My local music store is declining...sad

[smitty_p]

So, I stopped into the local music store where I always shop to pick up a rack-type guitar stand today.

It's in a state of decline. The manager they hired a couple of years ago left. He was a high-energy guy who was really making headway to bring in good product. Before him, their pedal selection was pretty lame. He brought in a lot of good pedals and was in touch with what was in demand for guitars and amps. He could be a little aggressive as a salesman, but I knew how to handle him, and he was willing to negotiate. He would straight up match online ads. For example, if Sweetwater had something for a certain price...he'd match it to make the sale. The store still matches prices, but the energy has left. I liked the way the old manager handled things because he knew music and knew rock and roll and he valued his customers.

He made deals with guitar makers and was bringing in more brands....everything from Gretsch to Jackson.

The acoustic room was full of choices, too. There were the more budget-minded varieties, but you could still get Martins and Taylors.

Since he left, the store is in a slow rate of decline. The variety of guitars they offer is getting less and less complete. The new manager is nice, but doesn't seem very driven and seems to just be coasting along.

It's sad to see.

 

[eS.G.]

My youth, health and wealth are declining ..........it could be worse.......buck up buttercup

 

[smitty_p]

Yeah...Adrian...I guess you're right. I hope the store doesn't go under.

I've spent a LOT of money there on guitars, amps, and all manner of guitar accessories. I'll still shop there. I really try to support my local brick-and-mortar.

 

[eS.G.]

PErhaps the owner will see what is going on? Maybe a well meaning "helpful" phone call to him might be prudent??

 

[Bettyboo]

Local shops obviously struggle to pay the rent with all the online retailers and megastores. It is sad; a good local shop that's well managed and somehow manages to keep afloat is a real community asset.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Maybe make a trip and just have a little pow wow with the manager and express your concerns and words of advice even, Smitty

 

[Chubbles]

I always try to buy local. Almost all of the local independent stores near me have closed. Some by poor customer service, some by a shrinking stock, and some by competition. I have a few Sam Ashes, a few GCs, and 8th Street Music near me. I still miss Zaph's Music. They had more than everyone else. I'm not sure what happened. Sometimes I think it's just greed that kills some of our local stores. I just hope it's not the end of an era, the end of the local guitar stores.

 

[Madmatt]

The closest music store (only 7 or 8 blocks away) to me just went underlast year, and I know why, the selection was tiny, the prices on the sorta of little things that it's convenient to get at a neighborhood shop were insane, strings almost twice the cost of GC, ect
They were dark and always smelled like smoke and some gross perfume they used to cover the smoke.

Fortunately they've been replaced with a cleaner, more pleasant place, but the new store does most of there business in lessons, not gear.

But really in my city we only have guitar center, there is no sam ash or other big chain, so theres enough room for two large independent local stores that go for the same customers. My preferred store, firehouse guitar, is probably doing better then our guitar center right now.

 

[Musekatcher]

Our local store started over 40 years ago, grew to 13 stores in state, now hanging on to the single home store. The owner has done well, and subsidizes the store with other businesses, but its clear to me it survives because of the owners sentimental sacrifice. Its really interesting that local stores are disappearing, because there's so much more to music and equipment that you can't get from an online retailer. Gear selection and setup is overwhelming these days. A good store with a knowledgeable staff can save you huge amounts of time and $$$. But folks don't know that, as they naively consume stuff based on web reviews and online product descriptions.

 

[Logan]

Sorry for necroing a thread, but so far I haven't had to deal with this problem, which is a good thing

My local store has 2 locations in our area, and after I have been a customer there for a couple of years, they will usually go bottom line for anything I want to buy. And, since I'm still in high school, last summer I stopped in a couple of days to work for free to show my gratitude for everything that they have done for me... Now I'm employed there! I'm glad that they are still going strong, because I don't know what I'd do without their layaway program, I wouldn't be able to reserve expensive guitars I wanted and pay them off, because by the time I would have saved up the money, they would be gone!

