Heath
if this place had a online shoping facitilty i would just pay my salary straight into the GFSA account everyone bad enough i am completely addicted to the site as it is
Squonk
Geez, and please dont have a credit facility, I would have to sell the wife and kids
AlanRatcliffe
*Note to self*: Start online store
Something I've been wanting to do for a while...
Renesongs
Thanks to RENE, ALAN and Norio for starting this forum
Thanks for the accolades Flakes but I got my stars from posting and arguing too much It's NORIO, ALAN and FRANCIS :-[
CornFlakes
Renesongs wrote
Thanks to RENE, ALAN and Norio for starting this forum
Thanks for the accolades Flakes but I got my stars from posting and arguing too much It's NORIO, ALAN and FRANCIS :-[
Oops! I mean thanks for the Tech Help ALAN, RENE etc. and thanks Norio and who ever started the GFSA! ?
FenderBender
If GFSA had a online shopping function I bet you it will be a HIT!
I'll help run it!
Bob-Dubery
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Shops don't pay well (at all), so if they do get someone who knows what they are talking about, they move on to something better paid fairly quickly (usually shortly after they have bought and paid for everything they need at staff discount ?). There are a few shops in JHB where they are entirely commission driven, so you end up with guys more interested in moving product than selling you what you really need.
Agreed. Comission does not promote good service. My "regular" is Andy McGibbons Guitar World, and I know that Andy does not pay his staff commission. This does make a difference - because their motivation is not to sell you something (probably more than you really need) ASAP and get on to the next sale.
In general I would agree with the comments about building a relationship with the guys in the store. You will get to know them, they will get to know you and what you like, what you might try, your budget etc.
I believe that shops that do not run on a commission basis and which build relationships and take a bit more time do better in the long run. If all you want is a quick deal at the lowest price then there are on-line stores that you can use. Stores that offer friendly service, sound advice, that offer something more than the "cling" of the cash register are offering something that you can't easily get elsewhere.
And there are such shops.
Mike
Hi All, My name is Mike Vaughan and I am the owner of Marshall Music Cape Town. A good mate informed me of this forum and I am stoked to be here. I too was a muso once and shopped around. I recieved some spectacular service and also had a few shockers along the way. Biggest problem in the MI is that msuo's are hugely opinionated. Sales staff need to remeber that their core job is to guide customers as to what they need. They should all have a thorough understanding of product in their relative departments and stick to the basics about gear and its performance, not their own opinion. If a customer asks for a personal opinion, well that s a different story.
I am here to learn and understand and welcome constructive critisism and an opportunity to offer a service that matches the comments I have read in this discussion. I always believe their is room for improvement and I do see the MI growing. In the last few years, I made it my mission to deliver a large range of gear that was missing from the market place. We have seen the introduction of Mesa Boogie, ESP Guitars, Martin Guitars, EDEN Bass, Aguialr Bass, DW Collectors Drums etc. Mainly high end stuff but this has lifted the standard of gear available and met the needs of Muso's who need high end. I will sincerley make it my mission to improve the knowledge and service at all of our stores a eliminate the poor service issues that have been recieved in the past.
Mike
Vintage-Vibe
Welcome to the jungle !
FatBoy
Hi Mike, and welcome. I am really glad to have you here, as well as Carel from Bothners. It shows that you guys are willing to listen and help improve our experiences at you stores and for that I salute you.
I agree with you that muso's are an opinionated bunch, and yes, sales people should stick to basic facts until asked for their opinion (most of them being opinionated muso's themselves). I have never been to Marshall Music (being from the northern subs myself) so I have no comments at the moment, but just the fact that you are here, willing to listen to our joys and woe's has made me decide that I definitely need to try you guys out next time I am in the market for something.
This forum is really turning into a powerful tool for all of us, and if used correctly it can lead to great things in the MI methinks.
Glad to have you aboard sir!
AlanRatcliffe
Hi Mike, welcome to the forum. Thanks for being willing to join in and participate.
Feel free to post any workshops or events you have scheduled in our
Events board and you are also welcome to join in any discussion if you feel you have relevant info. All we ask is that you clearly identify yourself and your affiliation in your signature (which shows at the bottom of every post you make and is set via your control panel - the "user CP" on the links at the top of the page), and that you refrain from blatant advertising in posts.
Something else you may find handy is the "Notify" option at the bottom of this page, which allows you to subscribe to this topic, so that the system will email you whenever a new post is made in this topic - handy to keep tabs an any new comments which may be of interest to you.
deanBailey
Welcome ?
