Ant138
312 posts
Feb 11, 2010
3:51 AM
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What is it with music shops?
I went into my local music shop this morning looking for a Minor tuned harp. I saw a big Lee Oskar point of sale so i thought they might have one in stock.
I asked the guy if they had any and he replied no. "The Lee Oskar display just has dummy harps on it". The guy quickly pulls out some cheap harp ive never heard of and trys to sell it to me. I tell him "its ok i play alot of harp, i was just looking for a MINOR Tuned one , saw the Lee Oskar display and thought you might have one" To which he replied "you dont really need a Minor tuned Harp to get you going, try one of these, no one wants Lee Oskar anymore because they cost over £30"
To which i replied "Ive been playing for over 4 years and Seydel is my harp of choice anyway which is over double the price of a Lee Oskar"
The guy just ignores me and is locked in sales mode for this crappy £10 Major diatonic harp.
The last time i went to my other local Guitar shop looking for a Bb harp the guy just laughed and to told me there was no such key for the harp, just A C D and E
Its a joke, they seem to treat everyone as a complete novice and look down on the harp in general.grrrrrr!!!!!
Anyway rant over and i just ordered my first Minor tuned harp from Harmonica's direct. Its just a shame you get made to feel like a dick by a guy who knows next to nothing about the harp.
Anyone else been made to feel like a fool in a music/guitar shop?
Last Edited by on Feb 11, 2010 4:06 AM
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saregapadanisa
133 posts
Feb 11, 2010
4:07 AM
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From my experience, to be hired as a clerc in a music shop, you have to be either :
- guitarist
- keyboardist
- brother in law of the owner
As far as harp is concerned, don't ask too much.
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Andrew
895 posts
Feb 11, 2010
4:28 AM
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I quickly discovered that even in central London the shops just don't stock harps (except for Macari's, who charge £5 more than anyone else for a MB). Rose Morris and Chappell basically stopped stocking them: "They are ordered centrally nowadays, so we don't even know whether any more will ever arrive." So I only buy them online now. I could try more of the guitar specialists in Denmark St, but I don't think it will be worth the effort.
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Feb 11, 2010 4:34 AM
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Andrew
896 posts
Feb 11, 2010
4:33 AM
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Or try buying something from Comets or Dixons:-
Addressing a 15-year-old with acne: "Hi, I'd like a digital camera that fits in my shirt pocket, but I want one with a fast response time: I hate it when you press the button and it takes 2 seconds to take the picture and everyone's smile has disappeared."
"Uh, I think I heard the word camera there. Can you just point one out to me so that I know what we're talking about?"
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
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MrVerylongusername
891 posts
Feb 11, 2010
5:12 AM
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It's a long time since I went shopping in London, but I do remember a great shop in Tin Pan alley that had everything I needed and more. This was back in the 80s though, but I bet it's still there. Little shop about half way down on the same side as Macaris if my memory serves me (it's all going downhill...)
I remember going to my local shop to get a new harp last year. They generally have what I needed, but as I was looking in the cabinet I heard the spotty youth (complete with bum-fluff 'tache) giving 'advice' on harmonicas to another customer. From what I could glean in my eavesdropping she was a folky guitarist who wanted to do some Dylan covers. Unfortunately both she and the store guy were clueless. He told her that she didn't want a diatonic (or 'little one' as he so knowledgeably put it) as it could only play one key. He went on to get a CX12 out and informed her that it was the kind of 'mouth organ' that Dylan used. Luckily the young lady balked at the price and said she'd leave it. As she left I put her straight and told her to try harmonicas direct.
I guess you can't really blame the shop guy. He's probably competing for a sales bonus, but you think they'd try and learn a little about the lines they sell.
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Elwood
338 posts
Feb 11, 2010
5:37 AM
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In London I liked:
Hobgoblin Music
www.hobgoblin.com
24 Rathbone Place
London W1T 1JA
020 7323 9040
Their prices were lower than other shops I've seen in the area, they stock a broad range (usual bunch of Hohners, Lee Oskar major, minor and Melody Maker, a range of chromatics, the XB40, and a few novelty items) and the salesman actually knew how to play harmonica. He wasn't a virtuoso, but certainly knew his way around the instrument. I was pleased as hell.
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Andrew
897 posts
Feb 11, 2010
5:50 AM
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I know Rathbone Place, but I haven't been there for decades. I'll give it a look.
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
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ness
143 posts
Feb 11, 2010
6:08 AM
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I can understand your frustration -- nobody likes to run into a guy like that. Just a bonehead that didn't know his stuff that, unfortunately, was the 'face' of that shop.
I would bet that a large percentage of people that come in looking for a harmonica are rank amateurs. They're looking for a cheap, easy to play toy. And this guy's approach would have resulted in a sale.
