6stringbassist Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 What a surprise, I phoned them today to enquire about a Markbass F1 head, I really wanted to try one. Now they only do internet and telephone sales from a warehouse opposite where they had their shop. So now the only bass shop is the Gallery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Blimey! Well I can't say I am surprised. A very sad day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Doesn't surprise me as thats the way the industry has had to go...... don't forget Iceni (the Bass Merchant) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 There's always the Bass Cell... Oh yeah, I see what you mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) Well if thats what they're going to do they're seriously going to have to get that website together!! Edited January 28, 2008 by ste_m3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) this doesn't really surprise me. the website listed a particular gigbag, but when I went there it was the usual "none in stock- order them in"- useless. no point in having a shop with a sales floor. Edited January 28, 2008 by SJA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Blimey. Funny to think about 3 weeks ago I was seriously considering opening a bass shop but decided against looking into it too hard coz I figured everything would go the way of the web and telefunken machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey D Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 As said above, they really need to sort out their website then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Damn shame. I no that some people have had mixed experiences with them but i had a great experience nd if it wasnt for those guys i would never have had my Alembic. A sad day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbloke Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Yes, but was it an inevitability because that's the way things are generally heading or was it an inevitabilitybecause the shop has been a pale shadow of it's former self after relocating from Wapping. I loved the old bass centre and really enjoyed the odd trip up there. I also bought quite a lot from them. I still regret the day I saw two Vigier basses, a Passion 5 in blueburst and a Passion delta metal fretless in black and went for the fretless. I reckon I'd still have the 5 to this day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringbassist Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 The website site is terrible, it will let you buy a Markbass F1, but they don't actually have one in stock. They closed before Christmas, I was in there, it must have been the week before and there were no signs up or anything. The problem is, they sell stuff that the Gallery doesn't, so how are you supposed to try something before you buy it, they're advertising some expensive gear there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Basschat shop anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 [quote name='ste_m3' post='129461' date='Jan 28 2008, 06:01 PM']Basschat shop anyone?[/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showforum=19"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showforum=19[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Not surprised the shop closed with the staff in there! Wouldn't be surprised if they dissappeared altogether with their rubbish website too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 The thing is you need to make having a shop work, make it an experience that you wont get shopping over the internet, and that means treating the customers like VIP's not irritations. If you want to try an F1 give BassDirect a call. Dont think you are that far from Kenilworth. A lot closer than I am anyway. I tried one yesterday and it is amazing that it is a 500w amp not much bigger than my Microbass II pre-amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringbassist Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 What he said was that they were getting people going in and trying stuff then buying from the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickThomas Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 So do the prices on there website include postage then? Being as though they aren't a shop any more it's won't be possible to pick up I assume?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 [quote name='6stringbassist' post='129483' date='Jan 28 2008, 06:38 PM']What he said was that they were getting people going in and trying stuff then buying from the internet.[/quote] Thats where actually offering a service comes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 "Good morning, The Bass Centre." "Ah, hello, I'd like to blow a thousand quid on a bass without even having clapped eyes on it first, never mind actually playing it." "Well you've come to the right place! And while you're committing yourself sight-unseen to a very major instrument purchase, can I also interest you in splashing out even more of your hard-earned on an amp that you have no idea whether you'll like or not?" For god's sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt-pluck Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Well I won't be shedding any tears. Sounds harsh, but the few times I went in there I swore I'd never go back. The service wasn't just indifferent, it was bordering on being rude. As has already been mentioned - if their website doesn't improve pretty sharpish - they'll be finished, which can only be a good thing for all the shops/websites who [u]do[/u] make the extra effort for their customers Pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 [quote name='sgt-pluck' post='129518' date='Jan 28 2008, 07:31 PM']Well I won't be shedding any tears. Sounds harsh, but the few times I went in there I swore I'd never go back. The service wasn't just indifferent, it was bordering on being rude. As has already been mentioned - if their website doesn't improve pretty sharpish - they'll be finished, which can only be a good thing for all the shops/websites who [u]do[/u] make the extra effort for their customers Pluck[/quote] Hear hear. Pluck 'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderthumbs Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I got told by Bernie Goodfellow the shop had shut down. I never actually went to the London shop, as I'm in Manchester. But I can honestly say the branch that was opened in Manchester a few years ago was doomed to failure. The site for the shop itself was right out of the way, couldn't be seen from a street, no parking, was the size of a broom cupboard, etc. etc. etc. So if the Manchester one was anything to go by, it's hardly surprising the London one's gone the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Mikey D' post='129444' date='Jan 28 2008, 05:27 PM']As said above, they really need to sort out their website then.[/quote] It was very obvious their website wasn't working well for them. I offered my services to help sort it out about 18 months ago but they declined ... Bricks and mortar shops can succeed against web only / Thomman style shops because people like to buy from nice people and that's what makes teh difference. Customers will pay more if the service is right. But if you get the poor service often described onthis forum from shops then the customer may as well buy from a computer. It's interesting that Thomman do that cheap on the web thing but also do lots of customer service things too. That's the future of the mass market stuff and a specialist selling special stuff like BassDirect is the other way. Edited January 28, 2008 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Don't forget Mark at Bass Direct - not really a "shop" but always happy to show you his stuff with a small amount of notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 [quote name='Toasted' post='129542' date='Jan 28 2008, 08:09 PM']Don't forget Mark at Bass Direct - not really a "shop" but always happy to show you his stuff with a small amount of notice.[/quote] Yup and he does Markbass stuff as well as the exotica [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Mark_Bass_Analogue_Heads.html"]Markbass stuff at BassDirect[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.