Support your local store rant!!!

[SKYHIGH]

I wanted to try to some EB SLINKY 10's on my guitar today. I knew that my local store was more expensive than on-line vendors but was not sure how much more. I thought to my self a dollar or two extra would not kill me plus I would be supporting local store. I walked in asked how much and the store wanted $8 plus tax. This brought my total to $8.70. Just went to Musicians friend web and see that it's $3.89 total(no tax).

Some of you always post saying that one should support local store. I know it's only $5 dollars at the end of the day but the fact of matter is, most of their items are almost double to more than double the cost of on-line. A pack of Elixiers $20, Keyser capo for $25, etc etc.

Do the "right" thing and pay your local store twice the on-line? What really is the right thing here? I am sorry to all of you who are strong advocate of supporting local even if you have to pay double or triple. I think I'm done with local stores and I do think I am doing the right thing by not KNOWINGLY paying double or more.

thanks for reading.

[Shiny McShine]

There's a bigger problem here. The local music store is no longer the source of information on gear, playing, and gigging like it was in the 70's 80's 90's. They'll need to follow a different business model to survive.

The ones that thrive seem to cater most to beginners with rich parents selling $200 starter kits and private lessons. If you ad school band instruments, that seems to ensure success now.

I'll be curious to see how Pro Guitar Shop does. They've got a retail store downtown in Portland and it's really cool. However, these esoteric places may not survive either. I suspect their Internet business is what's driving them.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by SKYHIGH

I wanted to try to some EB SLINKY 10's on my guitar today. I knew that my local store was more expensive than on-lin vendors but was not sure how much more. I thought to my self a dollar or two extrat would not kill me plus I would be supporting local store. I walked in asked how much and the store wated $8 plus tax. This brought my total to $8.70. Just went to Musicians friend web and see that it's $3.89 total(no tax).

Some of you always post saying that one should support local store. I know it's only $5 dollars at the end of the day but the fact of matter is, most of their items are almost double to more than double the cost of on-line. A pack of Elixiers $20, Keyser capo for $25, etc etc.

I just can not support my local stores as most of their other things are priced beyond reasonable in comparison to on line.

Retail space, insurance and employees cost a lot more than warehouse space. The store has nothing to do with sales tax. MF is selling stuff like this at cost, or possibly below, in the hopes of putting your local store out of business.

When you have no local store any longer you may wish you wouldn't have to wait for shipping on desperation items.

Just the facts.

[cruisemates]

It is funny how much Guitar Center gets ripped here in TGP when what you just mentioned is the usual alternative.

Not that it is the storekeeper's fault, it is just hard as hockeypucks to own a business these days. I don't know how anyone could run a music store business now and compete unless it was just all about lessons and repairs.

I have a friend here who runs a well-liked amp repair biz and he just laughs at music product distributors who call him. Gibson requires you to buy (something like) $100k minimum in inventory just to get a delivery.

He told me some major string co. called him and said "you need to carry our strings" and he said "Why, I can get them cheaper from GC than you want to sell them to me wholesale."

When you add in Ebay, the Emporium, etc., there is hardly any reason to buy anything new anymore. Have you seen a GC commercial lately? They target 40-year-old guys likely choosing between a Les Paul or new golf clubs. So what's a mom&pop music store to do?

[Madguitrst]

Originally Posted by cruisemates

So what's a mom&pop music store to do?

Sell golf clubs?

[WurstBurst]

Originally Posted by cruisemates

When you add in Ebay, the Emporium, etc., there is hardly any reason to buy anything new anymore. Have you seen a GC commercial lately? They target 40-year-old guys likely choosing between a Les Paul or new golf clubs. So what's a mom&pop music store to do?

What they are supposed to do is adapt. Focus on customer service. Provide a welcoming and helpful environment. Provide value added services that don't gouge the customer (setups, string changes). Provide what GC doesn't (helpful service, clean instruments, quiet playing environment, knowledgeable salespeople). Provide what the online sites can't (try before you buy, lessons, setup, easy returns, etc.).

Find a niche and focus on it 100% (high end, beginners, odd brands, single well known brand, etc.)

Avoid what you can't compete on (price, selection).

[DGTCrazy]

Originally Posted by SKYHIGH

I wanted to try to some EB SLINKY 10's on my guitar today. I knew that my local store was more expensive than on-lin vendors but was not sure how much more. I thought to my self a dollar or two extrat would not kill me plus I would be supporting local store. I walked in asked how much and the store wated $8 plus tax. This brought my total to $8.70. Just went to Musicians friend web and see that it's $3.89 total(no tax).

