Do you hate music store?

[phillipkregg]

We killed off music stores by tire-kicking in the store, then buying on line to save pennies.

There's a good point to be made here, but it's not exactly "pennies" we're talking about.

Personally, I try to frequent my local mom-n-pop music stores and buy everything I can from them, from instruments, to strings, effects pedals, and other accessories.

One store that I go to often, I purchased a bass that was over 3 grand a few months ago - I could have gotten it online for much less, but I want to see the store be successful and I like the people there.

However, a few weeks ago I stopped in and was checking out a new bass that caught my eye when suddenly I started getting the "hard-sell" treatment from a fairly new employee. Nothing makes me shut down on buying something like pushy sales people. Now I'm online looking at the same instrument in the same brand new condition for about two-thirds of the cost I would have paid at that store. Not saying I'm gonna buy it online now instead of the store, but it sure makes me think twice.

A lot of the blame is definitely on us the musicians, but sometimes the stores shoot themselves in the foot too.

 

[phillipkregg]

The last time I tried out a bass in a big box music store, some other customer sat down next to me and said "Let's hear you slap". I think that was about 10 years ago. Stuff like that never happens in the boutique stores and the prices aren't all that much different.

It's really incredible to believe that in this day and age, where you will be hard-pressed to turn on the radio and ever hear a song with slap bass in it, and you will almost never be asked to do that technique on a gig, that there are sooooo freakin many guys that are trying to do that.

If an alien landed on earth and walked into Guitar Center, they would think that slapping the bass is the primary - or only - way that it is to be played.

 

[rollie 55]

It's really incredible to believe that in this day and age, where you will be hard-pressed to turn on the radio and ever hear a song with slap bass in it, and you will almost never be asked to do that technique on a gig, that there are sooooo freakin many guys that are trying to do that.

If an alien landed on earth and walked into Guitar Center, they would think that slapping the bass is the primary - or only - way that it is to be played.

you should have gave the person a slap and said there you go mate

 

[JW56789]

I moved to Nashville in '90, and it was all local music stores. Towards the end of the decade, the internet really began to bloom for everyman, and Sam Ash, MARS, and Guitar Center established stores here. This began a shakeout of several of the locals, they were suddenly swimming with much bigger sharks. Still, the pro stores or specialty retailers (we have several acoustic only, a drum only, and a bass only) held their own. And of course, Gruhn's anchored the vintage market.

Over the last five years, it's as if a kickback against big and internet has occurred here locally. Gruhn's is now joined by Carter Vintage and the relocated-to-Nashville Rumble Seat Music. Several local stores have now opened that are new. I've always been a customer of Corner Music and always will be, JD and the boys are just the best. Of course, Nashville is different store-wise because of all the players here, but it's a hoot to go vintage gazing or go to Corner and look at Sadowskys, one of their few dealers across the country.

I've bought on the internet, but typically for something I can't lay hands on locally. I bought my two Squiers after they'd been discontinued and had to reach out across the country to find them. I grew up in mom and pop music stores, learned a lot, and still and will always have a soft spot for it, and an Internet store can't bail you out of a jam, front you something, or give you a place to hang.

As far as 'cheaper online', most products are on the MAP schedule, and I often find 'plus freight', etc., I'd actually pay a little more . . . . . and deal with return shipping, etc., if something goes wrong . . . . . life is short, so unless I'm stealing it online, it's often not worth it to me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

There's a good point to be made here, but it's not exactly "pennies" we're talking about.

Personally, I try to frequent my local mom-n-pop music stores and buy everything I can from them, from instruments, to strings, effects pedals, and other accessories.

One store that I go to often, I purchased a bass that was over 3 grand a few months ago - I could have gotten it online for much less, but I want to see the store be successful and I like the people there.

However, a few weeks ago I stopped in and was checking out a new bass that caught my eye when suddenly I started getting the "hard-sell" treatment from a fairly new employee. Nothing makes me shut down on buying something like pushy sales people. Now I'm online looking at the same instrument in the same brand new condition for about two-thirds of the cost I would have paid at that store. Not saying I'm gonna buy it online now instead of the store, but it sure makes me think twice.

A lot of the blame is definitely on us the musicians, but sometimes the stores shoot themselves in the foot too.

First of all, a store has higher expenses, since rent is higher, employees cost money. Add in the convenience of you trying the actual instrument. But in most cases, they will match the price rather than lose the sale.

