Infuriating. Honestly.

[paddydaddyo]

I just had a post pop up in my FB feed that really has me quite ticked off. The guy wrote:

"So, I went to a local music shop to check out a new bass combo amp. I brought my SR1405TE.
While I was playing, a guy is picking up his brand new Fender American Custom 5 string. I noticed him repeatedly looking my way. I wasn't doing anything fancy, just checking out the amp tone. He walked over to me and was listening intently. He asked me what bass I had. I showed him and offered to let him try it. He played it for a good 10 minutes and gave it back to me. He was a pretty good player. He asked me a few questions about it, especially about the Nordstrand pickups. After the short conversation he walked back to the counter with the new Fender bass and told the clerk that he didn't want it and instead wanted to order an SR1405. The clerk said that they didn't carry Ibanez products because they weren't very good instruments. The guy told the clerk that he may have thought they weren't good but that SR1405 made the Fender feel and sound like junk in comparison. He asked me where I got mine and I told him "on-line from Sweetwater with free shipping and no tax."
The clerk asked me to take my bass and leave the store....

Another Ibanez convert is born...."

As a former manager of a musical instrument store, this post shows EXACTLY the reason why so many GREAT small shops have closed their doors. No respect for the fact that people are trying to run a business and make a living,all the while providing a true service for their customers ... and have to put up with "test drivers" that come in to plunk away for hours, only to bargain shop online when it is time for the actual purchase. Infuriating.

 

[bolophonic]

I'm a big supporter of local small businesses, but a store who's owner insults the bass you want to order is just asking for trouble.

 

[Nev375]

As a former manager of a musical instrument store, this post shows EXACTLY the reason why so many GREAT small shops have closed their doors. No respect for the fact that people are trying to run a business and make a living,all the while providing a true service for their customers ... and have to put up with "test drivers" that come in to plunk away for hours, only to bargain shop online when it is time for the actual purchase. Infuriating.

It sounds like the guy offered the clerk a chance to sell him an Ibanez before he sought out a different vendor.

By asking the guy to take his Ibanez and leave I feel he deserves the test drive treatment. It's not the fault of the Ibanez owner guy that the store lost a sale, he was just being friendly, honest and answering questions. The clerk could learn a lot from that guy.

Also by dissing Ibanez to a guy who is now apparrently a brand new fanboy of the brand he just lost complete credibility to the customer. Never slam a brand on the basis that you don't carry it. People see right through that crap.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Infuriating, yes.
Factual outcome of open market? Yes.
Adapt or die, supply and demand.
But there is hope, remember Walmart growing at light speed, and driving small businesses to an early grave?
List of the 154 U.S. stores Walmart is closing

Before that was the "country store" which was threatened by Sears and Roebuck with the mail order catalog. ...

 

[hrodbert696]

It sounds like the guy offered the clerk a chance to sell him an Ibanez before he sought out a different vendor.

By asking the guy to take his Ibanez and leave I feel he deserves the test drive treatment. It's not the fault of the Ibanez owner guy that the store lost a sale, he was just being friendly, honest and answering questions. The clerk could learn a lot from that guy.

+1.

The guy TRIED to give the shop a sale and the shop wouldn't sell to him. What do you think is going to happen?

EDIT: not only that, but by kicking Ibanez-guy out, the shop lost TWO customers instead of one.

 

[Michael B]

Dissing the Ibanez and not selling or ordering one mistake 1 and 2. Mistake 3: not trying to sell the new combo.

EDIT: yes show-rooming is lousy.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Trying products at a local store, then buying them online to save a few bucks, is sleazy. It's called "showrooming."
OTOH, it sounds like the store owner didn't exactly have the attitude that will keep him in business.

I've seen all sides of this issue. The pressure is on local shops to compete on price and availability and offer value.
I try to buy from my local shop when I can. And I will also try to work out a deal before I walk out of the shop.
My summary is that a good local shop is the best place to buy. A lousy local shop is not a compelling option.

I really encourage people to try the local option. If you only buy online, you might be surprised by the service and help you get at a good shop, and by just how well they will compete on price and total value.

 

[paddydaddyo]

Yeah guys, I get that the shop owner didn't handle this AT ALL the way I would, or any of you by the sounds ... my point is that we really really seem to be near the end of the bricks & mortar independent music stores. To many "try here, by online" shoppers. I ALWAYS give my local independent shop a shot first, and am even willing to pay a percentage MORE to get it through them. Online (or mail order, as it was called back in the day) is my last option.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I'm a big supporter of local small businesses, but a store who's owner insults the bass you want to order is just asking for trouble.

