As far as I know. They weren't gonna budge on the strings, but then I sent them a link to a better price I found online and they actually dropped a buck off that price. Not saying it'll work for everyone, but it did for me.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Musicians Friend
- Thread starter bassundergrace
- Start date
I sent a request to the Gearheads address recently and was told they aren't doing deals right now, just price matching. Oh well, fun while it lasted.
Actually, I put up a post a while back that I could not understand how they could do these kinds of deals, undercutting their own prices. I was told by several people in this thread that this is a practice that makes sense from a business point of view. It appears that it no longer makes sense.
John
John
They're only price matching advertised deals now too. In the past I have been able to have them match coupons or special offers, if they could verify them. Today I was told they are no longer doing that.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
MF is getting tighter with the discounts, which means they're about to lose my business. Which is A LOT! I'm pretty certain I spend more there than 75% of the population, and give them more free advertising here and on other websites than than they could possibly ever imagine. I also work in a HS and send kids and coworkers there all the time, and well... yeah. Anyhow, went to make a purchase last week and asked if they'd give the typical 15% off that I get emails for several times a year. They wouldn't do it. And I didn't buy.
I like MF, but the main thing that kept me coming back was the fact that I'd always get the best price there. If that is no longer the case I'm going to go back to my old friends americanmusical, as I get delivery the next day with them (they're warehouse is on the east coast), or sweetwater, as you get setups and great studio pix of you instruments along with your purchase
.
FWIW - I don't know a whole lot about business, but I've seen businesses destroy themselves making changes like this. There was a club in Bklyn NY, many moons ago called Lamour. Any Brooklyn rocker over 40 is familiar with it. I was around when they made a transition from Disco (anyone remember Disco?), to Rock. They were open Tuesdays, and Thurs through Sat. If you went Tues you got free passes for Thurs. If you went Thurs, you got free passes for the weekend (and the following Tues if I remember correctly). They were very liberal with their free passes, yet still charged admission. They grew an empire. The place was packed, always, and I'm pretty sure they all got rich. Then they decided they were done with the free stuff, raised their admission... and well. Lamour closed. Not sure what those guys are all doing now, perhaps someone here knows, but I know they lost a whole lot of their business when they started making changes I'm sure they believed were going to benefit them.
Would a company rather have 1000 customers paying a 20% markup, or 100 paying 25%? If 20% beats out all the competition... I dunno. Again, I'm not a business guy so there's a good chance I'm missing something here. Allz I know is I'm going where I get the best buy, and/or the most for my purchase price. For a good solid 10 years that's been musiciansfriend. If it changes, so be it.
I like MF, but the main thing that kept me coming back was the fact that I'd always get the best price there. If that is no longer the case I'm going to go back to my old friends americanmusical, as I get delivery the next day with them (they're warehouse is on the east coast), or sweetwater, as you get setups and great studio pix of you instruments along with your purchase
.FWIW - I don't know a whole lot about business, but I've seen businesses destroy themselves making changes like this. There was a club in Bklyn NY, many moons ago called Lamour. Any Brooklyn rocker over 40 is familiar with it. I was around when they made a transition from Disco (anyone remember Disco?), to Rock. They were open Tuesdays, and Thurs through Sat. If you went Tues you got free passes for Thurs. If you went Thurs, you got free passes for the weekend (and the following Tues if I remember correctly). They were very liberal with their free passes, yet still charged admission. They grew an empire. The place was packed, always, and I'm pretty sure they all got rich. Then they decided they were done with the free stuff, raised their admission... and well. Lamour closed. Not sure what those guys are all doing now, perhaps someone here knows, but I know they lost a whole lot of their business when they started making changes I'm sure they believed were going to benefit them.
Would a company rather have 1000 customers paying a 20% markup, or 100 paying 25%? If 20% beats out all the competition... I dunno. Again, I'm not a business guy so there's a good chance I'm missing something here. Allz I know is I'm going where I get the best buy, and/or the most for my purchase price. For a good solid 10 years that's been musiciansfriend. If it changes, so be it.
If MF won't come down, I'll never buy anything from them. I don't have to pay tax with Sam Ash or Sweetwater so I only bought stuff from MF when I could get a good deal.
My brother just bought a US Strat from Sweetwater and they came down on the price AND he got to see actual pictures of the guitar he was buying, weight, etc... Not sure why one would ever buy from MF if they won't win on price and customer service is better elsewhere. Hell, my local music shop sells stuff for the same price as MF and they'll check it over and give you a setup when it comes in.
My brother just bought a US Strat from Sweetwater and they came down on the price AND he got to see actual pictures of the guitar he was buying, weight, etc... Not sure why one would ever buy from MF if they won't win on price and customer service is better elsewhere. Hell, my local music shop sells stuff for the same price as MF and they'll check it over and give you a setup when it comes in.
