GC Pricing...your opinion!!!!!!!!!!

[timmy5strings]

I definitely like to haggle on larger value items. The smaller items I don't worry too much. Knowing that something is marked the lowest I can get it for, sometimes may feel out of my reach and I won't even try. Something out of my reach with room to haggle closer to is much better. If I come away with a cheaper price, then I feel like I've won something.

 

[jlepre]

I prefer to buy locally and only buy there as needed although I did purchase my SR5HH and LMII there. If they stop negotiating then I would certainly not purchase anything at all. I can negotiate with the local dealer if GC stops negotiating.

+1 I buy most of my stuff through my favorite dealer, and use GC for the oddball stuff, but I like to be able to haggle.

 

[ptg]

You have to be very careful with fixed pricing. If I go to store A and they're charging $350 for an item and then go to GC and they're at $400, in the past the salesperson would come down a bit and maybe throw in strings at a discount or something to that effect. That would save me the hassle of going back to the other store and you would still get the sale. If he/she tells me, 'Well, that's our price, take it or leave it,' I'm gone.
A frequent buyer program is nice, but if you take away flexible pricing it's like saying, Well, we've been overcharging you so, if you buy enough stuff, we'll eventually throw you a bone and kick something back.

 

[LoEnd]

Well, just like ptg said. I'm going where the deal is. The only reason I ever go to GC is for the deals.

I don't understand how negotiating prices would make people feel unpleasant That's the whole reason that you go to the store. Imo, if you eliminate that your better off just saving gas and buying whatever you need online.

I think that alot of people are going to feel this way and GC sales are going to start going downhill.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

I buy all my Balls at Chuck Levin's Washington Music because I like their service, they're local, AND I've yet to see a lower price anywhere. I don't haggle because I know they're selling to me at 65-67% of list which I consider more than fair. Now with the volume that GC sells and the buying discounts they must enjoy, I'd like to see one price that's 65-67% of list and not have to haggle.

I put a high price on the value of my time, so if I'm comfortable that the price is fair but maybe not the absolute lowest, I'm still okay with it.

 

[adouglas]

I'm in favor of getting rid of the haggle, for a few reasons and with two caveats.

Reasons
First, I personally don't like haggling. The salesman and I both know darned good and well what the thing is worth on the street, because in the 21st century information is instantly available. So at best it's a waste of my time and at worst I wind up paying more because I didn't do my homework.

Second, because of existing retail models (like Wally World) we're all used to seeing the lowest possible price right there on the tag. When I go into GC and see what I think are inflated prices I feel like they're trying to take advantage of those who are not savvy and I don't like that.

Third (related to the second reason) putting what I know is a reasonable price on the tag makes the company seem more transparent, open and honest, and that gives me a better feeling about it. If I walk around the store and see a bunch of inflated prices, it tends to sour my mood and that's not a good way to engage in a friendly transaction.

Caveats
First, the posted price had darned well better be in line with the competition (which includes the net) or you've lost my business. None of this "price match" runaround where the posted price is higher than the TRUE price and you have to go in there with documented proof of a better deal...that's just negotiation all over again. The reward for giving me a fair price instead of a good rogering is my patronage. I see no valid reason to have to pay for doing the store a favor. Sure, I like to buy local and support my community, and I'll even pay a little bit more. If I get good service and have a good experience, I'll come back and will recommend the store to others. If I get treated poorly, I walk.

Second, the store should have some flexibility to lower prices in the event of scratch/dent/goodwill towards somebody buying a ton of stuff.

My $0.02.

 

[adouglas]

You have to be very careful with fixed pricing. If I go to store A and they're charging $350 for an item and then go to GC and they're at $400, in the past the salesperson would come down a bit and maybe throw in strings at a discount or something to that effect. That would save me the hassle of going back to the other store and you would still get the sale. If he/she tells me, 'Well, that's our price, take it or leave it,' I'm gone.

But what if the GC price was $350? What if you KNEW you were going to get a fair deal before you even walked into the store? I think your reasoning works only because the GC in your example had an inflated price to begin with.

