• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Guitar Center dumping Mesa or new models?

#21
Last year I was the "reason" that Mesa re-sent a letter to Guitar Center clarifying their pricing policies. In short GC was throwing Mesa under the bus claiming that GC was contractually bound by Mesa to charge full list price. Long story short is that minimum advertised price and minimum selling price are worlds apart in terms of potential legal issues.

Probably not related however...
 
#22
The issue had nothing to do with discounted pricing. From our press release:

Mesa/Boogie discontinues with Guitar Center

Mesa/Boogie Ltd. has elected not to renew Guitar Center as an Authorized Mesa/Boogie Dealer. The decision was made in response to a growing number of customer complaints about poor service, selection and merchandise condition throughout the 86 GC locations Mesa had authorized.

Mesa/Boogie Founder, President and Chief Designer, Randall Smith, commented, “It’s with regret -- and we certainly wish GC well, but it's important for us to provide musicians with a thorough and professional representation of our products. We work hard to exceed expectations in everything we do so it's vital that we have a focused network of dealers who share our commitment and ideals."
 
#24
VixCosmicHippo said:
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.
Click to expand...

I was working for GC when this happened back in the late 90's. Losing Gibson was a big deal but GC doesn't back down from ANYONE. I suppose if they ever got in a tiff with Fender that would be a bigger deal.
GC let them go and just doubled down on PRS and Gretch. Gibson was back in less than a year.
 
#25
VixCosmicHippo said:
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.
Click to expand...


I doubt very seriously Mesa will come crawling back seeing how little units GC actually sells of theirs they have had the same pricing restrictions for a long time and continue to stay in business I'm sure the same problems will eventually force Rics out of the stores.
 
#26
To the OPs main point, I wouldn't be surprised if this happened. GC is constantly renegotiating with their vendors to get a better deal. They can behave in a cartel like fashion because them and Sam Ash pretty much run the brick and mortar MI business now. They've gone back and forth with Mesa, Rivera, Warwick, Bag End, Eden, SWR, Peavey, Yamaha, Spector and others I can't even remember anymore. Their buyers used to be far more adventurous brand wise, but now (at least for bass) have focused almost primarily on Fender, Music Man, Ibanez and then a smattering of Dean or Schecter.
Frankly I think the MI industry was a lot more healthy in 90's when there was more competition.
 
#27
MesaBoogie said:
The issue had nothing to do with discounted pricing. From our press release:

Mesa/Boogie discontinues with Guitar Center

Mesa/Boogie Ltd. has elected not to renew Guitar Center as an Authorized Mesa/Boogie Dealer. The decision was made in response to a growing number of customer complaints about poor service, selection and merchandise condition throughout the 86 GC locations Mesa had authorized.

Mesa/Boogie Founder, President and Chief Designer, Randall Smith, commented, “It’s with regret -- and we certainly wish GC well, but it's important for us to provide musicians with a thorough and professional representation of our products. We work hard to exceed expectations in everything we do so it's vital that we have a focused network of dealers who share our commitment and ideals."
Click to expand...


+1 it's like selling a Bently at a Chevy dealership
 
#28
MesaBoogie said:
The issue had nothing to do with discounted pricing. From our press release:

Mesa/Boogie discontinues with Guitar Center

Mesa/Boogie Ltd. has elected not to renew Guitar Center as an Authorized Mesa/Boogie Dealer. The decision was made in response to a growing number of customer complaints about poor service, selection and merchandise condition throughout the 86 GC locations Mesa had authorized.

Mesa/Boogie Founder, President and Chief Designer, Randall Smith, commented, “It’s with regret -- and we certainly wish GC well, but it's important for us to provide musicians with a thorough and professional representation of our products. We work hard to exceed expectations in everything we do so it's vital that we have a focused network of dealers who share our commitment and ideals."
Click to expand...

A good move IMO.

Nice to see Mesa taking an end-to-end view and valuing the total customer experience.
 
#30
Good to hear it from Mesa Boogie themselves. It was a shame...I took pride on learning a lot about all the Mesa Products because I dig the company and I was going to make a point to educate people on them (and I've turned quite a few people onto the Carbine series too) and right when I came back from a vacation we weren't a dealer anymore. GC does have that reputation with the people they hire...

So is it safe to assume Mesa will still honor their warranty even if they are sold at the clearance price?
 
#31
zagralin_arf said:
Good to hear it from Mesa Boogie themselves. It was a shame...I took pride on learning a lot about all the Mesa Products because I dig the company and I was going to make a point to educate people on them (and I've turned quite a few people onto the Carbine series too) and right when I came back from a vacation we weren't a dealer anymore. GC does have that reputation with the people they hire...

So is it safe to assume Mesa will still honor their warranty even if they are sold at the clearance price?
Click to expand...

Absolutely - warranty will be honored as with any new purchase. This is not a reflection of your personal efforts or our relationship with employees. Thanks!
 
#32
I work at a mom and pop, brick and mortar shop that carries Mesa.
It's been a little nerve-wracking watching GC sell off a LOT of gear that is apparently all marked as "used". We are optimistic about the eventual outcome, as long as we can weather the next several months. Sometimes it's hard to play by the rules! :help:
 
#36
MesaBoogie said:
Absolutely - warranty will be honored as with any new purchase. This is not a reflection of your personal efforts or our relationship with employees. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Good to know...I'll pass that along.

Hope I can work with you guys again someday! Trent stopped by my store not too long before the split happened and I had a great talk with him about just about every bit of gear we had in the store and I learned a lot about the company and the gear. Made me REALLY glad I chose the M9 and PH212 as my rig!
 
#37
zagralin_arf said:
Good to know...I'll pass that along.

Hope I can work with you guys again someday! Trent stopped by my store not too long before the split happened and I had a great talk with him about just about every bit of gear we had in the store and I learned a lot about the company and the gear. Made me REALLY glad I chose the M9 and PH212 as my rig!
Click to expand...

Dude, Trent rocks! He's our rep, too.
 
#40
zagralin_arf said:
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.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the famous 15% off sales. In the fine print it says that some manufactures have chosen not to participate in the sale. There's a link that lists all of the companies that won't allow that 15% off, and its practically every company on the planet... except for the cheap junk that nobody wants, anyway. :eyebrow:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back