 

[FishDub]

GC near me always has blaring guitars and drummers trying to mimic a drum set falling down a really fast UP escalator. Still, it's great to be able to try a bass before buying.

I do like the lower prices found online.

And in addition to the blaring guitars and drummers lets not forget the bass players playing "higher ground" a million times..

 

[buldog5151bass]

Can't argue with that.
But the other side is how music stores were before the internet or even very much mail order music. Two stores in my hometown controlled the entire music instrument business. If you weren't part of the in group of local pros, they sucked every dime they could from you and treated young players like dog crap. There were a couple of small shops including one where I took guitar lessons, who were decent people, but because the two bullies on the block sucked up all the franchises, they only sold cheap off brands and used stuff.

I still try to support the local shops where I live now, but to some extent brick and mortar music brought trouble on themselves when times were good for them.

Like any other industry, there are good retailers and bad retailers. There always were #$&$# music stores. But in most places you could find good music stores.

 

[rollie 55]

I moved to Nashville in '90, and it was all local music stores. Towards the end of the decade, the internet really began to bloom for everyman, and Sam Ash, MARS, and Guitar Center established stores here. This began a shakeout of several of the locals, they were suddenly swimming with much bigger sharks. Still, the pro stores or specialty retailers (we have several acoustic only, a drum only, and a bass only) held their own. And of course, Gruhn's anchored the vintage market.

Over the last five years, it's as if a kickback against big and internet has occurred here locally. Gruhn's is now joined by Carter Vintage and the relocated-to-Nashville Rumble Seat Music. Several local stores have now opened that are new. I've always been a customer of Corner Music and always will be, JD and the boys are just the best. Of course, Nashville is different store-wise because of all the players here, but it's a hoot to go vintage gazing or go to Corner and look at Sadowskys, one of their few dealers across the country.

I've bought on the internet, but typically for something I can't lay hands on locally. I bought my two Squiers after they'd been discontinued and had to reach out across the country to find them. I grew up in mom and pop music stores, learned a lot, and still and will always have a soft spot for it, and an Internet store can't bail you out of a jam, front you something, or give you a place to hang.

my local store helped me out my amp went down on the day of a big gig and they lent me a amp so we could play the gig you cant get that of the internet

 

[IPA]

I was told when I started playing and shopping that the local stores couldn't be beat-- sure it was the same stuff as online for 15% more, but you were paying for the service. The service!

I never really found out what that meant, I suppose it meant having salespeople talk down to me or ignore me, recommend crap I have no interest in rather than listen to me, poorly set up instruments, getting nickel and dimed for repairs on new items, and having to make do with what's in stock vs getting what I actually want. Oh, and let's not forget "new" instruments that have been dinged, molested etc and are still being sold as new because the store bought them new and put them out on the floor for people to try.

Tried a few stores, gave up.

I'll go to Sam Ash if I'm feeling impatient for a new set of strings, or want to see some shiny stuff, but unless it's a used item that I'm going to set up on my own, I'm probably not buying from a brick and mortar store.

I don't really ever seem to glean any opinion on playing something in the store vs just buying it online so there's not much value in that either. I can't form an opinion while sitting in a store playing with myself on an unfamiliar amp with stock strings. And even if I could I don't know if it would make a difference.

 

[pappabass]

I hate them all !! I will pick up a bass and start GAS'ing for it! It could be a $100 bass and gotta have it !

 

[gln1955]

Like any other industry, there are good retailers and bad retailers. There always were #$&$# music stores. But in most places you could find good music stores.

That's true. A local store here gave us an incredible deal on some stage lights. Better than we could have gotten online.

As opposed to my stories from years ago, most local shops are aware they need to be competitive to stay in business.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I’ve said this before, but to me, as someone who has been both a customer and an enployee, Music Stores have always felt like a cross between the predatory vibe of a car dealership and the apathy of the DMV. From small ma and pa places to giant corporate box stores, every one I’ve ever been in was like that. Except for a few rare and awesome individual workers here and there.

Online has been a completely different and better experience for me. Except for guitar center, whose online experience matches its store experience.

That said, I consider them a necessary evil. Agree with others that there is no better way to evaluate something than to play it.

 

[klokker]

I would buy anything that I could get from a music store from a music store. But they just usually don't have what I'm interested in. Cables, all that I go to the music store.

