The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[Danger McLovin]

If you "saved" 15% through a dealer, you must not have negotiated with Adrian. I had the opposite experience with my first build. After all the fees, shipping and tax estimates, the dealer quoted me about 12% more than I negotiated directly with Adrian. And the dealer told me that the bass would ship directly to them for "inspection", and then they would ship to me.

If you think about it, it seems pretty unlikely that adding another set of profiting hands (the dealer) would make your overall price cheaper. Although I am sure the dealer wants you to believe that.

Maybe I am saying something I shouldn't be saying, so this is the last time I will say it.......but the key is negotiating with Adrian. Don't assume that quote generator is the best he will do for you.

I don't understand why you are negotiating with Adrian. You are buying a custom instrument.
You want Adrian to do his best work,
I feel like negotiating with Adrian is under valuing his custom work. You are having a one-off one of a kind made. I personally would not negotiate with Adrian. Just my personal opinion.

 

[foothilla]

I don't understand why you are negotiating with Adrian. You are buying a custom instrument.
You want Adrian to do his best work,
I feel like negotiating with Adrian is under valuing his custom work. You are having a one-off one of a kind made. I personally would not negotiate with Adrian. Just my personal opinion.

Because his computer generated prices are set to give his few dealers profit margins, in the event they broker a deal. But, if the dealer isn't brokering the transaction, Adrian "may" pass you a dealer-like price, since you are brokering your own deal (and essentially doing the work of the dealer).

But, you are free to pay the computer generated price. He won't turn it down.

 

[Bartrinsic]

I have never used a dealer for my Maruszczyk/Mensinger basses

I tend to be biased in your direction, and I like dealing with Adrian. However, as you've seen there are many good experiences with Adrian's dealers. After ordering 2 direct, I finally ordered my Paddock through a dealer, which worked out fine. However you can get a good Maruszczyk/Mensinger is a good way to get one.

 

[foothilla]

I tend to be biased in your direction, and I like dealing with Adrian. However, as you've seen there are many good experiences with Adrian's dealers. After ordering 2 direct, I finally ordered my Paddock through a dealer, which worked out fine. However you can get a good Maruszczyk/Mensinger is a good way to get one.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to support a dealer, when they are providing me a service. I just didn't have any need for a dealer in these transactions, because Adrian's direct-to-the-customer experience was so incredibly easy.

 

[Danger McLovin]

Because his computer generated prices are set to give his few dealers profit margins, in the event they broker a deal. But, if the dealer isn't brokering the transaction, Adrian "may" pass you a dealer-like price, since you are brokering your own deal (and essentially doing the work of the dealer).

But, you are free to pay the computer generated price. He won't turn it down.

I only used the generator to play around with.
I then emailed Adrian directly with the specs I wanted and Adrian emailed me back a price.
I only ever dealt with Adrian directly for my custom.
What I meant is, once Adrian emailed me my direct price, I did not negotiate/ haggle with him over the price.

 

[foothilla]

I only used the generator to play around with.
I then emailed Adrian directly with the specs I wanted and Adrian emailed me back a price.
I only ever dealt with Adrian directly for my custom.
What I meant is, once Adrian emailed me my direct price, I did not negotiate/ haggle with him over the price.

I am afraid I may be doing Adrian a disservice, and I love Adrian. So, I want to be careful what I say, and I'll just frame it into a generalization.

If a dealer broker's a sale, the manufacturer is giving the dealer a discount. This gives the dealer room to add their profit into the sale.

But, when that manufacturer also deals customer-direct, there may not be a dealer providing any service in a similar transaction. In this case the manufacturer often chooses to give the customer an unlisted dealer-discount.

....the manufacturer's profits are the same in either scenario. His services/products aren't devalued in either scenario.

 

[Barticus]

I am afraid I may be doing Adrian a disservice, and I love Adrian. So, I want to be careful what I say, and I'll just frame it into a generalization.

If a dealer broker's a sale, the manufacturer is giving the dealer a discount. This gives the dealer room to add their profit into the sale.

But, when that manufacturer also deals customer-direct, there may not be a dealer providing any service in a similar transaction. In this case the manufacturer often chooses to give the customer an unlisted dealer-discount.

....the manufacturer's profits are the same in either scenario. His services/products aren't devalued in either scenario.

