I didn't want to hijack the "In praise of" thread, but an interestng point was raised there and I think it is discussion worthy.

Is price the most important factor when deciding where to buy a guitar or other big ticket item?
What about accessories like strings, capos, tuners, stands, books?

For a large expenditure like a guitar, my first consideration is my comfort level in the store. If I feel good about the store and the people in it, I would overlook a higher price. If the price difference between it and other stores was too great I would say, "Look, I really want to buy from you, but I can't justify paying this price. Can you match the price of store X?" Close is good enough.

For small items like strings, etc., it is sort of a trade-off between price, convenience, and availability. There are four stores near my home and work that I go to and it depends who has what I need at the time that I need it and which store I'm closest to.

But, I feel comfortable buying guitars at only one of those stores.

As a dealer who does both walk and internet the most IMPORTANT thing is comfort.If the dealer doesn't feel right move on no matter what the price.I believe customer service is the most important issue.You can buy all that other stuff where ever,unless you feel that YOU want to support a store because there just good people.Sometimes overhead/profit dictate what a dealer can do.I can tell you that when it comes to price and thats the most important thing in deciding were to by from I've told people that I can't match someone and they should buy there.Its nothing personnal but the bottom line sometimes rule more then making a sale.I hope this helps.
As a buyer of guitars I buy what I like and the price be damned{most of the time} B)  

Price is certainly a consideration, but it is not the primary factor.  Even when buying on the internet I would want to feel comfortable and trusting of who I was buying from.  Fortunately we have several dealers on this forum that I would buy from in a heart beat.  That said, if a local shop had the guitar that I wanted and I was amazed by the tone, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it even if one of the "forum dealers" could beat their price by a couple hundred $s.  
-josh

To me price is an important consideration, but not the only one by far.

I look at what I am getting for what I spend, i.e., what level of service do I get, how do I feel about the person with whom I am doing business, are they doing anything to sweeten the deal, what (if anything) will be the long-term consequence of this deal, etc.

Frequently, when you buy a high ticket item, you are looking for more than just a rock bottom price, as you should be.

Also, I take the attitude that when a dealer sells me something, I want them to be happy they made the sale. They need to make enough money to stay in business so that if I need another, or if I need service, I want a satisfied dealer to whom I can return for help. On the other hand, if they are ecstatic over the deal, I probably didn't do enough comparison shopping or negotiation (haggling).

Luckily, with my Larrivees, I was very satisfied on all accounts with the dealer I chose. I got a very good price, many free extras and great service. I also feel that I have made a good friend which transcends any purchase considerations.

So the question becomes this:

If I was looking for another guitar, the dealer had one but I could beat the price elsewhere, would I pay the higher price to stay with the dealer?

Rob, you'll just have to wait and see.  :lol:

(Anyone have an OMV-03BW?)

So Don are you trying to say,SEE YOU NEXT WEEK SAME BAT TIME,SAME BAT STATION. :D


Sorry no  :( OMV03BW's

You know what, I just went to my most convenient guitar shop today to buy some strings but there's something that makes me feel uncomfortable about the place. Its definitely the staff, they just make you feel like you are bothering them. I ended up just 'browsing' and thought I would make the effort to go to my favourite shop a couple of miles away.

Price does matter but for strings I don't mind paying extra.

Price is important.  We are all pretty well educated on the subject throught the net.

With that said, service and people are equally important.  I won't give a dime to a shop that doesn't appreciate my business and back it up with good service and information.

I won't even buy strings there.  And if burned or misled they'll lose me and alot of other customers.

Brick and morter shops have to compete with the net.  Since that's the case I expect service to be the difference.

Sure, price is a prime consideration for me. Not the only one by far, but definitely the most important. I buy strings/picks at the cheapest possible place. Sorry but I'm a college student who shouldn't be spending the money anyway.

I'd love to buy a guitar locally. But when it comes to $200, parents' money, and college, I'm not going to spend $200 to keep my neighbor in business, I'm gonna keep that $200 and go with someone online. Selfish? I suppose it could be. I would love to buy locally. But there are dealers on this forum too... and what I'm most likely going to buy my guitar from, I'm not going strictly off of price. I'm going off who I'm most comfortable with and who I believe will give me the best service. I'm not running from dealer to dealer with price quotes. The reason I have to buy online is because some local dealers just won't go even close to the online deals.

However, I have been to a different local store who charges a tad more than some online stores, but I'd be willing to ignore that for the customer service and to support a local dealer.

If I truly was smart, I'd just never buy another guitar until after college and I don't have to worry about loans, money, a job, and other icky stuff.

[edit] oh, and that $200 difference IS enough for me to not buy the guitar at all if all dealers priced it at that[/edit]

Just as someone who likes local businesses to do well, I suggest buy locally from a private shop that you like, pay a fair price, and build a relationship with that shop.

If you don't support your local shops, someday we'll no longer have them.

