What is it that makes you buy your music gear from a specific shop/shops?

[Guest MoJo]

I've not bought anything, in person, from a shop in ages. Mainly because I rarely buy anything brand new and most retail outlets have such poor used stock. Before Musical Exchanges became Sound Control then Reverb then nothing, they had a good selection of used basses, amps and cabs tucked away in alcoves downstairs. It was a treasure trove of good quality pre-owned loveliness. Once Gary sold out to Sound Control it all went down the pan.

[Jellyfish]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363519417' post='2013510']
I'm not sure how valuable specially ordering in stuff is. I've pretty much given up asking music shops to get me things they don't have in stock because is way to much hassle for both me and them. On the other hand it would probably be worth finding out what items your regular customers buy that they don't get from you and making an effort to keep those in stock.
[/quote]

It's actually extremely easy for most things. If you came into my shop and asked for a Yamaha BB2024x, you'd have it for Wednesday (today being Sunday). But our major bass brands only include Yamaha so I can't really speak for the other big middle-of-the-range brands like Fender, Ibanez etc.

And for those curious, our shop is in Sutton Coldfield. I'll be posting it in the affiliates section soon as there will be discounts available for bass-related purchases if you're a member here so "watch [i]that [/i]space".

[BILL POSTERS]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1363532524' post='2013702']
I've not bought anything, in person, from a shop in ages. Mainly because I rarely buy anything brand new and most retail outlets have such poor used stock. Before Musical Exchanges became Sound Control then Reverb then nothing, they had a good selection of used basses, amps and cabs tucked away in alcoves downstairs. It was a treasure trove of good quality pre-owned loveliness. Once Gary sold out to Sound Control it all went down the pan.
[/quote]

Yep, was good when it was called Modern Exchanges in Broad St as well. So where are all the good second hand gear shops ? cant all be on ebay, and it aint in any of the crack converters I've been in.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1363533377' post='2013713']

It's actually extremely easy for most things. If you came into my shop and asked for a Yamaha BB2024x, you'd have it for Wednesday (today being Sunday). But our major bass brands only include Yamaha so I can't really speak for the other big middle-of-the-range brands like Fender, Ibanez etc.

And for those curious, our shop is in Sutton Coldfield. I'll be posting it in the affiliates section soon as there will be discounts available for bass-related purchases if you're a member here so "watch [i]that [/i]space".
[/quote]

That's excellent, but what about brands that you probably don't stock or maybe even have arrangements with the distributors.

For instance LaBella, SIT and TI strings, or Herco Picks? These are all things I would like to be able to pop in and buy from my local shop, but doing so has turned out to be massively problematical, and in the end it's been easier to get them on-line and often from outside the UK.

I can understand that there will be issues if it's from a company you haven't previously dealt with, and there may well be minimum order quantities that can hold things up, which is why I said it might be worth finding out what your regular customers aren't buying from you, and if you find enough of them are after the same things it could be an opportunity.

[skankdelvar]

Flipping things on their head for a moment and thinking about some of the threads that have appeared here over the years, we might ask what we [i]don't[/i] want from a music shop:

* [b]Temporary blindness / deafness[/b]: When you walk in and the guy keeps his head buried in his newspaper and completely ignores you. A simple 'Hello' will suffice, no need for more at this stage.

* [b]Sniffy attitudes[/b]: e.g. - Q: "Can I try this? " - A: "Are you buying today?" or other really quite stupid things that sales people say. If it's on the wall, I expect to be able to try it if I ask nicely. And don't treat me like a weirdo because I'm 20 years younger / older than you. We're all God's chillun.

*[b] Virtuoso product demos [/b]- Just take it off the wall, ensure it is in tune and hand it over. Do not [i]under any circumstances [/i]unleash your arsenal of hot licks.

* [b]Walls full of new Strats[/b]: Yes, every retailer would like a Fender agency. No, we don't all want new Fenders. Have a little trade / s/h section, please

* [b]The wide range of accessories that[i] isn't[/i][/b]: Yes, most people play pretty standard string gauges. But [i]please[/i] have a couple of sets of xtra-heavy or xtra-lite out the back. Look on them as an investment in future goodwill.

* [b]Plays like a dog[/b]: OK, I get it that strings get tarnished over time, but at least tweak the bugger to an average set-up before it goes up on the wall.

*[b] 'Not my problem, guv'[/b]: Look, pal, if there's a fault with a new product don't shuffle me off to the mfr or distributor. I bought it from [i]you[/i], I am [i]your[/i] customer and if there's a problem, I expect [i]you[/i] to act on my behalf and in my best interests. Go in to bat for me and I'll be singing your praises forever. Or I won't.

As for what's most important for people, there is no one thing that's most important for everyone. There is no 'most important thing' in isolation.

