I'm not speculating. I'm going on the evidence. What are you doing?
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Infuriating. Honestly.
- Thread starter paddydaddyo
- Start date
I'm not speculating. I'm going on the evidence. What are you doing?
Here's the group with the post. Log into Facebook | Facebook
Looking at some of his other public posts, let's just say that he might represent his side of the story more than the other side. I'll leave it at that.
Looking at some of his other public posts, let's just say that he might represent his side of the story more than the other side. I'll leave it at that.
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And therefore we are to formulate our opinions on the given evidence.
State yours please.
I found the guy that made the post and he seems like a jerk. I personally wouldn't trust his side of the story, but you can.
"Jerk" is not a crime. "Seems" is something less entirely.
Can you imagine Talkbass without that demographic?
When someone tells a story and you don't think it's true you're welcome to disprove it. I invited you to do it. You failed.
So, you have a point and we're all waiting for you to make it.
Please proceed.
I'll assume that the OP anecdote is accurate as described. If so, is the store clerk being reasonable and are the two customers doing anything "infuriating"?
There is an independent, family owned music shop nearby where I've been a loyal customer for almost 30 years. The owner tells me they are doing well despite "showroomers" and online competition. He understands that their success depends on providing superior customer service. I can't imagine any employee at this store acting in the manner described in OP.
Refusing to carry a hugely popular brand like Ibanez demonstrates a distinct lack of customer service. But to rudely insult customers because of this very same business model failure is a recipe for destroying customer loyalty.
There is an independent, family owned music shop nearby where I've been a loyal customer for almost 30 years. The owner tells me they are doing well despite "showroomers" and online competition. He understands that their success depends on providing superior customer service. I can't imagine any employee at this store acting in the manner described in OP.
Refusing to carry a hugely popular brand like Ibanez demonstrates a distinct lack of customer service. But to rudely insult customers because of this very same business model failure is a recipe for destroying customer loyalty.
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I will always be of the opinion that I am in no way obligated to buy from any store, local or online. Best price and best service will get my hard earned money. I don't care if it's local or online, independent or big box. I can't remember the last time I purchased anything substantial from a small local shop.
This type of story "this story popped up on my Facebook feed..." really sounds a LOT like an advertisement for Sweetwater! Now, the one tipoff is that Sweetwater sells Fender, so there's no way they would put out an ad through social marketing that put down one of their main product lines. Otherwise, all its missing is a smile and a wink to the camera at the end.
Now did it go down like this IRL? Not likely. Is the original poster on FB probably creating a story to validate how awesome his Ibanez bass is, even compared to a Fender Custom Shop, as validated by the mystery shopper (who was good on bass, but you know, not as good as the story teller)? Yeah - that holds more water. I've met guys like that before. "Yeah man, Stu Hamm heard me play at my last gig and offered me $20k for my bass bc of how awesome it sounds, but I was like 'no way man, this Squier is worth a whole lot more to me than that'..."
More likely scenario: guy brings in Ibanez bass to a shop and noodles around at too loud a volume. Another shopper gives him a look for being too loud. Guy thinks the look is bc he's playing so awesome. Shop owner finally says to buy something or get out. Guy leaves and makes up story.
Now did it go down like this IRL? Not likely. Is the original poster on FB probably creating a story to validate how awesome his Ibanez bass is, even compared to a Fender Custom Shop, as validated by the mystery shopper (who was good on bass, but you know, not as good as the story teller)? Yeah - that holds more water. I've met guys like that before. "Yeah man, Stu Hamm heard me play at my last gig and offered me $20k for my bass bc of how awesome it sounds, but I was like 'no way man, this Squier is worth a whole lot more to me than that'..."
More likely scenario: guy brings in Ibanez bass to a shop and noodles around at too loud a volume. Another shopper gives him a look for being too loud. Guy thinks the look is bc he's playing so awesome. Shop owner finally says to buy something or get out. Guy leaves and makes up story.
More likely scenario: You made that up based on your ideas of what goes on via the internet. Sure, it could have happened, but you have no evidence to support what you propose. The story that Paddydaddyo related was what it was: What he related. You want to read more into it? Cool, but you're telling your own story, now ain't ya?
The best thing about a conspiracy theory is that you never have to prove it.....
I don't buy from local music stores very much for one good reason:
They'll put a bass out on the rack and people will bang around on it for six months or a year while it gets exposed to the elements. Then you come in and say you'd like to buy one like that and they try to sell you that used demo as new. Happens ALL THE TIME - they literally try to rip you off with no shame. If you try to haggle, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Ask for another one that's still boxed up. "That's the only one we have..."
