Auctions
As you know auctions can be found every where you go and they are usually on the weekends.
People are most famous for auctioning off expensive items but those are not the only types of auctions there are. A lot of smaller city auctions typically sell some stuff pretty cheap including guitars. Some of which are Police and Bank auctions where evidence or left behind items in foreclosed homes goes up for auction and usually when these things go to auction they go DIRT CHEAP typically cause not only do a lot of them not all ways know the value of what they are auctioning but some of them simply do not care and just want what ever money they can get as fast as possible. You are not likely to get a $900 Gibson this way as they will almost all ways know what a more expensive guitar is worth but a $300 to $500 can be had for pennies on the dollar as they typically allready expect not to make much money off the item so if there is no one there that knows the worth of the items you can get them pretty cheap.
The downsides here are more or less just moral issues. Can you live with yourself knowing that the guitar or amp you just bought had its owner murdered or is the murderer and or arrested for drug selling/smuggling. I myself can live with that but some others may not be able too, also what if the item is haunted? And what about that nice Marshal JCM 800 you just got at the bank auction, how do you feel knowing that its owner could now be on the street? I myself will happily show up at these auctions and bid after all it is sad but was not my fault in any way. So if you do not have really high morals this is another way to get something decent cheap. Besides what if the guy that got kicked out what actually a drug dealer who refused to pay his bills and mortgage that he took out to fund buying supplies for his drugs? It makes you feel better now doesn't it.
People are most famous for auctioning off expensive items but those are not the only types of auctions there are. A lot of smaller city auctions typically sell some stuff pretty cheap including guitars. Some of which are Police and Bank auctions where evidence or left behind items in foreclosed homes goes up for auction and usually when these things go to auction they go DIRT CHEAP typically cause not only do a lot of them not all ways know the value of what they are auctioning but some of them simply do not care and just want what ever money they can get as fast as possible. You are not likely to get a $900 Gibson this way as they will almost all ways know what a more expensive guitar is worth but a $300 to $500 can be had for pennies on the dollar as they typically allready expect not to make much money off the item so if there is no one there that knows the worth of the items you can get them pretty cheap.
The downsides here are more or less just moral issues. Can you live with yourself knowing that the guitar or amp you just bought had its owner murdered or is the murderer and or arrested for drug selling/smuggling. I myself can live with that but some others may not be able too, also what if the item is haunted? And what about that nice Marshal JCM 800 you just got at the bank auction, how do you feel knowing that its owner could now be on the street? I myself will happily show up at these auctions and bid after all it is sad but was not my fault in any way. So if you do not have really high morals this is another way to get something decent cheap. Besides what if the guy that got kicked out what actually a drug dealer who refused to pay his bills and mortgage that he took out to fund buying supplies for his drugs? It makes you feel better now doesn't it.
Tips
If you ever have to bid more that 50% of what the item is worth then stop bidding unless you truely want it.