What is important to a beginner will be entirely unimportant to someone who's been playing a few years. The market is segmented and the general musical equipment retailer has to size up the punter and act accordingly. Different for 'Vintage' specialists or chain stores, but there you go.

Oh, and BTW, I understand that punters can be a pain. I are one myself.

Edited March 17, 2013 by skankdelvar

[Jellyfish]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363538182' post='2013771']
That's excellent, but what about brands that you probably don't stock or maybe even have arrangements with the distributors.

For instance LaBella, SIT and TI strings, or Herco Picks? These are all things I would like to be able to pop in and buy from my local shop, but doing so has turned out to be massively problematical, and in the end it's been easier to get them on-line and often from outside the UK.

I can understand that there will be issues if it's from a company you haven't previously dealt with, and there may well be minimum order quantities that can hold things up, which is why I said it might be worth finding out what your regular customers aren't buying from you, and if you find enough of them are after the same things it could be an opportunity.
[/quote]

You're pretty much spot-on. For example, I could get you a pack of LaBella strings in next day as that specific company has a small minimum order. However, if you wanted D'Addario strings, we don't actually have a supplier for them yet (they left their UK supplier and went independent a while back and, despite our best efforts, they won't get back to us even though we want to stock their stuff) and couldn't even get you something simple like Chromes. And if you wanted a pack of Ernie Ball Cobalts, I'd have to say "not yet" as the minimum order for that company is quite high!

I'm quite lucky really in that I can decide what stock to get into the shop and will (unfortunately for our shorter-scale string shredding cousins) usually prioritise bass over guitar. That sounds quite selfish, I know, but there seems to be a smaller range of things that guitarists want when compared to bassists. Most guitarists I've talked to are happy with anything that really does the job. And most bassists are always sourcing down their perfect sound/feel.

And I would absolutely [i][b]love[/b][/i] to deal in second hand gear, but it is a bit of a natural process when it comes to building up stock. I'm a bit of a gear geek and often get funny looks from older gentlemen when they find out I know what a Wal is! Or something like that...

[ead]

People buy from people. For me it's all about the staff and they you are treated whether you are Jaco or just old Jack.

For things like strings I pretty much buy on line now because it's so easy. I imagine that if you try to stock every brand and gauge combination that people want you could end up with a lot of slow moving stock. Simple Pareto analysis will tell you that 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your stock lines. It then depends upon whether you want to take that risk with customers. Tricky decision at the best of times.

I think a good preloved section would be interesting although you're up against ebay et al which is pretty pure in terms of establishing what the real market value of main stream goods really is.

Edited March 18, 2013 by ead

[neepheid]

What makes me avoid my local bricks and mortar stores almost completely? They rarely stock anything I'm interested in. That's fine, I know how economics work (and how much stock some manufacturers demand they buy in order to cement a trade agreement) but there's nothing more yawn inspiring to me than walls filled with nothing but Fenders/Squiers. Not wishing to reignite the "Fender is dull/boring" idiocy that has recently flared up, but it's just not my thing. Strings and things are often ridiculously priced. Guitars outnumbering basses by factors approaching 10 to 1 really pees me off too, I know guitar is more popular, but THAT much more popular?

All these things conspire to ensure that I rarely set foot in my two local shops, and if I do, it takes 2 minutes to verify that the same basses as last time are still there and I can leave again. It's been a year and a half since I actually saw something in a shop I wanted to try. Oh, and have some decent ampage in there AND LET US TRY THE INSTRUMENTS THROUGH THEM. I'm unlikely to get the full overview of what a bass can do if you plug it into a wee practice amp in the middle of a noisy shop.

In any case, I don't think I'm any shop's target market. I mostly because I'm not in the slightest bit interested in owning a Fender. Most people are, it seems, so stock as many as you wish and don't mind me. Mouths to feed and all that.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363599983' post='2014416']
What makes me avoid my local bricks and mortar stores almost completely? They rarely stock anything I'm interested in. That's fine, I know how economics work (and how much stock some manufacturers demand they buy in order to cement a trade agreement) but there's nothing more yawn inspiring to me than walls filled with nothing but Fenders/Squiers. Not wishing to reignite the "Fender is dull/boring" idiocy that has recently flared up, but it's just not my thing. Strings and things are often ridiculously priced. Guitars outnumbering basses by factors approaching 10 to 1 really pees me off too, I know guitar is more popular, but THAT much more popular?

All these things conspire to ensure that I rarely set foot in my two local shops, and if I do, it takes 2 minutes to verify that the same basses as last time are still there and I can leave again. It's been a year and a half since I actually saw something in a shop I wanted to try. Oh, and have some decent ampage in there AND LET US TRY THE INSTRUMENTS THROUGH THEM. I'm unlikely to get the full overview of what a bass can do if you plug it into a wee practice amp in the middle of a noisy shop.

