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Without BSO, Where Do We Get Strings Now?

#161
mmbongo said:
When is the last time you ordered with Amazon Prime?? Prime is now officially no longer 2 days.....it's more like 2 weeks. They've runied it.

And by the way, Bass Strings Online had these strings for about $8 less.

This was taken on 9/14/18...so Prime delivery is now 12 DAYS!

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mbasile said:
So you’d rather save $1.50 per set of strings rather than supporting a place like Sweetwater that does a lot to support musicians, or support one of our very own? F*** Amazon.
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Thank you both for the support of smaller businesses!
 
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#163
Last edited:
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#165
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#166
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#167
All depends on if the fulfillment center near you has them on hand.

If you notice the seller is "ships and sold by Amazon" this means that Amazon purchased the item directly from the manufacturer cutting out all other music retailers... Amazon has more buying power than ever music retailer combined. I can send that item to Amazon and sell it at that price (they will automatically lower it though to keep the buy box (so they get the buy it now click)), but if I sell at that price I will lose roughly $2 after all the Amazon fees. Now here is the best part... I can send my inventory to Amazon but they can pull from my inventory to fulfill their order sold at a lower price so they keep the sale, replenish my inventory by transferring mine to a different location where they had it in stock.

I don't charge my customers to shop on my site or charge to offer a discount like others mentioned in this thread... Amazon however charges it's over 100,000,000 customers $119 for prime membership. That is over $12 BILLION just for people to shop there... heck, if each of my customers could give me even $25 I would be able to stock a heck of a lot more... Amazon also makes money by charging the sellers on their marketplace. Amazon doesn't bother with the slower moving items to buy, like really heavy gauge strings, things most don't normally use, but you can't run a business just on those things... I sent a bunch of faster moving items to Amazon. Sold about $15K gross, paid neatly $8K on fulfillment fees and lost roughly 5K on that deal... the funny part about it is, the items sold faster than on my website but at a HIGHER PRICE! It's the convenience factor... when in reality I could sell the same item on my site for less with free 2 day shipping to most of the USA.

Amazon is killing the retail market and not just for music. What helps is the manufacturer selling directly to them. I understand they want to make money and sent going to turn down larger orders. But when selling to a company that can out purchase the entire industry and put us all out of business? Items that sell on Amazon I've noticed huge drop offs of sales through my website even if I'm priced lower. Without the volume from the bread and butter items it literally kills me. It literally kills other stores too.

If you do buy on Amazon, take a minute to look at the other sellers. Don't buy the items that are shipped and sold by Amazon. There are usually other items that qualify for prime that are sent in by independent resellers. That will at least help someone who is actually in the industry move some inventory dollars even if it may be at a loss.
 
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#168
I find it amusing that Guitar Center gets a good deal of flack for being a big-box store out of touch with musicians’ needs, yet Amazon, the ultimate big-box retailer (with out the box, mind you) with the ultimate big-box ambivalence about its customers and their needs — excepting, of course, lower prices — gets accolades. It’s all widgets at Amazon.

Ima do my biz with the small and local whenever I can.
 
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#169
mmbongo said:
When is the last time you ordered with Amazon Prime?? Prime is now officially no longer 2 days.....it's more like 2 weeks. They've runied it.

And by the way, Bass Strings Online had these strings for about $8 less.

This was taken on 9/14/18...so Prime delivery is now 12 DAYS!

View attachment 3150224
Click to expand...
...about 6 weeks ago. $8 less? Couldn't meet minimum overhead/price points with that deep of a discount. Due for another order of twin packs, Amazon here I come.
 
#170
Stevorebob said:
I find it amusing that Guitar Center gets a good deal of flack for being a big-box store out of touch with musicians’ needs, yet Amazon, the ultimate big-box retailer (with out the box, mind you) with the ultimate big-box ambivalence about its customers and their needs — excepting, of course, lower prices — gets accolades. It’s all widgets at Amazon.

Ima do my biz with the small and local whenever I can.
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I also don’t see any news articles about GC retail employees passing out from being run to limits of their health.
 
