Sweetwater: "call backs" = annoying. any other retailers?

[cardinal]

So I live in the middle of nowhere which means I buy most gear online.
I've used sweetwater a few times, Musicians friend, ZZounds and Music 123.
Any other suggestions?

i hate having some sweetwater rep call me after every order or web purchase. that drives me crazy... I use to be in sales...never again.

[Empire Prod]

Originally Posted by cardinal

i hate having some sweetwater rep call me after every order or web purchase. that drives me crazy... I use to be in sales...never again.

Wow....I think they are probably just trying to confirm and/or double check your order so that you can receive the best possible service. I would be happy about the extra attention to detail. Why would one phone call send you off the edge?

[cardinal]

Originally Posted by Empire Prod

Wow....I think they are probably just trying to confirm and/or double check your order so that you can receive the best possible service. I would be happy about the extra attention to detail. Why would one phone call send you off the edge?

The up-selling. You can't just buy something. They ask you if you want a microphone or a plug in or a new computer etc.

Also, they call you randomly throughout the year, trying to get you to buy more things. They are like telemarketers.

[Empire Prod]

Originally Posted by cardinal

The up-selling. You can't just buy something. They ask you if you want a microphone or a plug in or a new computer etc.

Also, they call you randomly throughout the year, trying to get you to buy more things. They are like telemarketers.

Hmmmmmmm they have never once done any of those things to me, and I've been a customer since 2002.

[cardinal]

that's weird. Maybe i should request a new sweetwater rep

[Empire Prod]

Originally Posted by cardinal

that's weird. Maybe i should request a new sweetwater rep

Yeah I would. I would also complain to management about his tactics.

[emfrank72]

My rep doesn't call me after orders (he usually sends and email instead) but will call me every 3 or 4 months to see if I need anything. I don't know why he bothers as I don't really buy much from there but it doesn't bother me that much.

[BLUElightCory]

I'd request a new rep. My Sweetwater rep (Jason Koons) does call after purchases and once in awhile, but he never tries to sell me anything I don't want/need and he's very good about finding the answers to any questions I might have. I'm very impressed with the service and the once-in-a-while calls are never a bother. He just basically calls to make sure everything I've purchased is working out and also to make sure he hasn't dropped any balls along the way. Great service.

Cory Spotts

[biggator6]

I've been using them on and off for years - I get very polite calls a couple times per year (always pleasant - never pressure or upselling)... and yes, after orders.

My rep has never tried to upsell me - and even once caught an issue where I bought a gift for someone and hadn't noticed that the item didn't come with a power supply - was a separate item... I would've sent someone a useless gift (yeah, it's stupid that Roland sells things without power supplies... but I digress).

They're ok by me.

[jho]

Originally Posted by cardinal

that's weird. Maybe i should request a new sweetwater rep

Steve DiMaggio ext. 1234

[A LaMere]

I've had great luck with them... and still make purchases there every once in awhile...

If you want them to stop calling... seriously, I think you can just ask.

[credentialed]

There are several retailers right here on gearslutz.com. Check in the high end forum.
Arthur

[credentialed]

You might get some ideas here:
Online gear retailers
Arthur

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by cardinal

The up-selling. You can't just buy something. They ask you if you want a microphone or a plug in or a new computer etc.

Also, they call you randomly throughout the year, trying to get you to buy more things. They are like telemarketers.

They've done the same to me. I don't really blame them, they probably work on commission and/or need sales #'s for job security, along with others trying to get their job + competition from every other dealer. And I didn't even call them once, it was just an internet order.

Yet I have a secrete weapon; Answering machine. I never pick up the phone anymore....I screen every freaking call. Sweetwater wasn't the first or last to cold call me.

[True North]

Try Alto Music and ask for Bobby in recording - they are also a full service music store

Craig at Calistro is good

Warren from Front End Audio is a top notch guy and on this site

Tony Belmont from High Profile Audio knows his stuff and is on this site

[uncle duncan]

+1 for Front End Audio

[chrispick]

Originally Posted by Empire Prod

Hmmmmmmm they have never once done any of those things to me, and I've been a customer since 2002.

They never try to upsell me either. Usually, it's a really quick courtesy call making sure I received everything intact and in working order. I'm happy to get that sort of call.

[severe]

Well, yea.. there are a number of GS members/sales reps that could help you right here.

However, I've never been troubled by Sweetwater with what little interaction I've had.

[Pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by True North

Try Alto Music

[bangbang]

i've had no trouble with musician's friend, whether it's a question, return, or order. my first mpc i think came from americanmusical.com. this was when the 2000xl was sold stripped or with different expansion packages, in 2002. i shopped all the sites and they had either a slightly better price, or were the only ones to have some other accessory i wanted.

[dsl]

Originally Posted by uncle duncan

+1 for Front End Audio

+2

[darkwater]

They used to do this to me, too. It's very annoying when you work at a busy studio where the phone is often very busy and it's important to keep the lines free. In my situation, these calls seemed particularly superfluous.

I emailed the guy rep that filled my order and told him to put a note in my file that says specifically NOT TO CALL. He emailed right back and said that was perfectly fine, and that it's just their protocol to double check that everything went to my satisfaction. I really appreciate a personal touch, but I don't need this extra service, and frankly don't have time for it.

