This is a sticking point with me.
I have shopped in all the local stores that carry PRS as licensed dealers. Only one of them, Guitar Center has tried to sell me a brand spankin' new SE without including a gig bag. And they have tried to do it more than once.
The conversation goes like this.
"I like this SE is there any room to move on the price?"
The answer would sometimes be "Yes," and sometimes be "No." But the next response was always "Would you like a gig bag as well?"
To which I would say, "They come with gig bags. Are you going to try to charge me more for something that supposed to be included?"
"They don't all come with gig bags."
"Yes, they do. I'm not buying that guitar unless you give me the gig bag it came with, period"
"I'll have to have that OKed by my manager."
pause
"He said that we don't normally do this, but he'll throw in the gig bag."
Depending on how pissed I was and how much off list the guitar was, at that point I'd either buy or walk.
I know a long time sales rep for PRS. We have had dinner and beer. But when asked about the Guitar Center policy of selling gig bags separately, he backpeddled and never quite answered the question of whether or not they should be doing that.
So, my conclusion is, if you buy enough units wholesale, PRS will look the other way if you decide to lie to your customers about whether or not a gig bag is included.
Until someone tells me differently from within PRS and assures me that neither GC, or now MF, will do this in the future, be prepared to throw a hissy fit to get what you should not have to pay for..
