My First Ever Sweetwater Order...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joeybear
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I try whenever possible to but locally since I like the hands-on testing, comraderie, and support (especially when I've had a subsequent problem). My local GC has never failed to beat an Internet price, which tells me how much wiggle room they really have. The reason I sometimes buy online is a big one: the GC selection is pretty limited.

J.

(Don, I've never seen you over on this side of the forum. Welcome.)
 
MF-mixed bag, some good experiences, some not as good. Packaging sometimes looks like it was routed through Istanbul.
Bayview Pro Audio-Lousy return policy.
Sweetwater- Sometimes feel like I'm speaking with a car salesman.
Manny's Music-Only one transaction. It was fine.
8th street-My favorite. Never a bad experience.
 
I buy most of my stuff from AMS.

I've bought from Zzounds (didn't have a problem),
Musicians Friend (didn't have a problem - but packages took several more days to arrive then AMS or ZZounds. I'm in NY),
Music 123 (no problem except I prefer to purchase with my AmEx and M123 doesn't take AMEx),
8th Street (Had a minor problem with last order - after a week an 'instock' item still hadn't shipped. I cancelled and re-ordered from AMS),
e-Bay (Bought a lot of items, mostly from 'vendors/businesses'). My main concern with buying from eBay is I better be darn sure it's a product I want/like because often returning is not an option. So it's re-list (usually for a bigger loss) or keep it.

AMS has the 45 day return and their E-ZPay plan. I've bought plenty of items I've heard good things about here and elsewhere only to find out I didn't really like them after trying them in my setup. So I return them with no hassles (I've probably sent back at least 10 items in the past 6 months with not one hassle - aside from the obvious of having to repack and bring to UPS).

I much prefer buying online when I know what it is I'm looking for (even if I'm not 100% sure of the specific brand/item I'll like - hense the good return policy is a must!). I don't like having to call and get prices or order (Full Compass). The few times I called the prices were not any better then AMS. The guy said if I find it elsewhere for less they'll try to match. But my thoughts are if someplace else already has everything I want for less, why go through the hassle of calling in, listing the items, waiting for a call-back or email, etc. to beat prices by $.05. Then I have to deal with other sales pitches as well. Yuk.

Find a place you like and have fun.

-Krag
 
Yo Krag:

Sometimes you're right. A nickel here, a dime there--why bother. However, I've found by calling and checking, using the 800 numbers, and by shopping on the net, I have often saved more than a nickel or a dime. It's not always Full Compass, but they did save me almost 400 pezzutos on a synth--I hit it lucky I guess.

All of this price difference brings out the point that the mark-up on electronic gear is BIG--that's why it pays to shop around, like Tennile of the Captain sang.


Green Hornet :D :D :cool:
 
ALL of my Sweetwater experiences have been great. Fair price, good rep, fast shipping (often I have stuff overnighted).
 
I use Sweetwater quite often and have had problems speaking with my "assigned rep". He's never at his extention and I end up talking to one of the lesser gofers. But the service has always been good and all my orders have been processed without screwups. I wish they would have an on line indicator of whether an item is in stock or not. I end up having to call anyway just to find out. I've sent about fifty Emails to my rep and he has always replied, but I have never spoken to him over the phone. I guess I just need to order another $10,000. worth of stuff and I'll be a preferred customer. Hey, they do have the best catalogue though.
 
I dig Sweetwater. I think they can annoy some people because they try really hard. They do follow ups and stuff. But I don't really talk to them over the phone; just internet unless they call me for the most part. I prefer to do my own research on what to buy. Asking a salesman what to buy can be trouble sometimes. And I don't personally feel the need to talk to one of the supervisors or whatever just to place a measly $1G order or whatever, so dealing with a lowly doesn't bother me. :)

Oh yeah, and love the catalog. Musicians Fiend can keep their Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, and Late Winter catalogs to themselves and use the savings to drop their prices for all I care.
 
If you can't talk to your rep for advice, then you have the wrong rep. A rep shouldn't make decisions for you, but you should be able to rely on them for a little help.
 
I found this thread very interesting. I live out in the middle of next to nowhere (Clovis, NM) so needless to say, putting hands-on with any equipment has been a major challenge in itself; I usually end up doing a lot of research, sometimes months to allow users to post comments etc. before I contact an internet retailer. The results of that are $$-saving but I'm behind the 8-ball when it comes to using the 'latest-greatest whiz-bang' that some clients want me to use in their recording - oh well. Still, the best way to prevent being taken to the cleaners is to research the heck out of it, (call the manufactor, watch bulletin boards, press releases, etc) and then be nice but be very verbal about something that didn't come the way you ordered it. Personally, both Sweetwater and Musician's Friend have gone out of their way to make me a satisfied customer and both contact me about once a month to see if there is anything else I might be needing and the Sweetwater guy actually visits with me (on his dime, no less) about my latest recording jobs. I was doubly impressed with Sweetwater when they screwed an order for me and then made up for it very nicely, (combining over-night delivery and reduced $$) and then staying in contact with me with setup info, manufator's info and getting back to me sometimes within the hour with answers. I do know that their job is to sell and that is the basis of their relationship to me and my studio. However, in dealings with a computer company (which at this time will remain anonymous) I have a horror story that hasn't quit - TWO FREAKING YEARS AFTER THE INITIAL PURCHASE!!! It happens. Happy hunting! Studio 24/7
 
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