Hmm, so trying to understand the potential here… from the configurator price, you’re saying that it’s possible to get closer to 30% off vs 15%? then add customs, shipping, etc.? e.g. - a €2172 build for €1520 + shipping and customs?

 

[foothilla]

Hmm, so trying to understand the potential here… from the configurator price, you’re saying that it’s possible to get closer to 30% off vs 15%? then add customs, shipping, etc.? e.g. - a €2172 build for €1520 + shipping and customs?
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You'd have to talk to Adrian about exact pricing. According to what some people are saying here, he is charging some of you more than dealer re-sale price, even when a dealer isn't brokering the sale.

 

[Barticus]

You'd have to talk to Adrian about exact pricing. According to what some people are saying here, he is charging some of you more than dealer re-sale price, even when a dealer isn't brokering the sale.

That’s why I asked, you inferred that I overpaid so was trying to assess by how much.

 

[foothilla]

That’s why I asked, you inferred that I overpaid so was trying to assess by how much.

It's possible Adrian isn't offering everyone the exact same discount. So maybe he didn't offer you a price that beat your dealer's price (even though your dealer's price entails another entity taxing on a profit).

I can only tell you about my experience. On my first build, Adrian's direct price smoked my dealer quote. On my next two I went directly to Adrian, since a dealer provided me no needed service. Both those prices came in well below the quote generator.

 

[BlueTalon]

You'd have to talk to Adrian about exact pricing. According to what some people are saying here, he is charging some of you more than dealer re-sale price, even when a dealer isn't brokering the sale.

Dealers have to pay a smaller amount for a bass than anyone ordering through the configurator would have to pay for exactly the same bass. My dealer was able to get me my bass for less than what I would have paid using the configurator, meaning he as able to pass at least some of his savings along to me. So "what some people are saying here" is accurate.

Personally, I wouldn't have thought to negotiate with Adrien for something that has clearly listed prices. I was just happy to get the dealer discount.

 

[Kmrumedy]

For those of you that purchased from a dealer in country, did you have to pay sales tax?

 

[gln1955]

For those of you that purchased from a dealer in country, did you have to pay sales tax?

When I bought through FretSpot a number of years ago, I just got a bottom line price to my door. Ohio was a bit sketchy on collecting sales tax on out of state purchases at that time. I'm sure I'd have to pay sales tax now.

 

[TK4261]

One week later and Marusczcyk still has not shipped my finished order....

 

[Barticus]

What the heck is going on with that?!

 

[TK4261]

What the heck is going on with that?!

I have no clue, I was told it would ship today but I'm not holding my breath anymore. My 2 orders this year have made me rethink ever ordering from Marusczcyk again...a real bummer...Last year I placed 4 orders and all of them were delivered on or before the 10th week. There is literally no reason that could be given to me that would warrant holding my bass for a week until shipping it out..

 

[Ian774]

Not shipped from the factory in Poland or not shipped from the showroom in Germany?

Because usually, they send instruments from Poland to Germany in batches, it’s cheaper that way.

 

[foothilla]

Personally, I wouldn't have thought to negotiate with Adrien for something that has clearly listed prices. I was just happy to get the dealer discount.

You've never negotiated price on gear when there is a clearly listed price? I am the opposite. Outside of Mesa Boogie (who will not negotiate), I almost never pay the list price on new gear.

As long as you were happy with your price, it's all good.

 

[TK4261]

Not shipped from the factory in Poland or not shipped from the showroom in Germany?

Because usually, they send instruments from Poland to Germany in batches, it’s cheaper that way.

My couch pic was sent last Tuesday and I received my couch pic last Wed. Other people have had their bass shipped out to them within a day or two of receiving the couch pic. I am not sure what the hold up is. I would assume that my couch pic was taken in Germany but who knows...

 

[Barticus]

You've never negotiated price on gear when there is a clearly listed price? I am the opposite. Outside of Mesa Boogie (who will not negotiate), I almost never pay the list price on new gear.

As long as you were happy with your price, it's all good.

I negotiate on all gear I purchase, yes even retail posted pricing from any reseller I’m interested in purchasing from.

I was just looking for some details on the amount of discount you were able to achieve. I thought 15% off of the configurator price (with several customizations not available in the configurator) with no additional shipping, taxes, customs/fees, etc. was a good deal. But you continue to infer better pricing is possible, so please educate us and provide some details on what you mean. I have put a super clear example above, you could easily say “I beat that by 5, 10 or 20%” or “that’s close to what I paid”.