Guitars are not really a commodity for most people.  They're a personal item and often need some support after the sale.

Price has to be considered but a good servicing dealer who will be there to help you after the sale is a higher priority for me. I'm lucky in that my favorite local guy offers prices as good or better than any online or big box dealer. Too bad he doesn't sell Larrivees. I try to support  local dealers especially the good guys. I love to visit my favorite dealer most Saturdays. I have a couple of friends who also go  and we usually have an informal jam session. The owner sometimes joins in if the store is not busy. Great fun playing all his high end toys. He even gives us grief if we get to playing his cheap stuff.  You just don't get that vibe and comraderie online or in a big store. Dealers make a lot of their money on strings and accessories so I buy as often as possible from them. But it ain't religion. I do occasionally by online from the smaller dealers or from our great forum member dealer friends.  

not to make trouble but I pay $3.85 plus for a set of string's and sell them for $5.00 dealer's don't get rich on strings believe me.Again I'm not trying to be nasty but strings are a small mark,especially if your like me we do string changes weekly and I do throw sets in all the time.Then again the main reason we carry strings is for string changes on stock. :blink:

Price is a consideration when I am buying a guitar.  This is mainly because guitars are so much more expensive here in Japan than in the states.  When I bought my Larrivee and Lowden online, even when having it shipping to Japan, it was hundreds of US$ cheaper than if I had bought it here ~ and that's if I could have found it here!  I didn't go running around from one online shop to another for my Larrivee with quotes because I found a dealer that I had really good communications with and he offered me a great price.  Maybe I could have gotten a better price if I looked around more, but to me the communication and relationship is more important than the hassle of nickle and diming.  It was also the first time I had bought ANYTHING on line and Dave at GA made me feel very comfortable with the process.

With the Lowden, I was "introduced" to someone who was selling a Lowden by a person who plays a Lowden.  They aren't the easiest guitars in the world to find.  Although during the transaction period of nearly 3-4 weeks, I found other Lowdens that were a bit more expensive, and a little bit cheaper.  Again, the communication and relationship building part is just as important, or even more important than the price.  We still keep in e-mail contact and I feel like I've made a "friend".  

I watch ebay a lot, but at the time I wasn't ready to go that route.  There's a lot of fun and excitment to be had during the buying process which money can't buy.

Again, just my 2 yen

John in Japan

LIke most big ticket items the bottom dollar is a factor in deciding where to purchase a guitar.But I know I have spent more at one dealer than another simply because I was comfortable with the staff there.
The closest shop to me where I can buy Larrivee's is at least 2.5 hours away from home so I do a lot of research on line,and I don't just mean price.I research woods,body styles,dimensions,etc... In other words,I need to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible before I make a long drive to examine a guitar firsthand.I take into account the opinions of a lot of the members of this forum also.
That way when I get to the shop I can ask intelligent questions,and hopefully receive the same kind of answers.I have bought several high end guitars on-line from a well known shop because I was educated enough to ask the right questions and knew what to expect in their response.And their prices were very competitive.Even if they would have been higher in price I would have still made those purchases because of the trust I've built up with that shop.
Having said that,if even one time I get treated less than fairly,or one of the staff would be less than honest with me...they would never get another nickel of mine no matter how low the price.
I guess what I'm saying is that price is just one part of the equation to me.There are a lot of other factors that are of equal importance.
Ron

Price is a consideration for me, but not the only thing. I too prefer to buy locally, however the nearest Larrivee dealer to me is Spruce Tree in Madison, Wis.

I bought both my Larrivees online from Dave at GA. I was looking for the most Guitar for the money I had to spend. I had a good rapport with Dave from the first time we spoke. I've also talked Uncle Rob and would be comfortable buying a guitar from him too! The final factor was the great info I got from the "Forum Sales Force."  :P  

I did play a number of Taylors, Martins and Alvarez Yiaris before going with Larrivee.


Mark

Price is always a consideration.  But feel there are other things that are just as important, such as service, convenience, being a name rather than a number to someone, help when needed, and most importantly honesty.  I have managed to develop a relationship with my local dealer, where yes I am a customer, but treated as a good friend.  Unfortunately they are not a Larrivee dealer, and have found none closer than 2 hours away.  But,as with unclerob, if they can't meet, beat, or come close to a price, they say so up front,and suggest I get the item at that price from whomever it is.  Their attitude is to creat a long term relationship with thier customers, rather than just a point of sale now to sell an item.  Are their prices always the lowest, no, but they go out of thier way before, during, and after a sale. which as a customer means alot.  For most things I will deal with my local dealer when at all possible.  I am a name, a friend, and most importantly treated as a valued customer.  To me this is worth a little extra I may pay from time to time.  

