Music Retail

[ChrisW]

Research appears to suggest service in Aussie retail is lacking.
This is the area commentators and retail researchers say bricks and mortar stores need to improve to compete with the web.
By and large I haven't found that. It seems pretty good most of the time IMO. In fact my main bug bear is too much service.

[mike]

As of a couple of years ago it is illegal to advertise an ex-gst price without also quoting the gst inclusive price.

...unless the price they quoted includes GST & the RRP doesn't.

Drum shop in the city got me with this last year. I didn't even realise the extra 130 bucks on my bill until it clicked: in store it was all ex-gst price negotiation and he got me at the register by adding the gst. Thought about going back but it's hard for music stores to survive, so I didn't. I'll look closer next time though.

[Thirteen]

It is dodgy for any shop dealing with a retail customer to leave GST off their displayed or quoted prices.

[Alistair]

It's not just dodgy, it's illegal. All listed prices have to be GST inclusive, unless they are a small enough trader they don't have to charge GST (in which case that should be mentioned on a receipt), or they are wholesale prices- I'm not sure about the legality, but I know any wholesale catalogues I get always mention if they are GST inclusive or exclusive.

edit- doh, re-read this old thread and it seems we've been over this already!

[HA_DA_JA]

I saw that tv link about Music Thingz that was posted on page 1 and the illegal non -compliance that the business was operating in 2011, but it looks like it has sprung up again under the disguise of a new entity:
www.globalsound.com.au/

Which confirms suspicions of why I would never buy from these guys or ever bother giving them any credibility.
Has anyone bought from this guy?
Cheers

[Gian]

I bought from him. It was a very unpleasant experience and I had to begin a dispute via my credit card institution. I would never buy from him again.

[Alistair]

Wow, that's a weird site.
I never undertand when sites say "contact us if you have seen a lower price", but then list a price that is $500 more than manufacturers RRP. There are definitely taxes and shipping costs that will make it more expensive in Aus/NZ, but just be upfront about it!

Gian- if you've had a terrible experience with a dealer, I'd let the manufacturer know. Especially with smaller companies, they are really concerned with how there products are being sold worldwide. I don't mean if you've just received a snotty email, but if you've had to deal with your CC provider etc., let them know.

[Gian]

I know what you mean about contacting the manufacturer, etc. and I normally would but over 6 months have passed and I am just glad to be done with that matter now.

[Hookemeister]

Gian- if you've had a terrible experience with a dealer, I'd let the manufacturer know.

Hi Alistair

I think the problem with the guy Gian is talking about is that he's not an authorised distributor for the manufacturer.

What's happening is he doesn't carry any stock, once he receives payment for the product, he then orders it from a discount retailer in the states like the Guitar Centre. To keep his shipping costs down he waits until he's had a number of products paid for then buys them in one hit from from the retailer in the states and gets them sent in one shipment. This explains why his customers complain about how long he takes to post them their item.

This would also explains why he can't guarantee the manufacturers warranty. With most warranties, you need to return the product to the manufacturers retail outlet... in this case, the Guitar Centre.

A simple business to set up. You just need a flashy web page and a Paypal account to receive payments.

You don't need a showroom, you don't need staff and you don't have buy any stock.

It all goes well until enough people complain and start reversing their credit card payments. By the time this happens, he's taken all the money out of his account, changed address, shutdown the web page and opened a new one under a different name... and it starts all over again.

So the lesson is... (Read carefully, this is the important part!)

1: Before you buy, ask for the address of the shop... then type it in to google maps, select street view, and if you don't see a retail music shop... be very suspicious.

2: Email the manufacturer, give them the business name and address and ask if it's an authorised distributor.

3: If they're not in Australia ask the manufacturer if it will still honour the warranty.

4: If doesn't pass all of the above test's, put your credit card away and then post on as many forums as you can, to warn other potential buyers.

And lastly... if the deal seems too good to be true... it probably is.

Hope this helps.

[Alistair]

That's incredible that he's actually trying to pull that off. Here's hoping he gets what he deserves before too many people get scammed.

I can't agree with you on the physical address of the online shop. I run a very small online shop dealing with Jazz Guitar products, which are super niche and we have a small turnover every year. I think we've got competitive prices and quick service, but the market for jazz guitar products is so small in Australia there is no way we could ever run a retail shop.
The US has been very quick to accept online shops with no physical storefronts, and that is a large reason why there is cheaper gear over there than here. Vintage King and Mercenary Audio are somehow considered 'premium' shops, but I don't believe either has a storefront anywhere.
Whilst it's frustrating not to be able to go to a shop and try things out, I don't think that means you can't have a great relationship with a dealer and get good service- but I would rather we all still had the option of going into a retail shop.

[Manning]

I just stuck a post over on GS about this.

[Manning]

Apparently Roland Australia released a statement about Global Sound:

http://www.rolandcorp.com.au/articles/d ... px?a=20378

[Kurt]

So a TV station did an investigation? Obviously there is nothing illegal going on because then the police would be involved. rather than the Kiwi equivalent of a current affair or today tonight.

I understand Roland has to do something to protect it's Australian distributors' margins but perhaps in the long run it will mean official prices drop so Australians aren't getting gouged as seems to have been Roland's (and many others') policy to date.

Apparently Roland Australia released a statement about Global Sound:

http://www.rolandcorp.com.au/articles/d ... px?a=20378