Does anyone still buy guitars locally?

[AK47]

Since the internet does anyone really buy any guitars at local music stores anymore?
Not counting Craigslist.

Almost everyone I know goes to a store to tryout the guitar they want to buy then orders online what they want and gets the best price and avoids sales taxes.

You know how many times the local store have blown sales from me alone because the staff were just plain idiots and did not want to even work with me at all.

Then the sales people always try to run BS by you in person like on pricing and you tell them you can prove them wrong just by using their computer and they still insist they are correct.

Thats why I buy online no BS I know what I want and based on forums like this I go with what others recommend as the best dealer.

I used to support the moms and pops stores for picks and strings but not anymore. Its like the employees are there to remind you that your an idiot for shopping locally and to go home and order what you need.

It seams as though I was more knowledgable about the local stores products then the actual owners....

Sorry rant over...

So does anyone still shop local?

[RacerX]

When I was a GC employee, yes. Even afterwards, I did buy my DXMG and Soldano cab from them. Almost any JCFer who has been here a while will know more than anybody in a local or GC store.

[442w30]

We have a couple of ok local shops - Ray Hennngs, Music Makers, Strait music, but overall, the small mom and pop shops near me are ok.
The guitar ceter is the only one that doesn't sell everything for list and seems to have normal everyday pricing.

I get the feeling most brick and mortar shops know they can't compete with internet pricing and rely on you to "make a deal" and have them trhow in stuff.

I am a buy it for what the sticker says kind of guy, so when I see a boss sd1 for $90 I figure that's an indication of pricing and move along.

Truth is, they expect you to make the give you two packs of super slinkys and a few picks to go with it and you feel like you did well.

Some people love to walk in and see what they are buying and some peple love to knock 30% off the posted price. Those stores are there for those people.

[neilli]

I rarely buy as a 'walk in', for all the reasons above.

I love the idea of going a store, seeing something cool, trying it out and then buying it, but the reality is that most guitar stores don't have guitars which I consider particually cool, and I know that even if they do have something I'd like, unless it's a CS one-off, I'll be able to get it much cheaper on line.....

[Razor]

I buy from the internet a lot because there are not a lot of stores in my immediate area. The two Jackson dealers semi-close to me carry nothing over DK2's in inventory, and are at least a 45 minute drive away.

The local store here does at least acknowledge that Musicians Friend will cut into their market, so they'll verify what you're saying and price accordingly. The problem with that store is no Jackson or Charvel inventory, and they rarely have any used gear.

The four pawn shops local to me are a waste of time, but I still stop in them from time to time just in case.

So I am forced by necessity to use the internet to my full advantage in the effort to reduce my GAS.

[Inazone]

I will always check locally if I'm in the market for a particular piece of gear. I've scored some great deals on NOS or used gear (NOS Jackson RR-2 USA for $400, new Jackson DR-2 USA for $600, used Hamer Californian Elite USA for $450, Jackson Apogee 50 tube combo for $400, etc.), but most of the shops near me simply don't carry the "in between" gear for someone past the beginner phase but not to the point of gigging weekly. There is no rack gear to be had except for the oddball stuff at Music Go Round, and prices on nice Jacksons are through the roof, even on beaters. If used gear is reasonably priced, it's most likely in very rough shape.

[danastas]

There's one really well known music store near me, House of Guitars, in Rochester. The owners tell me the head guy at Fender was from the area and used to haunt the store. Well, I've bought a Fender Strat from them, but the place scares the crap out of me since they basically stack guitars on top of one another in glass cases.

Check out these pictures:






Would you buy from this store?

[mhenson42]

We have a couple of ok local shops - Ray Hennngs, Music Makers, Strait music, but overall, the small mom and pop shops near me are ok.
The guitar ceter is the only one that doesn't sell everything for list and seems to have normal everyday pricing.

I get the feeling most brick and mortar shops know they can't compete with internet pricing and rely on you to "make a deal" and have them trhow in stuff.

I am a buy it for what the sticker says kind of guy, so when I see a boss sd1 for $90 I figure that's an indication of pricing and move along.

Truth is, they expect you to make the give you two packs of super slinkys and a few picks to go with it and you feel like you did well.

Some people love to walk in and see what they are buying and some peple love to knock 30% off the posted price. Those stores are there for those people.

