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Downfall of local music stores

#21
I too want to support local music stores, but I'm not willing to do so if they cost far more than the competition or need to "order" me something.

I'm not going to spend more money just to support them, and I'm not going to wait for them to order something when I can do it myself. I'll have it quicker and spend zero money on gas and sale tax.
 
#22
The local store here where I live is way over priced on everything he sells, I prefer to order online and keep the money in my pocket rather than pay the local guy way more than what the item can be had for online... I'm all for buying local but not when I can save a good amount of money otherwise, I'm looking out for me & my family 1st.....


+1 on the post right above me....
 
#23
I posted something on another thread like this, but, in my area, the local shops stink. Almost no bass gear and when they do have something, its real low end entry level used stuff. They dont even have the strings I like. Id much rather go to a GC or order online.
 
#24
Low_Ryder said:
So in my area there are no big music stores. There were two local ones, and I guess both were OK. Then a local chain came to town (the chain was only like 4 or 5 stores total).

One local store closed (the one I usually went into), and for about 10 years the other one stayed open. I went in last year when I started playing my bass again and I was amazed at how dirty/dusty/old it seemed.

A month ago I went back in looking for bass amps, and was surprised to see it was closed. The only place left in town is the local regional chain.
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That is often what happens in a ma' and pa' places versus big chain retail and consumer battle. The "littler guys" just cannot always compete with the bigger budgets, inventory and discounts of the big chains and they often fall way short. My city just got a Guitar Center last year, however I still support the local ma' and pa' places because they are more humble and actually care about you and take of you like a family member and not just another customer here to hopefully spend money. I have only been in the guitar center a couple of times and refuse to go there anymore than if I absolutely have to. I generally order online a lot too if the local places don't have what I am looking for and cannot order it for me for whatever reasons.
 
#25
I love going to Lawrence, Kansas because its a pretty large town, and it just has a bunch of local music stores. And they all cater to different niches, I like going to Mass Street Music, as its almost a boutique store there. Especially if you're a pedal freak.
 
#26
Phalex said:
My favorite store went under about a year after GC opened here.

Last time I saw Pat (the owner) he was working out of the back of an armored truck. I don't know what that gig paid, but I thought it was quite the fall.....
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That reminds me of the owner of the best local shop which went out of business here years ago. The owner was an outstanding guitarist and also very good at repairing instruments, stocking interesting used basses, etc. The last I heard he was working at Home Depot.
 
#27
The place closest to me is a great place to go for a xylophone or a trombone but a terrible place to go for guitars and basses, unless you want to pay list. However, I am fortunate enough to live close enough to some very good local stores in the Milwaukee/Kenosha area, and whom I enjoy supporting. The GC is actually all right, but the local stores are where you're going to find the real deal, and that seems to be somewhat of a consensus. I'm thankful they're around because I've found some great stuff at those local stores.
Sometimes I make it down to Chicago Music Exchange, where I feel like pressing my face against the glass like that kid in A Christmas Story.
 
#29
echoSE7EN said:
I would make the opposite statement; little stores get the best gear, albeit in short order. I understand that I am not located in the middle of a swamp, or top of a mountain, or a mile east of a desert oasis, but "local" to me I've got Jive Sound, Rocket Music, Chuck Levin's, and Bill's Music. The level of "good gear" that those four stores carry, compared to a GC (and their outstanding collection of dusty Squiers) is like a Ferrari sitting next to a Yugo at a stoplight.

Now not being one to rip on GC (I shop there too for little junk, or used stuff), it is still local. You're ensuring that a local person has a job behind the counter. You're spending your money within the county/state (tax wise). Sure, the money is leaving and going to a corporation, but that corporation is the one employing Johnny Guitar Guy, allowing him to pay rent. Also, the average kid who drags his parents into a GC hasn't a clue about stuff. He just wants to buy his first guitar, bass, drumkit, etc... GCs nationwide stock allows that future virtuoso the opportunity to buy a Squier for a great price.

If you don't like the idea of GC, and want to buy from a mom-and-pop shop, check the web. You may not be buying from someone in your area, but you will be buying from someone small. You'd probably get better customer service, and wait the same amount of time (shipping) that you would by ordering via MF or GC.
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Agreed. Really good gear typically isn't going to be carried by a big box chain. In this area there are stores that have been smart enough to establish a niche that they fill. And we have the best used gear store I've ever come across in Atomic Music... actually my favorite music store, period because they don't follow the typical model.
 
