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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 11, 2016 18:25:49 GMT -6
I have certainly bought my fair share from them - mostly because the items were VK exclusives...and I have been happy with their support. But man, they don't offer the lowest deals, that's for sure. Them having a store here in Nashville is great, but unfortunately causes them to have to add sales tax for in-state purchases. That's a BIG deal on big ticket items. I've had them match prices, but it's kind've like pulling teeth - and they do have the kind've "I couldn't care less whether you buy this" attitude. Snobby. Am I the only one that gets that? While I do this for a living, I'm not buying consoles or over-paying for Vintage gear. However, I do dabble in the high end pretty often...So, what company offers that without man-buns and eye rolls?
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Post by mdmitch2 on Jan 11, 2016 18:29:33 GMT -6
IME, Alto music and Pro Audio Star seem to flinch the least when you ask for discounts and price matching..... but they don't carry all the good stuff (some of it though).
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Post by odyssey76 on Jan 11, 2016 18:36:20 GMT -6
I really like Sweetwater. I always talk to my guy on the phone and ask him what he can do about certain prices without being pushy. I've had some nice deals on new gear and I've also had gear where there was no movement on the price. I get great service which is very important to me. There are too many audio dealers out there, too much competition, to put up with any kind of attitude. Call some up and speak with them in person, you can figure out who your dealing with pretty quickly.
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Post by tasteliketape on Jan 11, 2016 18:46:01 GMT -6
I been thru the same thing with VK there's one guy in LA that went to bat for me on a problem that wasn't there's and I'd gotten screwed by a company if he hadn't stepped in I was getting ready to hire an attorney Jeff in LA stepped in it was handheld the next day and I repeat it wasn't there problem just one of there exclusive dealers and I hadn't bought it from VK so that's worth something But again a little bit of a deal once in a while would be nice
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Post by jsteiger on Jan 11, 2016 19:04:03 GMT -6
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Post by drbill on Jan 11, 2016 19:10:03 GMT -6
Sweetwater is like a big box company. Support is very good, but prices.....not so much. Unless what you want is on a mega sale, if you pay the price on their website, you're crazy. I just bought an Avid 16X16. $1800 free shipping, no tax. Sweetwater? $4995. How can their price be sooooooooo out of touch. But, maybe I'm off-base. I do get free 2 year support if I pay the $5g's.....woohoooooo!
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 11, 2016 19:54:40 GMT -6
+1 drbill. The only time I but from Sweetwater is if they're having a killer sale, otherwise I barely get any movement on price. I've never called them up for help, so that 2 years of service is worthless for me. I really like my salesman there, but their prices are steep. For a few years, I was getting really, really great prices from Musicians Friend, but they seem to have changed their policy. The last couple times grabbing quotes via email had a minimal discount, if any, and when I called they told me that the best they could do was the 10% coupon that they were offering at the time. In the past, I was consistently getting 20% off or better. ProAudioStar seems to have gone downhill a bit recently too. The last few times I checked in via chat, they guy chatting couldn't get me a price and needed his manager to email me a price. Then, either the email doesn't come or it's higher than I expect. I'll stick with buying most items used when I can score a deal. Ohh yeah, we're talking VK. Normally high prices and only slight movement (and they charged me shipping, making the deal even less). Really happy with my purchase and paid about going rate for modern used, but didn't feel like I got a deal. Also, took forever to ship.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,953
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Post by ericn on Jan 11, 2016 19:59:28 GMT -6
The former gear pimp prospective, you pay for what you get, VK provides service, has no problem with you trying and returning gear, stocks both used and new, and has 3 locations. That all costs money, and you pay the price. I can probably find a better price but on High. end Small manufacturer items between MAP agreements and the fact that the volume just isn't there your not going to see huge discounts.
You won't see great prices on the web, MAP means you can't advertise new equipment below the manufacturers set price and in some cases can't sell below a set price.
Best way to get great deals be loyal and deal one on one over the phone, be patient with your gear pimp and do them a favor now and then. Realize your GP will know how much you have spent with his company , don't BS , and Yes that 10k you dropped with him might seam like a lot to you, but he has clients that spend that a month. If someone sends you as a referral make sure you let your sales weasel know , bringing more biz will get you rewarded if you have a smart sales person. If you want to work with a company but don't like the guy assigned to you talk to the sales manager. Here's the thing that pisses me off, I am 11 miles from The GC/MF mail order distribution center, and the local GC has crap well crap would imply they have something ! At least in LA and Nashville you have dealers with Equipment and Houston was just as Bad ! A&P Pawn a block away from the old Big GC had a better selection of gear!
Any questions PM me!
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Post by indiehouse on Jan 11, 2016 20:19:56 GMT -6
Yeah, VK does have a great return policy. No questions asked, and usually no restocking fees, either. But that comes at a price, I guess.
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Post by swurveman on Jan 11, 2016 21:22:16 GMT -6
Same with Sweetwater. They're right down the road to me, but I've spent over $50,000.00 in the last six years and they couldn't compete. That 6% sales tax is $3K. I feel bad for my rep, but that's not money I can throw away when I've got a less expensive alternative for the same gear.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 11, 2016 21:23:27 GMT -6
OK - but that $10k is STILL a lot for me. I couldn't care less about his other customers.
