THE WORKBENCH / FREE TO USE

Guitar Trade-In vs Private Sale Calculator

Compare the offer in your hand with the proceeds you could keep from a private sale. Change the assumptions to match your instrument and selling route.

Example prices are editable. Enter an actual store offer and your selling costs. This is a comparison, not a Guitar Center quote.

Private sale
Store offer

The optional discount is 15% on one qualifying new item, capped at $500, with trade credit used in the same transaction. Many brands and products are excluded. Check current exclusions.

Your comparison

Private-sale proceeds$740.00After $0.00 fees and your costs
Store offer plus eligible savings$480.00$480.00 offer + $0.00 purchase savings
Private-sale break-even price$540.00Before the shipping amount charged to your buyer

Private selling leaves $260.00 more value before considering your time and risk.

Purchase savings are not cash proceeds. Fees are applied to the sale price plus buyer-paid shipping. Taxes, returns, insurance add-ons, and time are excluded unless included in your inputs.

How to use this tool

  1. Enter your expected sale price and actual selling costs.
  2. Enter a store offer, then include a qualifying trade-in discount only if you verified eligibility.
  3. Compare net proceeds and the break-even price alongside your time and selling effort.

Worked example

An $800 sale with no fees, a $50 shipping label, and $10 packing leaves $740. An actual $480 store offer leaves $480 cash, before any verified purchase discount.

Inputs stay in this browser. No sign-up is required.

Put the result to use

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