#30
All of our local music stores that sold electric guitars have closed. Nobody in their right mind would try to compete with Bain Capital and Best Buy. Those who remain in business have found niche markets: A shop that specializes in upright basses, one that sells just drums, a Steinway piano "gallery," a place that restores vintage grand pianos, a guy who sells violins to school kids, etc.
 
#33
I used to work in a small music store in the Denver area. There were three or four outlets, but they were all much smaller than a Guitar Center. We dealt in both school band instruments and pro audio, guitars, basses, amps, keyboards.

Our in-store inventory was very limited by the small space. We were authorized to order and sell just about anything you can imagine by many well-known respected brand names. But the special order process that was usually involved was a killer. No one wanted to wait 4-6 weeks for something that was at the big box store down the road.

And now the internet and 4 delivery services plus USPS makes it really tough for the local mom and pop brick and mortar to compete. Plus internet outlets like GC, MF, AMS, Sweetwater, etc. have free shipping and gauranteed 30 day return policy no questions asked on nearly everything they sell.

It's the modern era of commerce, and it's a good thing IMHO. Get on the internet, research it, order it.

P.S.--it is sad that "try before you buy" gets lost in the transition, but there are still some great shops that specialize in instruments where you can get a feel for what you like or dislike.
 
#35
One of the local stores in my area was crushed out shortly after GC opened a few miles away. The local store had unfriendly customer service, medicore instruments, and non-competitive pricing. Once GC opened, people now had a choice, and better prices, selection, AND serivce is an easy call.

Since GC's openeing, a couple other small stores have popped up, and have survived by finding a niche that GC can't compete in. One, in particular, specializes in high-end used guitars and boutique amps. They also have a really good repair shop on site. Most importantly, their customer service is excellent.
 
#36
I can get just about everything that GC sells from non chain, mom and pop type stores where I live. But either their poor selection or high prices keeps me going back to GC. There is one exception but its on the other side of Houston.

Rockin Robin is a very cool store but their prices make no sense to me. They are sometimes double what GC sells for.
 
#37
I tried to support the local guy a few months back. I went in and found a Thunderbird that I liked. I decided to buy it. The kid working there searched for half an hour for the hard case that was included in the price but never found it. He then insulted my intelligence by offering me $50 off a different hard case. He then proceeded to bang the bass into the side of their display case and gouge the heck out of the body. That closed the deal. Needless to say, I went home and ordered the same bass for less online.
 
#38
I worked for a sharp businessman for about thirteen years and his policy was that he'd open a store right next to a national store that sells the same stuff as he did.

The reason? Angry and unsatisfied customers would leave the big chain and he'd take them on as new customers. It worked and he retired after his fourth million.

But I have mixed emotions. I got shown the door when I walked into a small store where I live and asked to see a Fender bass. He turned and told me not to come back into his store. He shot himself in the nethers as far as I am concerned. I won't have to worry about his store in my future shopping sprees and if he went out of business tomorrow I wouldn't care.

OTOH - GC has been very good for me. I'd even buy from Staples if they had something I wanted, since after all, they can offer discounts or price match just the same as GC can.
 
#39
I'm extremely lucky to have Crazy Music, Palin Music, the Blue Guitar, and the Guitar Trader all in one town of about 100,000. And even though it's a chain, it's still a franchise chain, so I'm going to include Music-Go-Round because it's locally owned. The local pawn magnate is a musician, so he tries to keep a good selection of products well priced. No Guitar Center in my town, and I love it. You can find crazy used stuff all over the place. Some guy sold his double bass and the stand that he had with it to MGR, so I got a double bass stand for $20. The bass is for sale for one large, the string tension and action are not to my liking, but I already have a double bass. A friend of mine sold his '69 Mustang to the Blue Guitar recently, I said, "I hope you got at least 15 for it." He responded, "17." The Blue Guitar is all classics and high end luthier stuff that he makes himself, the Guitar Trader is junk (I don't mean it in a bad way, it's just that's where people sell their Hondo half sized classical guitars), Crazy Music has a ton of low end starter instruments and books, and Palin is the local Fender dealer. I am very lucky.
 

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