This forum is getting pretty big now 8)
AlanRatcliffe
Yup - more forum for your money ? Don't worry, as it gets busier, we'll split a few forums into smaller divisions so it doesn't become too difficult to follow what's happening where. We'll probably appoint a few more mods as things get busier too.
Wizard
I was very impressed with the help I got from Matt at Bothners in Plumstead - made shopping a real pleasure.
MoJo-JoJoe
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Werner-Carstens
Hi guys, I have to say that I have an enormous respect for sales people working in a music shop. They have to deal with a customer that is always right. The customer might be misinformed, totally biased or plain rude, but they are always right. mmm, difficult to deal with on a daily basis. As a student I worked in a music shop and it was not easy to deal with everybody that knows better, can get it cheaper somewhere else or who knows somebody that can build guitars cheaper and therefore wants discount.
I agree that sales people should not lie to you, but my experience has always been that they told me the truth as far as they knew it. If anything was omitted or stated in error it was because they themselves did not know better. It is their job to be informed, but between orders, helping people, phoning for quotes, unpacking new gear etc. there isn't always time.
What I love about music shops is that I can go to a place where I can talk muso jargon where people can actually understand what I am saying. I have always felt at home at Musiekwereld and they have always gone the extra mile for me. Marshall music in CT - what a pleasure to visit. I am always greeted by a friendly face and feel welcome at these 2 stores.
The only time that I have been really embarrassed in a music store was on behalf of customers that acted as if they knew everything. Although we are a strongly opinionated bunch we have to realise that our realities and tastes are not that of the rest of the world. It is what it is, merely an opinion.
What I am really thankful for is that certain music shops still has the balls to stock high-end instruments. I cannot walk into a shop today and buy a R40 000 Martin, but they are stocked in some music shops (which mean that some people can walk in and buy it). Just the fact that I have the opportunity to look at such an instrument, talk to sales person about it without being patronised (cause look, they probably know that only one out of every 100 customers can afford it) play it and compare it with a Taylor and a Gibson makes me a happier person. Just for having the opportunity I might then actually buy that Boss CS3 I have been eyeing for a while but I want the Made in Japan one because I heard that they sound better. Oops, another opinion the sales person has to deal with…
Neps
Well.., from my experience I have to say that I only shop at 2 music shops in Jo'Burg. It was made out of choice due to very good service and some VERY poor service from the others. I did not make a overnight decision after 1 bad experience, it happend over a period of about 4 months, and to this day if friends want stuff I refer them to where I got the best service. It's not just about service, it's about knowledge!
I've been in situations where I've asked realy stupid questions before getting gear, and the poor salesman had NO idea about the gear or how to implement it in my current rig. ???
There is however always a shining beacon of light, and I recently heard that one of my least favorite stores got their act together. Good for them. But it's up to managment to get their sales people up to speed on gear, and also up to us to actualy tell the manager if you got bad service. Thats the only way they can improve. And here I'm talking about bad people skills, and blatantly ignoring people, talking on cellphones, and my favorite being a complete idiot on such basic issues as 'does this pedal only output unbalanced signals?'
Wizard
Whether it was a good or bad idea to mention names is probably academic.
I'm sure that the presence of this topic, the strong views expressed and the active listening of music shop owners in the forum has led to a 'focus' on music shop service.
Any focus on consumerism can only be healthy, providing it is honest and accurate.
It would be stupid for someone to avoid a shop or salesman based on the opinion of one person anyway.
When forum members read reviews of guitars, they don't base their decision on a single negative review.
The members of these forums are not stupid.
They are intelligent consumers who will use the input here to form a balanced opinion of where to shop, using this as only one of the inputs.
I'm convinced the shops have heard the comments and responded positively and constructively to them.
Which is good.
Personally, I've skimmed over the negative stories and not remembered much.
I do remember the story of the man, his dog and the Ibanez that Alan couldn't touch.
But that was a well told funny story.
I'm far more interested in absorbing the positive reviews, as these are candidate places for me to go and spend my money.
Or ... more realistically ... reinforce that I'm already spending it at the right place.
(which is what it has done for me !!)
I'm a believer in open expression and consumerism
... IF improvement is the goal.
Manfred-Klose
Since this tread has been created, i have noticed improvements in service in some of the music shops i had mentioned before.
Although Recently i walked into a music shop 5-10 min before closing time and i was asked to leave, too bad as i was on my way to spend R600 to buy a pedal from the shop. their loss.
So we as forum members can make the world a better place.
Riaan-Combrink
Manfred Klose wrote
So we as forum members can make the world a better place.
I see a new competition coming on ... the GFSA
We are the World song with everyone dropping in a riff or solo!!!
Just teasing, MK ? That sentence just reminded me so much of
Heal the World! ?
