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Musicians Friend
- Thread starter bassundergrace
- Start date
We aren't supposed to reveal the private deals people! Edit the post before google picks it up!
I just ordered a Sterling by Musicman SB4 and got a great deal. It will be a great addition to my collection.
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I wonder why MF does this kind of thing. If products are available at lower prices, I don't see why they don't list it at that price. I appreciate the discount, but I don't understand the logic of the situation.
Does this make sense to any of you? Am I missing something?
John
Does this make sense to any of you? Am I missing something?
John
Cuz they can sell it for more, so they do.
You're not missing anything, except the basis of running a business... to make money.
You're not missing anything, except the basis of running a business... to make money.
FYI, they (along with several other companies) do it this way because it is not a violation when the company isn't advertising a lower price.
No need for conspiracy theories. Just saying.
No need for conspiracy theories. Just saying.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Because the vast majority of people buy the gear at the listed price. Here's a little bit of info for ya that might make you happy, or frustrated
. Just about every store on the planet does the same thing. We just tend to think prices are what they are. I read a short article once about never paying the asking price for anything, and any time I put what they said into practice, it worked. I just sometimes don't have the head for doing it. The day after I read the article I was in a Palladium boot (shoe?) store. They only sell their brand. Most of their boots are marked at the same, seemingly written in stone, price. I really liked a pair, but didn't feel like paying the price. I told the salesgirl I'd buy em if she could knock 15% off. She actually laughed at me, as this wasn't a typical request there... but she seemed a little confused and said, let me check if I can do that. Came back 5 minutes later and said, OK, we can do that. Did the same thing at Bestbuy and saved over $150 on the price of my new computer and monitor. And it's usually as simple as just asking.Please elaborate. What's the gearheads email? If you're speaking of the email in the OP, that's not been my experience. If I remember correctly, when I used the email in the OP a while back I was offered a not so steller deal, that was easily beat just by calling MF and requesting 15% off. My experience is that pretty much any online store will do 15% off, at any time, without much effort. 20% off can be had, but not always and it takes a lot of doing. Used to be really easy to just get 20% knocked off, but either I'm losing my touch, or they're just not going for it anymore.
That's way too long of a post. Nobody wants to get philosophical about this topic. Send the email and get a deal. If you don't like it, don't buy. Many of us have had great luck. Your results may vary.
For the record, I disagree with BillisCool. I see nothing wrong with this post at all. Somebody asked a question and Joe gave his thoughts. No deep philosophical tangent there. Just explaining his experiences.Because the vast majority of people buy the gear at the listed price. Here's a little bit of info for ya that might make you happy, or frustrated
Please elaborate. What's the gearheads email? If you're speaking of the email in the OP, that's not been my experience. If I remember correctly, when I used the email in the OP a while back I was offered a not so steller deal, that was easily beat just by calling MF and requesting 15% off. My experience is that pretty much any online store will do 15% off, at any time, without much effort. 20% off can be had, but not always and it takes a lot of doing. Used to be really easy to just get 20% knocked off, but either I'm losing my touch, or they're just not going for it anymore.
To answer your question Joe, apparently they changed the email address that we used to use to request price quotes and are now using the "gearheads" address. I have not used it yet, but used the old one a number of times in the past when "Skaught" was still at M.F.. I think the only time I've tried it after Skaught left, I was not impressed with the offer. But it might have just been a bad day. I guess a lot depends upon who actually handles your email.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Thanks Jeff. And yeah, my call (or email - don't remember) went to Skaught also... I thanked him, called MF, and got a better deal.
I am very happy with the price quoits I have been given on two items I asked about.
When I figure in the no sales tax I am looking at a very substantial savings on a amp and speaker.
I must admit it is for guitar gear, maybe they treat guitar players better.
When I figure in the no sales tax I am looking at a very substantial savings on a amp and speaker.
I must admit it is for guitar gear, maybe they treat guitar players better.
Thanks for that.
If this is the reason, it seems slightly hypocrytical to me. Not too ethical.
I bought stuff from MF at full price before, as I did not know about this Gearhead thing. It's just weird that I paid more because I didn't know this "special handshake" thing. Obviously, if they are selling it for cheaper with this gearhead stuff, they are still making money...it must be a satisfactory way for them, since they created it.
It's almost like they are acknowledging that they are selling stuff for too much on the site.
Anyways, I'm not a businessman, it's not for me to judge them. I appreciate the discount. It just seems a little weird to me.
John
As a retail business, you sell for the maximum the market will bear. That's just good business.
I am a businessman, and this is standard business. My best, repeat customers always get a better than retail price, and if they need to buy lower, and ask, I'll go the extra mile, I won't lose them.
The average customer gets a fair deal, the market is competitive, and I compete against big box stores, but the loyal, repeat customers get the better deal. No one gets ripped off, I provide superior service and guarantees to everyone. And that costs.
MF's angle is slightly different than this, but they are gearing to the true musicians, keeping to "the inner circle" to build loyalty and relationships, different angle, same end goal.
If they sold to everyone at these special deals, their profit margin would be worse than it already is, and it would be the end of them.
They NEED to make more money off the average guy that occasionally buys something now and then, in order to cut the deals to the hardcore regular buyers.
I am a businessman, and this is standard business. My best, repeat customers always get a better than retail price, and if they need to buy lower, and ask, I'll go the extra mile, I won't lose them.
The average customer gets a fair deal, the market is competitive, and I compete against big box stores, but the loyal, repeat customers get the better deal. No one gets ripped off, I provide superior service and guarantees to everyone. And that costs.
MF's angle is slightly different than this, but they are gearing to the true musicians, keeping to "the inner circle" to build loyalty and relationships, different angle, same end goal.
If they sold to everyone at these special deals, their profit margin would be worse than it already is, and it would be the end of them.
They NEED to make more money off the average guy that occasionally buys something now and then, in order to cut the deals to the hardcore regular buyers.
OK, that makes sense to me, it's plausible. I understand the logic.
Thanks for explaining it to me.
John