 

[adouglas]

I don't understand how negotiating prices would make people feel unpleasant That's the whole reason that you go to the store. Imo, if you eliminate that your better off just saving gas and buying whatever you need online.

No, that's not the reason I go into the store at all.

I go into the store for two reasons:

1) Immediate availability. I can walk out the door with what I need. (And I get to fondle it before purchase, which you can't do online....yet......)
2) Support of local businesses. I like to keep my money in my community and feed my neighbors.

Having said that, paying a lot more JUST to support your local store is about as logical as voting for a candidate solely because of their race or gender.

 

[LoEnd]

Well, for me the only thing that really matters is price. When I can save a hundred dollars or two by negotiating, then I am satisfied.

True, it is nice to be able to go into the store and play different instruments (I forgot about that)

 

[AnthonyD]

I never liked the "Crazy Eddie" sales scheme - for everyone who nickeled and dimed a great deal there was another who "thought" they got a great deal because they didn't know better.

I am not a fan of the haggle - I am willing to pay a fair price and appreciate things like support during the initial sale as well as after the sale much more than knowing I got it for $4.23 cheaper than anywhere else.

Price guaranty is enough for me... Loyalty rewards, even better.

Dump the haggling.

 

[oddjob]

I don't mind haggling the high end stuff. Usually begfore I buy, I have done my research, know what I am willing to pay, and what the avg price on the market is. Where I have an issue is in the low $ items. Strings, picks, stands, etc. When I go to GC to pick some of these up I usually don't have the time or energy to fight over getting the best price.

Case in point, last weekend the band was playing. I was on my way to the show when my guitar player called needing picks. I ran in and got charged $5 for a normal $3 item (new sales guy). I said I have always gotten better pricing and gotr the blank stare, then he had to call over his mgr. - I didn't have time for that, I disgustedly threw my 5 on the counter and high tailed out. Had a similar experience with bass strings 2 weeks before that.

It is just frustrating. Yeah, I can take the time to argue it, but on something like strings or picks, should I have to??? To me that is boardline stupid.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ken Baker]

I'd hate to see negotiation stop at GC. I've spent a fair amount of time, and money, developing a great working relationship with some staff, and would rather not throw it away. Additionally, that negotiation thing adds a human touch.

If GC tosses negotiation, your price guarantee would likely become meaningless. All the various outlets are within a small amount of each other prices wise, so what's to guarantee? An ad price?

Here's Ken's scenario:

GC stops negotiating and starts using "no-haggle" pricing. The other major chain does the same thing in a short time. Both have price guarantees. What does the consumer see? Same everyday prices at the large stores. The only differentiation would be ad prices. Faithful customers will no longer be faithful because there is no relationship to draw them into a store.

Who wins? GC would probably be better off by being better able to set and track margins. More net income is always a good thing.

However, the customer isn't going to be happy because he/she will lose a perceived edge. It has to be remembered that the customer nearly always has a certain distrust of large corporations, and price structure is one method of gauging trust.

Additionally, going to a fixed prices structure will, over time, allow prices to trend upward. This is especially true in a brick & mortar industry populated by two big players. Prices trend up, sales go down. Don't forget that we can be cheap bastards.

So who loses? Everyone. The customer because they won't be able to negotiate their price, and GC because people will come in & bang on the instruments and then buy online.

Ken...

 

[Jazzbassman23]

I have no empirical data to back this up, but my guess is that the vast majority of gear buying bass players DO NOT want to haggle when buying gear.

 

[Bloodfist]

Negotiating with GC should be allowed on higher priced gear. If someone walks in and wants to get some $$ knocked off a $400 guitar/amp/drum set then by all means let GC stick to their price and tell the people to save a few more dollars and come back. On the other hand, if your looking at buying something around $2000 and up, they should be able to cut you a break or at least throw in something like a case for you guitar or bass. The negotiating thing can come back to bite them though. The GC here in Charleston took most all the business from the small dealers down here, but when they announced this, their business picked back up. I recently bought a new EBMM HH though guitarcenter.com and paid almost $1700 for it, and I didn't even try negotiating with the local store for it. They're in store service down here is the absolute worst I have ever dealt with, and I avoid them at all cost. Their online service wasn't much better lol, whatever you do don't ask them for any information about a certain item, they just read the web page you look at.

