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From: jack@tsnews.Convergent.COM (Jack Van Breen)
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: <111@tsnews.Convergent.COM>
Date: 27 Feb 90 18:34:57 GMT
References: <48c8010c.13778@pieta.UUCP> <2450@se-sd.NCR.COM> <1990Feb24.064948.6782@smsc.sony.com> <2457@se-sd.NCR.COM>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Convergent Technologies, San Jose, CA
Lines: 53

lowery@se-sd.NCR.COM (Tim Lowery) writes:

>I've heard from several sources that the typical dealer cost on "big ticket"
>items (like keyboards, amps, mixers, etc.) is 60% of list price.  I thought
>this might be good ammunition to have for price comparison when you go into 
>a music store to buy one of these items.

>Good luck

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

Having spent 10+ years in the music retail business, I can say that the
above is ABSOLUTLEY FALSE!!!!

Here is how it generally falls out:

	Guitars and Amps:	~50% of list
	Keyboards:		~40% of list
	Pro-Sound & Recording:	~30-33% of list
	Accessories:		Anywhere from 30 to 60% of list
	Strings:		from 50 to 90% of list depending on volume

Now, some of the low-end PA gear is priced like guitars and amps, and 
rackmount effects can either go as Accesories or Pro-Sound, so it's kindof
hard to tell just what is going on.  Also, you have to remember to leave
the store a reason to be in business, ie they are there to make a profit,
not to supply you with the latest & greatest toy;-).  Also they do need to
make enough money to cover any problems that you may have.   When the fix a
DOA box for you, or give you a loaner to use in the meantime, that expense
comes immediately out of their pocket, and maybe some where down the line,
they will get it back.  But, if they don't meet their basic overhead they
won't be there the next time you need that extra bit of service.

Another thing to realise, is that time is money to these guys. Another
poster's aritcle was right on the money (except for the concept that every
thing can be had for 30% off;-) in terms of how to get the deals.  Be a
human to the sales person, and he/she will probably be human back.  On the
standard items where the margin is 50%, at 30% discount is now big deal to
the stores that are doing any volume at all.  At that point, the store
makes enough to cover their overhead, any serivce you may require, and
continued growth, so you can continue to go try out the new
latest&greatest.  Obviously, the shorter markup items will allow less of a
discount. So don't waste your's and the Salespersons time trying to get a
40% discount on something that the stor only got 30% on. (enough of this
rambling, see the other posters comment, he obviously knows how toget
honest deals.  I would have loved to have him as a customer.)

Later on.

-- 
	------------------
Jack Van Breen, wk: 408/435-5361, jack@CONVERGENT.COMM