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got an sms from them yesterday (pre-black-bloomin-friday-bloomin-sale) which says they used to be music mate. then i hear via-via (their website, i think) that they used to be marshall music.

definitive answer anyone? is it music mate and marshall combined under one new branding enterprise? heeeeelp with the deconfusion... ???
dh|
    I'd be inclined to blacklist them based purely on the fact that they sms'd you. But then I'm OTT when it comes to sms spam
      I don't know anything about Music Mate partnering with but they were definitely Marshall Music before.
        Foottapiologist wrote: I'd be inclined to blacklist them based purely on the fact that they sms'd you. But then I'm OTT when it comes to sms spam
        yeah, i'm a little ocd when it comes to spam of any sort as well. can you believe how much black friday crap has been coming through over the past few days? unbelievable. but i did sign up for notifications from them when i bought something there a while back, so i can't really hold it against them.
        TokyoP0P wrote: I don't know anything about Music Mate partnering with but they were definitely Marshall Music before.
        well that's what's confusing. the website says 'formerly marshall' and marshall becoming mars makes sense, y'know. evolution and all. i guess time will tell...

        thanks all
        dh|
          Got the same SMS. The one in Pretoria east was definately music mate when I was there last. That was a while ago.
            The Marshall stores in Cape Town became a separate entity now known as Mars, they have partnered with Music Mate who will now be becoming Mars.

            Marshall still exists and have large stores in Joburg and I believe have just opened a store in Durbanville.
              Same sms Music Mate Boksburg now Mars music Boksburg.
                clear as mudd. some are marshall, some are music mate, some that were marshall and/or music mate are now mars.

                well that clears that up nicely
                dh|
                  Marshall Music Cape split up and became Mars Music in the Cape but remained Marshall Music elsewhere, that was a while ago.
                  Since then:-
                  Stage Audio Works, Marshall Music, Active Music distribution and Music Power distribution got together, this has now split up.
                  and then:-
                  Mars Cape, Stage Audio Works, Active Music and Music Mate have now got together and formed a new "umbrella" company called Mitech. Music Mate have now been re-branded Mars Music.

                  Marshall Music/Music Power carry on as a separate entity from the others.

                  A soap opera classic in the making.
                    And while all that boardroom shuffling was going on Johnny Guitarguy received all his orders from Aliexpress, Banggood, Thomann etc without a hitch
                      JGP wrote: Marshall Music Cape split up and became Mars Music in the Cape but remained Marshall Music elsewhere, that was a while ago.
                      Since then:-
                      Stage Audio Works, Marshall Music, Active Music distribution and Music Power distribution got together, this has now split up.
                      and then:-
                      Mars Cape, Stage Audio Works, Active Music and Music Mate have now got together and formed a new "umbrella" company called Mitech. Music Mate have now been re-branded Mars Music.

                      Marshall Music/Music Power carry on as a separate entity from the others.

                      A soap opera classic in the making.
                      OK, so who's importing Gibsons now? This is like three card Monty and I'vegot no clue where the Lady is anymore
                        There is actually no Gibson importer/distributor. Gibson International appoint individual stores as authorized dealers who then buy from overseas and import their own requirements. Both Marshall and Mars (but not all branches) are authorized dealers.
                          Joe Moore wrote: Here is a version I've heard :
                          There was a partnership between 2 guys who owned the Marshall group .
                          There was an unfriendly split.
                          The Cape Town guy changed his stores names to Mars Music .
                          The Jhb guys' stores are still called Marshall Music.
                          The Cape Town guy wants to teach the Jhb guy ( and the rest of the industry ) a lesson.
                          He teams up with the guys from Music Mate and they rename the existing Music Mate stores to Mars Music .
                          This new entity is also in the process of opening a 'huge' store in the Midrand area ( near the big mosque ) .
                          They plan to 'take over' the musical instruments industry ... ( apparently ) :-\
                          If Joe said this, then its all true. Just wait n see.

                          We in a time of recession, cleverer guys than me would open a megastore in mid rand....
                            Joe Moore wrote: They plan to 'take over' the musical instruments industry ... ( apparently ) :-\
                            so far as i'm concerned, the only way that's possible is range, pricing and, oh, pricing.