In any case, I don't think I'm any shop's target market. I mostly because I'm not in the slightest bit interested in owning a Fender. Most people are, it seems, so stock as many as you wish and don't mind me. Mouths to feed and all that.
[/quote]

Yes, guitars are really that much more popular, in fact more popular than that. They've probably sold some guitars since you were last in, but it has the same basses hanging? Seems pretty obvious to me. My local has no basses, and for a very good reason - There has been absolutely zero demand for any kind of bass. The shop isn't loosing anything by not having basses in. If you really want a bass, i'm pretty sure they could order one in for you.

[Jellyfish]

Unfortunately, MiltyG565 is right to a degree. To put it into perspective, we've probably sell about 1 bass to every 10 or more guitars. Although I'd argue that if you're a guitar shop, you need to be stocking bass guitars as well. The ratio of bassists to guitarists is small, but there is a demand for the instrument itself from all sorts of musicians such as drummers who think they might be good at bass or professional guitarists who want a bass for recording purposes. I do find it a shame when shops don't stock a good range of 'staple' basses, and I'm trying to change that in my shop.

[markstuk]

Also some of the music store "small" chains which I would like to support actually have pretty much nothing I'd like to buy when I go in..... I've had good service from Mark at Bassdirect and on the keys side from Digital Village on Birmingham... I think a lot of it is how you present yourself to the shop staff as well..... I don't think they're psychic so I have to talk to them about what I want...

[onemanband]

I usually go to the store it's easiest to knick stuff from, preferrably where there are none of those nasty surveillance cameras watching your every move.

Edited March 20, 2013 by onemanband

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1363769859' post='2017150']
Unfortunately, MiltyG565 is right to a degree. To put it into perspective, we've probably sell about 1 bass to every 10 or more guitars. Although I'd argue that if you're a guitar shop, you need to be stocking bass guitars as well. The ratio of bassists to guitarists is small, but there is a demand for the instrument itself from all sorts of musicians such as drummers who think they might be good at bass or professional guitarists who want a bass for recording purposes. I do find it a shame when shops don't stock a good range of 'staple' basses, and I'm trying to change that in my shop.
[/quote]

If there's no demand for it, where's the sense in it?

[neepheid]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363771912' post='2017191']
If there's no demand for it, where's the sense in it?
[/quote]


Halo effect. I would visit a shop more often if I felt they gave a crap, that I wasn't being a burden and distracting them from precious guitar sales and were sensitive to a bass player's needs. If I visit more, then there's more chance that I'll buy something.

[Surfer-bee]

I don't like it when I go into a music shop and I am made to feel like an idiot.

So many times, I walk into a shop and I get snorked at (usually by male staff) because I ask a simple question. I am a completely self-taught bass player and I don't read music, but that doesn't make me a retard. I've always just been able to listen to a song and then play it. Folks should never be ridiculed by shop staff for not knowing something. How else am I to find out if I don't ask? Needless to say, I would prefer to buy online than to be made to feel like a small child. If you have a shop that has friendly, supportive staff then you'd certainly get more customers like me.

And of course, range of goods, prices and honest staff are important too. People should be able to get something from your shop that they simply cannot get online. Help setting up guitars (I'd rather be shown how to do it than someone just do it for me!), showing newbies how to change strings, little extra freebies (picks, bags etc) are also good.

Good luck with the shop!

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363773344' post='2017223']
Halo effect. I would visit a shop more often if I felt they gave a crap, that I wasn't being a burden and distracting them from precious guitar sales and were sensitive to a bass player's needs. If I visit more, then there's more chance that I'll buy something.
[/quote]

And they can't give a crap without stocking high end boutique bass guitars?

[markstuk]

All Neepheid is saying is that if they're happy to only stock Fender and Yamaha boxed starter kits then they won't see him through their door..... It's the choice of the shop.....


[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363774746' post='2017251']
And they can't give a crap without stocking high end boutique bass guitars?
[/quote]

[neepheid]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363774746' post='2017251']
And they can't give a crap without stocking high end boutique bass guitars?
[/quote]

You show me where I said that's what I wanted. Stop putting words in my mouth, it's not cool and you're out of order.

All I crave is a bit of variety of any kind.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363775069' post='2017259']
You show me where I said that's what I wanted. Stop putting words in my mouth, it's not cool and you're out of order.

All I crave is a bit of variety of any kind.
[/quote]

Sorry, but i was getting that impression from your previous posts.

[neepheid]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363776700' post='2017300']
Sorry, but i was getting that impression from your previous posts.
[/quote]

On what did you base this impression? I'm genuinely interested.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363599983' post='2014416']
What makes me avoid my local bricks and mortar stores almost completely? They rarely stock anything I'm interested in. That's fine, I know how economics work (and how much stock some manufacturers demand they buy in order to cement a trade agreement) but there's nothing more yawn inspiring to me than walls filled with nothing but Fenders/Squiers. Not wishing to reignite the "Fender is dull/boring" idiocy that has recently flared up, but it's just not my thing. Strings and things are often ridiculously priced. Guitars outnumbering basses by factors approaching 10 to 1 really pees me off too, I know guitar is more popular, but THAT much more popular?

