Here is how I look at it. The old price on let’s say a Cutlass Bass was I believe 1,599.99. The new price is now $2,199.99. That is a huge increase of $600.00 and no changes between the 2017 or 2018 were made. A few weeks ago I could go buy a Cutlass and negotiate a price from $1,599.99. If I went to Guitar Center, I would get 20% off due to a discount I get from them. So my cost would be around $1,279.99 plus tax. Now on that same 2017 Cutlass bass, I have to negotiate from $2,199.99 even though that exact bass 2 weeks ago was $600.00 less. Even if I were to go to Guitar Center anduse my 20% off, my new price on that same bass will now be $1,759.99. Still almost $600.00 more than it was 2 weeks ago and even more than had I bought the bass new 2 weeks ago and not had a single discount.
I get EBMM raising their prices across the board because of what State they are headquartered in but I don’t think it’s right that dealers are now allowed to go and raise the prices on existing inventory that is now essentially new, old stock. And because you can’t tell what model year an EBMM instrument is unless you post on the forum or call or email customer service, how many people that aren’t as knowledgeable, may think because of the price increase, they are buying a 2018 model but are not. This has also already happened to me before on a few occasions. 2 Game Changer guitars, 1 JP 6 and 1 Stingray 5H. I bought all of them only to find out once I ran the serial numbers that all were new but very old stock. Both Game Changers were from the initial release year, the JP 6 was 2 or 3 years old and the Stingray 5 was 4 years old. Even with my discounts I was mad that I had purchased instruments that were several years old. Now, had I also paid even more with the price increases had I bought those instruments now, I would have been even more pissed.