Shopping around for a certain good is by no means a static process. In order to avoid buyer’s remorse, one must devote time and energy and must also realize that the process is never the same for different products. A couple of years ago I started the long hunt for a new guitar. The first step was to realize the need. I had been playing the same cheap guitar for several years and my ability level was long passed what my current guitar could return. I had been working hard during the summertime and built up a considerable amount of money to portion towards a new axe. I knew that the guitar I wanted would be expensive so I decided to not rush into anything. For me there were two main sources of information that I used. First, was my guitar teacher and friends. These were people I trusted and who knew what they were talking about. Throwing different ideas around I quickly narrowed down my search based on criteria that I was looking for. The second source of information was the guitar store. If I hadn’t narrowed down my search before heading into the store, I would have been overwhelmed with the amount of choices; therefore, heading into the store with a firm knowledge of what I was looking for paid dividends. Overall, visiting the Long and MacQuade store was the most helpful in coming to a final decision. Buying a guitar is a unique experience, where first hand playing is by far the most relevant determinant. For me, the ultimate decision to buy a PRS Custom 24 was quick, and I was confident that the right choice was being made. In the end, the decision to buy this guitar was great. I can’t imagine playing any other guitar, and I am definitely loyal to this brand now. This search was important to me because I knew I would be investing a lot of money into it, and I would be playing this guitar for years to come. Overall, before making a purchase I will always think about the price, the difficulty of searching, and the risk of searching before deciding.
