Sam Ash: What Happened?

[Floppystrings]

One other thing abut shopping locally: Some of us are more knowledgeable about gear than the people working in the stores. I saw an older F bass at a guitar store. It was listed as an Italian-Made Furlanetto Bass. I asked the clerk about it, he said the same thing. F Basses are made in Hamilton, Ontario.

If these companies tried a little harder they wouldn't be struggling at the moment. I know the employees don't get paid much, but selling instruments sounds a lot more fun that crawling in a wasp infested attic installing ethernet cables. Or maybe it isn't...most guitar center employees sound mentally broken with their, "what's up man" attitude.

Working is customer service can be terrible I know, but there different levels of terrible.

 

[AudioTaper]

If these companies tried a little harder they wouldn't be struggling at the moment. I know the employees don't get paid much, but selling instruments sounds a lot more fun that crawling in a wasp infested attic installing ethernet cables. Or maybe it isn't...most guitar center employees sound mentally broken with their, "what's up man" attitude.

Working is customer service can be terrible I know, but there different levels of terrible.

I did install work and worked behind the local not-Sam-Ash guitar store counter years ago (at the same time, theres nothing like having 2 jobs...) and even though the install work paid a little more, the counter work was much, much better. Plus I got a nice discount

 

[BurningSkies]

One other thing abut shopping locally: Some of us are more knowledgeable about gear than the people working in the stores. I saw an older F bass at a guitar store. It was listed as an Italian-Made Furlanetto Bass. I asked the clerk about it, he said the same thing. F Basses are made in Hamilton, Ontario.

I bought one of the very earliest of Markbass LMII's at the local GC. It was a complete crapshow. They swore they didn't carry it and couldn't get it. Then made me go to the Drum Dept. even though I kept saying 'it's a bass amp'...the drum people didn't know whatfor and sent me back to the Guitar/Bass Dept. I spent about 20 minutes convincing them that it was a BASS AMPLIFIER and that THEY were the exclusive dealer in the US.

Eventually I asked to get behind the counter to the computer and I actually looked it up in their system for them. We also had the fun of the warrantee that they told me they had to charge me for, though it's free...and that the system wouldn't allow me to buy it until I agreed to the warranty that they wanted me to pay for but was free. Legit the stupidest transaction I've ever had.

Went to a studio closing sale to see what they had. There were some interesting pieces of older gear and I whipped out my "device" to see what the current price is for a compressor and the owner told me something to the effect of, "That's the problem now. People can look up prices on their phone." I don't see any other way to interpret that than, "I have a harder time ripping people off." So I mumbled something and left without looking at anything else. Maybe a "power to the people" moment?

I walk away from this too...that's a rip-off technique most certainly. I went into a local shop once looking for a guitar neck...the owner had a box of necks, but when I pulled one out (a vintage Fender of 1960's age) he didn't want to sell that one because he was hoping to find a body of similar age to make a vintage guitar to sell. I'll never stepped foot in the place ever again.

 

[Floppystrings]

I did install work and worked behind the local not-Sam-Ash guitar store counter years ago (at the same time, theres nothing like having 2 jobs...) and even though the install work paid a little more, the counter work was much, much better. Plus I got a nice discount

I mentioned the installing ethernet wires things because I have had it done, and I felt so bad for the guy. I offered him cold waters constantly, and his face was all red because it was so hot in the attic.

I need (more) ethernet cables installed right now actually, but I am seriously considering waiting till winter because it's so bad up there.

On the other hand, I got tiles installed once and the guy was working his butt off and seemed to love his job. Some people are built differently I guess.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I stopped by my local SA this afternoon to see how things are there. Probably about half the floor inventory they'd normally have. I was super impressed with the Rick Turner Renaissance Nylon guitar they had. Oh, so tempting!

 

[BadCaps]

As others have said, pretty much all the "big name" guitar stores have had this problem. No inventory. Now the world sees what happens when China has to go on major lockdowns over the course of a year and a half.
Do you still think anybody else really manufactures ANYTHING? Notice the tag now says, "Assembled in...." not "Made in...".

