Done with Sweetwater

[Conrad romeo]

I've bought from Musician's Friend and AMS and Sweetwater is my go-to online music store, never received any calls from them never had any issues and instruments have always been an excellent condition

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Its kinda funny...

Sweetwater and my go to guy there, are so far and away superior to each and every other chain store of its type, that I honestly cannot believe some of those purporting to have had these type of experiences being tossed out here for consumption. I may have had a couple of things happen with inexperienced people dealing with my at times less than best informed communication, but it has ALWAYS been taken care of in each and every instance.

I cannot believe that I am the exception and others are being treated in less than professional manners by the same staff...

Wurd up...some of you are unrealistic crazy people on the other end of a couple of coconuts tied together with a long string!

 

[Michael Bauer]

I think this has been more of a paid advertisement for Musician's Friend. A few of the comments here have crossed a line to me, but hey, I'm just the bass player.

 

[Greg Waldon]

There aren't a lot of sales out there to create a comp price.

GC has a RB-2502 (5 string version of 2002) in good condition for $269.99. My 2002 is “cherry”. 2502 and 2002 bring about the same market price. $105 I was offered seems to me a little low.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

GC has a RB-2502 (5 string version of 2002) in good condition for $269.99. My 2002 is “cherry”. 2502 and 2002 bring about the same market price. $105 I was offered seems to me a little low.

First thing you must understand about this is that they have no real idea about what they are doing day to day/store to store/employee to employee.

Then, if they can grab your instrument for that amount and price it @ $229.99 they have doubled their money and paid the overhead in the buy/sell of that instrument.

Nothing has done more to drive down the value of musical merchandise business overall than this company and how they operate. It is an unsustainable model, in my opinion.

Sweetwater will provide a forum to help you sell your gear, but they do not get into this type of arrangement in buying from you. They provide new and some demo merchandise at great prices with a FANTASTIC credit payment arrangement that allows various promotional term that are aggressive in the industry. THIS COSTS MONEY TOO! (no free lunches, guys) it is about keeping manufacturing going with quality products at good prices and allowing Joe Guitar to beable to make monthly payments at no APR% in a shrinking music industry. The other guys are not in a solid business position to be able to offer these type of aggressive promotional programs on the scale that Sweetwater can. The guy who owns the company didn't go to the "Slash & Burn" school of business and has a customer satisfaction model with value added programs with a knowledgeable sales department and responsive service program. Nothing is ever 100% perfect, but, they make every effort to get your business every time!

 

[Greg Waldon]

First thing you must understand about this is that they have no real idea about what they are doing day to day/store to store/employee to employee.

Then, if they can grab your instrument for that amount and price it @ $229.99 they have doubled their money and paid the overhead in the buy/sell of that instrument.

Nothing has done more to drive down the value of musical merchandise business overall than this company and how they operate. It is an unsustainable model, in my opinion.

Sweetwater will provide a forum to help you sell your gear, but they do not get into this type of arrangement in buying from you. They provide new and some demo merchandise at great prices with a FANTASTIC credit payment arrangement that allows various promotional term that are aggressive in the industry. THIS COSTS MONEY TOO! (no free lunches, guys) it is about keeping manufacturing going with quality products at good prices and allowing Joe Guitar to beable to make monthly payments at no APR% in a shrinking music industry. The other guys are not in a solid business position to be able to offer these type of aggressive promotional programs on the scale that Sweetwater can. They guy who owns the company didn't go to the "Slash & Burn" school of business and has a customer satisfaction model with value added programs with a knowledgeable sales department and responsive service program. Nothing is ever 100% perfect, but, they make every effort to get your business every time!

You are correct that they really have no idea what they are doing. I just wonder how many people actually take a low ball price either by not knowing or caring what their equipment is worth.
Prime example is when I bought a used LTD B-50 back in the spring. I gave $119.95 for it. It said it was in good condition. It was in mint condition. One very small scuff that I buffed out with rubbing compound. My guess is they offered someone $50 for it and not a penny more.
I probably could have worked with them if they would have come off of the price of the bass I was wanting to trade for but they flat refused . All I asked for was the price marked on the bass was an “out the door price. No tax. Less than $15 and I was told that there was no way that was gonna happen. Since the Fella had already been very rude, I decided I better split before I said something that I would have probably regretted later.
Bottom line is I am done with that store.

