cheapest place to buy strings online

anonymous12251111 · #1 05-24-2009, 06:46 PM

Hi, does anyone know where the cheapest strings are available? Quinn Violins is very inexpensive but they don't accept PAYPAL...I also want a place where you can buy single strings.

Thanks

archer121 · #2 05-24-2009, 06:51 PM

Once you figure in shipping it'll probably be cheaper to go to your local shop and buy them there unless you're buying three or four sets at a time.

anonymous12251111 · #3 05-24-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archer121

Once you figure in shipping it'll probably be cheaper to go to your local shop and buy them there unless you're buying three or four sets at a time.

The mark-up in Toronto is ridiculous. It's actually cheaper for me to purchase online from a store in the US in US dollars and pay shipping.

jschall84 · #4 05-24-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

The mark-up in Toronto is ridiculous. It's actually cheaper for me to purchase online from a store in the US in US dollars and pay shipping.

same here. every shop charges retail plus some. lame.

jrlynch · #5 05-24-2009, 08:39 PM

i think the best value in strings is to watch the classifieds here in talkbassland ... great way to try stuff without mortgaging your soul.

jeff.

**Matthew Tucker** · #6 05-24-2009, 08:58 PM

I don't think you'll find any "shop" that doesn't mark up on strings held in stock. And why shouldn't they, in a world where everything can be bought online so easily?

If you want them to hold hundreds of dollars of slow-moving stock so you have the the convenience of walk in, find what you want, walk out, I think you need to be prepared to pay for it.

If cost is your main concern then buy online. Gollihur/Uptons/Lemur etc. None of them carry everything, but prices are usually very competitive.

anonymous12251111 · #7 05-24-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

I don't think you'll find any "shop" that doesn't mark up on strings held in stock. And why shouldn't they, in a world where everything can be bought online so easily?

If you want them to hold hundreds of dollars of slow-moving stock so you have the the convenience of walk in, find what you want, walk out, I think you need to be prepared to pay for it.

If cost is your main concern then buy online. Gollihur/Uptons/Lemur etc. None of them carry everything, but prices are usually very competitive.

FYI Quinn Violins is charging me $65.00USD cheaper on a set of strings than anywhere in Canada...and this includes the price converted into Canadian dollars and express post shipping.

**Francois Blais** · #8 05-25-2009, 08:33 AM

These days I'm mostly ordering from Bob G.
Great prices, ultra-fast service. Top notch.

I'm just a satisfied customer, not affiliated with them.

**bass dan** · #9 05-25-2009, 08:52 AM

+1 on bob g. fair prices and ultra quick shipping. i get all my strings from him

ADissen · #10 05-25-2009, 09:16 AM

The String Emporium has pretty good prices on the strings they carry. And the two times i've ordered from them its been hassle free and quick.

moles · #11 05-25-2009, 12:10 PM

On local stores marking up their inventory:

Of course I'd expect to pay more at a brick-and-mortar music store. Especially on slow-moving items like bass strings.

Just to clarify how things are here in Canada sometimes - The cheapest place online I'd seen a set of Rotosounds is (Edit-->) JustStrings.com: $80. At the L&M here in town? 300 bucks. Sure sure, factor in shipping and exchange rate...I still don't know if "buying locally" is worth the over $200 difference.

Too bad Just Strings won't send them to Canada.

Jake deVilliers · #12 05-25-2009, 12:37 PM

Hey moles, have you talked to the manager about that? Just tell him the whole story and ask him if he can do something about the price.

L & M has a slightly convoluted Toronto-centric buying scheme whereby we in Vancouver (and everywhere else) buy almost everything from the Toronto-based in-house distributor.

That being said, the prices on DB strings at the Vancouver store are very competitive with online pricing once you factor in shipping, exchange and Customs tithes. I don't know a thing about slab strings, sorry.

Grate1 · #13 05-25-2009, 12:48 PM

I had a great buying experience going to Juststrings. Super fast. Shipped to Canada and had no issues with customs costs.

Marcus Johnson · #14 05-25-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grate1

I had a great buying experience going to Juststrings. Super fast. Shipped to Canada and had no issues with customs costs.

I've heard good things about them... my guitar playing cohorts use them a lot.

Don C · #15 05-25-2009, 02:21 PM

Calvin, if you're going to ISB, sometimes you can get some good deals on strings. You might want to wait until you see what they have to offer there before you order any.

cpb1951 · #16 05-25-2009, 02:30 PM

Hi, Calvin, my name is also Calvin, bet you've got some stories, too.
www.elderly.com has the best prices I've seen, even better than juststrings; although juststrings has lots of singles. The best place I've found for singles is to special order (at no extra cost) from Leo at BigCityStrings. One shipping charge covers all backorders, too. Pretty darn fair. Thump on my friend...............
Cheers

ISBWINNER2009 · #17 05-25-2009, 02:56 PM

If by Bob G. you mean Bob Gollihur then yeah those are the cheepest place to get strings. I just got Evahs there in March for considerably cheaper than anywhere else.

moles · #18 05-25-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Hey moles, have you talked to the manager about that? Just tell him the whole story and ask him if he can do something about the price.

L & M has a slightly convoluted Toronto-centric buying scheme whereby we in Vancouver (and everywhere else) buy almost everything from the Toronto-based in-house distributor.

That being said, the prices on DB strings at the Vancouver store are very competitive with online pricing once you factor in shipping, exchange and Customs tithes. I don't know a thing about slab strings, sorry.

It's not as much of an issue now - I was considering trying them out last year, and briefly again a couple of months ago.
I picked up my Superflexibles and Spirocores there, the price on those wasn't anything outlandish at all. They both possibly worked out cheaper than buying online.
I've seen other wacky prices like that at other stores too. I just keep my eyes peeled for prices elsewhere before I start pulling out bills now.

archer121 · #19 05-25-2009, 03:06 PM

I guess I'm spoiled. My local will match on-line retailers prices if I bring in the quote. I just thought it was the same most other places.

anonymous12251111 · #20 05-25-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpb1951

Hi, Calvin, my name is also Calvin, bet you've got some stories, too.
www.elderly.com has the best prices I've seen, even better than juststrings; although juststrings has lots of singles. The best place I've found for singles is to special order (at no extra cost) from Leo at BigCityStrings. One shipping charge covers all backorders, too. Pretty darn fair. Thump on my friend...............
Cheers

thanks for the info Cal.

ps: no isb solo competition for me, my ride bailed on me. Toronto - PA on a bus, no thanks.