 

[Charlzm]

I can find out more from watching demos and coming here than I can trying a bass out in a music store and theres no impulse buying. I think prices are cheaper online anyway. I like ebay musicians friend and amazon.

How did obtain all my current basses?

Dingwall Afterburner - bought used from a TalkBass user
Dingwall Combustion - bought used from a TalkBass user
Rickenbacker 4003 - bought used from a TalkBass user
Kiesel Icon 5 - ordered direct from manufacturer
Warmoth "Frankenbass" - ordered direct from manufacturer
Warwick Katana NT - ordered through distributor
Fender Geddy lee Jazz Bass - won in a contest

The last thing I ordered through a music store was a really nice Schecter Hellraiser Extreme 5 which I ultimately sold on Craigslist. That was in 2012.

 

[Yango]

I think the problem may lay in the fact that most, if not all of the employees are frustrated, or failed musicians. They believe that they’ve been given a raw deal in life, and they’re miserable—simply because they’re not the superstar they believe they should be.

That’s not to say that all music store employees are in this category. I’ve dealt with some great guys and gals who dig playing in club bands, and who supplement their income, and get great deals, by working in a music store.

It all comes down to the individual’s personality and disposition. Unfortunately there seem to be WAY more that fall into category number one...

Online is cool, but there’s nothing like walking into a store and comparing two or three identical basses, to decide, “yeah, this is the one”.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Part of the issue is that a lot of younger people here haven't experienced what music stores used to be. Boys and girls, there was a time before the internet, where actual stores carried top name equipment, and Carvin was about the only manufacturer that sold directly to the customer.

 

[socialleper]

I can find out more from watching demos and coming here than I can trying a bass out in a music store and theres no impulse buying. I think prices are cheaper online anyway. I like ebay musicians friend and amazon.

The sales people at most music stores don't have the nitty gritty information I can get online. Also, a lot of stores have lousy bass selections these days. That said, I would much rather try something out in person first before buying it. The price of new gear in stores and online have gotten closer together, but you can find used stuff online for cheaper, so I see that angle.
When I can buy something from I store I try to, but it is getting less and less common. I don't have to worry about impulse buying at stores because they so rarely have anything I want.

 

[LBS-bass]

Also, a lot of stores have lousy bass selections these days. That said, I would much rather try something out in person first before buying it.

I feel the same way but I also realize that most stores don't have anything set up well enough to properly evaluate it. I can get a sense of the neck feel but there are other factors at play that aren't obvious when you're just eyeballing a neck with a bad setup. The one purchase I'm probably least happy with was one I made in a store. Two basses I bought sight unseen I am extremely satisfied with so I'm learning to be willing to take my chances.

 

[JakobT]

I don't think he means all individuals here when he says "we." I was working in a large, privately owned music store in a large city in the mid '90s when the internet was just starting up. It was as though overnight we went from being the best place to learn and get hands on experience and instruction to being mere conveyors of merchandise from warehouse to register. We had always been willing to haggle on price, with reasonable profit margins that were calculated to allow the store to pay the overhead and pay their workers a decent wage and commission. Sales people were reasonable with each other and we had each other's backs.

Overnight, we went from that to being asked by every customer if we could match online prices at 5% or 10% above cost, which wasn't enough to keep the doors open. It was not sustainable. Customers would come in, spend two or three hours of our time getting all the information they could, then call us to let us know they could get it from Musician's Friend for 5% over cost. Commissions tanked because we were all wasting our time working as Musician's Friend's showroom all of a sudden. Sales people found it harder and harder to work together because the competition for sales was making everyone's lives more difficult and management hired in some people who had some fairly cutthroat approaches to working with others. I saw the writing on this wall very quickly and quit that job after watching another sales person sell a backordered item I had tagged in layaway with a deposit on it, leaving me in a position where I had to tell that customer I no longer had his item and he would need to wait. It was Christmas. Everyone in sales there had gotten too hungry.

That store did go out of business after over 40 years. Maybe you always bought your stuff there, maybe someone else always did, too, but the people saying that tire-kicking and online pricing killed those stores are not wrong.

You’ll notice that I did not argue that point, quite the opposite.

 

[TNCreature]

I love spending time in music, guitar, record stores. They are all not great, but I love interacting with like minded others!