Bah, local music shop rant!

[dieseldalziel]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1421178910' post='2658172']
Imagine if you worked in a lingerie department
[/quote]

I'm not allowed any more..

[molan]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1421178910' post='2658172']


Imagine if you worked in a lingerie department
[/quote]

I worked with Agent Provocateur for a while. My main job was to check every display photograph was correct and matched th product description. It was tough job but someone had to do it. . .

[mentalextra]

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1421177860' post='2658148']
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]"So I found myself with an hour to kill today between finishing a days work and meeting my wife for a quick drink before heading home. I went to my local music shop just to keep abreast of their stock and see what they had in."[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]And how many other musos kill time, often without even buying strings? [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I'm in retail(not music) - we now shut at 4 because we got totally pi**ed off with people killing time before their bus left....I used to stay open until 6, and it was a novelty to take more than a fiver.....Mary Portas can have it, as far as I'm concerned.....and while I'm on the rant, totally crapped off with peeps who come in to mine & then go on line to get it cheaper(?) having worked out that it's what they want (at our expense). [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]And breath...........[/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color]
[/quote]

Are you one of those guys that stands behind the counter tutting and scowling at everyone that dares to walk in!

Edited January 13, 2015 by mentalextra

[icastle]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1421177872' post='2658149']
The shop also owes us nothing. Yet we expect so much.
[/quote]

You don't need to be a mega businessperson to know that a retail business cannot survive without customers.

If a retailer can't, or won't 'pander' to the most basic expectations of their customers then retail isn't for them.

[icastle]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1421181228' post='2658216']
I worked with Agent Provocateur for a while. My main job was to check every display photograph was correct and matched th product description. It was tough job but someone had to do it. . .
[/quote]

How is the limp now Barrie?

[tom1946]

Hmmmm....
Having owned a music shop until I retired in 2009 I must agree with Moosh &WayneP, if the stock is dusty, out of tune and neglected then you don't deserve to succeed imo.

I had a young lad come in just after school 3 times a week asnd he tuned every guitar, bass, mandolin etc' in the shop, I know how to look after people as I'm one of the old brigade (ask Kiogon, he knows about service too) The only problems having a shop are the people that come in to try a guitar or bass and then buy it online! When they get it and there's a fault they then bring it to me and ask me to fix it because 'you're the dealer for these'.

got very short shrift off me albeit very politely

What to stock? that was the hard part because if I had 6 strats and 3 tele's I would have the wrong colours It's one of the reasons I retired, the net killed it, you can't have it all ways can you? Net prices or a service? you choose.

[molan]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1421181882' post='2658233']


How is the limp now Barrie?
[/quote]

Not good

Having meetings at their HQ was always fun. The main meeting on doubled as storage for all the latest lingerie and all,of their staff (excluding the one bloke) wore AP underwear at all times - or so we were told, we nevertheless got any proof other than obvious stocking seams and flashes of frilly bras!

[icastle]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1421183683' post='2658266']

Having meetings at their HQ was always fun. The main meeting on doubled as storage for all the latest lingerie and all,of their staff (excluding the one bloke) wore AP underwear at all times - or so we were told, we nevertheless got any proof other than obvious stocking seams and flashes of frilly bras!
[/quote]

Humph.

All I got were a glimpse of semiconductors and an occasional floppy.

[Truckstop]

I won't name and shame because the rest of the shop's great. A really good selection of guitars and a few stage pianos. They have knowledgeable staff and they sell cables and other accessories at good prices.

I just wish there was more interesting bass stuff like there used to be! I once saw a Tobias when the shop was on the other side of the road and they had a whole wall stacked up with amps and cabs and combos and stuff. I'm just sad that it's fallen out of favour so much

Truckstop

[dadofsix]

In reading the OP, I'm curious, did you say anything to the shop owner or the manager about the condition of the basses? Perhaps a gentle "I'd love to feel how this bass would play with better strings on it" or the like. It's easy to condemn, but, sometimes a kind word or an encouraging word can accomplish much more.

<><Peace

[Bassman Steve]

I'm afraid I have zero tolerance on this. If a shop wants to sell stuff then it should be presented for sale. If it isn't, they don;t want to sell it and so they won't.

I am the customer and don't have to make any effort at all. The owner wants my money, not the other way round.

[tom1946]

What he says^^ couldn't agree more.

[Truckstop]

[quote name='dadofsix' timestamp='1421204088' post='2658458']
In reading the OP, I'm curious, did you say anything to the shop owner or the manager about the condition of the basses? Perhaps a gentle "I'd love to feel how this bass would play with better strings on it" or the like. It's easy to condemn, but, sometimes a kind word or an encouraging word can accomplish much more.

<><Peace
[/quote]

No, I was embarrassed! I'm not very good a criticising, I always end up sounding like a condescending git.

Truckstop

[icastle]

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1421223833' post='2658499']
I'm afraid I have zero tolerance on this. If a shop wants to sell stuff then it should be presented for sale. If it isn't, they don;t want to sell it and so they won't.

I am the customer and don't have to make any effort at all. The owner wants my money, not the other way round.
[/quote]

+1

I was a Group Manager for a high street chain a number of years ago.
I directly managed a shop of my own and also another 16.

