Where to purchase?

Subtronik · Post by **Subtronik** » Sat May 30, 2009 10:09 am

Lux_Seeker wrote:I guess I am not looking for a consultant on my gear as much but they have let me know a few things before I made a purchase. For more info than that I read magazines like SOS and EM and post to boards like this. When I make a purchase I tend to know what I want and all I really care about is price and the time it takes to get the order to me and on both counts Sweetwater has come through.

Exactly.

I don't need a salesman to hold my hand and walk me through what I'm buying. I do weeks of research before buying anything new.

Analog! · Post by **Analog!** » Sat May 30, 2009 5:04 pm

latigid on · Post by **latigid on** » Sat May 30, 2009 6:21 pm

I've bought gear from both Nova and Sweetwater. The value from each was about US$1800 and $5000 respectively. I asked each for a discount. Yes from Nova (+ discounted shipping), no from Sweetwater, but free shipping.

Both took a long time (2-3 months), as their stock needed to come in. I got an email from the Managing Director of Nova offering his apologies and an extra EP-2 (and by that time the EP-1s I ordered had changed to EP-2s

). Nothing else from Sweetwater.

I also found the email exchanges (it takes lots to organise an international order) were prompt at Nova's end, but would often take a week(s) from Sweetwater.

Overall, I was a lot happier with my order from Nova Musik and the only reason I went to Sweetwater was the latter had a bigger stock range; I had to order all at once to save on shipping.

Subtronik · Post by **Subtronik** » Sat May 30, 2009 6:26 pm

psmoog wrote:My experience...dirty car salesmen vibe. I didn't purchase from them for that very reason. Also I did say, it could have just been the sales people I talked to. I also said there is probably good sales people that are employed there. If I am to offer my honest opinion on purchasing gear, I say not sweetwater. That is from personal experience. I am not making this up just to slam that company.

But that's still solely based on a 'vibe' you got, you never made an actual transaction.

That would be like me telling people you're probably a thief, just because you seem shady.

Analog! · Post by **Analog!** » Sat May 30, 2009 11:31 pm

Jrayk Roze · Post by **Jrayk Roze** » Sun May 31, 2009 3:35 pm

psmoog wrote:just because they are a big business doesn't mean i should trust anyone. i could care less what you or anyone says about me. i didn't like the people i dealt with at sweetwater, so i do not recommend them. get over it.

NO, dammit; someone is WRONG on the internet!

Subtronik · Post by **Subtronik** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:48 pm

Whatever

I still say it's BS to use negative conjecture when talking about a companies livelihood.

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:54 pm

I have bought a lot from Sweetwater over the years. I have always received first class service. I've bought relative inexpensive cables, etc., and have taken advantage of free shipping. I have obtained discounts for more expensive gear. They are my retailer of first choice.

I have also bought from NovaMusik and have had good experiences. I also like Humbucker Music out of Georgia a lot.

I am not employed by any of them. I just buy a lot of stuff.

Voltor07 · Post by **Voltor07** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:22 pm

I'd trust Sweetwater before I'd trust Musician's Friend.

CTRLSHFT · Post by **CTRLSHFT** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:25 pm

Voltor07 wrote:I'd trust Sweetwater before I'd trust Musician's Friend.

ditto!

Subtronik · Post by **Subtronik** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:35 pm

Musicians Friend said they'd go as low as $3270 for the Voyager Select, which is only $25 off the retail price. That was the best deal they could give me

Guitar Center on the other hand said they'd go 10% lower than anyone else, but they can't get me the mahogany cabinet, that's exclusive to Sweetwater.

I've never dealt with Nova Musik, but they sound like they know how to treat a customer.

CTRLSHFT · Post by **CTRLSHFT** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:44 pm

Subtronik wrote:Musicians Friend said they'd go as low as $3270 for the Voyager Select, which is only $25 off the retail price. That was the best deal they could give me

Guitar Center on the other hand said they'd go 10% lower than anyone else, but they can't get me the mahogany cabinet, that's exclusive to Sweetwater.

I've never dealt with Nova Musik, but they sound like they know how to treat a customer.

One thing that's really tricky about GC's price matching is that it's only 10% off of the difference between GC's retail price and the competitor's. So like say they offer to price match Synth X that's $900 on some site, and GC wants $1000 for it normally, you end up getting it for $890+sales tax (unless you live in a state w/o a GC, but that's pretty rare,) which in most cases will actually be more than you could get it for on the other site. Lame-o, eh?

Subtronik · Post by **Subtronik** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:48 pm

Yeah I know that game.

Sam Ash was going to do that too until I said "where's the savings if I have to pay a sales tax?", and the rep said he'd give it to me 'out the door' for whatever print out price I brought in from another dealer. I was done haggling at that point.

Voltor07 · Post by **Voltor07** » Sun May 31, 2009 8:14 pm

Subtronik wrote:Yeah I know that game.

Sam Ash was going to do that too until I said "where's the savings if I have to pay a sales tax?", and the rep said he'd give it to me 'out the door' for whatever print out price I brought in from another dealer. I was done haggling at that point.

I thought I did fairly well at Sam Ash when I paid $1400 and change out the door, Cook County Illinois tax, stand, Little Phatty and amp included.

I buy my cables there during their sales now, but that's about it. The next time I buy something Moog (Taurus III's not included) I'll go through Nova Musik. Much better deals and prettier synths to be had there.