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Has anyone else started (voluntarily) abstaining from new purchases? I hate to buy something in September/October, barely find the time to use it, and then see it for $50 cheaper in November.

I've been making lists where I match the gear I want with the dealers that are most likely to have the lowest prices. Between the niche places, megastores, promoted Reverb sales, Amazon, Sweetwater, and direct manufacturers, I'm hoping to get 1-2 new synths and 5-6 pedals (either through bank funds, in-store financing, or PayPal credit).

Also, an FYI, Musician's Friend is going to be stocking Walrus soon, so that means they'll likely have open box returns off-and-on throughout the remainder of the year. The secondhand Vanguards are still really cheap on Reverb. I don't know that I can justify getting a second one for myself, but I can say that after buying one, these are pretty legit for krautrock/shoegaze/soundscapes.

Also, feel free to share your holiday wish list, or if you're outside the US, feel free to chide us for our capitalistic holiday-themed orgy.

Cyber Monday, like Black Friday, is silly and a waste of time.

edit: finished reading your post.

Not really, though since I mostly buy used gear, this tends to bulk up more surprises on my end from people with urgent needs to flip for bigger & better things (whatever that is). I should probably start socking away for some Industrialectric devices, as perhaps there will be more directly available by the end of the year vs. flipped (still too expensive 2nd hand, & the scarcity is something everyone seems to understand - since I live in the US, my best options are to purchase from overseas at the moment , or wait just a little while longer ). GC tends to throw a bone toward their used inventory around this time (10 or 15% off), so their coupon tends to eliminate shipping (or at least knock it down substantially), just in case anyone's been eyeing something over yonder but is annoyed w/ their S&H rates.

Napkins, I try to buy used as often as possible (but in new condition for used prices). Thanksgiving is a great time for me because when builders like EQD approve holiday sales, then the used stuff often gets discounted as well. The DT SR is $345, but I got one in mint shape from a dealer for about $237 for Memorial Day. BTW, if I see any IE stuff in odd places, I'll try to PM you.

BF & CM aka Lets unload last season's leftover, entry-level shit and bottom-tier electronics on plebeians who cant otherwise afford them

I'm half-kidding
There are some worthwhile deals to be had, but they aren't big ticket items with *extremely limited quantities* designed to bait & switch.
I find the best deals are found during July when markets are soft, and the post-Christmas week through January.

echorec wrote:Napkins, I try to buy used as often as possible (but in new condition for used prices). Thanksgiving is a great time for me because when builders like EQD approve holiday sales, then the used stuff often gets discounted as well. The DT SR is $345, but I got one in mint shape from a dealer for about $237 for Memorial Day. BTW, if I see any IE stuff in odd places, I'll try to PM you.

Hey, thanks! I just wish the pool for Industrialectric (or Iron Ether, ahemhem) was a little larger sometimes, because I always find them here in B/S/T, or on Reverb (via someone from ILF who didn't want to mess with the B/S/T) .

rustywire wrote:I find the best deals are found during July when markets are soft, and the post-Christmas week through January.

This is too true, with "I already have a Big Sky, but my __________ bought me another one anyway", or "I need to buy a Big Sky - please buy my ___________ in near mint condition! Velcro added but can remove upon request!" Except it's never a Big Sky .

And the "Wow I shouldn't have maxed out my credit card shopping for gifts, guess I'd better take this L" crowd. Increases in breadth every season. Summer (northern hemisphere) is a buyer's market for just about everything that isn't fashion, travel or sports related.
Great for audio gear

echorec wrote:I'm hoping to get 1-2 new synths and 5-6 pedals (either through bank funds, in-store financing, or PayPal credit).

Holy shit man. What synths are you looking to buy? Are you single with no significant other, no mortgage payment and live with your parents... or you must have a killer job, lol. Or be super disciplined saving money the rest of the year.

I think it also depends on what you're looking to snag. Most of my disinterest in this ultimately boils down to the fact that the sorts of things I'd be interested in aren't usually subject to massive sales.

Yeah it's like getting store-specific giftcards as gifts. "WTF good is $50 I can only use at GC or BB?" "Just about anything I'd want to buy there is going to be a big ticket item I can find elsewhere for a better value, I'd rather have $50 cash to put toward it!"

I told my fam to not buy me giftcards. "TYVM but no thanks" Cash is good everywhere, doesn't expire or come with hidden fees.
It isn't a lazy gift if there's a specific purpose in mind, when you know someone is saving up for something they want to buy themselves.

MannequinRaces wrote:

echorec wrote:I'm hoping to get 1-2 new synths and 5-6 pedals (either through bank funds, in-store financing, or PayPal credit).

Holy shit man. What synths are you looking to buy? Are you single with no significant other, no mortgage payment and live with your parents... or you must have a killer job, lol. Or be super disciplined saving money the rest of the year.

Yeah, I don't have all those pesky human ties weighing me down. I started buying and flipping gear online over 15 years ago, so I've had time to trade up and make a little cash along the way. When I say 1-2 synths, I mean a module and some big builder 4-octave keyboard (then running them through pedals/processors)---I'm not talking Buchla Music Easel & a Roli Grand. More like a JP-08 and a Reface CS, or a MiniBrute & something else.

I saw this video the other week, and I just thought, "Fuck it, I should get some of those." So yeah I'll probably add a JP-08 to my collection during the sale season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JWxRdmEmlU[/youtube]

GC's best sales, btw, are historically mid-January to February - the post-Christmas returns, the trade-ins cleared the 30 day hold some areas have, etc. They've always had a huge % off coupon around that time.

I've gotten best pricing late winter across the board fwiw, the market dies as the weather heats up and the retailers know it.