 

[syscokid]

Sorry for necroing a thread, but so far I haven't had to deal with this problem, which is a good thing

My local store has 2 locations in our area, and after I have been a customer there for a couple of years, they will usually go bottom line for anything I want to buy. And, since I'm still in high school, last summer I stopped in a couple of days to work for free to show my gratitude for everything that they have done for me... Now I'm employed there! I'm glad that they are still going strong, because I don't know what I'd do without their layaway program, I wouldn't be able to reserve expensive guitars I wanted and pay them off, because by the time I would have saved up the money, they would be gone!

That's a very welcoming attitude to have towards understanding the importance of your local economy. Especially considering your youthful age...

 

[Tiboy]

Last month I asked my wife to pick up some Fast Fret at the local music store since she was going to be near by. She came home empty handed and advised me the the music store is now a low end furniture store.

 

[guitarweasel]

Face it, the days of the "Mom & Pop" stores are gone. Years ago there was a place in the Chicago burbs called Phillips Music, they were one of the first stores to carry Marshall and Sunn amps, I spent so much time (and money.) there it was ridiculous! No guitar, new or used left there without a complete set up including new strings of your choice, same with used amps, it would be re-tubed and biased. Who does that stuff now? nobody... They always had a good selection of new and used gear and if they didn't have what you were looking for, they'd get it and they would call you after a week or so to see how things were working out.

Price's were always fair...... back then I could walk in and buy a 50's Les Paul Jr. for $250.00 or a 60's Strat for $350.00, hell I bought almost all my gear was purchased there. They would even call you when something new came in. (They turned me on to Hiwatt amps like that.)

Now when you walk into a music store ( usually GC, or Sam Ash.) it's just a crap shoot. It's sad, but it's reality now.

 

[Logan]

Face it, the days of the "Mom & Pop" stores are gone. Years ago there was a place in the Chicago burbs called Phillips Music, they were one of the first stores to carry Marshall and Sunn amps, I spent so much time (and money.) there it was ridiculous! No guitar, new or used left there without a complete set up including new strings of your choice, same with used amps, it would be re-tubed and biased. Who does that stuff now? nobody... They always had a good selection of new and used gear and if they didn't have what you were looking for, they'd get it and they would call you after a week or so to see how things were working out.

Price's were always fair...... back then I could walk in and buy a 50's Les Paul Jr. for $250.00 or a 60's Strat for $350.00, hell I bought almost all my gear was purchased there. They would even call you when something new came in. (They turned me on to Hiwatt amps like that.)

Now when you walk into a music store ( usually GC, or Sam Ash.) it's just a crap shoot. It's sad, but it's reality now.

I'm sorry, but I have a couple of Mom and Pop shops around here that are going strong. It sucks that it is that way for most people, but in my area, the GC is the one that is doing bad, and the only reason I think they stay open is because of the fact that they are a chain off a mega-corporation. But, I know that sadly, where I live is the exception, not the rule. Probably the only reason why they are still open is the fact that they have such good customer service that makes people want to shop at them and not go to the guitar center... I feel so bad for the people that don't have any good shops in their area, I wish where I lived wasn't the exception

 

[syscokid]

At least for the successful stores, let us all hear their names. I live in among a short string of small towns along the central coast of California. Can you say: Primo Real Estate? In the town or city of Arroyo Grande, there resides Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven. A true Mom and Pop, cuz Mom & Pop really do own it, and their kids who are now young adults also run the place, too. Every nook and cranny, floor to ceiling, is filled with stringed madness. They are still there because of their passion for music and guitars. They are definitely not there for a financial killing.

Crazy website:
http://www.lightningjoes.com

 

[oldrockfan]

I travel a lot with my job and make it a point to look for guitar shops when I travel. Sadly... most of them are depressing places to go these days. Nothing but a bunch of junky used stuff and a few dusty guitars that they call new even though they are clearly beat up from all the time and wear from the shop. There are exceptions of course but I think the local independent music stores are already dead. What did them in was the big name brands putting requirements in place that were unreasonable for the small guys. We may hate it but fact is... the big name brands only want to deal with the big boys and purposely started killing off the small shops years ago.