According to the banner I read on the way in, MF has FREE SHIPPING on EVERYTHING!!!!

[Guitar Centaur]

Lets all go there and buy Marshall 4X12's and run them out of business, so the mom & pop shops can come back.

 

[Duck King]

Kewl.

[Anderton]

Aha! A test to see if this thread will get deleted or not!

 

Well, it won't.

[Guitar Centaur]

 

Originally posted by Anderton Aha! A test to see if this thread will get deleted or not! Well, it won't.

 

 

No, actually I was serious!

 

A few great stores in my area got steamrollered because of soul-less enterprises like MF, and the other mega-bankrolled cookie cutter stores that cater to the lowest common denominator.

 

I think the next time Guitar Center has a sale, we should all go in and buy a bunch of high-end stuff, then return it so they can't sell it as new. Give them a taste of being hamstrung and see how they like it.

[bp]

I think Mars did tons more damage to the small MI stores than GC or various catalog ventures. The internet has also made a dent in the Mom and Pops, but many are in fact Mom and Pops themselves. The brick and mortar small stores will have a hard time these days compared to 10+ years ago but there are statagies they can use to thrive. If they don't adapt, they will go away.

[MrKnobs]

 

Originally posted by Crustycabs I think the next time Guitar Center has a sale, we should all go in and buy a bunch of high-end stuff, then return it so they can't sell it as new. Give them a taste of being hamstrung and see how they like it.

 

 

They'll deal with that just fine.

 

First, they'll have another one of their almost every week "Lowest Prices of the Year" line up early and "Get the LIST" sales, mark all the returned crap down about 5%, then stand back as the mob rushes in when the doors open at 8.

 

Seriously, those guys have marketing down. They could sell heaters in Hell, provided they could build giant ceiling high stacks of them and do a huge mailout a few days before.

 

Terry D.

[felix]

 

Originally posted by TinderArts I think Mars did tons more damage to the small MI stores than GC or various catalog ventures.

 

 

?

 

How do you figure that? Mars peaked at 50 stores and came and went in just over 5 years time.

 

GC / MF / Music & Arts / American Music on the other hand... how many stores and counting? How was Mars any different than GC, or Sam Ash, or Brook Mays in their overall effect on Music Retail?

 

But don't get me wrong - if anyone is doing in a Mom & Pop, it's Mom & Pop themselves - if they don't sharpen their game and find their niche, they have no one to blame but themselves.

[Jeff da Weasel]

Originally posted by Crustycabs Lets all go there and buy Marshall 4X12's and run them out of business, so the mom & pop shops can come back.

 

So your plan to run them out of business is to have everyone on the forum buy an expensive Marshall cabinet that's highly profitable for the retailer.

 

You work for them, don't you? Just admit it. You'll feel better.

 

- Jeff

[felix]

Not so profitable once MF picks up the shipping costs though.

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by Jeff da Weasel So your plan to run them out of business is to have everyone on the forum buy an expensive Marshall cabinet that's highly profitable for the retailer. You work for them, don't you? Just admit it. You'll feel better. - Jeff

 

"30 day return policy"

 

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by felix Not so profitable once MF picks up the shipping costs though.

 

Do you REALLY think MF (or any online dealer that offers free shipping) hasn't factored that into the equation? Really - Jeff's correct... it doesn't matter if it's MF or Sweetwater or 8th Street whomever... if you're getting free shipping on something, that may come out of their profits, but they're still making enough on the item so that it's worth their while to sell it at the price they are asking.

 

That's just basic business 101.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by Crustycabs "30 day return policy"

 

I have not looked into it, but I'd bet a dollar to a donut that MF isn't going to be paying for the RETURN shipping back to them if you decide you don't want to keep the item... so if you want to play games and are willing to pay for the return shipping on a 4X12 cabinet, knock yourself out!

[bp]

 

Originally posted by felix How do you figure that? Mars peaked at 50 stores and came and went in just over 5 years time.

 

In that five years they helped push out many dealers in Maryland (along with GC), but unlike the other big stores, Mars left the MI manufacturers holding the bag on millions in unpaid merch, then Mars whored out that gear in their last days.

[Duck King]

 

Originally posted by TinderArts In that five years they helped push out mant dealers in Maryland (along with GC), but unlike the other big stores, Mars left the MI manufacturers holding the bag on millions in unpaid merch that Mars whored out in the last days.

 

 

Gear that the manufacturers happily gave Mars because they thought their ships had come in. It's the price of doing business.

[Jeff da Weasel]

 

Originally posted by Duck King Gear that the manufacturers happily gave Mars because they thought their ships had come in.

 

 

There's somewhat of a difference between "gave" and "sold". We manufacturers sold them gear based on credit that's established (as happens in every retail situation in every industry from toys to clothes to home appliances), but there are no guarantees. Any individual or business entity can declare bankruptcy and force their creditors to take pennies on the dollar of what they're owed.

 

Unless a company wants to do all of their business on COD (severely limiting the business they can do), this is a risk that every supplier in every industry faces.

 

- Jeff

[Jeff da Weasel]

One other thing.

 

For folks who are anxious to condemn large retailers like GC, MF, Sweetwater and so on for "pushing mom and pop stores out of business", keep in mind that there's NO WAY the manufacturers could make gear at the price points you have available to you if not for the larger volume sales that these big retailers can provide.

 

It's a personal decision for you, but the reality is that most of the instrument and pro audio gear you buy would cost 3 or 4 times as much if manufacturers had to make it in such smaller numbers.

 

There's room in the world for both retail chains, big online/mail order places, and small boutique stores. Each offers something that's appealing for a certain type of customer with his/her individual priorities and needs.

 

- Jeff

[keyman_sam]

Why dont we all just buy like crazy drunkards and forget about paying the stuff?

 

If someone calls from Mf, just tell them "Hi, how are you? I dont have money so i aint as fine as you are. Catch ya later. Oh, BTW, those Oasys' i got from you are smokin!"

[Duck King]

 

Originally posted by Jeff da Weasel There's somewhat of a difference between "gave" and "sold". We manufacturers sold them gear based on credit that's established (as happens in every retail situation in every industry from toys to clothes to home appliances), but there are no guarantees. Any individual or business entity can declare bankruptcy and force their creditors to take pennies on the dollar of what they're owed. Unless a company wants to do all of their business on COD (severely limiting the business they can do), this is a risk that every supplier in every industry faces. - Jeff

 

 

Any fool should have seen that Mars could not have paid for their floor space. Manufacturers took the risk to cahs in. There is nothing wrong with that, but whining when it doesn't work out is screwed up.

[MrKnobs]

 

Originally posted by Duck King Any fool should have seen that Mars could not have paid for their floor space. Manufacturers took the risk to cahs in. There is nothing wrong with that, but whining when it doesn't work out is screwed up.

 

 

The Mars in Austin was turning a good profit when it was closed down. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case at most locations.

 

Terry D.