It's all good, though, and no harm done. You just have to let them know how you feel about it.

[oudplayer]

Ron Daniel is my sales rep - he sends the occasional informative email with some sales pitch included, I don't particularly mind since it's not a very frequent thing and there is useful information in there typically. No unwanted calls. He knows quite a bit about audio, so it was pleasurable to do business with him.

I've had bad experiences with musicians "friend" and zzound and wouldn't order from them again.

For pro gear, my fav. dealer is Nathan @ Atlas Pro Audio.

[Jsx]

I've heard people talk about this before and my advice would be to request a different representative or just tell the one you have how you feel. I've been using Sweetwater for the past several years when purchasing software, various utilities, and the occasional headphones/cheap dynamic/etc and I have never received any sales pitch calls. My sales rep (Patrick Dennis, for the record) sends me perhaps two unsolicited emails a year, and always with useful information in it. He seems very interested in his job and has pointed out special deals that are "behind the scenes" on several occassions, at times presenting a wonderful opportunity.

Having a "personal" sales rep can be a great benefit when little things go wrong, like a stand showing up with a broken knob or something equally miniscule yet annoying. Through their company they can pull around a lot of weight with certain manufacturers - something which you can't truly appreciate until one of those annoying mishaps show up. I love the knowledge, detail, and boutique selection of companies like Atlas Pro Audio and Mercenary, but for certain things I really appreciate having Sweetwater around.

[Nu-tra]

Front end audio

[doorknocker]

I also have problems with the term '****' here, seems to me like some words are vastly being inflated in American English ('great' comes to mind too).

Sweetwater's sales tactics might not be to everyone's liking but that doesn't make them '****s', damn!

And to the guy whose studio business suffers because of the occasional 'follow up call': Lucky you, if you're so busy then you're doing something right! But what about an answering machine? I make it a point never to pick up the phone during a session unless we're taking a break. In the past I always got annoyed when studio sessions were disrupted by some engineer's phone business.

As for Sweetwater, my only experience with them was inquiring about the then just-released native DUY Valve plug-in. They couldn't deliver it despite promising to do so and immedeately I got e-mails to the tune of 'Hi, I'm Joe Blow, your sales engineer @ Sweetwater and my interests are surfing, philosophy, compressors and my 3 great kids. How's your studio business and what else do you need that I can order for you?'.

It was mildly annoying because frankly I don't care about the hobbies of 'my sales engineer', I just want good and fast service! I have zero interest talking about personal matters with somebody I don't know, even if it's just 'small talk'.

BTW, another dealer could get me the DUY plug within a few days (and for a better price) and while this was just a one-off experience, I still have the feeling that less obvious 'sales tactics' and more TCB would be advisable for some Sweetwater 'engineers'.

But 'Phone ****s'?

(that thread title was deleted by GS admin)

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Jsx

Having a "personal" sales rep can be a great benefit when little things go wrong, like a stand showing up with a broken knob or something equally miniscule yet annoying. Through their company they can pull around a lot of weight with certain manufacturers - something which you can't truly appreciate until one of those annoying mishaps show up.

Well, this is what's happening when I deal with say Mike Nehra at Vintage King. He will be my 'personal sales rep', that's just understood and there's no need for any induction ceremonies. In the rare cases that I had a problem with a unit bought from VK it was resolved immedeately.

When the power supply of a new IBP was making some strange noises (but still worked) Mike contacted Little Labs immedeately and I got a spare unit within days, and I'm in Switzerland. Not only that but he also told me 'Throw away your faulty unit because returning it would be too expensive for you'. THAT'S great service and my experiences with Mercenary, Golden Age Music in Sweden and Sonicworld in Germany were equally positive.......

Again, I have nothing against Sweetwater and I would even buy from them under the right circumstances. But it seems that they make a lot of fuss about things that should be just a given.

[Crandak]

I had an experience a number of years ago. There was a sales guy that I liked but since I hadn't called in so long I was assigned a new one. I was going to take out an apple loan for 5k but the wife put the kabosh on that. When I told the guy that I couldn't go through with the deal he told me he would never sell me anything ever again!

Got rid of the wife and have spent much more than that 5k since then. Who needs the hassle. Won't ever call there again. there are too many decent people out there to deal with.

[bangbang]

Originally Posted by Crandak

I had an experience a number of years ago. There was a sales guy that I liked but since I hadn't called in so long I was assigned a new one. I was going to take out an apple loan for 5k but the wife put the kabosh on that. When I told the guy that I couldn't go through with the deal he told me he would never sell me anything ever again!

Got rid of the wife and have spent much more than that 5k since then. Who needs the hassle. Won't ever call there again. there are too many decent people out there to deal with.

too many decent people? you, my friend, have to be in sales, or just have a very generous view of salespeople. it's refreshing to see. i am in sales, and throughout different fields (all sales) have always encountered aggression. even my mechanic friend, one of my closest friends, says he hates salespeople. as if mechanics have such a great reputationfuuck! BTW, how'd you get rid of the wife?

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Crandak

Got rid of the wife and have spent much more than that 5k since then. Who needs the hassle.

The wife or Sweetwater?