The Case For A Case

I recently bought a new Fender Jaguar guitar. It came to $767.15 out the door. It included a "Deluxe Fender Gig Bag." A thin padded bag that will protect from swirl marks only. Impact a amplifier cabinet and there will be a dent.

Online there are only two choices for a Hard Shell Case (HSC) for the Jazzmaster or Jaguar guitars. These being the only two Fender models bearing the "Offset Waist." Most of the vendors have the black case with the red interior. My guitar is red. I wanted the brown tweed with the orange interior. Most of the vendors want an additional  $10 for the brown. And I'll assume they don't stock it, so the $10 is my paying for them spending six minutes ordering a case online.

Guitar Center carries both and furthermore, does not charge a premium for the brown tweed. They do, however, charge $139.95. Are you &*^%^%!! me?! Oh yeah...another $12 and change to ship it. I could have ordered it at one of the other vendors and saved $2, because they'd have shipped it for free.
At this point I am close to banging my head against the mike stand. And I haven't touched on why I feel guilty buying anything from Guitar Center - suffice it to say, they are the Walmarts of the music world.

Ah well, lesson learned. Use Vaseline.

In 1972 when I got my first Stratocaster, my first real guitar, my father paid $272, which included the HSC.
At that time, there was no such thing as a gig bag - a nylon guitar shaped back pack.
Every guitar made, came with a HSC. And these things were luggage. The Strat I got had  the long rectangular case, which at that time was rather new. It was HUGE. It served as my file cabinet, my stash and it held my guitar, with assorted picks and strings.
It was de-rigueur to case your guitar. There was the ritual of warming the case before opening it during N.J winters - although today, the byproduct of opening it too quickly, finish checking, is sought after - proof of age, mojo. (Not really, but that is for another time)
But now, the major manufacturers - Gibson and Fender both, include gig bags on their lesser priced models.
(Gibson makes all guitars in the USA, but cheaper models get bags - Fender manufacturers worldwide, but only USA models get HSC standard)

I am not saddened nor nostalgic, I think they have missed an opportunity.I would have bought the Jaguar for $100 more if it included the case. I seriously doubt any sales would be lost. And then how difficult is it to have two packages, one with case - one with bag - similar to options on a car?

All of my guitars have hard cases. You cannot gig with a bag. Ever watch people throwing equipment into a van after a show; tired and wanting to leave as soon as possible?
And your stash won't be safe in a zippered pocket.