Geographic Loyalty?

Din Of Win · #1 10-27-2009, 02:36 PM

Does anyone else here put up with crappy service, just because a place is closer?

I'm talking about music shops in peticular. We have a decent mom & pop music shop here in my town, but they are notorious for over pricing, long repairs, horrible hours and pushing crappy stuff. There is a great shop about 45 minutes away that i know does good work and does it fast and at very reasonable prices. But, i keep finding myself returning to this local shop "just to support local business". It sucks.

Case in point: i dropped of a bass for a set-up (still not confident messing around with wiring and truss rods) on Friday, and it's still not ready today. They said it'd be done on Saturday...

I don't mean to come off as ranty, but as fellow musicians, where do you draw the line at in regards to quality vs geographic proximity?

CBgaragebassist · #2 10-27-2009, 02:41 PM

The only music store near where i live has rather shoddy basses. only 3 of them play well, the Hofner, Ibby 5er, and some semi-hollow. + all their pedals are behringer. but they're the only shop thats not 3 hours away. the guy is cool though and does setups and any repairs for free and rather quick, so it's ok. also, he lets you just sit around and play all day. and i'll probably buy my next bass there. the Ibby 5er.

Stanley Design · #3 10-27-2009, 02:58 PM

I bet that shop doing the setup on your bass isn't going to touch the truss rod or wires either.

edit: spelled truss as trust*

Din Of Win · #4 10-27-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Design

I bet that shop doing the setup on your bass isn't going to touch the trust rod or wires either.

...which is why that's EXACTLY what i told them to work on.

Still, you're probably right

AnchorHoy · #5 10-27-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

Does anyone else here put up with crappy service, just because a place is closer?

<snip>

where do you draw the line at in regards to quality vs geographic proximity?

I'm fortunate enough to live very close to two excellent Mom & Pop stores, as well as within 30 minutes or less from a couple of different GC's

The two local Mom & Pops get my business almost exclusively, one for new gear and the other for used. The knowledge and service from each is top-shelf in their respective categories, and that makes the choice easy for me. I tend to talk up "buy local" every time the subject comes up, and I try very hard to put my money where my mouth is

The only time I've ever bought something from GC is when I wanted a particular DI (a Baggs PADI, for my flat-top guitar) on very short notice, and neither of the Mom & Pops had one in stock. I wasn't particularly impressed by the service there, but it was either them or miss a potential gig

If I lived somewhere else that didn't have such an easy choice between the two, I'd probably feel a bit more conflicted. Gas ain't cheap, but then again neither is the end result of bad advice and/or workmanship....

DigMe · #6 10-27-2009, 03:46 PM

There is no reason to support mom and pop stores that suck. Capitalism will eventually do its job as far as those go. However, I try to support quality places that may have a bit higher prices if they are great in every other way.

bc

Holy War · #7 10-27-2009, 04:26 PM

Is Chuck Levins Washington Music Center the one close or the one 45 minutes away?

MJ5150 · #8 10-27-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

Does anyone else here put up with crappy service, just because a place is closer?

I don't.

-Mike

Phalex · #9 10-27-2009, 05:09 PM

GC is closer. One of the few mom and pop shops remaining in town is about five miles away. I'll drive the five miles thank you very much.

Din Of Win · #10 10-27-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

Is Chuck Levins Washington Music Center the one close or the one 45 minutes away?

Nah. Usually Chuck Levins isn't even on my radar. It IS about 45 minutes away though. The 'good' one i'm speaking of is Atomic.

Chuck's is great, it's just awkward to get to from where i live, no direct route

Holy War · #11 10-27-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

Nah. Usually Chuck Levins isn't even on my radar. It IS about 45 minutes away though. The 'good' one i'm speaking of is Atomic.

Chuck's is great, it's just awkward to get to from where i live, no direct route

Never been to Atomic, Ill have to make my way there soon.

ErebusBass · #12 10-27-2009, 05:46 PM

This is kind of off topic, but you should really learn to work on your own basses.

There's really nothing to be afraid of, and then it's done when you want it done, and best of all IT'S FREE.

jazzy grille · #13 10-27-2009, 05:53 PM

No,

I travel 2 hours to Basscentral for EVERYTHING I buy for my bass addiction (except strings).

They usually have to kick me out.

UncleFluffy · #14 10-27-2009, 05:54 PM

I'll give local places a first shot at earning my repeat business, but if they suck I see no reason to give them a second chance.

Gopherbassist · #15 10-28-2009, 02:10 AM

I don't care about "supporting local." I support what gives me the best price and the best service. Price comes first, but if service is bad I stop going, or if service is fantastic I'll spend a few extra bucks. The good music store in my town closed, I'm never spending another dime on instruments here until that place re opens or some other, better, place comes into being. Now, I plan musical browsing and expenditures into times when I'm going into the nearest metropolis. Consumables I buy extra if I think I'm going to need them, or if worse comes to worse, I get something online.

txbasschik · #16 10-28-2009, 04:53 AM

Never put up with lousy service.

There is a music store in Cedar Park. I do not shop there. Their selection of basses, bass amps, bass strings, and all other things bass is S-T-I-N-K-Y!!! All their stuff is overpriced. And their attitude is even worse! They could not care less. To them, a bassist is a piece of dirty gum on the bottom of their shoe. I drive into the city and shop at one of two places, or I order things online.

You locals know the shop I'm talking about. They suck.

Cherie

MakiSupaStar · #17 10-28-2009, 09:27 AM

I have a lot of options here. I support the ones best for me.

**Eric Perry** · #18 10-28-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I don't.

-Mike

Same here. In my area, I have three small, privately run shops, and a GC. As luck would have it, the closest privately owned place has the best selection of good gear, are consistently priced fairly, and I have a good rapport with them. The staffed luthier is a massive jackoff, so I don't use them (him), when I need any work done, and use one of two guys that have done work for me in the past and I trust.

I set foot in the GC once. I've never been back! Haha.

Absentia · #19 10-28-2009, 10:41 AM

Well, Lowdown closed so I'm pretty much screwed, GC beats about everything around here nowadays.
reminds me I need to get a quote from Don.
Musicgoround is ok, nice people haven't got a setup from them.

MJ5150 · #20 10-28-2009, 10:50 AM

Oh, y'all are talking about music stores. I don't even know the last time I stepped into a music store of any kind. I was just referring to places of business in general.

Take for example....NFL stadiums. I have one about an hour away in Seattle. Still, I prefer to take my business to the one 2,500 miles away in Pittsburgh. The staff are MUCH more knowledgable and skilled than the staff at the Seattle location, and the customer service is a million times better.

-Mike