Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

[some_dude]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I'd be interesting to know if GC wanted Mesa to stock their floor on credit, which is against Mesa's normal way of doing business (retailers pay for product up front).

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

A few years back, a shop owner told me that Gibson called him up and asked him for $80K to continue being a preferred Gibson dealer - and he told them to shove it. I think this kind of thing happens a lot in the industry.

This is no joke. This, among all sorts of other ****ed up stuff, is the kind of insane **** that Gibson does these days. The same thing happened at one of my favorite local shops. They used to be an awesome Gibson dealer. Small shop, but their selection of Gibsons at all price points was outstanding. All sorts of "special," "cool," and "new" models and such which most can only see online or at trade shows these days. OTOH, Guitar Center is big in terms of inventory, but awful in terms of selection and representing a manufacturer's over all product line.

Anyhow, long story short, after 50+ years of being an official Gibson dealer, Gibson just up and started ****ing with the shop 7 or 8 years ago. So the owner said screw it, and no longer deals Gibsons.

To me, GC is the kind of place you go during a sale and/or with coupons to get a cookie cutter item that you already know you want, and to get it as cheaply as possible – nothing more. Whatever the specific reasons for this "falling out," in general, if I was Mesa, I'd simply find it embarrassing to have my products carried there.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Interesting. I got a deal in my email from GC the other day that gives you back 10 bucks for every 50 you spend. Of course you have to spend the 20 at GC, which is fine. Only thing is, you have to wait 30 days to get the credit. Hmmm?

I found a sales guy at "my" GC that I like. I go to him when I need something they have. The other day he helped me order a Fuzz Face Mini. Free shipping, got it in 3 days, and he got a commission for helping me out...which he deserved. Now, I'm mostly a mom and pop guy, but my other local guitar shop has piss poor customer service and some unreasonable prices.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I think they should do like Carvin does, and send out a zillion catalogs, then lower their prices a bit.

Mesa is the kind of company that would do well with internet orders and showrooms in all the major cities.

What they've always done in Hollywood is sell their full line, then add other high end boutique guitars and pedals, such as Nash, US Schecter, Anderson, Moog, Fulltone, and all the flavor of the week pedal companies and accessories.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I think they should do like Carvin does, and send out a zillion catalogs, then lower their prices a bit.

Mesa is the kind of company that would do well with internet orders and showrooms in all the major cities.

What they've always done in Hollywood is sell their full line, then add other high end boutique guitars and pedals, such as Nash, US Schecter, Anderson, Moog, Fulltone, and all the flavor of the week pedal companies and accessories.

I'd be completely happy if they went with that business plan. Either way, it doesn't much matter for me. Sweetwater is just a ways north of here and they carry most if not all of the Mesa line. I still try to buy used whenever possible. Especially for cabs which is what I'm in the market for now.

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I found a sales guy at "my" GC that I like. I go to him when I need something they have. The other day he helped me order a Fuzz Face Mini. Free shipping, got it in 3 days, and he got a commission for helping me out...which he deserved. Now, I'm mostly a mom and pop guy, but my other local guitar shop has piss poor customer service and some unreasonable prices.

Someone on my FB profile said something similar - not all GC's are crap and not all Mom and Pops are good. Go to where the service is.

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I think they should do like Carvin does, and send out a zillion catalogs, then lower their prices a bit.

Mesa is the kind of company that would do well with internet orders and showrooms in all the major cities.

What they've always done in Hollywood is sell their full line, then add other high end boutique guitars and pedals, such as Nash, US Schecter, Anderson, Moog, Fulltone, and all the flavor of the week pedal companies and accessories.

That is one of the coolest stores on the block, innit?

I have to wonder how much it costs to run a store like that, though. Carvin only has three stores, and they're all in So Cal. They used to have five.

I'm seeing mostly independent stores on Boogie's site now, along with a few small privately owned chains. I suspect they'll do fine, whatever path they choose to take.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

not all GC's are crap and not all Mom and Pops are good. Go to where the service is.

Truth.

The mom and pop stores closest to me are pretty much crap. The employees are entertaining and sometimes knowledgeable, but the quality level of the instruments and the selection are not very good. The only thing I use the local shop for is getting my guitar set up, which is reasonably priced and they do a good job.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I wonder if this will extend to the other GC branches (e.g., Online = Musiciansfriends, zzsound, etc)

In any case, use Sweetwater to purchase MB gear!

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

They are on the forefront of dictating prices to stores which if I had it my way would be illegal.

You would be surprised how many companies in this industry use MAP pricing. Alot of them are doing it to take away the huge advantage the bigger buying power stores have. The bigger ones still usually get to run more sales and whatnot, but as far as 'everyday' prices go, it levels the playing field.