Ideally, the guy would have fessed up that he didn't have the harp in stock right away, and offer to order one for you, rather than push something you clearly weren't interested in. If your questions were over his head, go get somebody who knew the answers. Seems to me the art of the sale is dying.
I feel sorry for the owner of that shop. Getting a customer in the door is a major step. You get treated right, and you're a customer. Instead, you're pissed and probably never going back. What an opportunity lost.
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Pimpinella
82 posts
Feb 11, 2010
7:05 AM
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I can pretty much understand those shop owners. Harmonicas are for most of them dead capital. It's been about three or four years ago when i last stepped into a regular music shop (not one of these rock and guitar shops, this one was specialized more in classical instruments) to buy a harmonica and I had no time to wait for an online order.
The guy was searching for two minutes in the drawers of his desk and finally could present 24 (two of each key) Hohner Special 20 harmonicas and ALL of them were still attached with nails!
I don't know when Hohner first used screws on the Special 20, but i think it must have been in the early 1980s, which means i was the first one in nearly 25 years to buy one of his Special 20s.
In other shops i have seen lots of Hohner MS Harps in B and Eb or Herings from the Hohner period.
But we have very good online harmonica shops everywhere (except australia - as usual, sorry guys. Thats the price for walking with your heads downwards ;) ).
Last Edited by on Feb 11, 2010 7:07 AM
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KingoBad
174 posts
Feb 11, 2010
7:25 AM
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I went into Guitar Center to buy a Bb and Low D Marine band. I knew they would not have them in stock, but I figured they would order them for me. Then they added on shipping! I said I could order it online if I wanted to pay shipping, why the hell would I pay shipping to their store? He just stared at me. An odd policy at best, but I like to pay cash for my harps and eq, so it kinda sucks.
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jasonL
16 posts
Feb 11, 2010
7:59 AM
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I was in a local shop here...supposedly a good one and asked for an Eflat harp. After looking for about 5 minutes he came back and said no I don't have any Eflat harps, only odd key harp I could find was this Dsharp.......
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HarmonicaMick
84 posts
Feb 11, 2010
8:09 AM
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A generation ago, it used to be an honour to work in a shop - this was before Thatcher de-industrialised the UK. You had a job where you were warm, dry and clean, and being a 'shop assistant' actually meant what it was called.
Now, all of that - well, most of that - is dead. Shops are staffed by spotty little oiks who can't add up or inunciate a single sentence properly.
I don't even try asking them anymore. I do the research online and take it from there.
Peter at Harmonicas Direct still provides that 'old fashioned' service, be it online. He's the Man!
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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Ryan
143 posts
Feb 11, 2010
8:29 AM
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Well I guess you can't really blame them, harmonicas essentially make them no money. You could buy all your harps at that store and it still wouldn't compare to some random kid coming in who's convinced his parents to buy him an expensive guitar. Their time is simply better spent learning about the more expensive products and catering to the people interested in purchasing that equipment. It's not worth it to the store to train their employees to be knowledgable about harmonicas.
What I find irritating is when they pretend to know what they're talking about, and they clearly don't. They then treat me like I don't know anything about the item I'm trying to purchase (which they ussually don't have in stock) and they then start trying to sell me some other harp that they know nothing about, and they give me information that is completely incorrect. I'd rather they not say anything about the harps, or tell me they just don't know, and just let me pick out what I need. As opposed to pretending they're experts and just making things up.
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congaron
516 posts
Feb 11, 2010
8:38 AM
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no I don't have any Eflat harps, only odd key harp I could find was this Dsharp.......
this is hilarious!
I guess we are pretty lucky. Our biger of the two stores has a full rotating display case with marine band, special 20, blues harp, and a couple of other cheaper ones..maybe johnson or sousa. There are 7 keys of each one in the case I think. Then, there is a counter with quite a few boxed harps in every major, non flat or sharp key from every model in the rotating display. I think this is the reason they completely sold out of c harps and most of the other major keys at christmas time. Then, in the middle of january, they still weren't restocked....um.
I think the Hohner blister packaging may hurt their storage of harps not in the display case as there isn't any free wall space near the display. we'll see how many they stock now that they have to try and stack blister pacs on a shelf inside a glass counter.
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ness
144 posts
Feb 11, 2010
8:45 AM
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All merchants have to find that balance between being well-stocked and having dusty old nailed Special 20s taking up their space. I'm sure it's not easy. The specialty shops have a vested interest in providing the quality of service we're talking about. The chains are gonna be more about volume, markup and be staffed with 'spotty little oiks' :^)
I dropped into our nice little neighborhood music store a few days ago, and a guy addressed me, pointed me to their small selection of non-toy harps and immediately said they could order anything I wanted. To me, that's the way to do it if you can't spare the shelf space. Not to mention, I felt good about my experience and will go back. Not saying I'll buy harps there -- Rockin' Ron gets that bidness -- but they're 'my' music shop now.
