Xref: utzoo rec.music.synth:11658 rec.music.makers:7063 misc.consumers:17556 comp.music:828
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!metaphor!dragon!djh
From: djh@dragon.metaphor.com (Dallas J. Hodgson)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,rec.music.makers,misc.consumers,comp.music
Subject: Re: Playing the game (was Re: Bad Vibes from Schroders Keyboard City)
Message-ID: <1021@metaphor.Metaphor.COM>
Date: 26 Feb 90 19:53:10 GMT
References: <48c8010c.13778@pieta.UUCP> <2450@se-sd.NCR.COM> <1990Feb24.064948.6782@smsc.sony.com>
Sender: news@metaphor.Metaphor.COM
Reply-To: djh@dragon.metaphor.com (Dallas J. Hodgson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Metaphor Computer Systems, Mountain View, CA
Lines: 58

In my experience, there are only two types of music stores:

1) The small-town, "local" music store, that's been in the area for years,
   sells/repairs band instruments, & carries a lot of older/less desirable
   no-name equipment at name-brand prices

2) The big-city "zoo" music store, which carries the latest-model equipment,
   advertises heavily, has a sale every month, and is crammed with
   teenage guitar hopefuls & commission-hungry salespeople.

Music stores in the first category aren't very exciting unless you want
a relaxed purchasing atmosphere and are looking to establish a relationship
with the proprietor.

Music stores in the second category have such a high turn-around of salespeople
that you're not likely to see the guy who sold you your instrument the next
time you walk into the store. These guys keep their ear to the street and can
be quite knowledgeable, but by and large they bias their information to steer
you in the direction of the purchase they'd like you to buy. If they can
play on your emotions, they will; and it's really not any different from
car shopping.

I don't get enjoyment out of haggling at all; unless you've done your
homework, it's very difficult to decide whether this "good deal" is really
good or not. The mail-order stores are an excellent starting point, my
favorite being a company called Musician's Friend. It's really unfortunate
that musical equipment is sold in such a competitive commision-sales
environment, but that's the way it is. Here's a few tips I've found, and
I welcome those from others...

1) List prices mean nothing. Really. As a rule of thumb, expect at least
   30% off list, although your ability to bargain depends as much on the
   perceived "hotness" of a product as does your skill in bargaining.

2) Salesman's quotes regarding competitors mean little. Expect to hear stuff
   like : "You don't want to buy that, company XYZ filing Chapter 11 this
   week" ... Or, "This item is really the same as that item - the engineers
   from company ABC split off and formed their own company and created
   item x"

3) Don't expect music salespeople to get panicky when you walk out the door,
   and don't expect them to quote prices over the phone. They won't - unless
   it's an advertised special or a mail-order firm.

4) If negotiations are going nowhere, see if you can arrive at a deal by
   having the sales guy toss in "something extra" - for free or at least
   cheap.

5) Expect salespeople to have to "get the deal approved" by the manager
   regardless of what you've negotiated thus far. If the manager takes your
   offer without making a counter-offer, you probably bid too high!

Lastly, you HAVE A RIGHT to be treated fairly and not pushed around.
Salespeople are not doing you any favors by selling you their merchandise,
so take this attitude to heart. If you have any problems, ALWAYS deal with
the manager him/herself; it doesn't pay to get worked up over people who
don't have the authority to commit to anything.
-djh