Just my $0.02      

Since we are not rich(as my wife frequently reminds me) price is important. However I am willing to pay more(not much) for a dealer who offers good service and sells quality merchandise that they look after. I prefer to shop locally when I can and support the small owner, however I have been enticed by Guitar Center at times when prices are to good to let go by. I guess I am a walking contradiction. Patrick

QuoteSince we are not rich(as my wife frequently reminds me) price is important. However I am willing to pay more(not much) for a dealer who offers good service and sells quality merchandise that they look after. I prefer to shop locally when I can and support the small owner, however I have been enticed by Guitar Center at times when prices are to good to let go by. I guess I am a walking contradiction. Patrick

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds ... " R. W. Emerson

I got both guitars (the Larrivee OM-03R and the Fender Stratocaster) and the Yamaha digital piano from the same store, Long&McQuade, which is actually part of the  25-store chain in Canada.
Last year, when I purchased the Larrivee, I was not very sensitive to encouraging "local" business as opposed to buying off the Internet. It was just the good deal that I got for the Larrivee (CAD1,000, down from 1,500) that mattered. However, at this Long&McQuade location (North York, Ontario) I met this salesguy, Murat, who, by his friendly attitude, really added a lot to the already good deal. Then I met the guitar tech, Darrell, another nice guy, and that's how I have become a loyal customer.
L&M match any (Canadian) competitor's price, but the attitude towards me, the customer, is the #1 reason why I keep going there.

i work hard for my money and spend lots of my time doing what it takes to get money. for me, price IS the bottom line---period. i love mom and pop shops and love to shop there, but if guitar center or musician friend can get it to me cheaper, i'm there. i've heard sob stories from small shop about how "they gotta make a living too..." well, i understand, but the answer is to get creative in your business and MAKE it happen for your store. not just complain that the other guys are putting you out of business. price is key. price is king.  

I seem to get locked into one kind of a guitar, so I then look around at various places for that guitar. I think that price is indeed a factor, but not the bottom line. I was going back and forth between a Gibson and my D-03 when the dealer dropped the price on the Larrivee. That was a no-brainer for me then.
I recently acquired a Santa Cruz totally by accident, but it was the shop/salesman who was patient enough that finally made the sale. Otherwise, I was Gassing for a Martin D-18GE.
There are some stores that I feel funny in, but I try to go the extra mile and start up a conversation with the owner/salesperson. Usually, you can always learn something new from them. I don't mind saying that the one guitar shop I felt uncomfortable in was Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville. It was probably just me, but I found the aura was too sterile for a guitar shop. While I totally understand their reasons, having to ask someone to hand you a used $500 guitar off of a floor stand kind of puts a damper on my GAS trip.
One other thing is that I think customers are sometimes too hard on dealers. A lot of the shops I like are ones where they don't jump all over you when you walk in the door. I've talked to some people who think that shows poor customer service. So, I am sure that dealers are caught in the middle.
One last thing, when I was in Florida I never made it over to Rob's shop. But he did point me to a good shop in Panama City. It was my kind of shop. They had an acoustic room and the guy was so acomadating that he actually offered to closed the sliding door to the entire room to allow me to play to my heart's content. So, that's what I am talking about.
--Fred

Yeah, I wouldn't call many music stores bad. Except some here in my hometown of Everett north of Seattle... One store is completely dirty. I mean, think of the dirtiest stores you've ever seen and multiply it times 10... that's what you get. I was told it was dirty, but it was way dirty. They had about 6 guitars, all things I've never heard of, and tons of music-related junk all over the floors and shelves and was filled with smoke. The second shop had some nicer guitars, but was also filled with smoke and just an icky feeling. The third shop wasn't bad at all. It wasn't meant to be a guitar shop, and for not meaning to be one they had some nice guitars. But only about 6, and none were amazing to me. But it was mostly a violin/repair shop. All within a block.

I've had so much better experiences at other small local shops, there was one that really went the extra mile with me and had great prices to boot. The outside was dirty, but the inside was great (which seems to apply to lots of guitar shops). I would most definitely buy from them if they sold Larrivée. But they don't. No local local shops do.

I guess I'm conflicted. I really like the guitars and service of Cathedral Music in Troy and have bought four fairly expensive guitars from him; a Webber, Larrivee, Breedlove and a Kenny Hill, and I enjoy traveling to his shop when I am in Albany (about ten minutes away). His store however, is about 200 miles from my home, so I guess luckily I don't get there too often or I am sure more would have followed me home by now.

I also bought two guitars over the internet (Larrivee & Tacoma), and have been happy with both experiences.

I guess, for me anyway, when I am in a store I can get to know the guitar, appreciate the wood, sound, the whole experience. On the net, you can't engage those senses, so I guess price and the look of the woods make more of a difference for an internet buying decision.

I do buy my strings and some of my gear from Cathedral, as the cost difference is not great, and my thought is that I'd like to see the store remain in business and the few extra pennies is my small contribution. If that makes the difference on his being able to pay the rent that month, than it was a good investment.

Andy