Guitar Center dumping Mesa or new models?

What was the Walkabout going for ?

 

Nope I heard a guy at my local GC say the same thing; all left over models are on clearance and GC will no longer be carrying Mesa gear. I guess Mesa and GC aren't seeing eye to eye on some things.

I seem to remember them doing the same thing years ago and I think it was with Mesa again.

Oh well, wouldn't stop me from picking up Mesa gear in the future (IMO).

 

Ya I talked with the salesman I deal with and their splitting ways for a while....which couldn't come at a worse time for me cause I've been gassing for a walkabout for a while but I have no money lol

 

In the past, certain "big box" stores have had problems coming up with the cash to pay off vendors in a timely fashion. Some vendors are more patient than others. It has happened with Sam Ash, Brook Mays, and GC that I am aware of. When I worked at a Brook Mays store for a while, brands came and went like the seasons because the company liked to sit on cash and put off paying vendors. And eventually the vendor would "teach them a lesson" about paying their bills. If I had to guess, this is what you are seeing here.

The only other explanation I can think of is that Mesa gear just doesn't sell all that well at GC compared to some mid and lower priced gear. If their stuff is taking up too much real estate and not turning over quickly, it has got to go. If this is the case I don't blame them at all. Gotta make a profit to keep the doors open, right?

 

Lucky you at least...the lovely local GC I get to choose from Fender Rumbles, Ampeg or combos, or Acoustic ___....or if you're in the bass department more than 12 seconds they'll recommend you look at nothing but their "just got in" but somehow already on sale Markbass gear....the one they told me to play through last month...i would love it if they had more GK stuff there

 

I don't see why everyone's complaining...at least they have Ampeg.

 

GC and Mesa split ways because GC is all about "the deals" and Mesa is adamant about their pro-net pricing. Two different philosophies that didn't work out. It really sucked...if there was some Mesa head with a scuff on it it couldn't be discounted. The people that shop at GC in this economy don't ever want to pay full price so when someone says "I like it...what could you do about the price" and Mesa not being known for their cheap gear it lead to a lot of models just sitting around gathering dust.

 

Basically, Mesa didn't like the fact that Guitar Center was willing to sell their gear for cheaper than they wanted, i.e. beating advertised pricing and such, so Guitar Center is dropping Mesa. Same thing happened with Gibson a number of years back (so I've heard...); once they realize that they have lost their biggest retail outlet, they will come crawling back. That's exactly what Gibson did. Big mistake by Mesa. But yes, Guitar Center is dropping Mesa, and it has nothing to do with not being able to pay the vendor, it has everything to do with Mesa not liking the fact that Guitar Center is willing to give people the best deals. So I've heard... And if you look on the GC website all that stuff is available to be ordered to the store, you just have to let the staff know that's what you want. They pretty much (unfortunately) just stock the stuff that people continually buy up really quickly. But, they will order just about anything for you.

 

I guess since GC is dropping the line, they can advertise discounted product until they run out.

 

You spelled MarkBass wrong.

 

GC is no longer a dealer of Mesa as of April or May. I work there...I know. Its not that Mesa wasn't happy that we were lowering their prices, it was that GC wasn't happy we couldn't lower their prices. It wasn't possible to lower the prices on Mesa gear period...the computer wouldn't allow it.

So what is going on is all Mesa gear in store is being put on clearance so we can have room for (hopefully) more boutique brands in store. At least thats what I was told is the plan...as for what will actually happen who knows what the future holds. I just work there...

 

As a Mesa fan, this is good AND bad news.
I was looking forward to trying the new tube amps and the traditional cabs locally.
It's not like I need another tube amp since I already have a buster and 400+

 

Is it just their bass stuff or guitar amps too?

 

All their stuff. Anything Mesa Boogie in a GC is going to be clearance, cheaper than anywhere else for a new one and Mesa still honors the warranty.

 

Patience, Grasshopper. Keep your eye on TalkBass Classifieds. Walkabouts don't go up for sale there very often but it does happen from time to time. And when they do they are usually in very good shape and at a better price than GC's clearance.

Unless you're a person who has to buy new... then yeah, you're SOL.

 

GC was carrying Orange for awhile too. Maybe that's only the bigger locations. I had also hear that GC was running into serious debt issues, similar to Circuit City when they went belly up in '08. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/12/us-buyouts-bain-guitarcenter-idUSBRE95B1AG20130612