What do you think of Waltons?

flyswatter

I was in Waltons a while ago, the day of the election I think.

I played some nice guitars there and I was going to order the guitar I wanted from there. I want to support Irish business as much as possible.

I was going to order online from them but I just realised how disappointed I am now with them.

First, a couple of weeks before, I sent them an email about a guitar I was interested in. They didn't even bother to send a reply. I've always received replies from Andertons in the UK and Thomann etc. but I now know why they weren't arsed.

I was in the biggest of their stores nearest the city centre. The place has a lot of stock. I like the practice rooms for guitars, they didn't mind letting people try out guitars as you would expect from any store.

The place is just so cold and impersonal though. This was a busy Friday afternoon-evening. They had 2 staff behind the desk, no one to come up and try and convince me and try to at least bother to get my money.

They are also very overpriced and don't seem to try and compete with the online stores. I was in Musicmaker earlier, a nice relaxed atmosphere, plenty of helpful and knowledgable staff. I was in a guitar store in England in January. The people there were fine too in that they were interested in musical instruments and talked well about it.

My local music store has a really friendly vibe with helpful staff, nice atmosphere and are willing to compete with online stores. They have regular sales and you can bargain with them. Would always support businesses like that.

I've bought a lot of stuff from that store and would always support local businesses like that but I won't be buying from Waltons. I'm glad I only bought a couple of picks from them.

What do others think?

Rigsby

There has been lots of threads about music stores in general in Dublin. The over all opinions (except for maybe one or two) are not good, mainly for the reasons you put forward. I dont think they will ever learn ( or care enough to learn) about good customer relations.

gerarda

If you feel that strongly about it write to the manager and tell him\her about your experience, give them a chance to change things.

Rigsby

gerarda wrote: »

If you feel that strongly about it write to the manager and tell him\her about your experience, give them a chance to change things.

flyswatter wrote: »

First, a couple of weeks before, I sent them an email about a guitar I was interested in. They didn't even bother to send a reply.

If they did not reply to a buying inquiry, they are hardly going to reply to a complaint.

Phazer

Three days ago, I would have agreed with everything you said about Waltons. However, I went in to buy a bass yesterday and noticed a poster advertising a free case with this particular brand. When I asked the man at the counter about it, he apologized saying that the poster was no longer meant to be on the wall and gave me 10% off the price of my bass!!!

gerarda

Rigsby wrote: »

If they did not reply to a buying inquiry, they are hardly going to reply to a complaint.

Call them.

nialldabass

I've ordered from them twice online recently only small orders, 30ish and 80, and they were very prompt with the second order took a phonecall for the first order but sorted and I had my stuff in 2 days. So although maybe not the best, i found thier prices, compared to other irish websites, pretty good, now maybe that says more about our shops than Waltons in peticular. Shame really as we need all the money we can get at the mo. But if you can order stuff from Germany for nearly half the price...........:(

Zangetsu

Its prolly the one music shop I'm almost guaranteed to walk past without going in (which is near next impossible for me)!

The stock is poo, the guitars I've played have been poorly set up and the noise in there is enough to make ya want to top yourself.

I've always been a big fan of XMusic, very friendly and helpful, stock is quite good and is all in a very playable condition.

I just bought a G&L ASAT Classic Tribute in Guitar Centre in town, the people in there are great, very helpful and the stock is quite different to that of the rest of the music shops in Dublin, you'll find gear in there you won't see anywhere else. Couldn't recommend it more!

Check them both out, you never know what you might find!

Zombienosh

Yeah out of all the music shops Waltons has the worst atmosphere, anytime I've been in there I get an unwelcoming attitude off the staff. I'm not the biggest fan of their selection anyway.

Rigsby

gerarda wrote: »

Call them.

Yes. Fair enough. The OP could try that. I have personally tried to explain to them that their customer service is lacking, and suggested ways on how it could be improved. Seems to have fallen on deaf ears. IMO, they could not care less. Maybe the OP might have more look. I would not hold my breath though.

Randy Shafter

Meh is all I can say for Waltons. The staff don't seem overly concerned about helping customers. Their selection of guitars isn't bad but a tad over-priced I think. To be honest I much prefer Guitar Centre just down the road. Sure it's a small shop but the staff are fantastic. They go out of their way to help. They have a nice and varied selection of gear and its reasonably priced. I love that place actually!

flyswatter

Really liked the atmosphere in Musicmaker. Guitar centre looked cool but didn't go in.

They stock non-Fender and more obscure brands. Would love to try a PRS sometime.

I'm a massive fan of the staff at the Sound Shop in Drogheda. Lovely people and know their gear. Check it out, very easy to get to from Dublin with the motorway. There is a guitar festival during this month, within the next few weeks.

