Whats happened to X-MUSIC!!

slavedave · 16-12-2010 07:41PM

I actually enjoy going into X-music for a mooch whilst I am after gear - they have always competed against Th*****n's and UK dealers prices. Never a problem to play stuff either. However, I consistently get "no-shows" when they promise to call me back when I deal with them over the phone. Upshot of this is that I order from overseas. I have spent a fair bit over the last few years that I would have much preferred had gone to a fairly local retailer. But to give a current example, I phoned them on Monday to get a quote for an EWI USB wind controller. They had none in stock and the assistant informed me he would have to chat with their Akai suppliier. Fair enough. Promised a call back. No reply by Tuesday, so I called Absolute Music in Poole, UK in the afternoon and placed an order. It arrived this morning! Incredible.
It makes it hard to make an honourable decision for local trade, to be honest. I hope X-music thrive and survive 'cos we need music retailers here. I will still buy from them if I go in to purchase on the off chance or at short notice but......
.....you know what I mean.
I am almost tempted to offer to help them put systems in place that would make a difference ( but that could be classed as arrogant, I guess).

RedDragonJack · 17-12-2010 07:35AM

I don't think their prices are any better than waltons.

Ravelleman · 17-12-2010 12:25PM

Are they still price-matching with UK and EU sites?

Alanstrainor · 17-12-2010 03:21PM

Ravelleman wrote: »

Are they still price-matching with UK and EU sites?

I dont think they ever price matched the UK sites. Only thomann and the likes.

BSOM · 17-12-2010 06:22PM

slavetothegrind wrote: »

didn't we get a response from xmusic on a similar thread before?

It amazes me how few companys have availed of the talk to forum here, if you got stuck in here on the instrument forum and got a good rep i can only imagine your turnover would improve to say the least?

Is it prohibitively expensive to be in the biz section?

Come on xmusic, waltons, r'n'b, and all you independents, get on board and lets spend local and get great service with it!

There are plenty of the retailers on here, X are here, Dublin Guitar, think there is a few more too.

Also not all shop staff (IMHO Barley any) are "wanna be rockstars".

X are doing great and fair plays to them, whom ever said that we get free plecs.... well its not true. I pay for everything that comes in (unless their is a deal, in which case I will pass on the deal to the end user) and yes I do give free plecs when someone buys a guitar are a fair amount of stuff or someone who is in all the time. But not for a packet of strings... or two. If someone buys a few packets of strings I would throw in a string winder.

Most of your retailers are trying to work hard for everyone !

CianRyan · 17-12-2010 06:47PM

I have to give a big thumbs up for Xmusic.
I've always been threated with respect, I find the staff to be very helpful and the prices are great.

An example of the prices and good deals, I'm currently buying a bass head and cab from them. Said bass head on Thomann, the holy grail of good deals, are charging ~€620 and Xmusic are giving me the head AND cab for €548. AND I'm only paying in installments.
Now if that's not good, I don't know what is.

Ravelleman · 17-12-2010 07:23PM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I dont think they ever price matched the UK sites. Only thomann and the likes.

They did. I have direct experience with this.

Alanstrainor · 17-12-2010 07:56PM

Ravelleman wrote: »

They did. I have direct experience with this.

Jaysis, fair play to them!

Ravelleman · 18-12-2010 06:51PM

Yup, they were also matching special offers given by UK and German websites. I managed to get them to include a Fender Champ with the American Standard Strat my friend bought.

Orando Broom · 20-12-2010 04:02PM

Guitar Center USA are now shipping to Ireland.

If they bring their full inventory on line it's bye-bye music shops in Ireland.

So far it's ridiculously spartan but I'm sure that will change. At least there is an outlet to enquire with for products, I'm sure they'd accommodate you.

I think the Irish shops can do themselves a massive favour and up their sales game and slash their prices significantly. The Celtic Tiger days are gone never to return it's time to adapt and die, we want massive choice at rock bottom prices nothing else will do.

Ravelleman · 20-12-2010 05:40PM

I don't think that will happen.

Music123 already had the vast majority of its inventory available to European customers for years and nothing ever changed. It subsequently folded and was bought by Musiciansfriend.

Import tax, when applied, added to shipping charges frequently makes up for any difference in price.

Many manufacturers don't allow American sellers to sell directly to the European market as part of the terms of their licensing agreements. They do this in order to protect European suppliers and dealers. Musicman, in particular, sells to Europeans through European dealers only.