 

[Old_Guy]

Agree with my fellow old guys (Jack, Jeff, etc.).
I like having a local CG for convenience and small impulse purchases, but I’d be more inclined to make major buys if there was a fixed low price. If the item is ‘NIB,’ I’d expect to pay the same as the MF or CG catalogue (minus shipping but plus sales tax). That being said, there should be “deals” be on floor demo models – and I’d expect either some manager’s mark down or negotiated discount on those. I don’t enjoy the sport of negotiating – if you want it off the wall, mark it down!
I realize the challenge for them is maintaining ‘NIB” inventory – I’d propose that they only keep demos and a few hot items in stock and rely on a rapid, robust regional distribution network (they do have one I hope) to move stock around. I know, they're 'doing that now,' which is why I got my last Ball at Chuck’s in Wheaton - outstanding shop/service, and I didn’t feel the need to negotiate.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

I know, they're 'doing that now,' which is why I got my last Ball at Chuck’s in Wheaton - outstanding shop/service, and I didn’t feel the need to negotiate.

So how does Chuck's manage to do both? Low price AND great service? I buy all my big stuff there; that's the business model GC should look at.

 

[Eggman]

I should add that I have not haggled on stuff at GC (can't do that on Bose stuff) - I have just asked at the point of purchase if they can do a bit better on the price. 99% of the time the salesperson looks at his computer and knocks a few bucks off. If he doesn't - no big deal, as I feel the prices there are in line with widely available info on "street price".

 

[adouglas]

So how does Chuck's manage to do both? Low price AND great service? I buy all my big stuff there; that's the business model GC should look at.

Customer service isn't about price. It's about attitude.

My first real job was in retail. I was just a minimum-wage sales guy in the hunting/fishing/camping department at a store that was more or less like Dick's Sporting Goods.

I did my best to engage the customers, give them good advice and steer them to the best value instead of just pushing the latest sale item (which was inevitably crap). It didn't take any real effort to be helpful and informative, and it gave me something to do to break up the tedium. As a result we got a lot of repeat business.

What did I get out of this? Nothing aside from feeling that I helped someone. I later got a job at a better store (Eastern Mountain Sports) and took the same attitude there.

 

[Quarter]

No doubt, this is a tough one for the folks at GC, most people don't like change.

I would ask why the change?
If I had to guess, my bet is that the new bean counters are looking for any and all ways to maximize profits. Not that that is a bad thing, thats their job.
Save a dollar on a million transactions and thats $1,000,000.00, a major windfall for any company.
Having sales staff give away that dollar makes the accountants cringe.

That said, I'm in the camp that likes dealing with my sales staff. We have developed a good relationship over time and I trust them to be fair.

 

[Kitsapbass]

Agree with my fellow old guys (Jack, Jeff, etc.).
I like having a local CG for convenience and small impulse purchases, but I’d be more inclined to make major buys if there was a fixed low price. If the item is ‘NIB,’ I’d expect to pay the same as the MF or CG catalogue (minus shipping but plus sales tax). That being said, there should be “deals” be on floor demo models – and I’d expect either some manager’s mark down or negotiated discount on those. I don’t enjoy the sport of negotiating – if you want it off the wall, mark it down!
I realize the challenge for them is maintaining ‘NIB” inventory – I’d propose that they only keep demos and a few hot items in stock and rely on a rapid, robust regional distribution network (they do have one I hope) to move stock around. I know, they're 'doing that now,' which is why I got my last Ball at Chuck’s in Wheaton - outstanding shop/service, and I didn’t feel the need to negotiate.

My thought is if they want to have the fixed price like MF, they have to have that backstock, otherwise people are going to go to GC, try it - and then buy it thru MF. If I can't get a better deal for it there, I'm NOT going to buy there - I know it sounds like I'm being a jerk, but seriously - it's a big issue. Because MF has two stores in my state (60+ miles away), I have to pay sales tax anyways...so if my choices are getting a new one (but having to wait for a week), or getting a used one today....I'm going to want the new one. Sorry GC.