What you like from your dealer...

[luv]

Hey Luv - what is your impression of the GC in Centennial?

i think you are talking about the one by Park Meadows Mall.....i've had pretty good experiences there. i bought my Sub there - the only guitar that i've ever bought from GC. it's newly remodeled too (within the last year or so). it is the store that i go to the least though....because it's on the other side of town. but i would go there to buy before going to the arvada store.

the denver location on colorado blvd has always given me great service...seems to have some nicer product and a better staff than the other two locations - much better than the arvada location (don't go to that one....not great people, but they have more Balls there than any of the others....catch 22). i'll drive right by the arvada one to go buy something from the denver location...

 

[envy-guitars]

Thanks for all the tremendous feedback!

A lot of things really hitting home here...

Definately going to have to step up my internet presence, website is badly updated as of recent because we are expanding our store.

What would you like to see at a local regular event (IE Jam/clinic) hosted by your local guitar store?

How far would you guys drive to see a good selection of Balls?

Any feedback ANYTHING drop it in because its all helpful.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

How far would you guys drive to see a good selection of Balls?
.

Everyone will have a different answer for this. DuBaldo's is about 100 miles.

I first went in to just check them out because of all the great reviews here and to get some first hand looks at the different EBMM models (my local stores have at most 2 EBMM guitars in stock). I then let all the different models sink into my brain and went back to buy the Axis. Of course....while I was there, I played the Axis for a while to be sure it was "the one". I then checked out their Silhouette and really started to like it. If I had not picked it up, I never would have put it on my list of next guitars to get.

I think Pete's activity here keeps his store in the front of my mine. His 25th reviews and video put the dilema in my mind......Silho....25th.....Sterling Silho..... But I know where I'll be going to do my comparison and make the final purchase. Fair prices too, which was somewhat unexpected as I sort of expect the humunguous stores to have the lowest prices. They don't.

jack

 

[Big Poppa]

Great thread.

I dont like being called "Dude" "Bro".....I know that being 54 I either get ignored as a dinosaur or patronizingly treated like a fellow 24 year old....I think just being clear and friendly works best.

The internet presence has to be real. Its called Street Cred.....you cant fake it or pull it out when you are having a slow month..you have to live it. If you cant honestly invest the time and interaction then dont bother. I liken it to stock brokers and insurance salesmen.....I buy insurance from two friends but have a bunch of friends that sell insurance that repulsed me at their tactics...the guys who I do business with just handled the situation better. I guess its a seduction...like in a bar....

WE have one big dealer who has tried to hang here and its funny because everytime and every post is a huge sales pitch.

Brandt and Pete and a few others really handle it well and think that they would be here even if they werent dealers....thats kind of the test......

 

[envy-guitars]

Yeah 'Bro' I am from the old school (well taught BY the old school) you treat everyone with the same respect whether they be 10 or 76, I don't call anyone bro or dude, I guess its because i'm English!

Anyway I agree with the internet presence we have to seriously step our game up with the website, its always nice to see the actual guitar you aspire to buy and everyone likes to look at a nice guitar!

 

[colinboy]

why dont you get on to Blindlemon aka 'Pete lunney' from S&T who im sure you know as you get your guitars and EBMM merchandise from and ask him for tickets for this years Uk forum bash at LIMS 2009 at the excel in june.
Its all musicman fanatics and forum members that you will meet in person including me.

 

[Headstock]

Great thread.
Brandt and Pete and a few others really handle it well and think that they would be here even if they werent dealers....thats kind of the test......

Excellent observation. They "walk the walk"

I can tell they are passionate about the products.

Plunking down ones own money to buy the product they are selling is a pretty good indicator to the end customer that the dealer really believes in the product.

 

[Jason2112]

Thanks for all the tremendous feedback!

What would you like to see at a local regular event (IE Jam/clinic) hosted by your local guitar store?

How far would you guys drive to see a good selection of Balls?

Any feedback ANYTHING drop it in because its all helpful.