Irish shops will always struggle to slash their prices, given high overheads (wages, import charges etc etc)...

BSOM · 20-12-2010 05:58PM

Orando Broom wrote: »

Guitar Center USA are now shipping to Ireland.

If they bring their full inventory on line it's bye-bye music shops in Ireland.

So far it's ridiculously spartan but I'm sure that will change. At least there is an outlet to enquire with for products, I'm sure they'd accommodate you.

I think the Irish shops can do themselves a massive favour and up their sales game and slash their prices significantly. The Celtic Tiger days are gone never to return it's time to adapt and die, we want massive choice at rock bottom prices nothing else will do.

Guitar Centre will not be selling the everyday products which you see here in Ireland or on Thomann.de etc.

As for your comments about slashing their prices, well most of us have.

Tell you what, im going to go into your job and tell you your over priced, you have nothing I want, your ripping me off, You should get on the net and slash your prices.

Music Shop owners, like any other business have to make a living. Now if I buy a guitar for €100.00 and its on the internet for €100.00 or €110.00 should I sell it at €110.00 ? Sure why not, when the ESB man comes to me to get the money ill tell him to head off and price match the internet.... or when my landlord comes over and asks for my money ill tell him to go onto Daft.ie and tell him he can price match my rent.

You want Rock bottom prices, and a hugh selection ? Well it will get like that when more people spend their money in Irish shops so they can afford to expand.

You have no idea how hard it is to run a business like this ! I work as hard as I can to get decent prices for my patrons !

BSOM · 20-12-2010 06:05PM

BSOM wrote: »

Guitar Centre will not be selling the everyday products which you see here in Ireland or on Thomann.de etc.

As for your comments about slashing their prices, well most of us have.

Tell you what, im going to go into your job and tell you your over priced, you have nothing I want, your ripping me off, You should get on the net and slash your prices.

Music Shop owners, like any other business have to make a living. Now if I buy a guitar for €100.00 and its on the internet for €100.00 or €110.00 should I sell it at €110.00 ? Sure why not, when the ESB man comes to me to get the money ill tell him to head off and price match the internet.... or when my landlord comes over and asks for my money ill tell him to go onto Daft.ie and tell him he can price match my rent.

You want Rock bottom prices, and a hugh selection ? Well it will get like that when more people spend their money in Irish shops so they can afford to expand.

You have no idea how hard it is to run a business like this ! I work as hard as I can to get decent prices for my patrons !

Sorry if this came across poorly, but its frustrating to be constantly told that I do a rubbish job (even though the majority of people here have never been in my shop). Most Irish music shops are trying to give good value but sometimes we cannot slash prices to internet prices because we need to keep the lights on etc.

Hannibal · 21-12-2010 01:06AM

the Music Outlet in Swords price match anything on the net aswell. They ordered me in a Takamine a few weeks ago for €569, Goodwins on Capel Street were looking for €720. I got a set of strings for another guitar which he threw in and responded to my emails quickly when I was enquiring about ordering and the guy that runs it is dead sound. If I was looking for picks i'm sure that wouldnt have been a problem either

. I'd recommend them over the likes of Waltons, Music Maker etc, theyre a small shop so they dont stock a lot but will order in anything

BSOM · 21-12-2010 08:05AM

Dotsey wrote: »

the Music Outlet in Swords price match anything on the net aswell. They ordered me in a Takamine a few weeks ago for €569, Goodwins on Capel Street were looking for €720. I got a set of strings for another guitar which he threw in and responded to my emails quickly when I was enquiring about ordering and the guy that runs it is dead sound. If I was looking for picks i'm sure that wouldnt have been a problem either . I'd recommend them over the likes of Waltons, Music Maker etc, theyre a small shop so they dont stock a lot but will order in anything

Aye, now thats what im talking about ! Heard the lads are bang on! Great to see small shops getting a good rep !

hairoil · 21-12-2010 08:18AM

I agree. It's the small shops that are a pleasure to go into. Goodwins are really good, I got a case for an EJ200 recently and a full set of harmonicas, all keys. They are very helpfull and know what they are talking about, if they don't have what you're looking for they will get it for you - and when they say they'll call you back; they do. There is another small guitar shop, on Liffey street, cant remember the name, but the guy who runs it, Paddy, is very good, and he'd talk the hind legs off a donkey!!!!

Whats happened to X-MUSIC!!

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