Flash@TMB Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Anyone can open a website and trade in goods at 1% profit. But how many people make use of shops like R&B, Prosound, and Bruce Millers when they need help, information, a repair etc???The overheads involved in running a shop are much greater than a website. The overheads of having plenty of knowlegable staff around to provide help and advice to all those people who then go away and buy on-line are also substantial.It is worth paying extra to support these local businesses because they provide a valuable and high quality service. Think where we'd be if they all closed down. Or became websites. Quite often the person sitting behind the website doesn't really give a shit. For starters they're only making peanuts off your transaction anyway, and that quickly becomes a loss in the event they have to spend more than 5 mins arguing with you on the phone.Me? I buy locally, and pay through the nose, for anything that they have in stock. If I need to order something then I'll usually go on-line. BUT... if I get advice from a shop on something that has to be ordered, then I'll order it through the shop. Just consider it another form of tax, but one that is well worth paying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DustyDeviada Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Anyone can open a website and trade in goods at 1% profit. But how many people make use of shops like R&B' date=' Prosound, and Bruce Millers when they need help, information, a repair etc???The overheads involved in running a shop are much greater than a website. The overheads of having plenty of knowlegable staff around to provide help and advice to all those people who then go away and buy on-line are also substantial.It is worth paying extra to support these local businesses because they provide a valuable and high quality service. Think where we'd be if they all closed down. Or became websites. Quite often the person sitting behind the website doesn't really give a shit. For starters they're only making peanuts off your transaction anyway, and that quickly becomes a loss in the event they have to spend more than 5 mins arguing with you on the phone.Me? I buy locally, and pay through the nose, for anything that they have in stock. If I need to order something then I'll usually go on-line. BUT... if I get advice from a shop on something that has to be ordered, then I'll order it through the shop. Just consider it another form of tax, but one that is well worth paying.[/quote']That's all fine, right up to the point where you head down the road a bit to, say Glasgow, and find that they have all that... AND competitive prices!You would have thought that the internet would have given Bruce Millers and R&B a kick up the arse, but sadly not.Merchant City Music in Glasgow is my idea of a great music shop, great prices AND great service AND they have a great website. They piss all over Bruce Millers and R&B from a great height and are only a couple of hours away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash@TMB Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 That's all fine' date=' right up to the point where you head down the road a bit to, say Glasgow, and find that they have all that... AND competitive prices!You would have thought that the internet would have given Bruce Millers and R&B a kick up the arse, but sadly not.Merchant City Music in Glasgow is my idea of a great music shop, great prices AND great service AND they have a great website. They piss all over Bruce Millers and R&B from a great height and are only a couple of hours away.[/quote']But consider the cost of getting there and back, in terms of both time and travel? For instance the cost of motoring comes to approx. 40-50p per mile including everything not just fuel. So going to glasgow and back is 200, before you even take account of the 8 hours you spend traveling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sloth Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Anyone can open a website and trade in goods at 1% profit. But how many people make use of shops like R&B' date=' Prosound, and Bruce Millers when they need help, information, a repair etc???The overheads involved in running a shop are much greater than a website. The overheads of having plenty of knowlegable staff around to provide help and advice to all those people who then go away and buy on-line are also substantial.It is worth paying extra to support these local businesses because they provide a valuable and high quality service. Think where we'd be if they all closed down. Or became websites. Quite often the person sitting behind the website doesn't really give a shit. For starters they're only making peanuts off your transaction anyway, and that quickly becomes a loss in the event they have to spend more than 5 mins arguing with you on the phone.Me? I buy locally, and pay through the nose, for anything that they have in stock. If I need to order something then I'll usually go on-line. BUT... if I get advice from a shop on something that has to be ordered, then I'll order it through the shop. Just consider it another form of tax, but one that is well worth paying.[/quote']Thanks Flash, Im glad somebody has an idea of how shops work.....This misconception about pricing; none of our(R&B) prices are marked up from RRP. If you go on the internet you WILL find everything MUCH cheaper, its not that we're trying to rip anybody off, its just that its not financially viable for us to sell as low as people on the net. We always try our best though if you come and actually talk to us about the price of something with quotes from other shops/the internet we will try and come close. That way you'll have local backup and service etc. etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spellchecker Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 But consider the cost of getting there and back' date=' in terms of both time and travel? For instance the cost of motoring comes to approx. 40-50p per mile including everything not just fuel. So going to glasgow and back is 200, before you even take account of the 8 hours you spend traveling.[/quote']maybe.... if you drive A TANK!!it costs me 10p a mile fuel costs; and more like 20-30p for the real cost to cover my insurance premiums, maintenance, tax and mot for a year.and i don't know how you work out that it takes 8 hours of travelling for a return trip to glasgow.i do agree that there is a cost barrier... but be realistic!don't you really just mean that, r&b and bruce miller charge what they do, because they can? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeornothing Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 For everyone else....theres Megabus 2 return to glasgow if you're lucky... