discreet Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 [quote name='Zodiak' timestamp='1377996948' post='2194608'] I placed an order yesterday (Friday) and no news whatsoever yet (Sunday, early morning). I guess they do respect their weekends. Can anyone confirm? Nothing gets done on weekends? No worries from me, just curious. [/quote] I can answer this on Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Bought my first bass (Ibanez SR300) from them and it arrived within a few days tip top. I feel slightly guilty when ordering from them as I would rather support a more local shop. But they were the only place with the bass I wanted in the colour I wanted. But you cant fault their German efficency! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 [quote name='Zodiak' timestamp='1377996948' post='2194608'] I placed an order yesterday (Friday) and no news whatsoever yet (Sunday, early morning). I guess they do respect their weekends. Can anyone confirm? Nothing gets done on weekends? No worries from me, just curious. [/quote] I can't remember the email response/contact timescale to be honest but I ordered my guitar on a Saturday and it arrived on the Wednesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 [quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1377990098' post='2194545'] Sterling's exchange rate with the Euro has plummeted recently, and that makes everything for sale on Thomann look a lot more expensive. [/quote] They have quietly been raising prices of some stuff as well. Particularly things they have to import from the States. One distributor told me he'd monitored prices and it seemed that they started to rise after DV247 went under. There has been quite a price war going on with some brands and it wasn't really sustainable - DV247 being a perfect example Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 That's true as well, Barrie. Thomann are still the best for someone like me, though - I like to buy brand new, I haven't got thousands to spend on high-end models, and I'm left-handed and would die of old age waiting for a bass, if I had to rely on manufacturers as opposed to big retailers like Thomann. And obviously the small items like pedals and accessories are a bargain when you buy them together with something that takes the total bill to over £100, as delivery is free. Now all I need is for Sterling to stop its slide in the exchange rate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='molan' timestamp='1378024129' post='2194687'] They have quietly been raising prices of some stuff as well. Particularly things they have to import from the States. One distributor told me he'd monitored prices and it seemed that they started to rise after DV247 went under. There has been quite a price war going on with some brands and it wasn't really sustainable - DV247 being a perfect example [/quote] DV247 went bust? I missed that (Wasn't reading music forums for a while). The web site is still there, I presume they were acquired. Or, is it the receivers selling off stock? Edit: More information here: [url="http://www.dv247.com/news/DV247%20Is%20Not%20In%20Administration/133450"]http://www.dv247.com...stration/133450 [/url] DV247 has been purchased by what seems to be one of Thomann's German competitors, so overall market competition shouldn't have decreased. Someone on here was asking about the Thomann [url=http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbb1975_na.htm]'Harley Benton' VM-J-a-like[/url] recently. DV247 have a similar item [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-na-bass-guitar-natural--201563"]http://www.dv247.com...natural--201563[/url] Edited September 1, 2013 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1378028883' post='2194762'] DV247 went bust? I missed that (Wasn't reading music forums for a while). The web site is still there, I presume they were acquired. Or, is it the receivers selling off stock? Edit: More information here: [url="http://www.dv247.com/news/DV247%20Is%20Not%20In%20Administration/133450"]http://www.dv247.com...stration/133450 [/url] DV247 has been purchased by what seems to be one of Thomann's German competitors, so overall market competition shouldn't have decreased. Someone on here was asking about the Thomann 'Harley Benton' VM-J-a-like recently. DV247 have a similar item http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-na-bass-guitar-natural--201563 [/quote] The general view I picked up from distributors is that the two companies raised a few prices at more or less the same time. They are definitely in competition but maybe not as keen to keep undercutting each other these days. I wouldn't exactly say they are in direct collusion with each other, maybe just making sure that margins are at a decent operating level. Makese sense really. The crazy price war in some areas must have been a major contribution to the failure of the original DV247 business. Although they are now online only, with significantly reduced basic overheads, I'm sure they'd struggle to keep going on some of the margins that used to be seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 (edited) DV247 itself found a buyer very quickly it seems. Usually this means that part of the business itself was reasonably healthy and can be sold as a going concern. Not always though, perhaps Music Store was planning to move into the UK market anyway (as Thomann has been rumoured to be doing for a while - have they?) It could be that DV247 was healthy, but other parts of they company they were owned by caused the problems. E.g. like how the Matsumoku guitar factory was healthy (I believe) but went down with its owning company. I'm wondering if Music Store GMBH and Thomann have a close relationship. The two 'similar' basses in my previous post are, it seems, actually identical. Perhaps it's just that they have the same supplier. (Saein?) Also, I've noted that the prices in the 'DV247 Recommends' section are (at least sometimes) cheaper than if you go to the instrument directly or through search. Edit: That's wrong - this is a different instrument from the previous (cheaper) one. http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-bsb-bass-guitar-butterscotch-blonde--201559 Edited September 1, 2013 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Yes, DV247 are still going. I purchased from them online only recently. They have closed most of their meatspace operation but still have their Romford store, I believe. [url="http://www.dv247.com/romford"]http://www.dv247.com/romford[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiak Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Well, Thomann offers free shipping for orders over 200 Euros, while DV247 charges 16 quid + VAT, so it's a no brainer for orders outside the UK. Even if it's not a lot of money, it's still nice to get a deal like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 [quote name='Zodiak' timestamp='1378038238' post='2194934'] Well, Thomann offers free shipping for orders over 200 Euros, while DV247 charges 16 quid + VAT, so it's a no brainer for orders outside the UK. Even if it's not a lot of money, it's still nice to get a deal like that. [/quote] DV247 offer free delivery on orders over £99. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiak Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 But not overseas, AFAIK. Not to Portugal, at least, as per their website... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 [quote name='Zodiak' timestamp='1378046952' post='2195045'] But not overseas, AFAIK. Not to Portugal, at least, as per their website... [/quote] You're right. I somehow missed the 'outside the UK' in your post. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 No wonder I picked up a brand new stock EBMM Bongo for such a low price from DV247 then! They have said my warranty still runs as it did before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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