Thomann selling Harley Benton basses as 'Decoration only'

[pfretrock]

On 8/1/2017 at 14:59, alittlebitrobot said:

My point: I gave up 'the chase' about 2 years ago because things would sell out literally instantly; I think the thread worked out that there were probably scripts running to automatically purchase decos as soon as they were listed. It rather took the fun out of it...

Sorry to resurrect this thread but just, as a possibly final word on it, the page of "decorative" instruments on the Thomann site is almost always empty these days but their eBay page is more frequently populated:
Thomann_gmbh

There's no 'buy it now' option so they're obviously trying to maximise their money on it, but I've seen a few nice things go for good prices.
It's funny to see this Marcus Miller Sire V7s condition listed as "for parts or not working" when the only problem is a dent in the wood near the bridge.

DEKOs seem to have re-appeared in recent weeks, usually 6-8 guitars /basses pop up around mid morning, or sometimes early afternoon, and usually sell out in 2 or 3 minutes. On my third attempt I got a 30 Euro guitar ( though I did have an app which rang a bell when the dekos were listed!).

There is a fiver fretless that seems to hang around for days, if anyone is interested. A bit more than the usual Deko price though.

 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/decorative_guitars_and_basses.html

[Pea Turgh]

I bought a thunderbird rip off, then sold it to a mate a day later. Only bought it because I was so happy there was one actually available when I looked!

[mathlang]

There's a seller on eBay named "barmcgabarr" who's clearly buying a lot of deko guitars and then selling them on at full non-deko price. He's got a JB-75 deko selling for £140, yet they're normally £125 (and deko is around £35).  He's got a JA-60SB for £120, but retail non-deko is £114.70!  He doesn't mention Harley Benton and determinedly avoids showing the headstock front on.  The "D"s stamped in the back are clear to see on the photos, but he doesn't mention them.

Don't know whether to hate or admire the guy.  At the very least it's dishonest, so I hope he's fixing the problems and doding a set up.

It'd explain also why dekos go so quickly - it's easy to get a browser alert and then just say yes to everything.  They'll be others doing it, and they're all turds

[BigRedX]

I don't see what the problem is. If they are being offered at more money than a new version would go for and people are too lazy or stupid to do the research then that's their look out.

I own two deko instruments. One has a slight design fault that means the bridge is not as adjustable as it could be. After 18 months I still haven't found what is supposed to be wrong with the other one.

However from what I've read on here some deko instruments do have significant faults, so I suppose if you are buying with the specific intention of selling on, then you are taking a risk with every purchase. 

TBH there's very little being sold as dekos that are actually worth the potential risk involved. Unless it was something extra special I probably won't be buying another one. Most of the instruments being sold are cheap already, they are just very ordinary instruments at a very bargain price (but only if there is nothing wrong with them). 

[BreadBin]

39 minutes ago, mathlang said:

There's a seller on eBay named "barmcgabarr" who's clearly buying a lot of deko guitars and then selling them on at full non-deko price. He's got a JB-75 deko selling for £140, yet they're normally £125 (and deko is around £35).  He's got a JA-60SB for £120, but retail non-deko is £114.70!  He doesn't mention Harley Benton and determinedly avoids showing the headstock front on.  The "D"s stamped in the back are clear to see on the photos, but he doesn't mention them. 

I got caught out by this guy, before I was aware of Thomann selling D marked models.

Mine seems OK, but obviously resale value is affected. 

[mathlang]

1 minute ago, BreadBin said:

Mine seems OK, but obviously resale value is affected. 

That was exactly my concern.

[mathlang]

21 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Most of the instruments being sold are cheap already, they are just very ordinary instruments at a very bargain price (but only if there is nothing wrong with them). 

There's £180 cheap and there's £30 cheap.

[BreadBin]

The guy on eBay is selling for about the same price or more than a non D-marked model from Thomann. I'd call that deliberately dishonest. 

[yorks5stringer]

I always email them and ask what the little 'D' is in the photo. (Never had a reply!) As I've said before, one seller uses Thomann's own photos of  non decos in his ads which is taking the proverbial.

[pfretrock]

On 3/12/2018 at 18:47, mathlang said:

 

It'd explain also why dekos go so quickly - it's easy to get a browser alert and then just say yes to everything.  They'll be others doing it, and they're all turds

Managed to get a cheap 'strat' copy for £27 on my third attempt, using an app which told me when the website updated. Reckon each time I placed the order under 2 minutes from the update. So selling out very quick.

I remember the old days when my electro acoustic  5 string and 4 string HB Deko were up there for at least 2 days (maybe they had millions?) So many apps/alerts must be in use now.

I now have all I need from the HB stable. Sold the electro last year, as a Deko, for what I paid for it, with warts declared. Wow, these Deko's hold their value.

Sincerely

'turd'

[alyctes]

New decos up now

And gone!  Blimey that was quick!

Edited March 17, 2018 by alyctes

[pfretrock]

21 hours ago, alyctes said:

New decos up now

And gone!  Blimey that was quick!

It's been like that for around 3 weeks at least. 5-10 or so up daily.

[alyctes]

2 hours ago, pfretrock said:

It's been like that for around 3 weeks at least. 5-10 or so up daily.

The list has been stable for a while; 7-8 items including a single bass (5-string fretless).  Yesterday there were 26 up, for about 5 minutes..

[lemmywinks]

Sire V7 Alder 4 string for £250, that's a £118 saving:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/marcus_miller_v7_alder_4_bk_deko.htm

Might be worth the risk?

Edited May 9, 2018 by lemmywinks

[yorks5stringer]

2 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

Sire V7 Alder 4 string for £250, that's a £118 saving:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/marcus_miller_v7_alder_4_bk_deko.htm

Might be worth the risk?

These have been on for about a month now, if I needed a Jazz  i'd try one, they are returnable under german distance selling regs...

[hooky_lowdown]

On 10/05/2018 at 00:05, yorks5stringer said:

These have been on for about a month now, if I needed a Jazz  i'd try one, they are returnable under german distance selling regs...

You can return them, but I think you must pay postage back to Germany - good luck with that.

[yorks5stringer]

2 hours ago, hooky_lowdown said:

You can return them, but I think you must pay postage back to Germany - good luck with that.

Might cost you £25, but could be worth a punt at £250? 

[Groove Harder]

I got the Sire V3 that was up last month and as far as I can see there is nothing wrong with it 🤔

[alyctes]

Couple of violin-style dekos now up.

[yorks5stringer]

Odd they've been posted at night, at one time it was always around 11.00 am. BTW now sold out

[DarkHeart]

I think I might have just fell lucky for a change, just bought the 5 string Stingray copy for £51 delivered! We shall see what its like when it arrives, fingers crossed.

[DarkHeart]

Well the deko Stingray alike has arrived and well i`ve managed to find the reason for being a deko, a badly cut nut, ive set it up, played it and its perfectly fine even the B string is ok, quite happy for £43

[yorks5stringer]

Well at least you did not get stung .....

[lemmywinks]

That HB Stingray is a great score, more pics needed though!

[lemmywinks]

Double post

Edited June 14, 2018 by lemmywinks