Explorerlover
TOMS here in Braamfontein is my first stop for anything I need, I have 2 connections there that I deal with and them only. I've tried Marshall Music, but again, a guy that doesn;t play guitar tries to sell you a guitar. Music Connection isn't bad either, nice variety and the guys won't bulls#$% you.
FenderBender
Renesongs wrote:
I sometimes wonder through Incredible deceptions when I have time to kill - their prices are worth a damn good laugh -the staff know me as the lunatic that wonders through the shop chortling to myself and leave me alone.
Ok so there are two of us then ?
AlanRatcliffe
CornFlakes wrote:
Marshall Music awesome shop but the one guy there can’t remember his name but he think he knows but he has no idea!
I have to agree. I was in there for the first time a few months ago to meet up with Gareth (VV) and I really like the way the shop is laid out - the seating near the guitars was really nice and I actually ended up playing a few classics (I very rarely bother playing stuff in shops - I'm fairly happy with what I've got). The manager (somehow I
knew it was the manager) made the effort and greeted me warmly as he staggered past carrying something big ...then his staff basically ignored me for the next 20 minutes until Gareth got there - no-one else even said hello, let alone asking me if I needed anything. Gareth had warned me about the "empty vessel" salesman, and sure enough, I overheard a few choice "facts" from him while I was there.
dee
A while a ago I was inquiring about getting an Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty here at a local music shop in Pretoria. The shop is literally just round the corner from where I work, which was really convenient, so I figured I'll give them I try.
I won't bore you with the details, but the manager basically gave me a "why should I bother with you" attitude, while just sitting there. Needless to say I have not gone back to that store again...
Fortunately, there are two other shops I frequent (Oosthavens and Music Mate in Zambezi) who have very helpful and friendly staff who seem to know their stuff most of the time. The times when they can't help me with something, they will ask someone else or call around to get me an answer, even though I don't always buy something at that time.
Never underestimate the power of good customer support... If you are good to me today, chances are I'll come back to you next time I'm looking for something.
AlanRatcliffe
Owner/operator music stores are usually quite good with their level of service, but does anyone remember Mister Music in Long st. Cape Town? George Kouba (SP?) was the owner and renowned for his complete lack of people skills. Legend had it that if his dog liked you (it was always with him in the shop), you would be OK, but I guess the dog was an ornery beast, because George was surly with everyone. Strangely enough, his shop walls were covered with an array of photos of a who's who of 70's and 80's SA rock - all signed to George, many even thanking him. I suspect from this that Trevor Rabin and the others must be masochists.
When I came to Cape Town in the mid-80's we had to sell off a lot of stuff to be able to fit everything into the removal truck - including my Strat. So shortly after getting here and getting settled in, I started touring the shops with R1,100 in my pocket (a lot of money then) to find another guitar.
Mister Music was one of my first stops as it was in the city itself, along with Heuer's and Sunny's music. Anyway I walked into the shop and saw George, said "hello", got a "hello" back and proceeded to look around. You couldn't touch anything in this shop - most things were hung out of reach or had large "Do NOT touch!" signs on them. Almost immediately, I saw an Ibanez Roadstar hanging on the wall and liked what I saw - instantly deciding I wanted it. I think it was priced at R799 or R850, so well within my budget.
I turned to George, and asked him "What's the Ibanez like?"
George lifted his eyes from his newspaper, looking over the top of his glasses, and said simply: "Good". There followed an (for me) awkward silence, while he just looked at me as you regard a cockroach you have just found in the bottom of your empty milkshake glass.
"So... can I try it then?" I asked hesitantly.
"No." Was the response. No emotion, just a flat negative.
After another awkward moment, I just turned and walked out, only returning once in the next 10 years to buy a Tune-O-Matic bridge that no-one else had in stock.
The kicker was, he had that shop in Long street for decades, but I don't know how he survived even a year with that charm and magnetic personality. Actually, he might still be there.
