Ever since the pandemic began in 2020, shops here do not haggle.
I'm a reasonably tough negotiator. One shop, from which I had bought around 10 guitars between 2007-2012 (I have 4 of them left) used to give me good discounts, because I always pushed them to match a competitor's price (I did my homework before I walked in the door). There was a sales guy there who was friendly, and usually acquiesced. I pushed them too hard on an Eastman and after the guy left, they wouldn't negotiate at all.
But I have asked for, and received discounts from a couple of the major retailers here.
That all changed during the pandemic. I think I've bought 4 guitars since August 2020, and paid full whack for them.
As for idiot salesmen, the local shop mentioned above, the guitar department was run by 2 ageing metal heads. I started screaming at the f**kers when they wanted me to take the guitars I was trying into a little glass booth with just a stool that my back couldn't cope with rather than the nice sofa in the public area, no one but the arseholes were there, and I just lit into them. Loudly. At the top of my lungs. I was in pain, and I wasn't having their bullshit.
They got moved on, either fired or other, and when I went back the last time, November, 2019, I was offered 3% by the new head of the guitar department, which is the general rule if you pay cash. I declined, and haven't been back.
The first store I tried in town is run by an old-school oily salesman, he's an old buzzard, now. He tried to pull a fast one on me with a Martin D-15 in 2007, and I never went back.
In Canada, I used to deal with Steve's Music. Same 3% bullshit. Snotty salesmen, although I hot on well enough with the assistant manager. His drones were unimpressive.
I'm a reasonably tough negotiator. One shop, from which I had bought around 10 guitars between 2007-2012 (I have 4 of them left) used to give me good discounts, because I always pushed them to match a competitor's price (I did my homework before I walked in the door). There was a sales guy there who was friendly, and usually acquiesced. I pushed them too hard on an Eastman and after the guy left, they wouldn't negotiate at all.
But I have asked for, and received discounts from a couple of the major retailers here.
That all changed during the pandemic. I think I've bought 4 guitars since August 2020, and paid full whack for them.
As for idiot salesmen, the local shop mentioned above, the guitar department was run by 2 ageing metal heads. I started screaming at the f**kers when they wanted me to take the guitars I was trying into a little glass booth with just a stool that my back couldn't cope with rather than the nice sofa in the public area, no one but the arseholes were there, and I just lit into them. Loudly. At the top of my lungs. I was in pain, and I wasn't having their bullshit.
They got moved on, either fired or other, and when I went back the last time, November, 2019, I was offered 3% by the new head of the guitar department, which is the general rule if you pay cash. I declined, and haven't been back.
The first store I tried in town is run by an old-school oily salesman, he's an old buzzard, now. He tried to pull a fast one on me with a Martin D-15 in 2007, and I never went back.
In Canada, I used to deal with Steve's Music. Same 3% bullshit. Snotty salesmen, although I hot on well enough with the assistant manager. His drones were unimpressive.
Statistics: Posted by Bombadil — Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:55 am