                            plus decent service. and dinkum pricing. i'm pretty sure i'm not the only guy on the forum and elsewhere who's sick of being ripped off and having to dig to the bowels of the earth for real deals
                            dh|
                              IceCreamMan wrote:
                              Joe Moore wrote: Here is a version I've heard :
                              There was a partnership between 2 guys who owned the Marshall group .
                              There was an unfriendly split.
                              The Cape Town guy changed his stores names to Mars Music .
                              The Jhb guys' stores are still called Marshall Music.
                              The Cape Town guy wants to teach the Jhb guy ( and the rest of the industry ) a lesson.
                              He teams up with the guys from Music Mate and they rename the existing Music Mate stores to Mars Music .
                              This new entity is also in the process of opening a 'huge' store in the Midrand area ( near the big mosque ) .
                              They plan to 'take over' the musical instruments industry ... ( apparently ) :-\
                              If Joe said this, then its all true. Just wait n see.

                              We in a time of recession, cleverer guys than me would open a megastore in mid rand....
                              Combine JPG, Chad and Joe's comments and that's pretty much what I've observed over the last 18mths or so.

                              I'm breaking out the popcorn for this one, definitely a soap opera in the making.

                              The hope would be sharper competition - but I wouldn't hold my breath. There might be a bit of a bun-fight initially...but I have my doubts distributors will easily give up their healthy margins locally. I kinda understand - as the market is fairly small for low margin, high volume approach like online retailers (musicians friend/amazon/zzsounds/etc). Locally, If they can 'fleece' a consumer with the full-fat RRP, they will.

                              I'm busy pricing a gig worthy bass combo (200W+ 15in). Noticed that for my choices, local RRP is +/-200% of US online retail. Fender Rumble 200 = R15k retail local, sale price R10.5k...my price after heavy negotiation...R7.5k. Online retail in the US is R6.7k. I can live with that margin - although it'll be for November only - and this price was as close to a endorsement deal one could get without signing anything (I have friends in low places ?).
                                If Joe says that, then yes, it's probably bang on the money.
                                The only way they can do that though is by having great service and cheap pricing, not trying to rip us a new one.
                                  Norman86 wrote: If Joe says that, then yes, it's probably bang on the money.
                                  The only way they can do that though is by having great service and cheap pricing, not trying to rip us a new one.
                                  joe's usually the guy in the know, i agree.
                                    From my Facebook feed:

                                    Music Mate
                                    Sponsored ·

                                    MARS MUSIC LANDING SALE!

                                    Mars Music is here! We are very excited to officially announce that Music Mate is becoming Mars Music.

                                    ......
                                      Even with their rebranding special, one item I'm interested in, is still 30 percent more expensive than takealot.
                                        Joe Moore wrote: Here is a version I've heard :
                                        There was a partnership between 2 guys who owned the Marshall group .
                                        There was an unfriendly split.
                                        The Cape Town guy changed his stores names to Mars Music .
                                        domhatch wrote:
                                        Norman86 wrote: If Joe says that, then yes, it's probably bang on the money.
                                        The only way they can do that though is by having great service and cheap pricing, not trying to rip us a new one.
                                        joe's usually the guy in the know, i agree.
                                        Hasie wrote: Even with their rebranding special, one item I'm interested in, is still 30 percent more expensive than takealot.
                                        They are SHARKS.... period
                                        Now that they inherited the MILLIONS owed to the Distributors by the Music Mate Group.... they will all go down in no time.
                                        They want to take over the " Musical Instruments Industry " ahahah that is the biggest joke I've heard in a long time.... most shops will close down in the next couple of years... including them...
                                        Soon the Banks will want their money back....
                                        Wait and see the next Episodes.
                                        The Jhb guys' stores are still called Marshall Music.
                                        The Cape Town guy wants to teach the Jhb guy ( and the rest of the industry ) a lesson.
                                        He teams up with the guys from Music Mate and they rename the existing Music Mate stores to Mars Music .
                                        This new entity is also in the process of opening a 'huge' store in the Midrand area ( near the big mosque ) .
                                        They plan to 'take over' the musical instruments industry ... ( apparently ) :-\