Renesongs
Yeah I remember George Kouba - I was in his shop only once with my brother who was buying a really expensive acoustic - he was just so rude I never went there again. Yet I often heard respected muso's speaking very highly of him - one of life's mysteries I guess ???
Vintage-Vibe
Hi guys:
Having worked at Bothners for over 5 years before I left, (as a guitar specialist) I can tell you the following:
- +1 to Alan - pay peanuts, get monkeys.
- at Spur Steak Ranches you have to do an "exam/test" before you can officially work on their floor - no such system exists for shops that specialise in musical equipment?!
- Everyone has good and bad days at work, you and I included.
- People that protest the loudest usually know the least.
- I shop at MusiekWereld, Marshall & Bothners - I have had great and less than great experiences at all shops
- I agree with sussing out a salesperson you haven't dealt with before with a few leading questions - let them reveal what they know (also know that certain issues like guitar brand loyalty are a matter of taste, not expertise). At the same time, if you go into a shop and ask the salesman a question then proceed to tell him why his answer is wrong, he's going to think "well f*** you too buddy" to himself - salesman just don't get paid enough to care usually. There's sometimes too much ego involved in gear chats at these shops - people are too defensive about proving how much they know.
- Try & see how many salesman stop and ask you "What do YOU think?" - "What are YOUR needs/tastes?" - that's the sign of a good salesman.
- NEVER be scared to approach a salesperson - he/she is there to help However, if they ignore you or give you the cold shoulder don't feel bad to ask for the manager and tell him politely that no-one seems to want to help. Salesman often stand around for HOURS in dead spots in the day - u would think that when a customer finally arrives they would be thrilled, but often the OPPOSITE is true - they try and avoid you, or see you as an interruption to whatever they were doing before you arrived. (Idle time isn't good 4 the brain ) If someone treats you that way take your business to another salesman - if you get the same problem go to another shop
- The manager can't improve the service of his shop if dissatisfied customers don't lodge their complaints - it's a big problem in the service industry in this country - just look at restaurants
4 me personally - these are the HELPFUL guys at each shop (and remember 1 guy may be helpful and know less, whereas another might not know as much, but go out of his way to help)
(SORRY - THIS IS ALL Cape Town BASED )
Musiek Wereld:
Vissie (owner - when you can catch him he's a whirlwind of activity - heart of gold)
Kobus (also a great guy - a bit younger so obviously more accessable 4 teens, 20-somethings)
Paul Bothner Music PLUMSTEAD:
Warren - really helpful - not a tech-head, but goes out of his way
Edgar - for bass-related issues
Warwick - teaches as well, so he's only in on certain days and times - big guy - hard to miss - best up to date technical knowledge of the lot (in his early 20's)
BTW - Kyle Petersen: IMO is the best keyboard Salesman in CT - hot player too with lots of technical knowhow - especially with Roland products.
Jerome Da Silva - assistant manager the best and most knowledgable drum salesman in the country hands down.
Marshall Music CT:
Mike - owner nice guy, obviously a busy man.
Graham - manager - guitar guy - great manner with customers
Dave - can be a bit zealous at times, but he's learning to calm down lately, and he makes an effort to learn his products - one of the best salesman in CT in terms of how much business he does.
Hope this helps
Have a good weekend
ralley
Another thumbs up for Music Mate in Zambezi, when I was looking around for my Line6 Toneport UX-1 I rang around every music store in Johburg - everyone was "no we don't stock those" or "out of stock". Not one store offered to try and source one or offered an alternative. I rang Zambezi and the guy said they were out of stock but to give him my number and he would call back. I gave my number expecting to never hear back. Within 5 minutes he called back - couldn't get hold of a UX-1 but offering me a UX-2 at an excellent price. They called back within a couple of days when it arrived in stock and even stayed open whilst I battled the traffic from Midrand. Months later I was back in just browsing around and he greated me and asked after the Toneport despite only having met me for about 2 minutes total - very impressed, they won me as a customer for life (till I moved to NZ!)
