Just a PSA - Instagram is promoting a fake guitar center sale. The website looks very similar to guitar center. However, it is a scam. You can spot it by checking the URL. The real website is guitarcenter.com. The SCAM website is guitarcenterofficialus.com.

Guitar Center's rep said they're aware of the scam and are working on it.

I don't work for GC. I didn't fall for the scam either. Just wanted to make others aware.

I always buy through Sweetwater nowadays, but I happened to play one of those new Epiphone "Inspired by Gibson" 335s at my local GC. Actually, I ended up playing all four of them they had on the shelf - but there was one that just really spoke to me. It was covered in fingerprints and the jack was loose, but I can't stop thinking about this cherry red guitar. I couldn't put it down.

If I walk in there with $500 cash, can I make a deal for this "new" guitar? It would normally be $650+ including tax ($599 MSRP).

Back in the day I used to haggle for "shelf-worn" gear at Sam Ash/GC all the time - is that still a thing...? Kinda on a budget here. Thanks!

I started playing a few months ago. I've been playing on a 20 year old Johnson acoustic guitar that was probably $50 bucks and a borrowed alvarez acoustic. I received a GC gift card recently and am looking to buy a guitar in the $500ish range. Is there a good time to buy at GC? Like do they actually run any really good Black Friday/Christmas sales? Or am I simply looking at getting a max 10-20% off regardless of the time of year?

Any recommendations how to get the best deal at GC or on guitars in that price range for a wide range of styles?