music stores service and prices

Scott Appleton · From: Ashland, Oregon

We all want the best deal and great service.. but can a small music store actually afford to give all and make a living?
If you have a retail operation and enjoy large volume
sales then its no problem to make say 10% over your cost including shipping and hadling.
A small specialy store who is not authorized to handle a lot of mfg lines will have a limited product line to sell as well as overhead.
The deal, every one talks of the "deal' but what about
that deal where the retailer sells you a $600 amp and makes $ 20 just to keep you happy.
How long can they stay in biz like that? Not long i would think. Even if they can survive I bet they have no health insurance or retirement especially if you are just the floor salesman. I have seen music stores
all over this country fold or shoved out by GC or the on line retailers who cant offer the kind of service everyone wants. The " Deal " is not allways a good
Deal.

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Mullen S12 Almost Mooney
71 Tele, Regal 45
Sho Bud S10 NP
Line 6 Flextone 3 + JBL D130, Acoustic 165 100 W all tube EV 12, Nash 112, digitech 2101 FX

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

You're right, Scott. In truth, no dealer with a retail storefront can afford operate on a 10% profit margin, or anything close to that, but people always want the best deal. Well, the "best" deal is to look at the long range picture. Sure, you save $50 on an amp and think you got a "good deal". But when something goes wrong, you'll soon discover that mail-order goods from a big online warehouse may not have been a good deal, after all. Shipping charges from just one return may wipe out the savings altogether. I'm a strong advocate of helping the little guy, so I buy stuff from the Forum, or from a dealer with a storefront most all the time. I know I pay more, but I just feel better knowing I've helped someone who has a work ethic like my own.

When I go to the store to buy some other type of goods, I'll pay a big premium to get goods made in this country. If there's a shirt for $20 made in Sri-Lanka, and one beside it for $50 made in this country, I'll pick the latter. Throwing money away? I don't look at it that way. I like to think it's being patriotic. That's why I don't shop at Walmart regularly, and that's why I refuse to own a foreign car. I'd rather support our own country, and have a little less for myself, than I would support some foreigner who's only interest is "the sale".

Someday, steel guitars and amps may be made in Korea, and they may sell far cheaper than the ones made here. I hope, that when someone buys one, they realize what exactly what they're doing.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Having worked in a music store (Little Roy Wiggins Music City store on lower Broadway in Nashville) usually the small store can't compete in price with the larger stores, because of the volume they purchase.

Many times the distributors will run a special, e.g. if you buy a dozen of a certain type of guitar they will give you the standard discount plus 10% or even 20% or more. With those specials the small guy can compete. If the small store buys enough strings direct from the string manufacturer (to qualify for "distributor pricing") they can also compete or sometimes even beat the big stores on price. e.g. when I worked at the store, we purchased Shure mic's directly from Shure and bought a large enough quantity that we qualified for distributor pricing and thus sold Shure mics at 40% off list and still made a good profit.

Otherwise you can deal with the smaller, local or specialty, stores and although they may not be able to equal the price of the biggies they will, in most cases, give you better and personal service.

There are exceptions to the small store better service. There is a music store in Port Richey Fl (the local Peavey dealer in Port Richey) and the people that work in there have no clue except for what products the rock groups use and what rockers ask for. On the other hand the Peavey Dealer closest to me (and where I've bought both a NV1000 and 112), Bondz Music, is also a (very good) Steeler and knows music and equpment - not just what the current rock fad is (Johnny Bondz used to be the Gretsch and Sho-Bud Salesman for central Florida).

I've also personally dealt with Bobbe Seymour, Scotty's, Billy Cooper and Duane's Music and wouldn't hesitate to do business with any of those.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Hey, we live in a capitalist society so it's going to be a tough one to overcome or change.

Why do you think Wal-Mart is the curse of Mall stores? When you are large enough to make the manufacturers bow to your supply prices, you have the world at your doorstep.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 30 September 2005 at 01:42 PM.]

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

I can tell you a story about the power of Walmarts et al. When I owned my own trucks, I used to run for Walmart during busy seasons. I could pull into a shipper and ther could be 30 trucks out there waiting for a door to get loaded. When they would look out and see my Walmart tralier they would say, "Oh Walmart, you can back right into door 3!" Time and again this happened and it's flat-out wrong. But, the almighty dollar rules.

Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

I run a small town (2500 population) music store about 160 miles north west of NY City. I have the only music store in my county, and I rent violins all over NY State, which helps keep me in business. It is a tough business these days, you have to compete with stores like Guitar Center, e-bay, magazines like Musician's Friend, and a host of internet sellers. Big companies like Fender and Gibson only want to sell to customers who are going to buy dozens of guitars and amps, not three or four a year.

And, it is true that as you buy more product, the price gets lower. I usually buy items a dozen or less at a time, and get the least discount, not the "end column" or lowest discount that the big buyers get.

I can no longer afford to buy health insurance for my family. I had to choose between being able to put my kids through college, or paying big bucks for the health insurance.

I also get taxed more because I am "self employed." If you work for a company, they take 7.5% of your earnings for social security tax, and your employer kicks in another 7.5%. If you are "self employed" you pay the whole 15% yourself, in addition to your income and propery taxes...

But, I have been able to make a living doing this for the past 20 years, and am old enough now so it would be tough to quit and find another job at my age. And, I enjoy helping people be able to make music, and giving children the opportunity to get started in music. So, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5:30, and Saturday morning, 9 to 1, I am at my shop. I appreciate the local musicians who come to see me for strings, instruments and accessories and I hope I give them better service than you'll find at most of the "big box" stores. Support your local music store, or it won't be there when you truly need it... Larry Jamieson, Walton Music House, Walton, NY

Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

Double post, deleted the 2nd one.

[This message was edited by Larry Jamieson on 30 September 2005 at 07:57 PM.]

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