Too many audio stores are just middlemen now [Rant]

[Mardi Gras]

Okay so i've been hunting everywhere trying to demo a nord lead 2X in the UK.

NOBODY keeps them in stock, in fact it was the exact same deal with some of the waldorf blofeld keyboard.

Everywhere I've been/contacted has required me to buy the synth before they'll order it in. Doesn't this completely defeat the point of even having a shop? I really wish stores would STOCK the items theyre selling. No one pulls the trigger on a £915 synthesizer without haven't touched it.. how do they expect to make sales?

Yes I've listened to every possible youtube demo etc but it's really not the same. I want to feel how the keybed plays, the quality of the knobs etc...

/Rant over

[skanker]

if you buy anything online its within your rights to send the item back within a two week period for any reason you see fit.

maybe the way to go...

[Syn303]

Most UK music stores are like this, the fact is most don't say if they have stock in or they don't, even on their web shops. But there are some smaller music stores who actually state whether they have it in stock or they don't.

Basically the big music stores are only box shifters, hence why you have to buy before you can try as they have none available in-store for demo purposes.

Some music stores allow you to return the item within 30 days if you are not satisfied with it and your money is refunded without any questions.

[Mardi Gras]

I looked into the 30 day return thing, a lot of the UK online stores ask the customer to pay shipping of the returned item for a nord lead thats not exactly cheap

[d1rtynyc]

Jeez that stinks.
We don't have issues like that in the US, at least in major cities.
Sometimes the dealer will have an "open box" that someone returned, but that is normally the worst case.

My main problem with audio shops is most just sell the same shit. On top of that for the exact same prices. You can always get a deal if you are smart.

What happened to shops having interesting cool shit?

I miss walking into a store and checking out a new piece of gear or synth that I have not seen, but only heard about. I guess the internet makes that harder every day not to know every last detail of everything. It is a bit harder to get excited about gear now.

[Acid Mitch]

My local Gutar Guitar store always has Nords on display and generally has them in stock.
Their website(which is usually reliable) states they have one in stock that can be shiped by 3pm today.

[Acid Mitch]

At my local shops the price is always close to the RRP.
I usually look around on the internet before going and get them to do a price match (they never do a better deal, only matching).
The thing I find funny is that they have websites and then complain about "internet pricing" and how they cant compete.
If they have a website they are part of the internet, but the staff don't seem to see it like that.

[skanker]

Originally Posted by Mardi Gras

I looked into the 30 day return thing, a lot of the UK online stores ask the customer to pay shipping of the returned item for a nord lead thats not exactly cheap

where you based in the North East?
i used to live up there and shopped at Soundslive in Newcastle. they stock Nord as far as i know.

[Fordy]

Originally Posted by skanker

if you buy anything online its within your rights to send the item back within a two week period for any reason you see fit.

maybe the way to go...

Not entirely accurate. I deal with returns as part of my job and under the UK's distance selling regulations you have 7 days to notify the supplier (starting from the day after it was received) that you would like to return it for a refund.

If you do it within the 7 days you are legally entitled to a refund on the return postage. Not sure how some companies would deal with that though as you would need to insure it and postage wouldn't be cheap. I would think that it would be cheaper for the company if they collected it. I know www.gear4music.com offer to collect all returns no matter how small.

I buy all my synths (where possible) from www.dv247.com as they offer 4 year warranties on their gear.

Some companies (like mine) offer more than 7 days. We let you keep it for up to 30 days before returning it for a refund.

[Mardi Gras]

Originally Posted by skanker

where you based in the North East?
i used to live up there and shopped at Soundslive in Newcastle. they stock Nord as far as i know.

Yea I've been intothe soundslive store. The only nords they have instock were the stage keyboards :( they won't order a nl2x in because they'd have to buy it first.

[memristor]

Stock is dead capital so every business tries to minimize stock nowadays
Just-in-time they call it

[skanker]

thats a shame fella,
im in manchester now and i know dawsons music in the city centre stock nord as they have a huge window dispay of them.
give them a call if you've not already.

NordKeyboards&Pianos | Dawsons Music


if not it looks like you'll have to order online and hope its what your looking for. if you do have to send it back it wont cost more than £30 fully insured.
you would'nt even be able to hire one for the day for that price.