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash@TMB Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 maybe.... if you drive A TANK!!it costs me 10p a mile fuel costs; and more like 20-30p for the real cost to cover my insurance premiums' date=' maintenance, tax and mot for a year.and i don't know how you work out that it takes 8 hours of travelling for a return trip to glasgow.i do agree that there is a cost barrier... but be realistic![/quote']You know you were right about the first part. But then you went and spoilt it by typing this crap:don't you really just mean that' date=' r&b and bruce miller charge what they do, because they can?[/quote']No - what I REALLY just mean is exactly what I typed in the fucking first place. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Maverik Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 What I heard was that he was trying to flog his business to his competitors. ?( Dunno what's happening with them.I think I have a slight bias to R&B though - for some reason... Anyone in particular? :SThis was also my understanding? And dude, I went for the Ibanez Prestige opposed to the ESP Standard! Cheers for the help though dude Andy xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HateEvent Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 That was you?! Didn't have a clue man sorry!I remember that, discussing Horizons weren't we? The Dark Brown Sunburst one particularly...Good to know you went for something that will be a great guitar! I also remember not knowing too much about the Ibanez. You said you had the non Prestige version though yes?I can't remember your face atall, so so you are YouthGoneWild if in again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeC Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 For everyone else....theres Megabus 2 return to glasgow if you're lucky...Not too clever if you plan on buying a Svt 111 and 8x10 cabG... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash@TMB Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Not too clever if you plan on buying a Svt 111 and 8x10 cabG...Someone once lugged an Ampeg and an 8x10" cab, in some sort of rack on wheels, all the way from Glasgow on the Megabus. They showed up 90mins late for the gig. Which coupled with me being drunk, and thus in full on 'cunt mode' caused a huge argument. Which they (technically) 'won'... by which time it was too late to set up the Ampeg. LMAO.So I agree... not too clever.But the result is that now we have our own Ampeg. So anyone carting one ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE MILES EACH WAY (am I correct?), by public transport, is going to feel even more of a tit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeC Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hmmmm......feeling tits... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Anyone can open a website and trade in goods at 1% profit. But how many people make use of shops like R&B' date=' Prosound, and Bruce Millers when they need help, information, a repair etc???The overheads involved in running a shop are much greater than a website. The overheads of having plenty of knowlegable staff around to provide help and advice to all those people who then go away and buy on-line are also substantial.It is worth paying extra to support these local businesses because they provide a valuable and high quality service. Think where we'd be if they all closed down. Or became websites. Quite often the person sitting behind the website doesn't really give a shit. For starters they're only making peanuts off your transaction anyway, and that quickly becomes a loss in the event they have to spend more than 5 mins arguing with you on the phone.Me? I buy locally, and pay through the nose, for anything that they have in stock. If I need to order something then I'll usually go on-line. BUT... if I get advice from a shop on something that has to be ordered, then I'll order it through the shop. Just consider it another form of tax, but one that is well worth paying.[/quote']I'm with you, I think we should support the local economy - although that shouldn't give the BM's R&B's etc licence to overchage. To be fair to Brucie-Bonus, they do offer discounts if you ask and they are very helpful. A visit is also a good social occasion, there's always someone to discuss EQ's and string guages with (sadly, there's always some cunt in the booths that's miles better than you). It kind of reminds me of the local motorbike shop, which was always a good meeting place in my biking days, before I lost the power of my legs - well, at least that was "The Gaffers" opinion after last Saturday's defensive display (skinned rotten all day by some wiry wee mink fae Garthdee - 'til I put him up in the air mwah-ha-ha).I never had much time for those schemie cunts back in Kilmarnock (home town), who would pile into a bus with 50 bottles of vodka, 500 tins of leg-opener and a mountain of 3-cornered sandwiches and drive all the way to the Metro Centre to pump thousands of pounds into the Geordie economy buying shite they didn't need (and could ill afford) for ungrateful cunt relatives, that they could have got locally or in Glasgow.THEN the thick, alkie, obese, fag-smoking NHS-reliant cunts would sit in the Bingo and moan that "theres no' oany decent shoaps in this toon". CUNTS!Aye, go ahead, save 50p buy online from some cunt who doesn't care and let the North East go to hell.Tight Cunts.DZLPs - I've tried everything paracetemols aspirin, ibuprofen, penicillin, steriods, antibiotics and I just can't shake off this bastardcuntfucktwatshitbolloxknobcheesefannybree Tourets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Maverik Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 That was you?! Didn't have a clue man sorry!I remember that' date=' discussing Horizons weren't we? The Dark Brown Sunburst one particularly...Good to know you went for something that will be a great guitar! I also remember not knowing too much about the Ibanez. You said you had the non Prestige version though yes?I can't remember your face atall, so so you are YouthGoneWild if in again! [/quote']The Prestige SZ is fantastic. If anyone else ever asks, you can tell them it's the shit! I still may buy an ESP at some point, but the Ibanez is perfect for me right now. Stick to what you know, then venture! Andy xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drum bum Posted February 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 So after all the piffle about how shops work and 200 quid trips to glasgow (Im sure BA do a 60 return to glasgow from aberdeen), we can agree prosound offers a better deal than rnb and brucies? And if your willing to wait and get a better deal then buy online.. