More great customer treatment from the bass cellar in London...

Maybe next time you go in you should take a flashcard saying, "Sorry, we don't have those in stock" to help educate the sales staff if they get flustered and start to blather?



Wulf

 

was that the bald guy with glasses?

I bought my Yamaha RBX270F from there a couple of months ago.
he was saying they were in short supply
(the usual "they're like gold dust!" shop spiel)

I managed to bargain it down from £199 to £179 (an internet supplier does it for £179).

 

It's amazing what some shop dudes will say to cover for their laziness or ignorance. I'd appreciate it far more if they said: "Sorry we don't stock that." or "We don't have any of those in." or "I haven't tried those myself. I'll take your word on it." The guys at the Gallery and Bass Centre give the impression that they have taken time to try the products they sell so they can really *help* the customer. They're also willing to let you try stuff out without prejudice... Nice folks.

Sorry you had a bad experience in Denmark St.

 

did you try Nightingale guitars' workshop in the basement on Denmark St?
(Nightingale built Charlie Jones' (Page & Plant) plexiglass P bass)

but Denmark St is definitely not the place to go for advice- only for getting a low price on stuff that's commonly available (except strings..)

 

the Bass Centre has moved from Wapping to Brune Street near Liverpool St.

 

On that general theme.....

There is, IMHO, some sort of attitude by music dealers that they attempt at every conceivable opportunity to make sure customers never use that shop again. It's almost endemic

There's the deals that never come off, return phone calls that never arrive, bad advice given, ad nausea.

I had 'words' with my (now ex) dealer some months ago after a string of the above. The woman asked for another chance. So I gave her one cheeky and, true to form, the shop blew it, big time.

I am truly staggered at the way some of them carry on. Unless it's me, of course. Unless, I'm supposed to accept rubbish service.

It's funny how many on-line stores seem to treat potential customers and established ones, far better.

John

 

A number of points

Many shops if not all of them have to put up with people who come in the shop to try without buying and have inversely proportional attitude and talent. I couldn't put up with that.

Many people who work in shops treat it as a job. No problem here, how many surf TB when they should be working?

The Gallery in particular is great because 1 Martin Petersen and 2 you have to ring the bell to get in.

I have only been to the Gallery to try without buying once and that was Tsal's fault. I usually ring before I go. I know the names of all the staff and repeatedly give my name although they neither know me or care.

The trick to buying gear to is use the same shops and remind them of it. Even when trying stuff remind them that you bought a Musicman Stingray and a bunch of cabs (Gallery) or that you bought 3 Strats a combo and a Warwick Thumb (Coda).

They know you are a customer and not a dreamer. they know if you like something you'll buy it. They know you will be back. And to round up and bring back on topic they know that your gear and playing knowledge is near to theirs (excepting Martin) and not try to BS you.

 

PS I've been in the bass cellar once, not doing that again. Their loss, especially as I'm in the market for new amp stuff and will be in London Sat.

 

its the same here in ireland. I live in bangor, there are only about 3 music shops near me, one in my own town, and two in belfast. The one in my own town is a good shop, but the people working there arnt musicians. Basically a business man has spotted a gap in the market, ordered alot of marshall amps and fender guitars and basses some drums etc he only works with marshal and ashdown amps and rarely has any good basses in, i dont go there much.

The other two shops are 13 miles away, and when i go there its usually a day out, because i have to get a train which take about 45 minutes as its not an express. one shops 'Matchetts' has a large collection of stuff about 25 or so guitars out on display with about a dozen basses, mostly jazz basses, a few fenders, never anything that really tickles my fancy. I bought my amp from there and it was the last purchase i made. The staff usually seem stoned, or pissed of, i can understand why they would be pissed because generally the place is full of kids on saturdays just randomly playing guitars it even gets to me a bit.

The other shop, which is about a ten minute walk from matchetts is marcus music, now, this is a music store if ive ever been to one, its great, there are about 5 staff on most of the time, its never full with kids, mainly because only the proper musicians go down there and teh kids dont wanna feel wick.(why do i go :s lol) Anywaythe staff actually care about what your buying, i was having alot of trouble keeping my strings in tune and was on my way to a gig, i popped in to buy a new set and explained my problem to the guy at the counter, he noticed a pa speaker and asked did i have my bass with me, so ibrought it in and he told me that the strings(which i had bought at matchetts) we unravelling at the top under the red material, I bought the new strings and he even put them on for me. Great service and its what has had me back there any other time. I guess it pays to care, or at least show you care.

 

Chris gave a glowing review of The Gallery, which I'd second. In fact, they even remember my name although I'm not a frequent visitor!

I get the impression that they love the bass as an instrument and are willing to take time to offer excellent support and advice to bassists. They don't always have the cheapest prices (for example, I got my Sans Amp Bass Driver DI there and then saw it for about £10 less in a Central London shop) but I'm willing to invest a bit more money in them because they've convinced me that they're willing to invest enough time and support to help me make wise and well informed decisions about what I want to buy.

Wulf

 

They remembered you even though there' dozens of other bassists called Wulf?

They are not the cheapest but everytime I've bought something from them I've been treated well. When I bought a cab I had Alex swap between 3 cabs to compare them without a complaint or a single rolled eyeball scenario. I'm saving up for another cab...

 

if a music store sucks, and there is a better one, I would (and do) go out of my way to go to the better one! it for me is an especially big selling feature that the staff are helpfull and polite and take all your needs seriously. not just have the stuff you want if you yell at them 3 times for help... just stop going to this crappy place, or stop complaning
(not trying to sound like a grump or a party pooper or **any other party crashing name here**)

 

This is weird,
I went to the "Bass Cellar" yesterday to buy a cab to go with the Trace Elliot V4 I Bought off CS (Awesome!).
I was treated REALLY well, the sales girl (Simone) seemed to really know her stuff and nothing seemed to be too much trouble.
I got a brand new Trace Elliot 1524 cab (2x15) for an incredible price (yes I know Trace aren't around anymore but ..).
They even spent a whole load of time helping me load it into my car.
So, maybe you guys caught them on a bad day?

 

I've been in there many time over the last year as my office base was just round the corner and I have heard her say some incredible rubbish to customers - which would have got her shot down in flames if repeated her on TB.

But then I hate TE gear - so maybe I'm biased?

I have also found her chatting away to friends blocking the door - so you couldn't even get in the shop and indifferent to anybody trying to do so.

BUT as CS says - I have sympathy for them as, beacuse of their position, they are obviously over-run with timewasting kids who play the gear to destruction and obviously have no intention or means of buying any gear.

I mean - I've never been a music shop assistant but I can pick them out very easily.

Maybe if I had to spend all day there, with my pay depending on commission from sales - I might be tempted to tell them a load of old rubbish as well!!