On a sidenote about Gibson and it treating longtime loyal shops like crap....yup. Common thing here with their Canadian distributor Yorkville (who not surprisingly is Long and Mcquade) and shops as well.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

You would be surprised how many companies in this industry use MAP pricing. Alot of them are doing it to take away the huge advantage the bigger buying power stores have. The bigger ones still usually get to run more sales and whatnot, but as far as 'everyday' prices go, it levels the playing field.

On a sidenote about Gibson and it treating longtime loyal shops like crap....yup. Common thing here with their Canadian distributor Yorkville (who not surprisingly is Long and Mcquade) and shops as well.

I didn't want to put this into question. I think the worst about the MAP pricing is that companies pretend it is to protect the small dealers. Nope. Doesn't work like that.

I would never call into question that Gibson treat shops extremely badly.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I'm at guitar center all the time, but yeah, they really don't know a lot.

 

[superpete]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Interesting. I got a deal in my email from GC the other day that gives you back 10 bucks for every 50 you spend. Of course you have to spend the 20 at GC, which is fine. Only thing is, you have to wait 30 days to get the credit. Hmmm?

it's because of their 30 day return time. it keeps track of your purchase, and if you return the items you don't get the $10. if you got the money upfront you could theoretically spend 1000, get a $200 giftcard, then return the stuff you bought the next day.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

That is one of the coolest stores on the block, innit?

I have to wonder how much it costs to run a store like that, though. Carvin only has three stores, and they're all in So Cal. They used to have five.

I'm seeing mostly independent stores on Boogie's site now, along with a few small privately owned chains. I suspect they'll do fine, whatever path they choose to take.

They're still at Canada's big chains (which would be small chains in the States).

And yeah, of all the places we visited on Sunset, I liked the Mesa store the most. We should do that again next time I'm in the LA area.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

it's because of their 30 day return time. it keeps track of your purchase, and if you return the items you don't get the $10. if you got the money upfront you could theoretically spend 1000, get a $200 giftcard, then return the stuff you bought the next day.

Ah. That makes sense.

I think the worst about the MAP pricing is that companies pretend it is to protect the small dealers. Nope. Doesn't work like that.

I was on the fence about MAP when it was first introduced, but now that I've seen it in action, I think it is good, for the most part. It really depends on how the manufacturer/distributor structures their pricing...and how well they enforce it. If the manufacturer structures the price so that the retailer has a reasonable margin, then the small guy can compete with GC, because price is not an issue any longer. Service and convenience wins. However, if MAPs are set with too low a margin, there's nothing about it that helps the small guy. I could go on, but I digress...

I believe it was a smart move by Mesa to get out of GC.

 

[tstone2]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Not to crap on GC. My experience when I purchased my 4x12 Mesa cab. I helped the salesperson haul it over to the desk. After we sat it down I told him it should come with casters and a cover. He said yea, it comes with casters but no cover. I told him I'd walk and buy somewhere else if the cover was not provided AND that he should do a little research on-line like I did. He promptly grabbed another salesperson, went to the back and returned with the casters and cover.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Not to crap on GC. My experience when I purchased my 4x12 Mesa cab. I helped the salesperson haul it over to the desk. After we sat it down I told him it should come with casters and a cover. He said yea, it comes with casters but no cover. I told him I'd walk and buy somewhere else if the cover was not provided AND that he should do a little research on-line like I did. He promptly grabbed another salesperson, went to the back and returned with the casters and cover.

How dare you to force him to work?

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

They're still at Canada's big chains (which would be small chains in the States).

And yeah, of all the places we visited on Sunset, I liked the Mesa store the most. We should do that again next time I'm in the LA area.

Most definitely. That was a fun time! Plus there's Tone Merchants and Dave Freidman's shop in North Hollywood, too.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I wonder if this will extend to the other GC branches (e.g., Online = Musiciansfriends, zzsound, etc)

In any case, use Sweetwater to purchase MB gear!

The only prob with that is that if you don't have a dealer local you don't have the opportunity to try an amp before you buy which is a complete shot in the dark. Having said that, you risk returning it which will be on your dime to ship it back for a refund. If Apple Music goes under as I've heard they are (if they haven't already) I will be screwed and have no choice but to buy blindly. And to make things worse Mesa Boogie amps are a pain in the ass to dial in and if the people on youtube have **** settings it won't give me a very good representation of the amp. I remember when I went in to GC to pickup my Mini Rec when they got it in. The employee dialed all the controls at half and played a bit and I paniced because it sounded like ****. Having said that, later after messing with the eq I was able to get some killer tone out of it. Point being, in my experience, Mesa's need to have good settings otherwise they sound like ****.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I'll be the first to admit this, but I'll miss GC. Say what you will, but you just can't beat the prices. I've yet to see any other places consistently do 15% off like them.