Some of you always post saying that one should support local store. I know it's only $5 dollars at the end of the day but the fact of matter is, most of their items are almost double to more than double the cost of on-line. A pack of Elixiers $20, Keyser capo for $25, etc etc.

I just can not support my local stores as most of their other things are priced beyond reasonable in comparison to on line.

Perhaps next time you can/should haggle. I know the local stores I've shopped in will usually compete with Internet prices or come very close... because they know I have that option.

[cruisemates]

I'll be curious to see how Pro Guitar Shop does. They've got a retail store downtown in Portland and it's really cool. However, these esoteric places may not survive either. I suspect their Internet business is what's driving them.

Someone mentioned a San Diego place to me a while back as a one-stop source to test out high-end amps. So I finally made to the place last month and he was just closing down his showroom and no longer carrying 1/13, Carol Ann, Two Rock, etc. He said he was going to just one boutique brand and the showroom would be by appointment only.

[Sweetfinger]

Originally Posted by SKYHIGH

I wanted to try to some EB SLINKY 10's on my guitar today. ... I walked in asked how much and the store wanted $8 plus tax. This brought my total to $8.70. Just went to Musicians friend web and see that it's $3.89 total(no tax).

... the fact of matter is, most of their items are almost double to more than double the cost of on-line. A pack of Elixiers $20, Keyser capo for $25, etc etc.
.

You're shopping at the wrong local shop. You can try politely pointing out that they are losing business because they are not even close to being competitive. My Slinkys are 5 bucks, same as the shop down the street and the one I used to work at across town.

I'm a big advocate of supporting your local shop but if they aren't at least close to being competitive or willing to change, shop elsewhere and let that shop know why. I'm usually upset because I have BETTER prices on some things than GC but nobody bothers to ask.

[pima1234]

This is sadly the truth.

Stronger regulation on corporations, particularly those that are publicly traded?

I mean, how in the world do these huge mega corporations meet any type of bottom line? Or, is it not about actual profit anymore?

Originally Posted by cruisemates

He told me some major string co. called him and said "you need to carry our strings" and he said "Why, I can get them cheaper from GC than you want to sell them to me wholesale."

[mattball826]

idk. if you order online you pay 3.98 + $9 in shipping. local store had better deal.

some places are cheap on shiping or free, but you have to wait. you pay for convenience. $8 for strings is rather high though. our local music store sells strings buy one get one free. it avgs out to close to internet prices. i still buy those mega packs from guitar center when they go on special. 10 packs for around 35-40 dollars for ernie ball, ghs or daddario..

[SteveO]

My local shop is competitive and carries cool stuff. It's right on my way home from work, too, which also makes it a really dangerous place for me.

[Jiffy_Jeff]

Our local store is 30-35+% higher than the nearest Guitar Center (which is a 2.5 hour drive) on guitars.
I use Elixir strings. Guitar Center 9.99, my local store $15.00 per set. Hell- Best Buy sells them for 9.99. Buy 3 get the 4th Free. Even better.

Local guy is nice. Doesn't know a damn thing about gear and charges way too much.

[mattball826]

Originally Posted by jmbstudios

Local guy is nice. Doesn't know a damn thing about gear and charges way too much.

i like our local guys and support all the time. i also support by telling them their prices are not going to do them favors.

one local place was asking high prices for strings fast fret and other accessory related stuff. after a while notice these were not selling. he said no just people dont need them any more. i said you cant sell a small korg tuner for $30 when they are $12 every where else. he said really. marked them down to $15. next time i went there they were sold out.

[screamtone]

I love my local guitar shop. In fact, I worked there for about ten years.

Here's my situation: I'm playing gigs as a primary source of income right now. If I buy a set of acoustic guitar strings and a few picks from my local shop, that turns a $100 into a $90 gig (or close to it) pretty quick. "What do you mean you don't have any single bronze-wound .024's?" So then I have to buy two sets of overpriced strings just to cover my ass in case I break one. Now my $100 gig turns into an $85 gig. Three beers at the gig, and I'm down to $70-75. If I'm lucky enough to do that five times a week, I'm making a cool $350 a week, or a cool $18K per year. Mind you, I don't play very many $100 gigs because I'd starve to death if I did that all of the time.

Here's my question:
When did the priority shift from keeping the local musician alive to keeping the local music store in business?

Seriously... who's side are we on here? The musician, or the music store owner?

I'm all about supporting local businesses, but as a musician playing gigs in my community, I'm a local business, as well. The music store owner isn't supporting me by giving me a good price on things that I NEED TO RUN MY BUSINESS. Nobody ever seems to mention that part of the equation.