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#172
SLaPiNFuNK said:
Would have been happy to beat Amazon price on that by at least 10% and not charge you a prime fee... many retailers would be happy to for items outside of the music space
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The Prime fee really isn’t a consideration. We have that as a family and get free shipping on everything that we buy from Amazon from dehumidifiers to stevia to scissors and books. Plus, Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime and streaming music somewhere. Plus I get discounted items at Whole Foods.
 
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#173
Turbo Sparky said:
Sweetwater receives PLENTY of my business. Nope, I don't lose sleep over it. Amazon even delivers on Sundays. Buy local when you can, buy where you can when you need.
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Those customers who regularly purchased those little items from me I saved them hundreds or thousands on their amplification or custom bass...
 
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#174
MultiScaleMale said:
The Prime fee really isn’t a consideration. We have that as a family and get free shipping on everything that we buy from Amazon from dehumidifiers to stevia to scissors and books. Plus, Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime and streaming music somewhere. Plus I get discounted items at Whole Foods.
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If I had more than 11 billion in income from my client base I'd offer that stud too... making a show like jack Ryan is a drop in the bucket compared to their prime revenue. Discounts on already overlypeiced food still works out to more than a refund grocery store which usually has delivery within an hour for free.

I totally get the appeal of Amazon. But they are not going to make strings in a custom set or length because a very small percentage of users need it. The manufacturer isn't going to bother either. I did... I bought a gross of 50-110 sunbeam because users here asked for them. Still have a bunch and trying to give them away below what I paid for them.. that's a risk I was willing to do because my customers asked...
 
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#175
Turbo Sparky said:
...about 6 weeks ago. $8 less? Couldn't meet minimum overhead/price points with that deep of a discount. Due for another order of twin packs, Amazon here I come.
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Let me know what you order from Amazon and when it will be delivered. Seriously. I have a ticket in asking them why Prime is now 2 weeks on everything. Id like to know if it's just me.
 
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#176
SLaPiNFuNK said:
If I had more than 11 billion in income from my client base I'd offer that stud too... making a show like jack Ryan is a drop in the bucket compared to their prime revenue. Discounts on already overlypeiced food still works out to more than a refund grocery store which usually has delivery within an hour for free.
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I understand that, but you're comparing apples to a large pepperoni pizza. I bought from you when I could, but I also have a Guitar Center a few minutes from my work, so I could just grab what I needed when needed. You put out a video declaring BSO over, it was clear that something big and sudden hit. We all feel bad, but still need strings so everyone looked for a backup. Just recently I hear that you might be coming back. Honestly, I'd put out another video and explain the future intentions. I'd bet that only 10% that saw the video or heard that you're closing know that you may be coming back. I'm not being an a$$. I understand that you're maybe a little personally wrapped up in this, but the outside perception is the BSO closed and is selling off old inventory.
 
#177
mmbongo said:
Does it show you getting these next day? Or 2 day? Maybe it's just me?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JPCVHVU/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Or these?

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-EXL..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=VKZ6RSJQBT3V3NM6V0GV
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To be fair, I believe you need to be a Prime member to see the actual delivery times. The XL's shows same day. The other was next day.

same day.PNG
 
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#178
MultiScaleMale said:
I understand that, but you're comparing apples to a large pepperoni pizza. I bought from you when I could, but I also have a Guitar Center a few minutes from my work, so I could just grab what I needed when needed. You put out a video declaring BSO over, it was clear that something big and sudden hit. We all feel bad, but still need strings so everyone looked for a backup. Just recently I hear that you might be coming back. Honestly, I'd put out another video and explain the future intentions. I'd bet that only 10% that saw the video or heard that you're closing know that you may be coming back. I'm not being an a$$. I understand that you're maybe a little personally wrapped up in this, but the outside perception is the BSO closed and is selling off old inventory.
Click to expand...

I understand that. When I'm ready to post what is going on further I will.
 
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#180
I have two music shops near me.
One is owned by guitar center and can order whatever GC has. If I buy and no like, I can bring it back to the store for a full refund.

The other store matches that deal if I buy in stock.

I have bought several basses, amps, gifdgets and widgets and stuff from them to the point that they give me a big discount. I also make sure I buy from whoever spent the time with me because there are quotas and commissions involved.

I only have so much money. I do not do credit. I choose to do business With folks I know whenever possible.
 

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