All these things conspire to ensure that I rarely set foot in my two local shops, and if I do, it takes 2 minutes to verify that the same basses as last time are still there and I can leave again. It's been a year and a half since I actually saw something in a shop I wanted to try. Oh, and have some decent ampage in there AND LET US TRY THE INSTRUMENTS THROUGH THEM. I'm unlikely to get the full overview of what a bass can do if you plug it into a wee practice amp in the middle of a noisy shop.

In any case, I don't think I'm any shop's target market. I mostly because I'm not in the slightest bit interested in owning a Fender. Most people are, it seems, so stock as many as you wish and don't mind me. Mouths to feed and all that.
[/quote]

This. I know you mentioned Fender in particular, but there are plenty of other brands that people want, but you said you aren't in any shops target market, which lead me to think that you want something that isn't particularly common, like those weirdly shaped boutique bases.

[neepheid]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363781127' post='2017426']
This. I know you mentioned Fender in particular, but there are plenty of other brands that people want, but you said you aren't in any shops target market, which lead me to think that you want something that isn't particularly common, like those weirdly shaped boutique bases.
[/quote]

Perhaps I was over-dramatising the situation but I was merely referring back to the aforementioned "wall of Fenders" approach that I see in most shops that I've visited. If I don't care for or aspire to own a Fender then I guess I'm SOL. I therefore feel that I am outside your average shop's target market - i.e. anyone who likes Fenders and is wowed by a wall of them (and furthermore, that's perfectly fine and I'm not taking the mick. In fact, in a way you're kinda lucky if this is your taste in bass).

Maybe you've got sigs switched off, but there's nothing boutique in my collection. My tastes are Gibson (and certain Epiphones), G&L (Tributes are fine) and selected Yamahas (mostly BBs). Hardly what I'd call "boutique", but we're not exactly swimming in them, certainly up my way.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363781935' post='2017442']
Perhaps I was over-dramatising the situation but I was merely referring back to the aforementioned "wall of Fenders" approach that I see in most shops that I've visited. If I don't care for or aspire to own a Fender then I guess I'm SOL. I therefore feel that I am outside your average shop's target market - i.e. anyone who likes Fenders and is wowed by a wall of them (and furthermore, that's perfectly fine and I'm not taking the mick. In fact, in a way you're kinda lucky if this is your taste in bass).

Maybe you've got sigs switched off, but there's nothing boutique in my collection. My tastes are Gibson (and certain Epiphones), G&L (Tributes are fine) and selected Yamahas (mostly BBs). Hardly what I'd call "boutique", but we're not exactly swimming in them, certainly up my way.
[/quote]

I've never been in a music shop that had any amount of fenders hanging on the wall TBH. A lot of the music shops around here (apart from a few of the bigger stores in and around belfast) don't keep a big stock of them, if any at all. I see plenty of acoustics and copies of other designs, but hardly ever a fender. Best guitar i ever played was a Fender telecaster american deluxe though.

[neepheid]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363783717' post='2017493']
I've never been in a music shop that had any amount of fenders hanging on the wall TBH. A lot of the music shops around here (apart from a few of the bigger stores in and around belfast) don't keep a big stock of them, if any at all. I see plenty of acoustics and copies of other designs, but hardly ever a fender. Best guitar i ever played was a Fender telecaster american deluxe though.
[/quote]

One of Aberdeen's two music shops: wall of Fenders (and Squiers):



Wall 2 of (mostly) Fenders and Squiers



I count 5 non-Fender products on two walls. Definitely a "wall of Fenders". The only thing in those two pics that's even remotely interesting to me is the Yamaha BB424. You see what I mean? It's pointless me even walking in, given my preferences. There is another wall with some other stuff like more Yamaha guitars, Gretsch stuff and Schecter, but it's all guitars.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363784865' post='2017533']
One of Aberdeen's two music shops: wall of Fenders (and Squiers):



Wall 2 of (mostly) Fenders and Squiers



I count 5 non-Fender products on two walls. Definitely a "wall of Fenders". The only thing in those two pics that's even remotely interesting to me is the Yamaha BB424. You see what I mean? It's pointless me even walking in, given my preferences. There is another wall with some other stuff like more Yamaha guitars, Gretsch stuff and Schecter, but it's all guitars.
[/quote]

I don't really see the point in that tbh. So much stock of all the same brand, and lets face it, if you are going to buy a Fender, you are going to know how it plays and why you want it before you walk in to a shop. I don't think my local would stock that many Fenders, even if it was financially viable for them.