Memorial Day Sales

I hate to be holier than thou but I had the same feeling overall - My email inbox has been inundated with endless sales for memorial day which really put a bad taste in my mouth overall from those retailers.  

My father is a veteran of the Korean War so growing up in my house memorial day was always a day to stay home and quiet, and have a flag raised outside.  

I tend to skip memorial day sales in general out of principal.  

As a somewhat related note - I dabble in photography as well and one of the companies I've always bought from is Paul C Buff, who makes flashes and light modifiers.  I've recently bought something from their website and saw on their homepage that they will not be taking orders or delivering any on Memorial day out of respect for veterans.  So not only are they not running any sales, they are also not working out of respect.  I wish more companies took that stance.   

I only mention it as related as before he got into flashes and photography, Paul C Buff started out running a studio in California and worked on songs such as Wipeout, then went on to work with Frank Zappa for years and ultimately formed the Valley People company and invented all those great Valley People units like the DynaMite before eventually leaving audio to invent his own line of photography flashes.  Sadly he passed on in March but it's great to see his company still standing by his ideas that he stood for.  

I've said it a million times, but ALWAYS email forums@musiciansfriend.com and ask for a quote before purchasing anything. I've scored much better deals than the 10% or 15% off that they're currently offering.

One thing about Sweetwater that I really like is that if I put an order through online, it get's forwarded to my guy there and he will give me my discount w/o me saying a word. I do like that. I think VK does the same thing, though I haven't dealt with them in a good while.

I will say this till I m blue " always Call" if you want the best deal some MAP's consider anything written a form of advertising !

There is no set mark, every manufacturer has its proveing program and every dealer it's own rules. The first thing you have to figure out do I want price? Or do I want great return, trial and other service related stuff, because it costs money!
Time and loyalty will get you better prices, but you also have to understand a couple of things.
1 most commission systems are tired based and a At some point a buck in your pocket could cost your salesman a lot more than that.
2 what you think is a lot of buisness , in the greater scheme of things isn't, Look I had clients who were doing $10-20k a week ! They came first ! And they got the best deal!
The first rule of a great price is you don't talk about great price, remember a number of years ago on GS when some idiot got a deal on a Manley piece told everybody and got his panties in a bundle because he told everybody there is his dealer broke the rules and Eva Anne cut off the dealer ? If you get a deal great tell people your dealer gave you a deal but not specifics, make sure if you send him new buisness, the new clients tell him, new clients who spend are great.
Shop but don't be a dick always think big picture, there will always be somebody who will buy your buisness, but in the end at some point they got to make a buck!

If I give you a deal take it enjoy it don't expect it everytime.
I might be in a good mood, I might have gotten a deal , I might be trying to buy you, or reward you , but don't expect it.
Don't tell me how much buisness your worth Ill find that out
And BSing me will get me pissed.
Do me favors to, I might need to move some stuff for quotas or political reasons those who helped me got the best deals!

Sweetwater, Fullcompass and Alto are your best bets for deals they have the size to get prices from vendors lowest overhead and sales staff that know, how the rules.

A good relationship with a local is very very valuable, my local Mom and pop knows If I want to I can buy at prices he can't get but I buy a ton of used, and because He only buys big with cash never on credit manufactures love him !
So ill buy.