Last edited:
I agree- while I have given MF quite a bit of $$$ over the years, it was because of the price and selection. But they aren't the only game in town any more for the brands I like, and while they have always treated me well (fast shipping, excellent CS), so have other places I have dealt with (Bass Strings Online, RMC Audio (heck, they had to order my compressor from Aguilar, took 2 weeks, but they kept me in the loop and gave me the best price, so I was cool with it), etc.). They (MF) still have a ton of marketing muscle, but if they're just doing MAP, I'll be shopping elsewhere.
Clearly, you don't raise prices, or lower discounts if you're making a profit.
They're a company in over a billion $$'s debt.
You can sell a 1000 people something and lose money, or 100 and make money. It's just a sign of their fiscal issues.
They're a company in over a billion $$'s debt.
You can sell a 1000 people something and lose money, or 100 and make money. It's just a sign of their fiscal issues.
A lot of good shows went on in that club back in the day!MF is getting tighter with the discounts, which means they're about to lose my business. Which is A LOT! I'm pretty certain I spend more there than 75% of the population, and give them more free advertising here and on other websites than than they could possibly ever imagine. I also work in a HS and send kids and coworkers there all the time, and well... yeah. Anyhow, went to make a purchase last week and asked if they'd give the typical 15% off that I get emails for several times a year. They wouldn't do it. And I didn't buy.
I like MF, but the main thing that kept me coming back was the fact that I'd always get the best price there. If that is no longer the case I'm going to go back to my old friends americanmusical, as I get delivery the next day with them (they're warehouse is on the east coast), or sweetwater, as you get setups and great studio pix of you instruments along with your purchase
FWIW - I don't know a whole lot about business, but I've seen businesses destroy themselves making changes like this. There was a club in Bklyn NY, many moons ago called Lamour. Any Brooklyn rocker over 40 is familiar with it. I was around when they made a transition from Disco (anyone remember Disco?), to Rock. They were open Tuesdays, and Thurs through Sat. If you went Tues you got free passes for Thurs. If you went Thurs, you got free passes for the weekend (and the following Tues if I remember correctly). They were very liberal with their free passes, yet still charged admission. They grew an empire. The place was packed, always, and I'm pretty sure they all got rich. Then they decided they were done with the free stuff, raised their admission... and well. Lamour closed. Not sure what those guys are all doing now, perhaps someone here knows, but I know they lost a whole lot of their business when they started making changes I'm sure they believed were going to benefit them.
Would a company rather have 1000 customers paying a 20% markup, or 100 paying 25%? If 20% beats out all the competition... I dunno. Again, I'm not a business guy so there's a good chance I'm missing something here. Allz I know is I'm going where I get the best buy, and/or the most for my purchase price. For a good solid 10 years that's been musiciansfriend. If it changes, so be it.
Used to go there all the time in the 80's & 90's for metal & hardcore shows. The rock capital of Brooklyn.
Thanks for these links.
I had no idea about the sales and marketing numbers as well as marketing trends for GC and MF.
Looks like some big changes are just around the corner.
I don't understand business practices. Why would MF blow out gear in a wholesale auction when they could just put EVERYTHING on sale at a deep discount and blow it out to customers instead? Sure it's piecemeal but they'd have to realize more $ than in a wholesale auction with auction fees.
would you rather I cut you a single check for $13m today, or $15 million over 12 months divided into approximately 30,000 $500 checks?
Btw, I might return some of those things in the mean time.
Oh also, I'll also be expecting free shipping on each of those 30,000 orders, so you'll have to cough up about a $1 million to ups for that?
Standard business when trying to reduce inventory and generate cash flow
Btw, I might return some of those things in the mean time.
Oh also, I'll also be expecting free shipping on each of those 30,000 orders, so you'll have to cough up about a $1 million to ups for that?
Standard business when trying to reduce inventory and generate cash flow
First bass related Stupid Deal of the Day in a LONG time....
Gibson 2013 EB Electric Bass Guitar Cream
Today's Price
$599 (40% off)
Gibson 2013 EB Electric Bass Guitar Cream
Today's Price
$599 (40% off)
Yeah, this really IS a good deal. I have one of these, and it's a very versatile, punchy bass. Tons of tonal possibilities. High-quality case (mine has a white plush lining with a good-sized accessories box inside). Can't beat this for a U.S. made Gibson.
I'm a Fender guy, but took a chance on one of these because of some of the reviews I've seen. I used to have a Les Paul bass, and I like this much better. I figured, "What the heck - get something for a change of pace". It's surpassed my expectations.