My local store had a huge grand opening party - bbq, live music, giveaways - for industry people.... not for the general public. I got in because one of the sales guys hooked me up, but my first thought was how much the general public would like something like this. My earlier suggestion about a clinic would depend on who is available to put on the clinic. In the US, Taylor puts on clinics at local music stores all over the country. So does Marshall, Fender, etc. You just have to work that out with the local distributors. If no pros are available, put one on yourself. Once a month feature a particular guitar or amp (or both) and put together a live demo for customers. Make it interactive. By the way, from my experience, jam sessions (aka blues jams, open mic nights, etc) are trainwrecks waiting to happen. Let the local bars handle that, concentrate on educating and interacting with your customers.

I personally wouldn't drive more than an hour or so to check out gear. Depending on what it is and who makes it, I don't always need to see it in person to buy it. More so with amps, effects, etc, and certain guitars. I'm not going to buy a Fender without playing it first. I will, however, buy an EBMM without having played it because I've seen the consistency in quality and tone. The more information you put on your website, plus offering a 48-hour return policy, will go a long way to getting more customers who can't drive to your store.

 

[tommyindelaware]

the most important thing for me is for them to have dubaldo for a last name.

 

[INMT]

my local MM dealer....






































....like mama said, "if you don't have anything nice to say......"

 

[Big Poppa]

On the surface the bbq for the trade sounds funny....in the middle it kind of makes sense because of the dealer wanting the manufacturers to like him...then you get to the center of it and it makes zero sense.....I would rather go to an opening that had all the local players and a local buzz then a bunch of expense account abusing disconnected reps porking down on BBQ....

You put the customer first......you put the customer first......repeat until you get it.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

sounds simple but I like places that remember me.

J

 

[envy-guitars]

I wish I had a shop big enough for any sort of function to happen in store.

But I do like the idea of a 48 hour returns policy on EBMM guitars! I think that will eliminate a lot of obstacles, I normally offer it anyway but I don't advertise it. Maybe I should...

 

[Ernieballplayer]

i want a dealer i can rely on for having string(Singles) which has been a disappointment lately, and good guitar cleaning products/maintenance accessories for keeping my guitar in tiptop shape everytime, that's most important to me. and of course friendly staff that enjoy there job committed to helping with my needs.

 

[Sweat]

the most important thing for me is for them to have dubaldo for a last name.

Thats funny Tommy, but very true

 

[Jason2112]

On the surface the bbq for the trade sounds funny....in the middle it kind of makes sense because of the dealer wanting the manufacturers to like him...then you get to the center of it and it makes zero sense.....I would rather go to an opening that had all the local players and a local buzz then a bunch of expense account abusing disconnected reps porking down on BBQ....

You put the customer first......you put the customer first......repeat until you get it.

A couple of things really stood out about the whole ordeal while I was there:

- Me and a buddy of mine were the only non-industry people there. It was funny to see some of the reps start talking to me like I was one of them, and then bolt when they found out I was just a regular guy. Same deal when a couple of artists came around by our table. I remember John5 sat with us for at least 30min before he realized we were nobody's. His exit was much more subtle than some of the others (i.e. Gary Hoey).

- Shirts, hats, guitars, etc were donated by the same group of people who were winning them. How much sense does that make?

The whole event was closed off to the public. But I can see the general public really getting into something like this. It would have been a great grand opening for the public, but ended up being an industry circle jerk.

 

[Big Poppa]

Im allergic to those...

 

[luv]

i'd rather see a dealer cut all corners to pass the savings along to the consumer.....obviously you need to advertise and there are going to be operating expenses...but if i were a dealer i'd use my co-op dollars wisely and try to pass every bit of savings on to my customers. i'd do invite only events to consumers that were in my database that had a purchase history and allow them to bring a guest....offer them special discounts & maybe have a manufacturer or two to show some product....but why have an industry insider event? how is that going to help you in the consumers eye?

 

[Big Poppa]

it may help with credit terms...... hot product allocations....

 

[luv]

it may help with credit terms...... hot product allocations....

i'd be sure to invite you...and there would be good wine....