BTW -- I am taking harp lessons at another shop nearby. Been going in there for two months and they act like they barely know me. Never a 'hi' or 'bye' unless I initiate it. Mostly guitars and drums kinda place.
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Ryan
144 posts
Feb 11, 2010
9:01 AM
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I do have to say there is a little tiny music shop near me, that's been around for a long time, and they have a great selection of hohners. I play primarily Golden Melodys, and most every music store around here either doesn't carry them or only has them in C. This little store, which would be the last place I'd expect to find what I need, has full selection of every key for GM SP20 and MB. They also carry Lee Oskar as well, and are more than willing to try and order other brands if you're interested.
They provide great service and they never pretend to be experts to try and sell me some harp I don't want. They just just let me look through their selection and pick out what I want. The prices are a little more expensive than what I could get elsewhere (I think it was $32-$34 for a GM) but to me it was worth it for the convenience and to support such a great little independent music shop.
I could also tell that, one of the guys that helped me, took me seriously and didn't think of the harp as a toy or throw away intrument. He actually asked me questions about it, instead of pretending to be an expert. They repair instruments at the shop, and he wondered why they didn't have any sort of repair service for harps. We talked about it, as well as custom harps, and I explained that it's a pretty specialised field. I'm sure some of the employees at GC would laugh at the idea of repairing or customising harmonicas.
Last Edited by on Feb 11, 2010 9:09 AM
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jonsparrow
2229 posts
Feb 11, 2010
10:08 AM
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first time i was lookin for a Bb i called like every music store in jersey. no one had one. an this one place i call...
"hi so an so music store can i help you?"
"yes do you sell harmonicas?"
"we sure do! whos the harmonica player?"
"great im lookin for a marine band in the key of Bb"
"hahaha noooo we dont have flat keys"
"well you should its pretty dam popular!"
*click*
an last time i go to guitar center to pick up a harp the guy tries to sell me this new hohner bullet mic, an im like nooo i only play vintage mics. an i say it like im proud of it, an he just totally ignores.
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nacoran
1096 posts
Feb 11, 2010
10:51 AM
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I wonder what percentage of harmonicas are sold online compared to other instruments, especially better quality ones. I'm thinking maybe because you aren't allowed to play before you buy there is less reason for people to buy them in a store, which means less sales in stores, which means less current stock in stores, which means poorer selection in stores, which means less incentive to buy in stores.
Goto 10
I'm not sure it will help brick and mortar stores more than online, but I think maybe the next big thing to kick up higher end harmonica sales would be a cheap midi harmonica (at least under $100). It doesn't have to be good enough to perform on, but it needs to switch keys and tunings accurately. I bet more people would try alternate tunings if they could try them out first, and a midi harp might be the only way with the sanitation rules out there.
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barbequebob
456 posts
Feb 11, 2010
10:53 AM
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Well, like it or not, employees in brick and mortar music stores know next to nothing about harmonicas and many newbies with little or no knowledge about the instrument generally know more than they do and this has been going on for many decades and it's why I tell players that music store employees are the last people to ask about any question that has anything remotely to do with harmonicas because 98% of the time, it's always wrong.
Of course most people will say they sell the product, they should know the product, but remember, these people are generally being paid minimum wage plus maybe a commission on top of that and many chains require taking a test of their knowledge of many different instruments, but none of these tests ever include harmonica, and I know this for a fact, as I have actually taken them for the hell of it.
I've caught every single petender in the world cold and quick.
As far as product knowledge, from days working a day job in the auto parts industry, from both retail to wholesale/commercial and also in dealerships, if you go to retail chains, many of the employees really don't know much and their pay scale being pretty low on the totem pole pretty much explains it, and people take it for granted that they know what they're talking about, and in music stores, for the harp player, that's a HUGE mistake.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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asilve3
72 posts
Feb 11, 2010
11:33 AM
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If you come visit me at the music store I work at I promise excellent and informed service!!!
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http://www.youtube.com/user/asilve3
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barbequebob
459 posts
Feb 11, 2010
12:59 PM
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Now that's far more the exception than the rule.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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snakes
450 posts
Feb 11, 2010
1:00 PM
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I don't need a music shop. I make all my harp purchases through Rockin' Ron. The guy is golden.
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bluzlvr
314 posts
Feb 11, 2010
1:48 PM
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I really miss my local mom and pop music store that went out of business a few years ago.
Whenever I needed an "emergency harp" they always seem to have it, and at a price from about five years previous.
Of course I still have a choice. A choice between four different Guitar Centers in a 15 mile radius from me.
Now I like Guitar Center just fine. When I want to look at and play guitars...
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