At the other end of the spectrum I took my strat in to Andy McGibbons for a set-up, cost an absolute fortune, took weeks longer than promised (despite being pre booked) and the set up was a joke. Came back with fillings stuck to the pole pieces, buzzing worse than before and the trem still hanging up on a mis cut scratch plate. They had been explicitly asked to look at tuning stability with the trem, they had obviously never even tried it. Got myself some feeler gauges, tweaked the truss rod and adjusted the action and had it playing infinetly better in half an hour. I never took them up on this because I got it back just before Christmas, wish I had. When I took it in I spoke directly to a tech who seemed knowledgable, I suspect in the rush they just got some bozo shop monkey to do the work.
Rob.
trungboyshigh
A few months ago,i was shopping around for a guitar amp.After friendly assistance over the phone,I decided to visit the Marshall Woodmead store n my experience proved to b quite diff from what i had expected.Lookin around the guitars n amps section (n was very impressed by their range of products n store layout), having found noone to help me,i wandered into the drums section n was approached by one of the drum specialists.i told him i was lookin for a guitar amp,which he mockingly replied "this is the drums section man,guitar amps r not round shaped n they have speakers on them" he eventually showed me to a guitar specialist who gave me some good advice, but that really put a sour grape in what wouldve been a pleasant experience with Marshall Woodmead for me.After that I went to a few other smaller music stores (Lovemore music, the Shops in Brooklyn n Atterbury value mart Pta) and found their customer service to be much higher
Carel
Alan Ratcliff is the one who got me addicted to this forum…
As such it would be your prerogative to forward any complaints regarding my presence and comments to him. (Sorry Alan but you have me addicted.)
Although this might well jeopardize my comments and presence, I decided to come straight out and introduce myself.
Other them some of my “friends” in the industry I am using my own name and coming clear about who and what I am.
To put it bluntly – I am not using an alias so as to confuse you and lull you into a state of complacency where you might think I am a mere fellow enthusiast, when what they are actually hoping to do is move you some gear in a subliminal level through suggestive selling.
I suspect I will be shut down / kicked out shortly, but this would however be to our collective loss.
Right, yes wait for it:
My name is Carel van Heerden and I am the one responsible for Paul Bothner Music’s stores.
I need to thank you all for your most valuable inputs.
It is incredibly insightful and I will certainly be incorporating it in future training modules.
AlanRatcliffe
Hi Carel - welcome to the forum
I suspect I will be shut down / kicked out shortly
On the contrary - we are glad to have your input here. If you refer to the
rules of the forum, all you have to do is state your affiliations in your signature and refrain from specifically advertising your stores or products in your posts.
I'm pretty sure that you will take any criticism you find here and use it constructively, and I'm equally sure the guys will like having someone to direct any complaints to if they are unhappy.
I'm hoping that other individuals from the other retailers follow suit and join in so that we can work together to improve the quality standards in the industry as a whole.
Riaan-Combrink
Hi Carel.
Like Alan, I for one welcome your presence here at GFSA. The idea with this forum is surely to be a hub to discuss guitar and music through the whole spectrum (players, technique, gear, etc). We often wonder about industry related things, and who better to hear it from?
Enjoy the forum! ?
Renesongs
Welcome Carel - I hope you visit us frequently and give us your views from time to time. I'm sure you won't need to fall foul of our forum rules because Alan seems to do much of the promo for Bothners ? (and Norio seems to favour Marshall, so all's fair in love money and music ?)
I'm hoping that other individuals from the other retailers follow suit and join in so that we can work together to improve the quality standards in the industry as a whole.
+++1
@ VV +1 Edgar is THE man to talk to about bass . I have a good relationship with Dave from Marshall he always gives me the feeling that I know best and he is there to show you what they got in stock - I kind of like that approach ?
