Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Topic started by: Metalone72 on December 13, 2017, 02:59:39 PM
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I have a chance to buy a 914ce at a deep discount. However there is are two impressions on the top near the bottom. Would you purchase it? I am getting close to 20% off mind you.
Thanks,
Scott
(https://s19.postimg.org/okswzifdb/5_FAEF390-_D959-4_CF8-9242-_CD857_A1_C0_C0_B.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/okswzifdb/)
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In a word, Yes!
Enjoy!
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I say Yes. Besides, you will probably have more of those within a year anyway.
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I guess I am in the minority but I would be looking for more than 20% off. I think you get that or pretty close new without the dings.
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I guess I am in the minority but I would be looking for more than 20% off. I think you get that or pretty close new without the dings.
i agree with you. plenty of dealers, including those who support the forum give better than advertised pricing on new and mint guitars
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There is always room for better deals. So I would not settle on just 20%. Remember cash is kind and paying in cash can almost always gain a better deal. I recently purchased a NAMM used 916ce with just about the same marks but near the high E string. Other than the few marks the guitar is flawless. I got approximately 45-50% off thanks to having cash in hand and willingness just to throw a low ball figure at the store. At the very least offer to pay cash to get rid of the tax if you live in a stupidly high tax state like I do.
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Those marks wouldn’t bother me at all, but I would inquire about a deeper discount and check if the 20% is off what they are really selling for or what they “list” for. Great way to get a fantastic instrument at a great price, and as has been said, you will probably add those kind of marks eventually anyway...
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If I’m not mistaken the 914ce sells for about $xx. 20% is about $xx or so off. That sounds pretty good to me considering how tiny the blemishes are. I would however ask them to throw in a different pick, that one looks all marked up 8)
$, per forum rules
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I kind of prefer a ding or so just so I don't feel so horrible when I inevitably ding it myself.
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These dings are so small its a matter of can you live with it or not? Or will you spend your time watching them. I know I would not mind now but years ago I was terrible about this kind of things. Now one of my favortie guitars is a beat up himmingbird that was beaten and almost gone for good before to come to Daddy.
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Hi Folks....
A few weeks back, I purchased an 814ce thru Amazon. The guitar arrived with an unsightly blemish on the Sitka spruce surface....the “blemish” was beneath the lacquer and not natural looking or not what one could consider “bearclawing”. Needless to say I was baffled wondering how in a million years this guitar could get past Taylor’s rigorous QA check before their guitars leave the factory. I was under the impression that Taylor does not allow “seconds” out their door. I then took photos and forwarded them to Taylor’s customer service asking for an explanation. I never received a response even though I sent a number of emails to them..... they clearly elected to remain silent about this situation. Again, I repeatedly asked them for an explanation and they clearly chose to not respond to me. I was not in any way rude....
So needless to say, I am totally disappointed in Taylor Guitars. Amazon did refund the entire payment (xx dollars plus) but that’s not the point. Don’t let anyone tell you different.... Taylor does allow “seconds” or flawed guitars out in the marketplace. If anyone is interested, I’ll send a photo of the inferior 814ce.
$, per forum rules
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Did you call them? That is the best way to get through, and they will give you an email to send pics to, but it sounds like you only tried email and don’t even know that they recieved the pics? They have outstanding customer service in my experience, and I think maybe your emails got sent to a spam folder or had a wrong address?
You may have jumped the gun on the return, fwiw
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Hi Folks....
A few weeks back, I purchased an 814ce thru Amazon. The guitar arrived with an unsightly blemish on the Sitka spruce surface....the “blemish” was beneath the lacquer and not natural looking or not what one could consider “bearclawing”. Needless to say I was baffled wondering how in a million years this guitar could get past Taylor’s rigorous QA check before their guitars leave the factory. I was under the impression that Taylor does not allow “seconds” out their door. I then took photos and forwarded them to Taylor’s customer service asking for an explanation. I never received a response even though I sent a number of emails to them..... they clearly elected to remain silent about this situation. Again, I repeatedly asked them for an explanation and they clearly chose to not respond to me. I was not in any way rude....
So needless to say, I am totally disappointed in Taylor Guitars. Amazon did refund the entire payment (xx dollars plus) but that’s not the point. Don’t let anyone tell you different.... Taylor does allow “seconds” or flawed guitars out in the marketplace. If anyone is interested, I’ll send a photo of the inferior 814ce.
$, per forum rules
I have experienced nothing but exceptional Customer Service with Taylor. Like Frettingflyer said, the most effective communication is talking to them. Then, they instruct you how to proceed. I respectfully disagree with you, in that Taylor does not sell seconds. Issues do come up with new guitars on occasion, but Taylor has a proven track record for dealing with those cases, if they truly warrant action on their part. Natural wood grains and patterns can be commonly referred to as blemishes, if not pleasing to a particular individual's eye. So, they need to make the call, after you make a connection with them. At least you got your money back through Amazon. There are many reputable Taylor dealers, if you choose to attempt an on-line purchase again. Just ask here on the forum and we can help you out. Taylor is an exceptional company with awesome guitars. You deserve to get what set out to get.
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I did exchange emails with Customer Service and communicated with Josh Mundt. He initially requested that I send a smaller file of the pic I sent him, which I did, twice.... and then sent two more emails asking for a response. Below is a pic of the 814ce “blemish” that I was inquiring about.
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Sure looks like bear claw to me. Hard to tell from a photo, so that's my best guess.
Personally, I like wood characteristics like that...... not perfect and boring.
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Looks like bear claw figure to me as well. It's a matter of taste, but I like the occasional bear claw "beauty mark" on an otherwise bland-looking spruce top. You'll always be able to distinguish your 814 from other 814s.
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Looks like a natural irregularity to me. These beauty marks add character and make your guitar stand out from the others. I for one think it is a positive attribute to your guitar.
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There is a fair chance that those impressions could be steamed out. Videos on YouTube if you are interested or a guitar tech could try.
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A bit OT with regard to the OP, but here goes:
Hi Ssawy,
That is no blemish ...that is the wood's grain. Call it "bear claw" or irregularity; your choice, but this is "natural imperfection" only because all wood varies. Not any defect that I can see under close scrutiny of the grains in your pic, IMHO. Sorry, but I disagree with your assessment that this is in any way a "defect" that merits factory attention. This is wood, and wood quite simply varies, and not necessarily in consistent patterns that we consumers are perhaps accustomed to seeing. One doesn't "have" to like grain. FWIW, I have turned away from guitars because I'm visually put off ...not wrong to not like a given wood's appearance. :)
I am glad that Amazon addressed your dissatisfaction. But these variances --as well as the innumerable minute differences that are almost impossible to quantify from guitar to guitar-- are precisely why folks either buy instrument only when they can get their hands on them, or through many correspondences and detailed photos of the actual instrument before purchase. The best vendors --of which there are many-- will do exactly this. So while I love my Amazon Prime, I know that for some purchases, I am simply better off looking where I will be better served.
Edward
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I think that you can do much better than 20% off. You should ask for 30% off and some free goods. As someone who has spent much of his life in retail I can tell you that retailers are much more likely to throw in free goods to close a deal. If you ask for $100 worth of accessories it will cost the dealer half that or less and they will be much more willing to give you that over cash. Remember-$100 cash off will cost the dealer $100.00. $100 worth of accessories will only cost them $50. As my last boss used to tell me “the worst they can say is no”.