Screwed my local shop & feel like a jerk

[AaronS]

A couple weeks ago I read hasbeen's (Genz Benz product manager) post that Genz Benz had sold their remaining stock of discontinued GBE600s to Musician's Friend. I went to the Musician's Friend website and bookmarked the Genz Benz page to wait for the fire sale to begin. On Tuesday I ordered the amp and it arrived Thursday night. I was so excited. My only bass speaker right now is in my Ashdown combo. So this morning I called my local shop and asked them to make me a short speaker cable with a female on one end and male on the other to connect the Ashdown speaker with the GB cab. My friend says, "Oh yeah, great amp. We ordered a couple of those and they should be in soon." I live in a very rural area near of town of 1500 and every dollar counts in the local economy. It never occurred to me that first Genz Benz would offer the discontinued models at a similar discount to their small dealers that they did to Musicians Friend. I'm not sending it back, but I feel like a jerk. I'll have a lot of apologizing to do when I pick up the cable. I know this doesn't matter to most of you who live in big metro areas like SnoMan in West Virginia, but damn it hurts when you live in a small community.

[Figjam]

I know what you mean. Where I live isnt as rural as you, but there are some shops here that struggle for every dollar.

[MJ5150]

Did the small local shop tell you how much they are selling them for? If the price was the same or close to MF, feel bad. If it was much more, don't feel bad.

-Mike

[guy n. cognito]

Have you ever BEEN to West Virginia?

You don't owe them an apology. Business is business, and I'm sure they will sell these heads in no time, especially if they match the MF price.

[AaronS]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Have you ever BEEN to West Virginia?

You don't owe them an apology. Business is business, and I'm sure they will sell these heads in no time, especially if they match the MF price.

"West Virginia" metro area is an on-going joke with SnoMan (formerly SnoBassMan). This shop buys lots of expensive specialty items and often sits on them for a year or more. He has had a half dozen Paul Reed Smith and Huss & Dalton guitars hanging on the wall for a long time now. He had an AG500 and S210 / S410 stack for 18 months and loaned it to me several times for gigs. The area is basically a $400 guitar or combo amp market, but this guy likes to buy top quality stuff when he gets the chance. If he goes out of business, I will be way out of luck because I would have to drive 300 miles to try out top quality gear. And it wouldn't be the same because I would just be one more customer from the sticks instead of a friend.

[SnoMan]

Hey man!

The town I live in has A stop light.



Beat that!

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by SnoMan

Hey man!

The town I live in has A stop light.



Beat that!

Nashville has paved roads and tall buildings, much to the amazement of many of my Northern friends.

[Rick_no7]

wish I had a local store I could be loyal to

the first one charges new prices for used and very bad shaped gear

the 2nd one likes to randomly close shop on my days off despite their advertised open hours, also they just never have nickel strings and deal in one brand of bass alone.

[SnoMan]

I can make two points at this time.


1. You weren't aware of your local shop getting these items when you purchased yours. Therefore, you didn't turn your back on the local store. It can't be helped that you weren't aware and that's nothing to beat yourself up over.


2. If you are going to beat yourself up over what has happened....do go ahead and send it back to MF. This depends souly on how you feel about this situation...you'll have to ask yourself which is more important: a little time and money or loyalty to your local boys? I wouldn't keep it if I were going to feel bad about it. That would take a little bit of the joy out of hte product IMO.

[Wesley R]

My family (including uncles, aunts and cousins) shopped the same store from 1954 until they closed in 2001.
When (it was rare) one of us bought someplace else, we were asked why.
I named my first born after my favorite salesman!

Best of Luck
Wesley R.

I have now come kinda close to being loyal to another.

[invader3k]

Nothing to feel bad about. You didn't know they were getting it in. Just make it up to them next time you get a piece of gear, by buying from them. If you still feel really guilty, buy a pack of strings or something the next time you stop in.

[AaronS]

Originally Posted by SnoMan

Hey man!
The town I live in has A stop light.
Beat that!

Yeah, I work for the State DOT and we put one in at Main Street and the highway in the town near where I live. It really ticked me off. I used to be able to drive 60 miles to work without a stop light. I leave for work at about 5:50am, so I just run it.

I talked to the shop owner. He said it was no big deal, but I know he was pleased I cared about it. I've probably spent about $10K in his shop since he moved here 4 years ago. I went to his gig tonight and they asked me to sit in for a couple numbers in the second set. So, I guess it's cool with him. He's going to keep his eyes open for a decent used 4 ohm cab for me. If a good one doesn't turn up in a few months, I'll probably order one of the NEOX 212s through him.

[5stringDNA]

I live in Denver which is a good chunk of city, and I still don't buy ANYTHING from GC or musician's friend. My local Botique shop Guitar beats them on anything and everything. I got an Aguilar Cab for $10 less than Musician's friend was charging, PLUS he threw in a free speaker cable since MF was doing free shipping. Unbelievably cool shop. I get custom DR lorider 5-string sets for $25 through him. If he can get it, i won't go anywhere else, adn he knows it, so he goes the extra mile for me. I'm all for supporting the local guy and I understand you feeling lousy about it- you can't get the same service and satisfaction out of a giant online dealer.

[patrickshofner]

Originally Posted by SnoMan

Hey man!

The town I live in has A stop light.



Beat that!

My town has 3......but we have to drive almost 2 hrs to play a gig.

[invader3k]

Well, since you've averaged about $2500/yr spent in his shop, I don't think he can really complain then.

[Wilbyman]

Chuckton has quite a few stoplights!!!!

It also has one of the killingest groups going....Bob Thompson Unit with the BEST guitarist I've ever heard, Ryan Kennedy. I'd put this "small town" group against any fusion group anywhere.

W

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

Chuckton has quite a few stoplights!!!!

Silly me, I thought he was kidding about his location, actually meaning Charles Town!
My bad

[Munjibunga]

Yeah, I always feel bad about screwing GC when I order from Northern Sound, Bass NW, and Bass Central. But seriously, I would rather have bought my MTD from Bass Alone than Planet Bass, but Tony at Planet Bass was great, and they had the bass I wanted.

Don't worry, real human beings still benefitted from your purchase. They're just more miles away.

[Wilbyman]

Originally Posted by Lazylion

Silly me, I thought he was kidding about his location, actually meaning Charles Town!
My bad

There's Charlestown, WV and Charleston, WV. Charlestown's not terribly big (never actually been there) and Charleston (the capital) is actually an honest-to-gawd CITY. I think Sno is from Charleston (or South Charleston, right?). Charleston has some pretty high caliber musicians these days, it's pretty shocking.

Will

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by SnoMan

Hey man!

The town I live in has A stop light.



Beat that!

My town doesn't even have a stoplight.