There is absolutely no point in writing to them to be honest. Won't get a reply, see my earlier post. They clearly don't care about helping out customers. I would probably give them my opinion of them face to face.

On their website there was a CP Jazzmaster for 880 euro, way overpriced anyway. It was 980 euro in the shop when I visited. Who would be mad enough to pay that? You could get that for 200-250 euro less online and if you didn't get on with the pickups you could buy some Novaks or Lollar pickups for it, and still probably pay less for it than only the guitar in Waltons.

Does anyone know how well they are keeping financially? They have a lot of stock and so much of it is overpriced. They have a big reputation but they are clearly comfortable with that repuation and have become very complacent. Don't know how they can survive if they don't change soon.

Royale with Cheese

I did work experience there 10 years ago.

I know a lot has probably changed since then but there was an attitude amongst the staff that customers were just a nuisance that had to be put up. They seemed to be hired because of their musical ability/knowledge of instruments rather than for their customer service skills.

Rigsby

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

I know a lot has probably changed since then but there was an attitude amongst the staff that customers were just a nuisance that had to be put up. They seemed to be hired because of their musical ability/knowledge of instruments rather than for their customer service skills.

Nothing has changed, that attitude is alive and well and thriving, and I have experienced it myself recently. As for their musical ability/knowledge, there's lots of room for improvement there too. They are going a long time, and still seem to be doing reasonably well under the current circumstances. Obviously, people are prepared to put up with this attitude, and as long as they do, nothing will change.

flyswatter

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

I did work experience there 10 years ago.

I know a lot has probably changed since then but there was an attitude amongst the staff that customers were just a nuisance that had to be put up. They seemed to be hired because of their musical ability/knowledge of instruments rather than for their customer service skills.

They didn't even strike me as that knowledgable to be honest, maybe they were, but it certainly didn't show. As you said, they didn't even seem to want to sell the products, kind of a "You can buy it here but we won't try and sell it to you, we don't care really" attitude.

The store is so big and no one and I mean none of the staff left the desk in the few hours I spent there. It's not like it was that busy especially around 3 o clock. I think people in the shop were just there to try out stuff cos of the big range but because of the lack of rapport and general indifference from the staff, they weren't bothered to give the shop their money.

The employees seemed to be well educated but seemed too comfortable to try and bother selling stuff to people. They can be as smart as they are but if they aren't driven to succeed, these people won't get far IMO.

Personally, I would love to work in a music store and would try to be the best salesman I could be by being friendly and knowledgeable about the products.

Matt Bianco

In my experience of dealing with Waltons (and it is limited) I have found the North Frederick Street branch to be a lot more approachable with queries or looking for advice - as for Georges Street - not really happening is it?

I think the Guitar Centre has been a revelation - I had my concerns for their logic in opening a new store in a semi-prominent location in town with rents rising and online sales soaring. Two great lads in there who aim to offer an alternative to the standard stock found elsewhere, especially in the line of pedals. Worth crossing town for even just for strings imo

Squidgy Black

There's one nice guy there, offered me 25% off an amp 'cause it was in the demo room, even though it was cheaper than thomann already. Got it for over 100 quid cheaper than thomann in the end.

Every other time I've been there, the other lads are absolute arseholes. Refuse to give any discounts, even one 200 quid interfaces.

Worked in MusicMaker briefly, sound lads, great atmosphere in the place as it's more comfortable of a setting.

-=al=-

havnt been in waltons in ages, never really liked it much, and the lefty selection is lame i did like the space of wandering around though, but meh, never great for me

Johnny Storm

flyswatter wrote: »

Does anyone know how well they are keeping financially? ...

FWIW The owner of A.N.Other music shop was bendng my ear one day (a few years back) and his opinion was that Waltons had made a major fortune in the pre-internet days. No idea about the current situation.

flyswatter

Thinking about this more now, I reckon the staff are so unmotivated because Waltons are in debt and are paying the workers feck all.

So, they don't bother making an effort to sell stuff cos they hate how they are treated.

Still, it's no excuse to be so indifferent, they're not actually helping the company by not making any effort.

Anyone agree?

Seckz Panther

I like getting stuff from my local music store as it's a much more personal vibe, but realistically, they can't compete with online prices!

Also, I never buy guitars brand new from shops, second hand is a much better option financially, and most second hand guitars are well cared for!

BostonB

As long as I remember Waltons have never been interested in customers, or the instruments. They have always been painfully expensive. Thats going back 20yrs. They haven't changed ever. IMO They make their money on the music school, and off people who don't shop around. MusicMaker or Musician were always a vastly more enjoyable place to go buy something.