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Post by drbill on Jan 11, 2016 21:35:28 GMT -6
but their prices are steep. For a few years, I was getting really, really great prices from Musicians Friend, but they seem to have changed their policy. re : Sweetwater... I can't believe I get a price of $1800 shipped and no tax out of one dealer, no hassle, no haggling. And sweet water is $4995. That's just an INSANE difference. Not 5 or 10 percent but something like 65% difference. I'll never buy ANYTHING Avid from SW again - even if it's on sale for 50% off. re: Musicians Friend. Yeah, a couple of months ago I get a "we haven't seen you around" 20% off coupon. So I bought a couple thousand in stuff from then. (BTW, a bunch of their stuff is "excluded" from the discount) But I forgot something that was about $1200. So I called them a couple of days later and went round and round and round. Nope, sorry, you can only use the coupon once. And they couldn't give me another. WTH So I bailed and went elsewhere. Then a week later I get the same thing....another 20% off coupon. LOL Inept. re: VK - yeah, no discounts to be had here. I got a TINY discount on a Manley VariMu during their thanksgiving sale, but it wasn't really substantial, and they COULD have rolled a bit more discount into a SterlingModular desk I bought at the same time. Oh well....Used for me as well..... Not always possible though, but I've had very few bad used transactions that I regret.
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Post by RicFoxx on Jan 11, 2016 21:35:50 GMT -6
War at Zenproaudio. I like him...he good?
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Post by drbill on Jan 11, 2016 21:36:59 GMT -6
OK - but that $10k is STILL a lot for me. I couldn't care less about his other customers. No kidding. If they don't have time for "the little guys" - and IMO, a $10k one time purchase is ANYTHING but little - then they will loose their market share - slowly but surely as people go elsewhere. Money doesn't grow on Music tree's anymore....
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 11, 2016 21:45:00 GMT -6
I think I've mentioned this before, but I've had great service and prices from Alto. When Heritage Audio first came out, I bought one of the 1073/500's directly from the manufacturer. Had some problems with it, posted somewhere and Alto emailed me and offered to trade a working one...Now THAT'S customer service. I've bought several things from them since.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 11, 2016 21:45:22 GMT -6
Actually, the GC Pro guy here gives me the best deals anywhere.
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Post by EmRR on Jan 11, 2016 21:56:54 GMT -6
Never once felt the need to buy anything from VK. Can't say.
If they carry it, Full Compass has always been about the best price I can find, and I've had the same rep for at least 17 years. He's handled a few problems over that time.
Sweetwater. Wow. I stopped calling after the half dozenth time I inquired about something, and was quoted manufacturers suggested retail every time. Which I greeted with laughter, and "no, really, what's your price?" They've always been a mystery to me. We had a music store like that around here for years, I suppose both must sell a lot to churches and institutions spending other's money.
The common problem now is places that will claim to have something available to ship immediately, when they are really drop-shipping from the manufacturer. The stories get interesting when things turn out back ordered. I found Front End Audio to be that sort of organization, at one point in time.
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Post by yotonic on Jan 11, 2016 22:15:30 GMT -6
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Post by lpedrum on Jan 12, 2016 0:29:57 GMT -6
Yes to Calistro. Pay no attention to the prices on his site. Also, I like Front End Audio. They do a lot of 15% off sales which are hard to beat. But the best way to save money? Do your homework and buy products that sound great but don't charge you cash for cache.
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Post by ragan on Jan 12, 2016 0:31:54 GMT -6
Interesting on all the Sweetwater dislike. I must be buying different gear. I've always gotten the same price there as GC/Musician's Friend/B&H/etc. And I've had excellent service. I just got a Radial X-Amp the other day and when I hooked it up I was getting radio interference. They overnighted me a new one and a return label no questions asked (which did fix the problem).
Pro Audio Star has the lowest prices I've ever seen. They quoted me like $2150 shipped on my Apollo 8 compared to everyone else's $2499 + tax. A buddy got a ridiculous deal on some Dynaudios from them too.
I've bought several things from Warren at ZenPro too. Couldn't be better service. Stand up guy. Never tries to push me into anything, has always been super easy to communicate and work with.
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Post by iamasound on Jan 12, 2016 2:52:17 GMT -6
Another Alto positive story involves an RE-20 that kicked the bucket (for why I have no real idea, they should last a goodly loooong time, maybe it was the coil) and was replaced after the two year warranty expired. That was really, really cool and totally unexpected. Thank you Alto.
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Post by jsteiger on Jan 12, 2016 9:43:32 GMT -6
Oh yes I forgot about Craig. You will get a reward by calling him.
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Post by NoFilterChuck on Jan 12, 2016 12:46:09 GMT -6
I checked out the Calistro site. They're the only place still selling the Apogee Thunderbridge for $500. everywhere else is selling it for $800!!!
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Post by popmann on Jan 12, 2016 18:04:32 GMT -6
Have you actually been in to visit when shopping, JK? Or just emailed whomever answers those for quotes? I don't buy enough gear, maybe, to have the same experience. But, they've always been accommodating and beaten any price I could get elsewhere without even bringing UP the other quote. Same with Corner. I feel like there must be some "internet secret handshake" I don't know about the big box monsters--who are always the least wanting of my business and flexible on pricing--not to mention demos? 30 day return policies--not the same thing.
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Post by Guitar on Jan 13, 2016 17:29:57 GMT -6
I seem to get special blowout and seasonal deals from Musician's Friend and Sweetwater. The cool thing about Sweetwater is their promotional 0% financing, and the fact that they carry a lot of high end gear. Everything else is either used, or using extreme Google Fu to find the absolute best price, from whichever vendor happens to have that at the moment be it Pro Audio Star, B&H, or Amazon. You kind of have to be a deal-hound. I hate paying full price for stuff, and I hate paying tax.
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