#61
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But...like I said earlier...once GC was taken over in ownership by Private Equity/Investors, they put the brakes on all of that, both for good reasons and bad reasons. And you know...if you are a businessman at all, you should realize that a huge multi location Brick and Mortar business has hard operating costs that a much smaller Online store does not, and the B&M business DOES have to account for those hard costs in the profit margins they need to make. They don't have a choice on that. Oh...and your last boss in only correct if... You can keep up a high volume of sales turn at the "quick nickel" margin on a constant long term basis. If your sales volume ever drops off substantially, over a long period of time or permanently, at the "quick nickel" margin, your gonna be in trouble... ...or when you make a quick nickel, but your actual "need to survive" profit margin is closer to the slow dime. If it is, making the quick nickel is a losing strategy in the long...or maybe even the short...haul. duff Know Your Market...Know Your Margin Last edited by mcduffnw; 11-14-2018 at 03:23 PM. Reason: fix content |
#62
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Depends entirely on how old you are! If you are over 40, you remember the days when GC would drop prices quite a lot. If younger than 40 you don't remember that because they have not since then. I used to get 20%-30% off of guitars and sound equipment all the time. Not anymore.
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Martin D-28 '67 Cole Clark Fat Lady 2 Taylor Doyle Dykes Custom Alvarez Fender Strat '69 Gibson 1942 Banner LG-2 Vintage Sunburst Gibson SJ-200 Taylor Myrtlewood 12 string Emerald X20 Godin Montreal w/piezo |
#63
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Your boss' advice is valid in many circumstances, but not so much in many retail businesses. In retail its all about margin, turn, aging/spoilage, factor% and dollars per sq ft. In some cases it is about EOM sales quotas. It's more complicated than most average folks realize. GC isn't like other retail businesses that have an endless supply of product. When they sell that $2200 Taylor 714 for $2000 if they don't have a product refill right behind it they lose the opportunity for an additional $200 at no additional COG. Aging might be the biggest incentive to discount. Having duplication of product may be another so they can dollar-cost-average the two without having capital hanging in two identical models. Spoilage may be another reason to discount (clearing Taylor X models to receive V models as an example). You may have negotiating power at the end of their fiscal month when they need to make sales quotas. It all depends. If you're armed with this information it makes it much easier to negotiate. A sharp buyer can recognize where retail weakness is and take advantage of it- if approached properly.
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Assuming is not knowing. Knowing is NOT the same as understanding. There is a difference between compassion and wisdom, however compassion cannot supplant wisdom, and wisdom can not occur without understanding. facts don't care about your feelings and FEELINGS ALONE MAKE FOR TERRIBLE, often irreversible DECISIONS |
#64
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You guys do realize that Guitar Center and Musicians Friend are one and the same. These are not two different companies.
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-Tim |
#65
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Of course [emoji41]
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#66
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Guitar Center realizes this as well. They are perfectly happy to allow you to "showroom" guitars in their big box retail stores and then have you order it from MF or M123. It's built into their model.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#67
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You could have spoken to the mgr. yourself, and cut a deal. What are the extravagances in Hollywood? Their stock?
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#68
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If you make a relationship with one of the sales force at MF, they will cut you a deal. I've bought several high end PRS guitars/basses, and other instruments, and received substantial discounts (20%-30%), just by asking and being persistent. It's in no way like it was at the Hollywood GC in the late 1960's. Those were great days. |
#69
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The five guitars and amp listed above were all purchased 2012 or later, both the Larrivee SD-40 and Taylor 324 were 2016 purchases. |
#70
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I've bought 3 motorcycles that have each cost over $6000 and not one came with a free helmet or pair of gloves.
Guitar Center used to try to find a 10% or 20% coupon for customers but it seems like those days are gone. The free accessories has never been their thing in the 8 years I've dealt with them.
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As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too. |
#71
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#72
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Just got 16% off at GC. The mgr sent me a coupon for 16% off, they had nothing in the store so I used it online, delivered to the store. Can't wait to see the faces of the rude sales people who refused to even look up this gtr for me and order it, but wanted me to buy one of their crappy ones off the shelf.
Leaving now for GC to see if it's even worth it.. otherwise I'll NEVER shop their again. |
#73
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#74
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The last time I bought an instrument at GC it was a used Fender bass. They told me flat out they couldn't haggle on price, throw in strings, etc. They basically said the price marked was the price, period.
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"A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." - John Shedd |
#75
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Guitar Center has always price matched for me I always find what I'm looking for online at the best price before I go in and they match it.I have also noticed they have had several Gibson models on sale in our store lately the have brand new 2018 Gibson J-45's for $1999 and j-15 $1459 I guess they are clearing out the old stock
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