 

[loveandbass]

It’s possible that it’s not sweetwater but rather OP that is troublesome. Not enough info though to make a determination.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

It’s possible that it’s not sweetwater but rather OP that is troublesome. Not enough info though to make a determination.

Anyone bitching about the candy in your order is enough for me to make a determination!

Now, go practice tuning your Bass...

 

[Joe Nerve]

I think this has been more of a paid advertisement for Musician's Friend. A few of the comments here have crossed a line to me, but hey, I'm just the bass player.

I'm sure you're referring to me ... and I find it funny cuz I feel the same way regarding posts about Sweetwater.

I've been crystal clear about why I keep supporting them.

I stopped talking trash (for the most part) about SW too. I don't wish them any harm. I just have to put out my support to MF when people start trashing THEM. They've been very very good to me, and I want to make sure they stay open until I purchase my very last bass and amp. Hopefully that'll be when I'm in my late 90s.

 

[minddrain]

I’ve decided not to be concerned with my shopping experience. I will purchase what I need and move on.

 

[Matty Koff]

I'm sure you're referring to me ... and I find it funny cuz I feel the same way regarding posts about Sweetwater.

I've been crystal clear about why I keep supporting them.

I stopped talking trash (for the most part) about SW too. I don't wish them any harm. I just have to put out my support to MF when people start trashing THEM. They've been very very good to me, and I want to make sure they stay open until I purchase my very last bass and amp. Hopefully that'll be when I'm in my late 90s.

For what it's worth I don't think anybody has said anything anybody should take personally. This is the power of the free market. We're free to shop where we wish. I've only ever bought one instrument from SW personally, and it had an issue that I think was due to the nut. On one of those calls to check how I liked it they asked if I wanted to send it back but I declined, intending to just have it fixed later as I otherwise was enjoying that Schecter guitar.

On the other hand.. not long before, even though I wasn't into Nevermore, I bought a Loomis signature edition C7 from Musician's Friend that was absolutely flawless in every way.. with one of the most resonant pieces of solid mahogany I've ever had the joy of playing. (those things actually went up in price about $300 not long after that purchase.) Both guitars got sold when I started playing bass guitar >.<

Currently out of my 4 basses, and my 1 guitar 2 of them came off the wall from my local GC, my Sire from Sire-USA, and my jazz I found off craigslist. My Stratocaster I bought from the guitarist in my current band.

My Alesis Nitro Mesh i got on sale from GC, the DDrum midi trigger I/O to build on that kit from SW.

I've spent at least a couple grand at SW, and several thousand at GC/MF. When I can't save significant money via GC, it's always been that call asking how I was enjoying my guitar from SW that has me throwing them business on the smaller purchases if I'm buying new.

It's pretty much just a fact of internet shopping that there's a chance you'll get a lemon. I've been building my own computers since the early 2000's as well and it never fails, I get anxious waiting on the delivery, because I know there's a chance it'll malfunction and I'll have to spend extra time either returning to retailer or dealing with the manufacturer.

If all my instruments went up in flames tonight, and I had a show tomorrow, and enough cash in my pocket I'd ultimately go to the local GC and buy whatever worked best from what they had in stock, even though they can seem a couple years behind the times.

 

[Nightman]

DO NONE OF YOU PEOPLE LIVE NEAR MUSIC STORES? Why the hell would you buy a guitar online when you can visit a local store and put your hands on one? Buying used online is a bad enough crap shoot, but there is NO reason to ever buy new online.

This is funny!!! Not well thought through, but funny!

 

[Happy Camper]

I have used Sweetwater (though not exclusively) for some time and have no complaints. The sales rep I typically work with (Roq Martin) is a good guy. YMMV.

 

[Devnor]

I have no idea what you paid for that, but if you bought it at MF it could have been had for $2780 after their discounts. That's $820 savings off the retail price for that. Is their "service" really worth that much to people?

MF isn't discounting the new Fantom $820.00.

