here (it does) but I don't think it would have gotten from TX to PA the same day. At $3800 and probably paying taxes and shipping there would not be much room for a flip. On the other end you would pay close to 3% for paypal and 2% to the Café to 10% to ebay.