NorioDS
Renesongs wrote:Norio seems to favour Marshall
I might actually support Bothner's if there was one in PTA. The JV Music place here in Centurion has horrible service. The co-owner has serious attitude but Moose is an awesome guy. Their prices are just a bit high for my tastes.
Short of going into Braamfontein to visit TOMS, Marshall is the only decent place up here that stocks a wide range of things at good prices.
I'm happy to be proven wrong! I hate travelling so far just to get my gear!
Manfred-Klose
Cool, now that we can be honest about music shops this i what i think.
1. Musiek Wereld
They are too over priced.
They cater for a more old school clients.
Conclusion: Not my favourite shop, but still go there sometimes.
Rating:5/10
2.Music Mate
I buy most of my gear from them, and they giving away great deals.
they lack some knowledge about high end gear.
Conclusion:They are friendly young people, that are also musos, i've been to the shops goerge,centurion,cape town, and all of them pretty much live up to their name.
Rating:7/10
3.Marshall Music
I only recently been to marshall music in cape town, they pretty much have stock of everything, the guys are friendly, and give quotes within a matter of seconds that they get from a application on there cellphone, thats awesome. They are very honest about the products they sell, they gave me some tips on studio related stuff.
Conclusion:While i was there within 2 seconds someone helped me, when i asked a question he couldn't answer the
sales person called someone with more experience in that field, and my problem was solved.
Some of there stuff is a bit over priced, but they also have some great bargain if buy a lot of gear.
Rating:8/10
4.Paul Bother
They are also a great shop, although the one in goodwood is very small and get a bit crowded on saturdays, and the one in plumstead has got every guitar you ever wanted, what a dream.
There customer service lacks some detail. sometimes you have to ask someone to help you, i useally just talk to the manager if i want help.
Conlcusion:They can be compared to marshall music, altough the shops a cape town is a laidback and everyone is on a permanent vacation if you got job there.
Rating:7/10
do let me get started on musicfest.........
Bane
Dave and Graham from Marshall Music are nice guys and seem to know what they are talking about. And they often end our conversations with "but give it a try and see for yourself" rather than 'it's the best, take it". No matter how much your salesman knows, buying gear is a personal thing and staff members should always encourage you to try more than just one guitar, pedal etc to make sure you walk out happy. You can google gear as much as you want but you need to FEEL it to know what you are buying. If you get feeling a salesman doesn''t have time for you, walk out.
dee
Manfred Klose wrote:
Cool, now that we can be honest about music shops this i what i think.
O nice. I was actually going to suggest that we review each shop, and give a description of what they stock, other than the usual brands.
WantzChas
Hi, I'm new on this forum. So happy to have found a local forum. Got tired of convering from $ and £.
Norio wrote:
I might actually support Bothner's if there was one in PTA. The JV Music place here in Centurion has horrible service. The co-owner has serious attitude but Moose is an awesome guy. Their prices are just a bit high for my tastes.
I agree. They're probably hands down the worst music store I've ever been to. Prices, help, afdvice are all just pathetic. The guy that works at
Lovemore is awesome. He knows everything about everything. I shop at Lovemore and Marshal Woodmead.
NorioDS
The one guy I spoke to at Centurion Lovemore is ridiculous. He's the genius that reckons that all Ibanez guitars are entry-level guitars and not worth buying.
He seems to know who Satriani and Vai are but I think he just knows OF them because clearly he can't know too much about them if he has that opinion of Ibanez. I took him as the sort of guy that likes to appear like he knows everything but actually knows just enough to be dangerous to himself and others.
Not sure of his name, sorry.
Manfred-Klose
Out of the very few times i've been in PTA i actually went to the lovemore shop
I wouldn't call it a guitarshop, more like a piano, 2 drumsets and some acoustic guitar shop.
If they follow in the footsteps of marshall music,Paul botners and music mate...............those are the only shops i will support!!!
