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Musicians Friend
- Thread starter bassundergrace
- Start date
As I understand it, most music stores make a decent profit when selling at about 1/3 of list price
When you start discussing HUGE retailers (like Home Depot) they buy at a much lower price than the small guys
HD gets quoting on many of their items by sending out an RFP based on train car loads and not truck loads!
The amazing thing to me is how cheap they can make this stuff and ship it over here. I returned some ampeg stuff to MF. I was watching my account to make sure the gave me the refund and for a brief period it showed a refund of about half what I paid for it with some labor day type 20% off deal. I called and it turned out it was a computer glitch that put their invoice price instead of what I paid.
There was big home furnishing place in town that did the same thing. Massive markups on list price with huge looking discounts. You could talk them down and they still made money. But they went broke when the housing bubble burst in 08. Owner's are still doing fine.
We used to have a lot of furniture and textile plants around here. Even some electronics. Still a huge GE transformer plant nearby that's been shut down but will never go away because they won't do the clean up.
Sorry, I'm easily distracted.
My college room mate worked part time as a programmer for a big clothing retail chain (The Hecht Company) which were in business for something like 50 years but went under.
He said they had to at least double the price of commodity items like Levi's jeans to make a profit and their price was as competitive as anyones.
I don't think the brick and mortar stores will ever be able to even get close to competitive pricing in the future.
Is GC a lost leader for MF, Music 123, etc?
He said they had to at least double the price of commodity items like Levi's jeans to make a profit and their price was as competitive as anyones.
I don't think the brick and mortar stores will ever be able to even get close to competitive pricing in the future.
Is GC a lost leader for MF, Music 123, etc?
I just ordered from Musician's Friend. They matched the 20% from Pro Audio Land. Not too shabby.
Stupid question..
What's the point of getting one store to match another stores price?
If the first store already had a better price, why wouldn't you give them the business?
Other than assuming the second store didn't have some benefit, eg. free shipping or in stock vs back order, etc.
What's the point of getting one store to match another stores price?
If the first store already had a better price, why wouldn't you give them the business?
Other than assuming the second store didn't have some benefit, eg. free shipping or in stock vs back order, etc.
I never tried to get them to price match. I would just send a request to the Gearheads email and see what they could do. Of the last 13 orders I have made for musical equipment, Gearheads gave me the best price on 11 of them just by asking and not even mentioning shopping else where. The two they couldn't help much on where cables and patch cords that I ended up buying there anyway for free shipping. At this point I would probably tell them and give them a chance because they have worked with me so much, but in the beginning, I would have just gone with the better price.
For me personally, I have a credit card for GC so I get them to price math. I have no interest in having credit everywhere.
This was all through gearheads email. I gave them a link to the product and the coupon code.
Few other reasons I went with MF a) see if they would actually beat it [which they did not] b) store loyalty. I was hoping by continuing to order through them I could get even better deals in the future and c) I've returned stuff with MF. It was never a problem. If I hate this bass, I wanted to know that the other party would be easy to deal with on a return.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
They won't price match an item another store doesn't have in stock. And I always had better luck price matching over the phone. You just need the url of the price you're matching. If you do it through the website it could take a couple of days, and I've been told they couldn't match the price once or twice with emails. Never over the phone.
As for why match and just not buy at the other store, I've been doing business with musiciansfriend for well over a decade and trust them. I know I won't have any issues, if there are any issues. They've always been cool w me, so I like to give them my business.
As for why match and just not buy at the other store, I've been doing business with musiciansfriend for well over a decade and trust them. I know I won't have any issues, if there are any issues. They've always been cool w me, so I like to give them my business.
The competitor's website gives no indicator of stock status. You'd have to call to find that out. I was actually burned by that before when trying to order from the competitor.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
BassHouston
Supporting Member
- Jan 30, 2012
- 657
- 860
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Fodera Guitars,Michael Tobias Design, DR Strings
Called yesterday to get a quote for a CS P bass and was told they have a new policy that does not allow them to touch the prices of "private reserve" instruments. Even on the cheaper products, they've become much tougher to deal with.
Just tried to use my gearheads discount again for some 210-av cabs, and was also given the "no discount" email. I have bought them for $239 before shipped new through the same email chain I keep using. No dice. Oh well, it was a good run while it lasted.
I also checked on a 64 RI Jazz just for kicks, and no discount on that either. Only reason I used MF was a. I have a MF card with 12 mo no interest, b. The great gearheads discount and c. They are close by and stuff arrived fast.
I think I'll move my business over to Sweetwater
.
I also checked on a 64 RI Jazz just for kicks, and no discount on that either. Only reason I used MF was a. I have a MF card with 12 mo no interest, b. The great gearheads discount and c. They are close by and stuff arrived fast.
I think I'll move my business over to Sweetwater
.
Just got a great deal on some new pickups and strings - basically got new pickups for a few bucks more than the average used price, which is awesome.