I had some sales training back when. I was trained that you handle this situation by saying good things about the product the customer leads with, then use that as a way to open the dialogue about something you offer. Certainly a better approach than saying "that product sucks, now GTFO!"

 

[Joe Nerve]

If that infuriated you, I'd suggest staying off of Facebook. Life is too short to let other people's petty BS ruin my day. I've got my own petty BS to deal with .

 

[nutdog]

this post shows EXACTLY the reason why so many GREAT small shops have closed their doors. No respect for the fact that people are trying to run a business and make a living,all the while providing a true service for their customers

I think it shows a reason, but not the only one, and not the one you point out. Ibanez has been making good instruments for decades. The clerk is ignorant at best, dishonest at worst, not GREAT and not providing a true service. Reminds me of the attitudes and pricing I would see at the local shops before I got my first Musician's Friend catalog.

Not saying all shops were bad but several I went to were happy to take advantage of a newb.

 

[ZenG]

The clerk handled it all wrong.

 

[paddydaddyo]

I used to manage a really great independent shop that carried great lines, and offered outstanding service. As I said, this shows the reason why so many (not all) GREAT small shops have closed. Not because of their customer service, not because of attitudes, etc. But because the test-drivers are out numbering the supporting, loyal customers nowadays by a factor of 10.

 

[xrockstrongox]

Saw thread title. Knew OP would not get support in position. Was not disappointed. TB!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Since the online sales have come online, brick & mortar establishments are suffering.

If I can walk into my local Crutchfield (home theater & automobile audio) & they can help me choose the right stuff for the job, I will give them my order.
The last time I went, I wasn't given much information & ended up just going home to research it myself.
I wanted to put in subs in my rear deck or in the trunk.
I could probably get more information & good advice about it here on TB than I got from the guy in the store.
On second thought though, I might go back & try one of the more seasoned reps & would probably get better results.

 

[hrodbert696]

Trying products at a local store, then buying them online to save a few bucks, is sleazy. It's called "showrooming."
OTOH, it sounds like the store owner didn't exactly have the attitude that will keep him in business.

I've seen all sides of this issue. The pressure is on local shops to compete on price and availability and offer value.
I try to buy from my local shop when I can. And I will also try to work out a deal before I walk out of the shop.
My summary is that a good local shop is the best place to buy. A lousy local shop is not a compelling option.

I really encourage people to try the local option. If you only buy online, you might be surprised by the service and help you get at a good shop, and by just how well they will compete on price and total value.

Yes, but the guy in the OP did NOT showroom. He liked the bass the other guy had and TRIED to order it through the shop, and the shop REFUSED to get him one. Showrooming is when you try a product out that a shop has for sale and then go buy that product online to save $50 instead of at the store you tried it out at. TOTALLY different.

I agree that showrooming is a bad practice and a danger to brick-and-mortar retail. But that's not what the OP describes and the only people to get infuriated at in the situation are pigheaded shop owners who alienate potential customers with stupid decisions and run their own businesses into the ground.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Yes, but the guy in the OP did NOT showroom. He liked the bass the other guy had and TRIED to order it through the shop, and the shop REFUSED to get him one. Showrooming is when you try a product out that a shop has for sale and then go buy that product online to save $50 instead of at the store you tried it out at. TOTALLY different.

I agree that showrooming is a bad practice and a danger to brick-and-mortar retail. But that's not what the OP describes and the only people to get infuriated at in the situation are pigheaded shop owners who alienate potential customers with stupid decisions and run their own businesses into the ground.

Yeah, you're right. I was responding to OP's comment at the end of the story, which was describing showrooming. That said, I think we're all in agreement that the shop person in the the story didn't handle it the best way.

 

[hrodbert696]

Dissing the Ibanez and not selling or ordering one mistake 1 and 2. Mistake 3: not trying to sell the new combo.

EDIT: yes show-rooming is lousy.

Yep. Correct response would have been, "Yeah, that bass did sound great. I wish I could help you, but we're not Ibanez dealers. You might try X shop on the other side of town, they sell Ibanez over there. How did you like that combo?"

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I wouldnt attempt to sell instruments for a living anyway.

 

[hrodbert696]

I wouldnt attempt to sell instruments for a living anyway.

You can make a living selling 'em easier than playing 'em.