Xref: utzoo rec.music.synth:11632 rec.music.makers:7028 misc.consumers:17519 comp.music:812
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!se-sd!lowery
From: lowery@se-sd.NCR.COM (Tim Lowery)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers,misc.consumers,comp.music
Subject: Re: Bad Vibes from Schroders Keyboard City
Message-ID: <2450@se-sd.NCR.COM>
Date: 23 Feb 90 22:04:35 GMT
References: <48c8010c.13778@pieta.UUCP>
Reply-To: lowery@se-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Tim Lowery)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Corporation, SE-San Diego
Lines: 37

[ Description of bad experience with music store in Phoenix deleted. ]

I have had some bad experiences with a music store in the San Diego area.  I
went to MusicMart to purchase an Ensoniq VFX.  The salesperson, a wonam
named Melanie, told me that the instrument lists for $1995, but that she
could discount it 25%.  This sounded like a good deal to me so we started to
fill out the paperwork.  I asked her to add a keyboard stand (which I know
retails for around $80).  When she gave me the receipt to sign, I saw that
the total was over $2200!  She had charged me list price for the keyboard!
I confronted her with this and she offered to "eat the sales tax" (about
$100) and throw in the latest edition of Keyboard magazine free.  I told her
that this was unacceptable and left the store.

I have dealt with MusicMart before.  I have always dealt with a salesman
named Bernie Ordona, who always gave me good deals and was straight with
me.  He has since left, and Melanie is now the head of the keyboard
department.  I don't think I will ever do business with MusicMart again.

I wanted to add that another thing that bugs me about many musical instrument
dealers is that they refuse to give you a straight answer on the price they
will sell merchandise.  You ask them for a price, and all they'll give you
is list.  They insist on playing games with you, trying to see how much
they can get out of you (shades of used car salesmen).  I realize that
these guys have to make a profit, but why can't they just quote me their
best price in the beginning rather than making me propose a price and telling
me that my proposal is too low?  If I ever find another salesperson who
will play straight with me and quote me the best price in the beginning, I'll
stick with his store (even if they charge me a little more than somebody
else's lowest price).  It's just not worth the extra $50 to $100 dollars I'd
save to subject myself to the hassle of bargaining with the salesman.

I'd be interested in hearing other people's feelings about this.

Regards

Tim
lowery@se-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM