Best Stores!

[Hexfix93]

end thread.

[XHipHop]

This is about to open up a can of worms....

What are you trying to buy?

Why don't you just google it all and find who has good prices?

[boboji]

Please PM me or email me at boboji@san.rr.com

[Hexfix93]

[QUOTE=XHipHop]This is about to open up a can of worms....
never mind.

[Fletcher]

Bestest prices? Calistro Music; Alto Music; SoundPure; Tidepool Audio has had some pretty wicked deals... and Pacific Pro Audio and Bayview Pro Audio... and let's not forget Gearslutz advertisers "Discount Pro Audio Direct" [a.k.a. "Atlanta Pro Audio"]... and then there is GC Pro [also a GS advertiser] and I'm sure a few others I have either missed or not heard of.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Bestest prices? Calistro Music; Alto Music; SoundPure; Tidepool Audio has had some pretty wicked deals... and Pacific Pro Audio and Bayview Pro Audio... and let's not forget Gearslutz advertisers "Pro Audio Direct" [a.k.a. "Atlanta Pro Audio]... and then there is GC Pro [also a GS advertiser] and I'm sure a few others I have either missed or not heard of.

I'm sure whichever ones you've missed have already sent him a private message.

[Hexfix93]

some days i post too much stupid stuff..

[reinvention.of.man]

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

Well, i am ready to buy a whole lot of stuff. Which store gives the best deals? gets you closer to cost? I hate paying inflated high end gear prices.... who's got the best deals out there?

mtlc.net ( For sample CDs )
altomusic.com ( Everything )
ebay.com ( For accessories-mic stands, headphones, etc..)
bhphotovideo.com ( Good price on monitors )
bayviewproaudio.com ( For Avalon mic pres )
webmusicsupply.com ( For Manley prices )
soundpure.com ( Everything )
savedbytechnology.com ( Price on Apogee Big Ben )
bswusa.com ( For mics, headphones, etc )

Most stores will price match-Sam Ash and Guitar Center

[kifaru]

The low price leader is not always the best dealer to mess with. I cannot reccomend anyone of those stores on Fletcher's list but I can tell you that I feel like I have gotten eiither poor product or very poor service from two. PM me for the details.

[84K]

No "one" dealer is 'always' cheaper than the others... All dealers are competitive. You have to call around

[dolo]

this might backfire and may get some people in trouble. this is the type of stuff you do in pm's or in confidence.


there goes the good deals!

[Hexfix93]

......

[Mark Warren]

Believe it or not Guitar Center can be a place to buy high end gear. They will often beat prices on Chandler, SPL, Royer, Apogee etc. vs. any of the online places.

It really depends which GC you go to and who works there though. If the person you're talking to isn't familiar with brands like the above then skip it, but sometimes you can find someone who will totally hook you up.

They often won't charge shipping on special orders, but you may end up paying sales tax, which balances out. Of course the problem is that it's not easy to return something there if you don't like it, as their return policy is nothing like Mercenary's for example.

[CaliTone]

We've order quite a bit from Alto Music, and never had a problem. For selection and service, Mercenary's hard to beat.

[djui5]

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

Well for one, i'd like to hook someone up on the forum, i think references are cool.

Not sure what your buying, but I like Sweetwater Tell them Randy Wright sent you.

Other than that, look into Audio One in Florida. audioone.com I think.

[pan60]

well to me the best price is not always the best deal!
so

i like Mercenary ******//www.mercenary.com/ Fletcher
i like ******//www.atlasproaudio.com/ Nathan
i like Sweetwater ******//www.sweetwater.com/ mark ex 1316
i like these place's because their price are in line and i have received nothing but respect and good solid advise from them.
if you develop a relationship with a business and or salesman you will ultimately get the best deal in the long run period!

[Rob G]

My vote is for Sweetwater too. Ask for Ted at 1-800-222-4700 extension 1397, or Megan his assistant. They are 'real' pro's who 'know' what they're talking about, and can custom tailor a system for you no matter what the price range. Also their after sales service is top notch as well which has astonished me. Most online, or mail-order retailers could care less about you after the initial sale is made. Not the people at Sweetwater. Sweetwater is there when you need them including before, during, & after the sale. At least that's my experience with Ted, & Megan his assistant.

Rob G..

P.S.: I don't work for Sweetwater, am not a consultant(in this particular case), & I'm not coming from any type of angle that could be construed as a conflict of interests in this. Straight endorsement based upon my experience with Sweetwater's excellent sales, & service.

[redrue]

Absolute best prices I've found anywhere are from Studio Tech Supply in
Burnet, Texas. Call and talk to AL. The most professional, customer service
oriented owner-operated outfit there is. Google their name.

Nathan at Atlas Pro Audio was also great to deal with.

[joelgtrnut]

The trick is to pick a place that you what to do business with and develop a relationship with a very good and knowledgable rep. Buy a lot of gear, and get ridiculous discounts on everything. You will have top notch service too. Its all about who you know.

[garymusic]

Originally Posted by Rob G

My vote is for Sweetwater too. Ask for Ted at 1-800-222-4700 extension 1397, or Megan his assistant. They are 'real' pro's who 'know' what they're talking about, and can custom tailor a system for you no matter what the price range. Also their after sales service is top notch as well which has astonished me. Most online, or mail-order retailers could care less about you after the initial sale is made. Not the people at Sweetwater. Sweetwater is there when you need them including before, during, & after the sale. At least that's my experience with Ted, & Megan his assistant.

Rob G..

P.S.: I don't work for Sweetwater, am not a consultant, or a party that establish any kind of conflict of interests in this. Straight endorsement base upon my experience with Sweetwater's excellent sales, & service.

Yep, Ted's a great guy. Always is a good source for advice on what to buy. I like Sweetwater because because they treat you with respect. I buy some things at GC too. Sometimes you can do well but you have to know your prices.

PS: I don't work for Sweetwater either.

[maskedman72]

mike neera at vintage king audio is top shelf.

[drummin4christ]

www.studiotechsupply.com

AL is great to work with.

[ImJohn]

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

Well, i am ready to buy a whole lot of stuff. Which store gives the best deals? gets you closer to cost? I hate paying inflated high end gear prices.... who's got the best deals out there?

As you may have heard, lowest price isn't everything. But, I suspect you are in a situation similar to mine where 99% of what you do is record your own band/projects so you don't have to worry about loosing paying clients because your gear is down etc.

Even so, I still often pay the sometimes higher prices of the smaller pro audio dealers because it seems the older I get, the less tolerance I have for BS.

Head and shoulders above all dealers I've worked with is Mercenary Audio ( www.mercenary.com ) when it comes to service and support. If you get something from them and it has a problem they jump on it like a precision special forces/swat team and get it resolved yesterday! Even for an independant self serving pretty much a nobody part timer like me! I feel any extra dollars I spend at Mercenary are well worth it for the added value of their support. And in at least one instance an item I bought from one of the 'big discounters' was higher priced than the price posted on Mercenary's sight so . . . . check carefully.


Honorable mentions :
Nathan at www.atlasproaudio.com
Eric Radey at www.fullcompass.com
Dave Ensminger at www.bswusa.com

Favorite blindly-buy-the-box-here house :
www.americanmusical.com

Bst of luck!

[feyshay]

Digitraxx has some sweet deals on software.
My interactions with sweetwater have been good, although my sales rep is not as informed as one mentioned above.
Guitar Center has been very kind to me. You pay for tax, but they will give you breaks and you don't have to pay for shipping if you return.

[RecTeach]

I have dealt with quite a few companies but I stopped "switching around" when I got to Sonic Circus. Great prices, but much better than that is their customer service.

Let's face it guys (and gals) most all the big boys are going to be within 1 or 2 points of each other so what are we really looking for? What good is $50 cheaper on a 4k EQ if that particular dealer has no pull with the manufacturer and can't get you the piece for 4 months?

I am at the point with Dave at Sonic Circus where I don't even ask about the price anymore. If I need something I just call and say "hey I need a X by the end of the week" and it's there. And 9 times out of 10 its lower than most competitors but the most important thing is that I actually GOT the gear when I needed it.

Just my 2 cents...

Sorry for the rant below...

PS... GC sucks ass. I literally can not go in a GC anymore because I would come close to vomiting from the 18 year old with acne trying to tell me that "X" mic (which is 5k usually) is good because of something like "uh, I'm not sure it just sounds really good on everything, dribble...dribble....drool...etc.). Oh, and lately they have been using "fat" to descibe as well. Unfortunately the idiot sales manager didn't tell they what exactly "fat" was so don't ask them.... like I did

Sweetwater has the "nice guy" approach working for them but all they know are stats. None of those guys work in a studio and actually use the stuff. They can tell you what the 'EIN' of something is but can't tell you how it sounds other than again "uh, really good".

[Bob Olhsson]

To me what separates the men from the boys is what happens when the thing breaks. Real pro dealers cover your ass with a loaner within a few hours. One such "problem" can easily cost you lots more in lost revenue than anything you might have saved shopping someplace else.

[reinvention.of.man]

Originally Posted by RecTeach

I have dealt with quite a few companies but I stopped "switching around" when I got to Sonic Circus. Great prices, but much better than that is their customer service.

Let's face it guys (and gals) most all the big boys are going to be within 1 or 2 points of each other so what are we really looking for? What good is $50 cheaper on a 4k EQ if that particular dealer has no pull with the manufacturer and can't get you the piece for 4 months?

I am at the point with Dave at Sonic Circus where I don't even ask about the price anymore. If I need something I just call and say "hey I need a X by the end of the week" and it's there. And 9 times out of 10 its lower than most competitors but the most important thing is that I actually GOT the gear when I needed it.

Just my 2 cents...

Sorry for the rant below...

PS... GC sucks ass. I literally can not go in a GC anymore because I would come close to vomiting from the 18 year old with acne trying to tell me that "X" mic (which is 5k usually) is good because of something like "uh, I'm not sure it just sounds really good on everything, dribble...dribble....drool...etc.). Oh, and lately they have been using "fat" to descibe as well. Unfortunately the idiot sales manager didn't tell they what exactly "fat" was so don't ask them.... like I did

Sweetwater has the "nice guy" approach working for them but all they know are stats. None of those guys work in a studio and actually use the stuff. They can tell you what the 'EIN' of something is but can't tell you how it sounds other than again "uh, really good".

True! GC always had someone who looks and acts like that...lol

But $600-700 less than 4k is a deal! Every retailer has there own deals. If you want to pay more cause of good service, then more power to ya! I perfer to make music and not throw away $$$. That $600-700 can be put to a something else. There will always be something better in someones eyes.

[Hans Styer]

you can chew down the prices at several stores such as Alto, Studio tech,
Sonic circus, soundpure etc.
I've always received the best advice on what to buy from Calistro Music.
Hans Styer.

[Rob G]

To add to what I've stated before. Not only do I get the best in professional sales, & service from Sweetwater but, I get the best prices too. And believe you me I shop around. The only way I would'nt purchase anything from Sweetwater is if I want to buy something thats part of a manufacturers line that they don't carry(which by the way I've found to be extremely rare), or I need to make a purchase of something immediatly, & can't get it from Sweetwater since they're out of state relative to my home base. If I know what I need/want at least 24 to 48 hours in advance it's coming to me from Sweetwater. Same goes for my business partners, & direct associates. And when technology allows me to perform a purchase transaction by thought wave, & delivery can come to me by way of beeming/transformation vs. Fed Ex, or UPS then everything will come to me from Sweetwater whether I need something 2 weeks from now, or 2 seconds from now.

Rob G..

[tvanveen]

Gotta say Nathan has been awesome. thumbsup