From who do you prefer to buy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter wheelema
  • Start date Start date

From whow do you prefer to buy?

  • [url]www.sweetwater.com[/url]

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url]www.zzounds.com[/url]

    Votes: 7 20.0%
  • [url]www.americanmusicalsupply.com[/url]

    Votes: 3 8.6%
  • [url]www.8thstreet.com[/url]

    Votes: 5 14.3%
  • [url]www.musiciansfriend.com[/url]

    Votes: 4 11.4%
  • [url]www.samash.com[/url]

    Votes: 2 5.7%
  • [url]www.macmidimusic.com[/url]

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url]www.ebay.com[/url]

    Votes: 8 22.9%
  • I buy local

    Votes: 6 17.1%

  • Total voters
    35
  • Poll closed .
From the list above I've bought from everybody but Zzounds and macmidimusic. Synthony is not a bad dealer either. However, I've bought the bulk of my gear *by far* from these folks:

http://www.musiccenterinc.com/
 
Have you ever actually gotten a good deal at synthony?
The place is great if you want to go in and have a great selection of synths to play with, except that it's always about 90 degrees in there, but I've never gotten them to come down on any price...
 
American Musical Supply...

I've had the best experiences with them...
 
I've bought successfuly from 4 of these firms, but my recent experience with Zzounds was so good that I'll be heading there again soon. I bought a Behringer headphone amp, which had a bad channel; I emailed Zzounds for a replacement while complaining that I needed the amp ASAP for a project I was completing. The rep there emailed me back immediately with this: they'd send me a replacement, and I could return my original after receipt of the new one. Even better, Zzounds paid for all shipping in both directions, including the original purchase, which certainly reduced their profit on a $99 product. I couldn't have asked for more. If this response is typical of them, it seems like they operate with the customer's needs in mind.

J.
 
Maybe Zzounds has improved their customer service. A friend of mine had a very expensive Kurzweil keyboard show up damaged, and he had a terrible experience trying to get the problem resolved. Took a long time, but they did make good on it eventually.

As far as Synthony, the only stuff I've bought from them has been off their blowout page on their web site. So the prices were pretty good.
 
I make instrument and amp purchases locally ( wouldn't *think* of buying either without hearing first! ). Computer hardware, cords, etc, I'll get online from whoever has the lowest price :)
 
It's from 'whom' do you prefer to buy.

This Derek Verner moment brought to you by Geritol


I buy from whomever will get it to me fast and cheap.
 
TexRoadkill said:
It's from 'whom' do you prefer to buy.

This Derek Verner moment brought to you by Geritol
Tex,

With all of the dyslexic Hip Hop 'producers' on this board you just gotta gig me for not using 'whom'.

I think you ought to find your woman and get some. Matter of fact, that sounds like a GREAT idea. Now if I can just figure out how to get the kids to bed...
 
LOCAL!!

I've bought from 8th Street, Musician's Friend, Elderly Instruments, E-Bay, and a bunch of other places. I learned early, though, that my local store could match MF & 8th St. pricing on the lines they had. They even opened up a new line agreement with Mackie to get me the mixer I wanted. Anytime I've needed equipment for a school or church / volunteer / benefit production, they were there saying "how can we help". When their store burned to the ground last spring (the fire knocked out four businesses), the enitre community came out in force to help out, even hosting a Phoenix Fest concert festival to raise money - packed and with a waiting list of bands who wanted to play for free. They're up and running again and better than ever.

The place is www.guitarsam.com

I've bought everything I have - including my whole live PA rig - from them unless I found it used, or unless they didn't carry what I was looking for. MF is great and I love to get the catalogs. But I tear out the page and bring it to the local shop - and buy it there.
 
I always buy local when I can, because there are local people who will beat any on line price, and returns, when necessary, are much simpler. That said, when I need something the local guys just don't have, I've done business with 8th street, Macmidimusic, and Mercenary. Sweetwater's prices are almost always too high, and they are on the left coast, anyway. My experiences with the 3 dealers listed above have all been positive. I bought my Avalon AD2022 at Guitar Center for $2100. Try to match that on line. My Oktava ML-52 $175. 2 Oktava MC012's- $100 even. M-Audio DMP-3- $119. AKG C2000B $99. Why would I buy an item by mail for more money when I can see it first, get it immediately, and return it easily for less money? The only stuff I buy on line is deals on ebay and stuff I can't get any other way.
The real key to buying gear cheap? I don't buy stuff to audition it for 29 days and return it because I didn't like it. If you do that, you can usually count on paying more. -Richie
 
You consider Indiana left coast?

When I originally started buying gear I lived in Chicago and bought locally from Music Center Inc. Then I moved to LA, but still buy from Music Center. So even though they are not currently local, I know my guy there really well and he knows me too. so it feels local. What really matters long term is finding a sales person you have confidence in and who gets you the best prices possible.
 
Well stated, Richie. When I'm sure about what I want, then I buy local, too; even in my small city, the local stores are willing to match online prices (they've learned the hard way).

But when I'm not sure about the make or model, I'll order several online, A/B them at home for a week to find the best, and then return the rest. It does cost a bit more (shipping), but I like the comparison possible--at home--when I'm torn between choices. I'm willing to pay a bit more for this service, when needed. I did this recently when buying monitors (I ordered 3 models) and the home comparison made my decision quick and easy--but a bit more expensive.

J.
 
Well stated, Richie. When I'm sure about what I want, then I buy local, too; even in my small city, the local stores are willing to match online prices (they've learned the hard way).

But when I'm not sure about the make or model, I'll order several online, A/B them at home for a week to find the best, and then return the rest. It does cost a bit more (shipping), but I like the comparison possible--at home--when I'm torn between choices. I'm willing to pay a bit more for this service, when needed. I did this recently when buying monitors (I ordered 3 models) and the home comparison made my decision quick and easy--but a bit more expensive.

J.
 
Yo SonocAl- My bad. No, Indiana is not left coast. I think because Sweetwater was recommended by some LA and San Diego people I know, I got it in my head they were in California. Their prices are still too high, though.-Richie
 
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