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeornothing Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Not too clever if you plan on buying a Svt 111 and 8x10 cabG...No but if you've got the cash for that you could probably afford to have it shipped back to glasgow cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DustyDeviada Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 maybe.... if you drive A TANK!!it costs me 10p a mile fuel costs; and more like 20-30p for the real cost to cover my insurance premiums' date=' maintenance, tax and mot for a year.and i don't know how you work out that it takes 8 hours of travelling for a return trip to glasgow.i do agree that there is a cost barrier... but be realistic![/quote']Agreed, personally I don't really take the fixed costs of insurance, road tax, depreciation etc into account as I would be payoing them anyway. And I don't think I've ever gone to Glasgow just to buy a piece of equipment, it's always been for some other purpose as well, a gig, visiting friends etc.That said, I have bought a guitar and an amp from Mercahnt City before and they have posted them up to me. I think it gives the best of both worlds. I can still take advantage of the cheap prices, but I know if anything goes wrong with the gear the shop is just down the road.Even if it did cost 200, I remember I bought a Les Paul from Merchant City in 2001 for 700, Bruce Millers were selling the exact same guitar for 950, so I would have still made a saving if it cost me 200 to get to Glasgow and back. Which it didn't. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash@TMB Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Oh but the prices in Newcastle are much better than those in Glasgow. And by the time you get to London they've dropped to zero. If you go as far as France they start paying you. And in the US......the grass is always greener. Everyone in Aberdeen wants to shop in the central belt, and everyone there wants to shop in NE England. And so forth until you reach full circle with everyone in Norway desperate to shop in Aberdeen (which believe it or not does occur). It's make believe bollocks! Go to any shop and you'll find something on special offer that makes that particular shop, cheaper for that particular item on that particular day.Another trick used by retailers is that they'll advertise one thing really cheaply in the national press. For example when I worked in Shirlaws in the early 90s there was a shop in GLASGOW advertising "Arai Giga helmets from £129", when they usually retailed at £299. Arai would have a blue fit if a retailer dropped below RRP as it devalued their product. Yet customers would still come in clutching this advert. So one day on a visit to Glasgow, I called into the £129 shop and pretended to be interested in a Giga... turns out they only had the one at £129 and it was XXL, pink, and already 3 years old. Helmets have a shelf life, this is usually in the region of 5 years, after that their performance degrades and they won't protect you the same in a crash. They had other Arais for £229 in normal sizes and colours, but these were also already a couple of years old. All the new ones were at the usual RRP of £299. Just like ours (which were all at worst a few months old).When we visit another town we only notice the bargains. Just like we 'notice' the women are more attractive (they aren't). Incidentally, pretty much everytime Mark or myself visits a local music shop I get a discount... without even asking for one. Probably because we are good customers and buy a lot of gear.EDIT: sorry for the edit but it took me a while to remember the full details of the helmet story, as it was 14 year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DustyDeviada Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 When we visit another town we only notice the bargains. Just like we 'notice' the women are more attractive (they aren't). Yes they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash@TMB Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Yes they are. In the early 90s there was circulated a rumour that in Edinburgh, 1 person in 12 had AIDS! And we all believed it LOL! On visitng Edinburgh I started to 'see' track marks on every woman I fancied. Of course they weren't really there, just my eyes playing paranoid tricks on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 we can agree prosound offers a better deal than rnb and brucies? Dunno about better, it's just another option really and to be honest when I was in for a look the range of guitars was pretty poor. All fender copies and unknown names, with a couple of nice guitars chucked in the window to get interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh_Jazz Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Dunno about better' date=' it's just another option really and to be honest when I was in for a look the range of guitars was pretty poor. All fender copies and unknown names, with a couple of nice guitars chucked in the window to get interest.[/quote']Bruce Millers gave me a significantly better price for my drum kit than most of the specialist drum centre down south like Wembley and Birmingham Drum Centre, so IMO they give excellent value. I think they're still a bit too expensive for cymbals, and I've no clue about guitars, amps etc, but their drum stock is very competitively priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drum bum Posted February 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 it was not an electrical failure' date=' trust me on that one.[/quote']funny thing is almost all of these rumours are true.Is that you trying to spin more rumours? Ill start with my distortion of the truth. 4 electricians dressed in spandex (one was called bobby by the way), had wired the shop wrong a long time ago, when the problem was found the insurance would'nt cover so people could come in, the shop had to be rewired again and closed for the duration. The tru story is, Al qeada had planned to bomb Pro-sound, the MOD found documents in a small town in Iraq detailing a mission involving snare drums packed with explosives, they came in and closed the shop down while the searched for the WMD. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biz Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 it was open todayfirst time for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drum bum Posted February 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 dude' date=' i worked there til about three weeks ago[/quote']Ok fair enough, well why not enlighten us with what the story was, insted of trying to unfold a paper trail poirot type plot. I spoke with mike a week ago and he assured me the wiring story was correct apart from the "spandex clad electrician called bobby". Why you not working there anymore? Are you the small guy with the glasses?mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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