 

[kevmac]

Even Sweetwater seems low on inventory. Manufacturing and transportation were hit hard and we’re just starting to ramp back up. Keep in mind that the US is way ahead most other countries when it comes to vaccine rollout. That’s not political, just fact and that we shouldn’t assume other countries where manufacturing is happening have the relative return to normal that we’re mostly experiencing.

Even when ordering online a great amount of inventory is on backorder.

 

[TJL]

Pandemic production slowdown as well as supply chain issues. Fender and Gibson are backordered for months if not years.

 

[Jack Deth]

There is a global shortage of cargo containers. Also, those super massive cargo ships that ride the high seas got delayed and waited weeks out in the deep waters to dock at the ports. Transportation and logistics of components in manufacturing are the root cause of barren shelves/hooks.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Sam Ash is my favorite retailer.
I've been buying from them since 1976.
I guess all the stores are hurting.

I was in the Manhattan store about a month ago buying a set of bass strings, and while nowhere near empty, I'd say their stock of everything was down 25 to 30 per cent.
I asked the manager how much longer this would last, he replied, "Until next year."
...
Mike

It's not just Sam Ash. GC here has a very limited selection of guitars. Bicycle shops have very little inventory of anything other than cheap stuff and expensive stuff.

 

[DJ Dru]

Well, last week I ordered a Yamaha bass from Sam Ash. I ordered it from there because they had the Teal Blue one I wanted, plus my SamAsh card was empty and they had 24 months financing.

I tell you, the whole ordering process was kinda difficult. I tried to order online during my lunch break and kept getting errors at the final checkout stage. After 30 minutes I gave up and decided to call in my order when I got back to the office. So I call in, and first let me stress honestly how helpful the sales guy was. But was having trouble also. He said the system didn't work right, inventory on the website is not accurate, and he would have to try to find the Teal Blue bass in stock somewhere and would call me back. He did find one, and he did call me back. Then it wouldn't let him put in my SamAsh card so he had to get a supervisor involved. Eventually he got it and I thanked him and told him how much I appreciated his help. Dude went above and beyond but their process/systems/ordering/inventory is completely screwy.

It took about 2 hours to order a bass. I could have ordered from Sweetwater and it would have taken 3 minutes. SamAsh is going to have to do better.

Brah, if I have to go 10 rounds fighting a vendors sales system I'll spend my bucks somewhere else. You got much more patience than I good sir!

 

[DJ Dru]

Fortunately we also have a fridge in the basement so I can store the food there. But I had to remove some beer to make room.

That was a joke right? You didn't really remove beer to make room for food? OMG! How could you?

 

[Sammy Ash]

They, They ,They...they are wrong! I am Sammy Ash and I am here to tell you the Company is just fine in terms of health. We like every other dealer in the World are experiencing an extreme back order situation with every single major supplier and I know most of the other dealers are saying the same thing. Yes, I am appalled at the lack of instruments my stores have on display but that's due to sales outstripping deliveries, nothing else. I would love to have my walls covered in 4-5-6-7-8-12 string instruments but you guys are buying them faster than I can get them, no joke.
The pandemic slowed the factories down just as renewed interest in fretted instruments started about 14 months ago and no one has caught up still, not even close.
We have no intention or plans of closing any location though it may look it in some of my stores (temporarily). The problem with having 20,000- sq ft stores with 150 foot long guitar walls (Or in Nashville's case over 30,000sq ft) is when we don't get the supplies we need, we look barren. When you sell more than you get, that's what happens. The Martin Company isn't taking any new orders until 2022. Everyone wants a Les Paul and they just don't make enough of them, Gibson or Epiphone. If Fender could deliver twice as much they would sell twice as much. PRS, ESP, LTD, Rick and many more are also experiencing huge supply issues.
This is the most significant increase in the desire to play an instrument since the Beatles except there are a lot more people who want to play today. The same can be said of Used gear, that market is just as hot and the gear just as scarce.
In the case of basses, some manufacturers shifted a lot of manufacturing to the guitar lines because they are faster to build and much great backorder situation. This "tune" will be very different after Christmas.
We have been here for 96 years and we intend to be here another 100. Feel free to ask me about anything, not just this. This too shall pass.

