Local, Big chain, Internet music stores

[entz72]

which one do you perfer and why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am torn between local and big chain. local seems to care more about you and your needs but are limited on items. big chain have more items but more about the money.d

[Hudman]

The local, Mom and Pop stores in my area are geared more towards marching band instrument sales and rentals. They also make a lot of their income from guitar and piano lessons.

 

The only big box retailer in my area is Guitar Center. I usually buy from online retailers. Ebay is full of small Mom and Pop operations selling new music gear at prices equal to or better than the big chains.

 

I found out about my Larrivee dealer on another forum. He owns and operates Notable Guitars (www.notableguitars.com). He had better prices than Sam Ash and far better service. He actually, inspects and performs a basic set up on all the guitars he sells. He even ships free like the big guys.

 

That's the best of both worlds. You get the selection of the internet while helping out the small business man.

[Cldplytkmn]

i have no loyalty... whoever, whenever, whereever... gimme what i want at a price i'm comfortable with and i don't really care...

[kwakatak]

IMO it depends on what you're looking for. For small consumable items like picks (which seem to disappear and magically reappear in the dryer's lint trap), certain brands of strings (like Martin SP which can be found almost anywhere), and stuff like gig bags, music staffs, etc. I have no hesitation with buying from a local mom & pop shop.

 

OTOH when it comes to buying a guitar - and bear in mind that I don't buy guitars all that frequently - I prefer to browse the smaller online retailers (like Notable Guitars, Elderly, Shoreline Music, Guitar Adoptions, etc.) who may or may not have a brick and mortar store for display of their inventory but generally have tons of favorable testimonials on forums like this one. I've found that their prices generally beat the big chains and are also very competitve with smaller stores' prices.

 

I won't even look at big chains (either online or B&M) because somehow it always ends up with me getting SPAM in my email or I just generally have a {censored}ty experience while shopping in their mega mart.

[Freeman Keller]

I've ranted about this before so I should just shut up, but my local store has my complete support in every way. In a town of 50,000 (with one other music store, mostly band and inexpensive guitars), last year they did TWO free acoustic seminars (as well as drums and other things), when the Martin rep was in town they were doing FREE string replacements, and currenly have hanging on their wall an HD28, and OM21 and an OMJM. The Mayer has a hang tag price of 65 percent of list (way below Elderly) and they told me they were serious about dealing on it (which I passed on to a forumite looking for one). Their price on strings is a little high, but I'm stopping there tonight to pick up a few sets, and last week when the new mic stand I bought had some goofed up threads they replaced it (with a more expensive one because they didn't have another like the one I bought).

OK, I just voted, so now I will shut up

[babablowfish]

I go to both. I have bought from the local Mom and Pops and have gotten great friendly service from them. I will go back to them and usually get my straps, ghs FastFret, picks, etc there. But overall, I gotta say that when I want to just go screw around and have some fun Guitar Center is the perfect place There is never any pressure and I never feel guilty walking out w/o buying something.

[Cldplytkmn]

I feel better about my online purchases than i would if i bought from GC or the like... The mom n pop here has a good selection of martins and if i ever buy a martin, it'll probably be from them, unless i go used or something... I CAN'T STAND the manager of the acoustics at the local GC here... his name is Sven, and has a horrible swede accent. On top of that, he's isn't willing to haggle, even on used guitars. He's just awkward to talk to, i guess is the main point. When i called up Dave at guitaradoptions, i asked him what his best price was, he told me the price (40% off list, to the dollar), and that was that.

[Hudman]

 

I've ranted about this before so I should just shut up, but my local store has my complete support in every way. In a town of 50,000 (with one other music store, mostly band and inexpensive guitars), last year they did TWO free acoustic seminars (as well as drums and other things), when the Martin rep was in town they were doing FREE string replacements, and currenly have hanging on their wall an HD28, and OM21 and an OMJM. The Mayer has a hang tag price of 65 percent of list (way below Elderly) and they told me they were serious about dealing on it (which I passed on to a forumite looking for one). Their price on strings is a little high, but I'm stopping there tonight to pick up a few sets, and last week when the new mic stand I bought had some goofed up threads they replaced it (with a more expensive one because they didn't have another like the one I bought). OK, I just voted, so now I will shut up

 

 

I use to buy D'Addario strings from a small shop near my house. He charges $8.99 for most non coated strings. Unfortunately, I changed brands and he doesn't carry Martin SP PB's.

[knockwood]

A friend of mine once walked into a mom & pop store, and they ate him. I buy everything online now.

[DenverDave]

It is a mixed bag. I tend to buy a lot of used gear, and that generally rules out the Mom & Pop stores since many of them don't deal in used gear. Some of the smaller stores here are overprotective of the gear and actually make me uncomfortable while I am shopping there. I understand why - seeing brand new guitars at GC that are dinged up. I once saw a new Martin D45 at Mars Music (a $6,000.00 plus instrument) and some jackass had played it with a pick and there were pickmarks all over the wood below the pickguard! But I also don't want a sales person hovering over me every second I am there.

Ultimately, having a limited amount of money to spend on guitars, I often go to GC to try out various instruments - get their best price, then go online and see what I can find cheaper.

[recordingtrack1]

Since I have bought my last four guitars off of ebay, I guess my vote should go to internet sales, but it's more than that. I've also bought tons of stuff over the years from the local shops, including my Taylor, my Mandolin, my Bass guitar, etc, etc. I really prefer that but unfortunately, I have to go where I can get the best deals.

Gee, if money weren't such a problem . . .

[guit30]

Both, Usually Musicians Friend if I know what I want, don't know if people know, Music123 is gone chapter 11, I am an affilate, that's how I found out, they are still in business, looks like they are cutting back on product though, Shame, they just a lot of money last year on a new warehouse, hard to compete with MF
Jim

[DeepEnd]

Generally local "mom and pop" stores like Music Folk for decent guitars, Baton Music for strings, and David's Guitar Loft for other stuff. Bought tuners, beater guitars, gig bags, etc. on eBay too.

[theGOOCH]

Most Mom and Pop places by me charge too much. Elixir Nanowebs for 28.00(full list), Martin Sp's for about 12 I believe. If I go to a physical store it's Sam Ash, but I prefer internet. It's easy to find the best deal and I don't have to deal with a salesperson

[Whalebot]

myfavoriteguitars.com Shameless plug, Jon Garon is a great guy to deal with and technically it is a Mom and Pop shop, I do my ordering over the phone and always get either Jon or his wife Sharon.

[dwerlin]

Internet for me. I've been able to get the best deals online (no tax, free shipping, pricematching, etc.), and [almost] all my stuff that came from online came in dead mint condition (I had 1 exception, a Martin D-16RGT came all smashed up, but it was replaced at no additional costs to me...and the replacement is a mint beauty!)

i'll usually buy strings from the big chains though, since usually you have to pay shipping on strings.

[pgcorky]

My local store has prices that are competitive with the big guys and internet sellers, and I have the opportunity to hold the guitar, see how it looks, hear how it sounds. And if I have a problem, it's easier to deal with them. Still, I have bought a few low cost guitars over the years on the Internet/eBay etc. and when low cost is the main driver, it's a good way to go.

[AugTPD]

I only say the internet because I can actually find what I want. It seems that locally (big chain or mom & pop) all carry the same sub $500 guitars all the time.