BTW, if you go onto to Reverb.com and see a small vendor selling what looks like a nice piece for a killer price and it's been up for sale for a few months and only one in stock, (very common) chances are you're getting the store's floor demo.
Go to a good online vendor that does high volume, you'll get a factory fresh piece. So it's no contest.
(I believe in supporting local and like having someone I know that I can go to when necessary - but a rip-off is a rip-off. )
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It's called competition. Buggy drivers and stage coaches don't do much business these days either.
When I moved into my current neighborhood, there were local stores of every sort. Now there's nary a one. All the stuff I used to buy local, I now get on Amazon - with a much bigger selection, lots of reviews so I know what I'm getting into, and a very good price. I save money and have more time to play and practice - I'm OK with that.
That may be what you want to say. But, that's not what your story says. The customer tried to make a purchase and the store didn't want to.
My Bass came from Sweetwater. But every purchase since (amp, flats, bag, ect) have come from 2 great locally owned shops here in Pittsburgh. And every future purchase possible will too.
if he wasnt willing to sell him an ibanez he obviously wasnt in need of any business, nobodys fault but the store owner
I buy from my local music shop as often as possible....but if the desired item is not available from them, I buy online. I have bought basses here on TB and then take them to my local music shop for set up and new strings etc
The reason I support my local store enough to pay slightly higher prices than online is that I more than make up for it in service and benefit value.
They have great teachers who give music lessons on any instrument.
They have a competent repair, maintenance and mod shop with reasonable fees and quick turnaround
They take in a lot of used gear for resale that is often a hard to find piece or a real bargain, or both.
They maintain several bulletin boards that are constantly updated with news and information of interest to local musicians. ("Band looking for musician" or "Musician looking for band").
They are a place where you can just hang out and talk shop with other musicians for the fun of it.
They have great teachers who give music lessons on any instrument.
They have a competent repair, maintenance and mod shop with reasonable fees and quick turnaround
They take in a lot of used gear for resale that is often a hard to find piece or a real bargain, or both.
They maintain several bulletin boards that are constantly updated with news and information of interest to local musicians. ("Band looking for musician" or "Musician looking for band").
They are a place where you can just hang out and talk shop with other musicians for the fun of it.
I must admit I do this, but its my way of supporting the little guy....and little girl, my kids....the world is changing, pretty soon its gonna be Walmart, or online.
What's so confusing about the OPs little rant is how misplaced it seems to be. In the story, you have two musicians: one trying to buy an amp, the other trying to buy a bass. Both are trying pretty hard to buy them from a local store, which seems to be doing their best to anger both clients. The story does absolutely to support the OPs pre-designed premise that "window shoppers" are killing mom and pops. In fact, it does the EXACT OPPOSITE.
I recently went into a local vintage music store. I spent 45 minutes looking at different instruments. Since all of the amps are in separate "demo" rooms, I twice asked a clerk if they had a bass amp I could use. Both times, he tells me "sure, bro....give me a minute", then disappears. I got tired of waiting, and left. As I'm walking out, the owner of the shop gets snippy and quips "hope you enjoyed screwing with all of our basses"...... I came back to the counter, pointed out the clerk who was "helping" me, and told her I tried very hard to buy one of her basses. She told me to get out........
Another local store was quite helpful when I bought a bass last year. When I got the bass home, I realized it had a minor issue. It would have been a 5 minute fix for a luthier, which the shop happens to have on staff. When I called them to ask them to fix it, the manager says, very sarcastically "man, that's rough. Maybe, just maybe, you should be calling the manafacturer for your warranty claim???"
Yay mom and pops. They've been killing their own businesses for years, and now are trying to blame the "big boxes".....
I recently went into a local vintage music store. I spent 45 minutes looking at different instruments. Since all of the amps are in separate "demo" rooms, I twice asked a clerk if they had a bass amp I could use. Both times, he tells me "sure, bro....give me a minute", then disappears. I got tired of waiting, and left. As I'm walking out, the owner of the shop gets snippy and quips "hope you enjoyed screwing with all of our basses"...... I came back to the counter, pointed out the clerk who was "helping" me, and told her I tried very hard to buy one of her basses. She told me to get out........
Another local store was quite helpful when I bought a bass last year. When I got the bass home, I realized it had a minor issue. It would have been a 5 minute fix for a luthier, which the shop happens to have on staff. When I called them to ask them to fix it, the manager says, very sarcastically "man, that's rough. Maybe, just maybe, you should be calling the manafacturer for your warranty claim???"
Yay mom and pops. They've been killing their own businesses for years, and now are trying to blame the "big boxes".....
