So...GC lost the COA on a Les Paul Custom

[Ddavid]

WTF?

I'm looking to buy a 2010 Custom Shop LPC and Guitar Center said they can't find the COA and Gibson won't reissue a certificate of authenticy. The salesperson offered to do something for me but wasn't specific.

What should I look for them to do on this? I know it hurts the resale value a bit and I'm kinda pissed they lost it (but if I never sell it...) I'm expecting them to offer somewhere in between a FREE pack of strings and cash off the price, or perhaps they can contact Gibson and get another COA?

Why can't anything be easy anymore?

 

[voggin]

Talk them down a few hundred. They've got room to move and still make a good profit. If it were me, I'd probably lose the COA in a few weeks, anyway. Not something to lose a guitar you like over.

 

[closed_PaulSlack]

Why can't anything be easy anymore?

I thought I'd need a translator to fathom out your post title!

 

[Ddavid]

Talk them down a few hundred. They've got room to move and still make a good profit. If it were me, I'd probably lose the COA in a few weeks, anyway. Not something to lose a guitar you like over.

I don't want to be a dick, but it just seems there's always a snafu.

 

[Ddavid]

I thought I'd need a translator to fathom out your post title!

Sorry about that! I wasn't sure how many characters I had but I wanted to be specific.

 

[JM2112]

WTF?

I'm looking to buy a 2010 Custom Shop LPC and Guitar Center said they can't find the COA and Gibson won't reissue a certificate of authenticy. The salesperson offered to do something for me but wasn't specific.

What should I look for them to do on this? I know it hurts the resale value a bit and I'm kinda pissed they lost it (but if I never sell it...) I'm expecting them to offer somewhere in between a FREE pack of strings and cash off the price, or perhaps they can contact Gibson and get another COA?

Why can't anything be easy anymore?

Yup, talk'em down. If they give you any grief ask them how much less they would give someone selling them a LPC without a COA! They lost it, so it's their loss.

 

[mcsdan]

Plenty more guitars out there - I'd move on to something else.

I had a guitar without the COA (shop never supplied it) and had a hard time moving on a few years later. ALthough the guitar may be a keeper you never know what is around the corner and easier to sell with a COA than not.

 

[closed_PaulSlack]

Sorry about that! I wasn't sure how many characters I had but I wanted to be specific.

No worries, your post explained it all anyway.

My own view, is that if they can't offer a certificate for a genuine Gibson from brand new, there should be a significant saving. Others may disagree and say it doesn't matter too much, especially if you are never intending to sell. But for me, it's a bit like being sold a car with no registration docs to prove it is what it is!

I'd throw a strop and say you want it but it either has the correct documents or you want large amounts of cash off it.

 

[Ddavid]

...ask them how much less they would give someone selling them a LPC without a COA!

how much less is a LPC worth without a COA? It's not a '59 Rhodes Murphy Aged VOS Collectors Choice or anything.

 

[UEF]

I'm surprised people give so much credence to the COA. I was shocked when I got mine - it's such a scabby bit of paper and easily counterfeited.

 

[lunchbox]

I have to have a COA with every Norlin era LP Custom that I buy.

 

[christianpaulanderson]

When I buy a guitar, I don't even think about the COA. Never have. Never will.

 

[Guitarhack]

Gibson used to issue a replacement COA if the owner shipped the guitar and papers to them (don't know if they still do). Estimate the cost of shipping a guitar to and from Gibson and see if GC will discount the Custom for that amount. Or move on to another Custom. Or if its not that big a deal to you buy it, but it will affect the resale value.

 

[GibsonMarshallGuy]

WTF?

I'm looking to buy a 2010 Custom Shop LPC and Guitar Center said they can't find the COA and Gibson won't reissue a certificate of authenticy. The salesperson offered to do something for me but wasn't specific.

What should I look for them to do on this? I know it hurts the resale value a bit and I'm kinda pissed they lost it (but if I never sell it...) I'm expecting them to offer somewhere in between a FREE pack of strings and cash off the price, or perhaps they can contact Gibson and get another COA?

Why can't anything be easy anymore?

Ya? How does the COA effect resale value?

I'd be more worried about the condition and playability of the guitar to be honest. Just play the thing, man..

 

[Ddavid]

Gibson used to issue a replacement COA if the owner shipped the guitar and papers to them.....it will affect the resale value.

That sounds like a huge pain in the a$$!

Ya? How does the COA effect resale value?

I'd be more worried about the condition and playability of the guitar to be honest. Just play the thing, man..

No idea how it affects resale. I agree, I just want to buy a guitar and play it, without having to worry about this stupid stuff! I just wanna know what I don't know. I hate surprises and want to make sure the missing document isn't a huge, horrible, deal-breaker, that will take $500 off the value of my guitar should I have to sell it when the wife finds out about the new guitar.

 

[AngryHatter]

Papers are the part I worry about the most.
Well, that and the pictures.


(Who really gives a shit?) If you love the guitar the pedigree shouldn't matter.
If pedigree and resale does matter, don't buy it.

This is simple.

 

[GibsonMarshallGuy]

That sounds like a huge pain in the a$$!



No idea how it affects resale. I agree, I just want to buy a guitar and play it, without having to worry about this stupid stuff! I just wanna know what I don't know. I hate surprises and want to make sure the missing document isn't a huge, horrible, deal-breaker, that will take $500 off the value of my guitar should I have to sell it when the wife finds out about the new guitar.

I'm sure there are people who will TRY to knock off a few hundred bucks for a piece of paper. I'm not one of them and there are plenty of people who shop like me. You shouldn't buy such an expensive item based purely on resale value though, in my opinion that's ridiculous...

 

[voggin]

I don't want to be a dick, but it just seems there's always a snafu.

You're not being a dick. You're entitled to the COA, and if you don't get it, you should get a price reduction.

Gibson didn't have to come out with COA's, but they did, and people expect them. I think, though, it's a great opportunity for you to get a guitar you really like at a discount. Like I said, for someone like me, who'd lose the damn thing anyway, it would be my lucky day!

 

[Tone deaf]

When did the start including COAs with guitars? None of the $300 LP customs that I have been buying on the internet come with one. Does it matter?

Beat them up on price as much as possible and buy it.

 

[Tim Plains]

I would say it lowers the value $100 - $200 and also limits your potential buyer pool later on. Some people will not buy a guitar without the COA.