I would always make a point of visiting loss making stores and, in the vast majority of cases, I would always find the same things:

1) Products in stockroom not displayed in the shop.
2) Dusty products on display.
3) Incorrect, missing or grubby POS material.
4) Empty wall spaces in shop.
5) Unvacuumed carpets.
6) Out of date window displays.
7) 'Couldn't give a damn' staff attitudes.

IME, if I could tick boxes 1) to 6) then 7) was pretty much a foregone conclusion.

[ubit]

I bought a Telecaster out of guitar guitar in Glasgow a while back, and the salesman was not letting on the sunburst one I wanted, had a big gouge out the back. I noticed and opted for a wine coloured one but I was quite disappointed that A, he didn't mention it and 2, he never offered a decent discount if I was prepared to take it.

[icastle]

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1421226833' post='2658532']
I bought a Telecaster out of guitar guitar in Glasgow a while back, and the salesman was not letting on the sunburst one I wanted, had a big gouge out the back. I noticed and opted for a wine coloured one but I was quite disappointed that A, he didn't mention it and 2, he never offered a decent discount if I was prepared to take it.
[/quote]

Discount?

That's reliced mate.

[ubit]

If only, it was a horrible deep gash that didn't look nice at all, especially with the rest of said guitar being nice and shiney .

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1421193619' post='2658417']
I won't name and shame because the rest of the shop's great. A really good selection of guitars and a few stage pianos. They have knowledgeable staff and they sell cables and other accessories at good prices.

I just wish there was more interesting bass stuff like there used to be! I once saw a Tobias when the shop was on the other side of the road and they had a whole wall stacked up with amps and cabs and combos and stuff. I'm just sad that it's fallen out of favour so much
[/quote]

So my guess would be that the shop is putting all it's efforts into the stuff that does sell, and they are probably too busy with that to bother about the stuff that doesn't.

These days shops have to play it safe in order to stay in business. TBH the majority of bass players (i.e. those not on Baschat) don't want interesting. They want something like a P or a J bass preferably one that says Fender on the Headstock.

[stingrayPete1977]

As long as the online stores stay in business we can have an infinite selection of instruments delivered within a few days at the best price so from a selfish point of view what will we lose if the shops close?

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1421230151' post='2658585']
As long as the online stores stay in business we can have an infinite selection of instruments delivered within a few days at the best price so from a selfish point of view what will we lose if the shops close?
[/quote]

I look at it the same way I look at my bike stuff if I want something big like wheels or in this case a cab I'll go online but if I need something small like an inner tube or strings I'll go to a shop

[Grangur]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1421230894' post='2658591']
I look at it the same way I look at my bike stuff if I want something big like wheels or in this case a cab I'll go online but if I need something small like an inner tube or strings I'll go to a shop
[/quote]
Sadly, your local store wont survive on string sales alone.

I was on a weekend break in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. I found a nice small store with a selection of basses. None were set up. The action was way-high and I'm sure the intonation was out. I got talking a bit with the owner until a real customer came in. He is a classical guitarist. was tempted to tell him that I wouldn't buy and the reason, but I have to say I walked out and he's possibly still none the wiser. Nice basses, but how can you try them if the action is far to high?

[simon_says]

[quote name='tom1946' timestamp='1421183529' post='2658263']
Hmmmm....
Having owned a music shop until I retired in 2009 I must agree with Moosh &WayneP, if the stock is dusty, out of tune and neglected then you don't deserve to succeed imo.


[/quote]

I was in a really interesting guitar & music shop (pawn) shop in Denver a few months ago. I got talking to the owner and mentioned a really nice looking German double bass that he had in the shop. He said go ahead and have a play on it which I did. When I returned he asked me how it went. I said it had a really nice tone but it was a shame that it was out of tune. He replied that he deliberately kept all his instruments out of tune as there was a school up the road and he was tired of the kids coming in at lunch time, taking the guitars down and showing off their rock solos with no intention of buying. The kids couldn't be bothered to tune them so they didn't come in any more. If any customer was really interested he would tune any instrument up for them.

Made me laugh!

[mentalextra]

[quote name='simon_says' timestamp='1421231940' post='2658614']
I was in a really interesting guitar & music shop (pawn) shop in Denver a few months ago. I got talking to the owner and mentioned a really nice looking German double bass that he had in the shop. He said go ahead and have a play on it which I did. When I returned he asked me how it went. I said it had a really nice tone but it was a shame that it was out of tune. He replied that he deliberately kept all his instruments out of tune as there was a school up the road and he was tired of the kids coming in at lunch time, taking the guitars down and showing off their rock solos with no intention of buying. The kids couldn't be bothered to tune them so they didn't come in any more. If any customer was really interested he would tune any instrument up for them.

Made me laugh!
[/quote]

I wonder why he didnt mention that the instruments were out of tune to you before you played. He must have thought you were a school kid too?

[RhysP]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1421229528' post='2658574']
TBH the majority of bass players (i.e. those not on Baschat) don't want interesting. They want something like a P or a J bass preferably one that says Fender on the Headstock.
[/quote]

I'd say that goes for the majority of people on Basschat too.....

[TimR]

The big companies now have a minimum limit on stock they sell. This is having a big impact on small business owners across every market.

My friend has a small independent sports shop. All his customers want Asics shoes, Asics want a minimum order of £100k from him.

How does that ever work? No wonder the high street is becoming homogenised. It's not the business owners fault. The only real option is to sell second hand or specialise.