Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Godin15

Godin15

New member
When it comes to buying guitars, equipment and accessories I purchase from my local music store. Where I live I have access to one of the largest shops in the area, I feel fortunate to have this available to me. They have always given me great service their prices are better than online at times and if there is something that is less money online for same product they match it. The really good part about it all is service you know you are getting a product that is not damaged. Before the product leaves their shop it is checked over thoroughly then they want you to check as well so you are happy before you leave. Warranty work is another one if you have an issue with guitar, amp etc. They are there for you if you need a repair. I find many online services want to sell you a product then when push comes to shove you find out quickly where they stand. They want you to ship it back to the supplier I have had some ugly dealings buying some radio control equipment. Having to pay shipping charges to send back to them plus insurance charges. The last thing I want is to purchase a guitar from some online company to have it arrive at my house damaged then they tell you to deal with the shipper. And you never know if it has been shipped damaged from the online seller before the shipper picked it up. When I buy from the shop the majority of the time its in stock I can look over the product and see what I am getting and I get to play if its an instrument right on the premise's. To each their own but that's my take on it. I like to support my local guy's they are always there for you.;)
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

I like to buy locally. I buy online when my local stores don't have it and can't/won't get it in.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Mainly shops, but I'm not against buying online. My next purchase is going to be a Wampler pedal, which I intend to buy online directly from them.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Over the past 30 years or so:
three amps....
three guitars .....
SD, DMZ, and Lollar pickups ......
A couple of pedals .........

All thorough two local music stores and last GC purchase was a Fulldrive 2 years ago and not a cent since to them or any online retailer.

Would consider doing business with independent brick and mortar stores that sell online.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

I had to recently buy My DiPinto Galaxie 4 Online as I asked both the Big Name shops locally if they carried them and got replied with a Blank Stare.

RT4957
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Los Angeles Craigslist.
It's like crack, I tell ya!

To answer the thread, all the options.

I'll bet you can't find a Way Huge Overrated Special at your local shop, but that badboy will be on my doorstep Friday, straight from NYC.
 
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Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

I cruise Ebay into the wee hours of the night, like a tiger shark. When I smell blood, I attack mercilessly.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

greekdude said:
nice metaphor, but I suspect it is the other way around. Traditionally the buyer is the victim.
Click to expand...

win some , lose some, hopefully all said and done, you come out even on some great gear. Stuff you want its not all that easy to get sometimes too. Back in the day, you could buy a pig in a poke and be stuck, but now, you just send it back for any reason or for no reason, so some might say the buyer has all the advantages..I am pretty content with the Ebay process, but as a seller, I've been shafted sometimes.

By the way, I see you are from Greece..thank you all for your formula 44.
 
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Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Online.

I like to research extensively without an employee in my face. And everything I like I'd doubt that most music stores'd have it in stock anyway.
 
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Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

I purchase whichever way meets my need/want.. Ideally, I would prefer the way it used to be. where you had a few local shops with a variety of brands and a nice selection. Try before you buy and service with a smile to stand behind it. However, mom and pops are drying up, the few that are open cant afford franchise fees or meet the companies order requirements and on the few brands they carry, they cant undercut the big online boys..
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Out of all of the guitars I own right now only one came from a Guitar Shop/Store. One came from a Craigslist deal and the others are online (including Warmoth and Musikraft.)
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

My local shops blow. Stacked with low end import guitars and beginner amps. I have to drive at least 40 mins to get to a Guitar Center. There is a great shop also the same distance north of me.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

It's one of the reasons why I play Hamer guitars. I feel 100% confident about buying any USA Hamer sight unseen.

Hamer never made a bad guitar or even a subpar one... I only bought one Hamer brand new from a store and that was when I was 12 years old.

My whole stable was bought online either through the Hamer Fan Club or eBay.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

Local shop is sadly not well-stocked with quality and affordable Jacksons, pickups, or really anything. I bought amps and guitars from them in years past, when the selection was better (used GSP21 Pro, Peavey TransTube Bandit 112, Peavey bass combo, MIM P-bass, Ibenhad EX350, used ADA MP-1). But that was 96 or 97. Things went downhill around here after that, and while the new owner's a great guy and doing what he can, he just doesn't have much to work with. Some heavily used stuff that all the local players have owned at one point or another, some mutts one of the locals tweaks together (OEM necks and hardware from various brands mixed and matched, etc), but nothing I want.

The bulk of my gear came from Ebay or other online sources, simply because it's more cost-effective, available (I hate when a shop says they can order something - I can "order" it myself), and I don't get any pressure to buy this or that accessory or alternative selection they're trying to move. I do feel empathy for the physical shops, but there's no way to compete with a lot of online places, especially with the used market, and especially when you live in a relatively dead area. There's one fairly-local place that has a Gbase page, but I'm not sure how often they update it, and from what I do see, they deal mostly in "Big Name" vintage gear at vintage gear prices. I haven't been to he shop I bought my LP Standard from back in 95 since maybe 97 or 98, and they've just got a generic online presence - literally an "about us" page. I keep saying I need to drive out there to look, but I know the area - there's not going to be much to see or seriously consider.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

I like to order from Warmoth. I know what to expect from them every time.
 
Re: Do you buy from a guitar shop or online?

I'm a lefty, so I get 'em wherever I find them (preferably in person, but usually not the case due to extreme scarcity) - including online.

Or I build them (Warmoth, Callaham, etc).

I stay far away from places like Guitar Center - they're a fuggin' joke.
 
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