 

[Sammy Ash]

I drove out of my way from Nashville to Madison, TN (20 minute drive) to go to Sam Ash and try out some Hartke gear, since I had never tried them. As soon as I got there, it felt wrong. There weren’t any employees. The entire store empty (no people). I walked back to the main room with Gibsons and everything, gone. No employees on duty. The fender room, not a single guitar on the racks, just amps. The only basses were cheap Squiers, Jacksons, and Sterlings. The only amps, Hartke. And of course, they were used, and non-functional. The store itself was dead with only one room having music. What happened to Sam Ash? This used to be my favorite store. However, I have two predictions:



1. They could be moving into Nashville and are beginning to shutter that location.

2. They are going to close down due to poor performance, and are sending all of their gear to other locations. Literally one of the only instruments in the Fender room, was.... get this. A USED GIBSON LES PAUL.

Any thoughts?

 

[Sammy Ash]

I drove out of my way from Nashville to Madison, TN (20 minute drive) to go to Sam Ash and try out some Hartke gear, since I had never tried them. As soon as I got there, it felt wrong. There weren’t any employees. The entire store empty (no people). I walked back to the main room with Gibsons and everything, gone. No employees on duty. The fender room, not a single guitar on the racks, just amps. The only basses were cheap Squiers, Jacksons, and Sterlings. The only amps, Hartke. And of course, they were used, and non-functional. The store itself was dead with only one room having music. What happened to Sam Ash? This used to be my favorite store. However, I have two predictions:



1. They could be moving into Nashville and are beginning to shutter that location.

2. They are going to close down due to poor performance, and are sending all of their gear to other locations. Literally one of the only instruments in the Fender room, was.... get this. A USED GIBSON LES PAUL.

Any thoughts?

They, They ,They...they are wrong! I am Sammy Ash and I am here to tell you the Company is just fine in terms of health. We like every other dealer in the World are experiencing an extreme back order situation with every single major supplier (and I know most of the other dealers) are saying the same thing. Yes, I am appalled at the lack of instruments my stores have on display but that's due to sales outstripping deliveries, nothing else. I would love to have my walls covered in 4-5-6-7-8-12 string instruments but you guys are buying them faster than I can get them, no joke.

We have no intention or plans of closing any location though it may look it in some of my stores (temporarily). The problem with having 20,000- sq ft stores with 150 foot long guitar walls (Or in Nashville's case over 30,000sq ft) is when we don't get the supplies we need, we look barren. When you sell more than you get, that's what happens. The Martin Company isn't taking any new orders until 2022. Everyone wants a Les Paul and they just don't make enough of them, Gibson or Epiphone. If Fender could deliver twice as much they would sell twice as much. PRS, ESP, LTD, Rick and many more are also experiencing huge supply issues.

This is the most significant increase in the desire to play an instrument since the Beatles except there are a lot more people who want to play today. The same can be said of Used gear, that market is just as hot and

The pandemic slowed the factories down just as renewed interest in fretted instruments started about 14 months ago and no one has caught up still, not even close.

In the case of basses, some manufacturers shifted a lot of manufacturing to the guitar lines because they are faster to build and much great backorder situation. This "tune" will be very different after Christmas.

We have been here for 96 years and we intend to be here another 100. Feel free to ask me about anything, not just this. This too shall pass.

