Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Interesting update: I talked to another GC employee at the same store who said that it was actually GC that pulled the plug on Boogie, not the other way around. Apparently Boogie was enforcing their pricing policy on their gear at Guitar Centers but not at other dealerships that carried the amps.

That's the first I've heard of that line... couldn't find any official info though.

I wish one party or the other would just give their consumers a straight answer.

 

[dominus]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I wish one party or the other would just give their consumers a straight answer.

You will *never* get that. That's one of the tenets of capitalism.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I'm not picking on all GC stores by any stretch but too many of them that I've been in, the sales staff don't know crap from Crisco.

I totally agree. I find going to GC a big disappointment. The sales guys are either pushy or don't know squat. Their selection often sucks too.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I just noticed that Mesa stuff is on clearance at the local GC. All sales are final on whatever they have left, which seemed to be mostly display models.

Tempting...

 

[uOpt]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I just noticed that Mesa stuff is on clearance at the local GC. All sales are final on whatever they have left, which seemed to be mostly display models.

Tempting...

Which GC (near Boston?) was that? Did they have any of the Mesa bass amps?

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Which GC (near Boston?) was that? Did they have any of the Mesa bass amps?

I was in Natick, but I think it will be chain-wide. Everything Mesa was on clearance. I didn't notice any bass stuff, but I could easily have missed something.

 

[dominus]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I just noticed that Mesa stuff is on clearance at the local GC. All sales are final on whatever they have left, which seemed to be mostly display models.

Tempting...

Are you sure it was all the Mesa stuff on clearance and not just their Metal Month promotion?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I just noticed that Mesa stuff is on clearance at the local GC. All sales are final on whatever they have left, which seemed to be mostly display models.

Tempting...

That's how I got my Road King back in 2005... They were clearancing it out and I got a smoking deal on it July 4th.

Wonder if there are any Lonestars around here?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Are you sure it was all the Mesa stuff on clearance and not just their Metal Month promotion?

Is that another one of their "sales" where nothing is actually on sale? All joking aside, I don't think I've ever read the fine print of their sale flyers and ever not seen Mesa on the excluded list.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

All I have to say is MSRP is necessary to keep advertising fair, but actually holding dealers at fixed prices and not allowing them to negotiate or discount for buyers is a mistake on Mesa Boogie's part. I understand that they want to maintain integrity of the product through a rigid pricing structure, but the most important thing that maintains integrity is a quality product. Fortunately Mesa Boogie does make awesome amps. I hope they reconsider some of their outdated ideals so we can all have more affordable access to Boogie products.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

How much less would you like Mesa and their dealers to work for?

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

How much less would you like Mesa and their dealers to work for?

You're missing the point, and you don't get part of it. See Mesa Boogie makes what they want to make from dealer pricing so that part of your question is irrelevant. As far as dealers, well do you think that all dealers should have set prices so that consumers cannot negotiate a better deal or get a discount? Should a customer who has bought high end gear for 10 years from a dealer have to pay the same price as a cheapskate who occasionally plays an amp for 5 hours and buys a pack of strings per year? No, dealers should have the flexibility to sell at a price they can negotiate with the customer. They shouldn't have to go in front of the Mesa Boogie special hearing panel and have a trial and whether or not they are allowed to discount inventory that hasn't sold for 2 years. That's what businesses do. If something doesn't sell, they reduce the price until it sells. It's common sense dude.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

LOL.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

All I have to say is MSRP is necessary to keep advertising fair, but actually holding dealers at fixed prices and not allowing them to negotiate or discount for buyers is a mistake on Mesa Boogie's part. I understand that they want to maintain integrity of the product through a rigid pricing structure, but the most important thing that maintains integrity is a quality product. Fortunately Mesa Boogie does make awesome amps. I hope they reconsider some of their outdated ideals so we can all have more affordable access to Boogie products.

I wondering if it's done to protect their (smaller) dealers. If you know that your local mom and pop has the same price as the discount store, (no volume discount) you'll go to the small guy instead of the big box. (See Amazon vs. local bookstores) Regardless, it's amazing when a company can do this, and prosper. There are so few brands that have enough power and sway to demand a certain price and get it.

 

[Chad]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

I haven't kept up with Mesa much in recent years, but years back I heard that the dealer cost/retail price of Mesa gear was such that a dealer really wouldn't want to discount most of the time anyway because margins would be too thin. Don't know if that's still true.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Could be. Either way, when everyone's competing on price and there's no bottom (except for cost + terms, which usually isn't the same for everybody) the brand becomes a commodity. In order to get the sale, you have to push the box out the door at the lowest price. You become a fulfillment center. What would you rather sell?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

<Sniff, sniff.> Do I smell something melting in here?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

What are you on about?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

Not you.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Mesa Boogie + Guitar Center = no more?

What are you on ?

fixed.