I asked Sweetwater years ago not to call. They don't call. They double boxed the synth. Really nice job.

 

[Joe Nerve]

MF isn't discounting the new Fantom $820.00.

If you wait for a 15% sale - and call - you'll get it. And if you sign up for the backstage pass program you'll get an additional 8%.

If you DON"T want to take those simple steps then, well... what can I say? Those discounts above came out to $820 when I added them up.

If you call and tell them to knock off $820 that's not going to happen. It doesn't work that way, and for me that's understandable.

I promise you I'd save $820 off the retail price if I bought that at MF. I'm not buying it though.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

If you wait for a 15% sale - and call - you'll get it. And if you sign up for the backstage pass program you'll get an additional 8%.

If you DON"T want to take those simple steps then, well... what can I say? Those discounts above came out to $820 when I added them up.

If you call and tell them to knock off $820 that's not going to happen. It doesn't work that way, and for me that's understandable.

I promise you I'd save $820 off the retail price if I bought that at MF. I'm not buying it though.

I came up with +/- $606 with 15% and 8% on the actual selling price...still a hunk of change.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I came up with +/- $606 with 15% and 8% on the actual selling price...still a hunk of change.

My math skills aren't the best ... but I'm pretty sure I calculated 23% off the price I googled on the keyboard (23 is the 15 plus 8 Backstage pass).

@Devnor FWIW, electronic gear is the one thing I WOULD consider going to SW for. Pretty sure they'll still bend over backwards with tech support. I don't need their continued support however on bass purchases.

 

[bdplaid]

I don't think the discounts work that way; at least for some of the vendors they do it sequentially - 15% off, then 8% off of that. or vice versa.

But whatev, all I have to do is ask SW and I get a great price right off the bat. If MF beats it, SW will beat that. So will GC. And even though MF and GC are the same entity, I'd much rather go GC because I can return to the store. Packing and reshipping is a pain in my...

Also, returning something to SW is super easy. And if you are returning something not covered under warranty, such as a bass you just don't like, they will sell you a FedEx return label for cheap. SW has it all covered, they're the best.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I don't think the discounts work that way; at least for some of the vendors they do it sequentially - 15% off, then 8% off of that. or vice versa.

But whatev, all I have to do is ask SW and I get a great price right off the bat. If MF beats it, SW will beat that. So will GC. And even though MF and GC are the same entity, I'd much rather go GC because I can return to the store. Packing and reshipping is a pain in my...

Also, returning something to SW is super easy. And if you are returning something not covered under warranty, such as a bass you just don't like, they will sell you a FedEx return label for cheap. SW has it all covered, they're the best.

I agree. SW is not about gimmicks. They just make it happen without the need for a calculator, 10 fingers and 10 toes or a super secret string club back stage pass and swag-bag...lol

Sweetwater is a pro's best friend!

 

[GregC]

That's part of why I think MF only honors their coupon codes by phone. Sweetwater will never, in my experience, come even close to to the 23 to 28% off (including backastage pass points) I ALWAYS get at MF. And I don't have to do any price matching.

This is a really black and white thing to me.

I'm looking for best price cuz I spend lots. Some people want the feeling of security they get at Sweetwater. And they're willing to pay for that. Still blows my mind though because MF is just as good about exchanges and refunds, and they do it without having to talk to anyone for 20 minutes. That's a big plus for me, but others don't seem feel that way. They'd rather pay $300 more for a bass than I will in order to get that.

And I gotta say... the craziest thing to me in these threads is that people get mad at me for saying this stuff ! I'm trying to help people here. What is there to get mad about?

If you wait for a 15% sale - and call - you'll get it. And if you sign up for the backstage pass program you'll get an additional 8%.

If you DON"T want to take those simple steps then, well... what can I say? Those discounts above came out to $820 when I added them up.

If you call and tell them to knock off $820 that's not going to happen. It doesn't work that way, and for me that's understandable.

I promise you I'd save $820 off the retail price if I bought that at MF. I'm not buying it though.

Why would a customer have to talk to Sweetwater for 20 minutes to do a return? Did I miss something?
And why is calling MF merely a "simple step"? Genuinely curious.