Where is Ray Hennings and what do they stock? I like Music Makers - they have a few decent amps. The Austin GCs suck. The San Antonio one isn't that bad. We have Sam Ash too.

[MichaelLitvak]

bought my dk2 in my local guitar store.. biggest mistake i ever made!
the guitar is very nice but the service sucked, all they wanted me to do is pay, take the guitar and leave.. they didnt even want to give me a box or something to put the guitar in.. had to ask them over and over and they managed to find a carton box of some ibanez bass...

for the exact same price i could of ordered online and got a hard case with it

i bought locally because they offered free setups.. not like i will ever use them.. i went to them because the neck started to feel weird,probably season change so i had buzzy frets... they checked the neck and said it should always be stright..raised the action to 3cm and said there you go no more fret buzz

[AK47]

Speaking of setups you know I live in a major metropolitan area and 90% of the stores dont touch Kahlers...

[mantis]

I always buy local. the only thing I got online was my Boss CE-5. I played it many times before I got it. I just so happen to find it used on ebay at a great price.

Dan

[eakinj]

I got an LTD at a local place, and my RR3R at Guitar Center, but other then that most of the local places carry low end junk. When I picked up my Roswell (wooden one not the cool one) from a shop my ex worked at, they were surprised anyone wanted to buy such a high ticket item (it was about 700 dollars to give you an idea what they thought was high ticket)

I really hate buying something I haven't touched or played, on the other hand I hate going to guitar center or a chain place and buying a guitar that pretty much feels used the minute I walk in because so many others have mucked around on it.

[Newc]

Well, smaller local shops with more than 2 employees (including the owner) working the store have to make a profit, and they can't compete with the "basement" dealers who can order anything but stock nothing.

They also can't compete with the giants who can sell at cost and make it up on something else that is selling for List price.

My one local shop finally closed down because he couldn't compete with internet pricing.

Let's face it, when you can buy a slightly used USA model on Ebay for the same price a store charges for a new import, they're not going to get much business.

There's a couple of stores that are each about 45 minutes away - one that I haven't been to yet - TommyD says it's ok, I just never went there - and one I've been to a few times (got my first Jackson from them - traded an Ibenhad EX350 with a worn trem for a fairly new KE-3).

They get in some good stuff, but it's mostly Fender/Gibson, and a lot of it's beat vintage stuff and imports.

[kennslp]

I pretty much buy exclusively used gear, and I am always checking the local shops for good deals. Problem is that many of these (GC included) are carrying less and less used gear. Not sure why, as it seems like it could be a profitable market for any retailer. I am NOT a fan of GC, but I've spent thousands there on used USA Jacksons & Charvels, mainly because I got to know a guy who calls me when they get something in. Recently though, they stopped doing much used stuff. I think they may be shipping the higher priced gear elsewhere (NYC maybe). So the only remaning outlet is the internet.

However, when I am in the market for a piece of new gear, I will try the local mom & pop stores. They are very few and far between, even here on Long Island. I have one place that I regularly go for setups (Music Emporium in Bellmore), and if I ever need a new Gibson of any kind, I will buy it from them. Why? Because I've been buying from these guys since I was 19 years old (22 years... yikes!) and they have ALWAYS treated me well. The owner still remembers the first guitar I bought from them in 1985! (A Guild Aviator)! When I go in, even if it's just for strings, he usually takes the time to show me new gear, ask me what kinds of gear I might be in the market for...etc.. The staff there is equally friendly and knowledgable, surprising for a mom & pop. They do their share of 'selling', but they are never pushy, and will NOT try to insult my intellegence w/ BS claims. I did buy a New Takamine acoustic from here back in the early 90's. Got it for as cheap a price as anywhere... pre internet though. Bottom line is that I enjoy my experiences here, so I will patronize them. It's a fairly simple equation: 'good service' = 'return customer'. I can't understand why people don't get this, esp. the larger retailers like GC and Sam's Ass. M.E. has been in business for 25 years as a mom & pop, surviving on the 'home turf' of Sam Ash, and this is how they do it.

The next new guitar I buy will most likely be a Les Paul of some sort or a 335, and I will be buying it from these guys. They have already told me that they will match any new price from the internet, so I have no concerns for that at all. Very much looking forward to it....

-Kenn

[wilkinsi]

if i want to buy a guitar locally, all they have is crap. just about every guitar i've had has been a "special order" because i've always wanted a pointy. usually the best time to order is around aug/sept.