 

[AudioTaper]

They, They ,They...they are wrong! I am Sammy Ash and I am here to tell you the Company is just fine in terms of health. We like every other dealer in the World are experiencing an extreme back order situation with every single major supplier and I know most of the other dealers are saying the same thing. Yes, I am appalled at the lack of instruments my stores have on display but that's due to sales outstripping deliveries, nothing else. I would love to have my walls covered in 4-5-6-7-8-12 string instruments but you guys are buying them faster than I can get them, no joke.
The pandemic slowed the factories down just as renewed interest in fretted instruments started about 14 months ago and no one has caught up still, not even close.
We have no intention or plans of closing any location though it may look it in some of my stores (temporarily). The problem with having 20,000- sq ft stores with 150 foot long guitar walls (Or in Nashville's case over 30,000sq ft) is when we don't get the supplies we need, we look barren. When you sell more than you get, that's what happens. The Martin Company isn't taking any new orders until 2022. Everyone wants a Les Paul and they just don't make enough of them, Gibson or Epiphone. If Fender could deliver twice as much they would sell twice as much. PRS, ESP, LTD, Rick and many more are also experiencing huge supply issues.
This is the most significant increase in the desire to play an instrument since the Beatles except there are a lot more people who want to play today. The same can be said of Used gear, that market is just as hot and the gear just as scarce.
In the case of basses, some manufacturers shifted a lot of manufacturing to the guitar lines because they are faster to build and much great backorder situation. This "tune" will be very different after Christmas.
We have been here for 96 years and we intend to be here another 100. Feel free to ask me about anything, not just this. This too shall pass.

Is this an actual Sam Ash account?

Your store in Cincinnati is severely lacking, has been for years. Not saying this to hate or be mean, I just wanted to take this opportunity to mention it. It's another of many disappointing music stores in the area.

 

[Sammy Ash]

I drove out of my way from Nashville to Madison, TN (20 minute drive) to go to Sam Ash and try out some Hartke gear, since I had never tried them. As soon as I got there, it felt wrong. There weren’t any employees. The entire store empty (no people). I walked back to the main room with Gibsons and everything, gone. No employees on duty. The fender room, not a single guitar on the racks, just amps. The only basses were cheap Squiers, Jacksons, and Sterlings. The only amps, Hartke. And of course, they were used, and non-functional. The store itself was dead with only one room having music. What happened to Sam Ash? This used to be my favorite store. However, I have two predictions:



1. They could be moving into Nashville and are beginning to shutter that location.

2. They are going to close down due to poor performance, and are sending all of their gear to other locations. Literally one of the only instruments in the Fender room, was.... get this. A USED GIBSON LES PAUL.

Any thoughts?

If I may paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumors of our

Is this an actual Sam Ash account?

Your store in Cincinnati is severely lacking, has been for years. Not saying this to hate or be mean, I just wanted to take this opportunity to mention it. It's another of many disappointing music stores in the area.

It’s my account. I wonder why all of the Music Stores in Cincinnati are disappointing? I actually here some pretty good things about my people.

 

[Sammy Ash]

Sam Ash is my favorite retailer.
I've been buying from them since 1976.
I guess all the stores are hurting.

I was in the Manhattan store about a month ago buying a set of bass strings, and while nowhere near empty, I'd say their stock of everything was down 25 to 30 per cent.
I asked the manager how much longer this would last, he replied, "Until next year."

Their website is completely new.
I didn't see any electric uprights there.

The pandemic may be winding down medically, but exactly what is has done to all businesses is yet to be seen.

Mike

Thank you.

 

[Michael Jewels]

Thank you.

You're welcome.

My father knew, Meyer who used to work in the Hempstead store in the 1970s.

Mike

 

[Jeff Scott]

I am Sammy Ash and I am here to tell you the Company is just fine in terms of health.

Welcome, Sammy! Your Lyndhurst, Ohio store is my go to for all my music related needs. I have been buying from there since they opened, and have been very happy with the stock and staff, great people.

As you said, this current situation will eventually pass; I hope things get back to pre-pandemic level, everybody just needs to (try and) be patient and ride out the storm we are all experiencing right now.