What are your frustrations regarding music stores in the Philippines?

[curiousdcat]

mukhang yung "mahal yan ser/mam" spiel ay hindi naman natatangi sa isang music store chain.
part ba ng training yan?

Di kaya effective selling method yan sa mga people with money? Instead na mapahiya at isiping "can't afford" sila, they'll be forced to buy to keep their image and how they want to be perceived! 

[shoegaze geezer]

-lack of variety of guitars and amps;
-lack of knowledge/knowhow of sales reps.

[sonicassault]

Di kaya effective selling method yan sa mga people with money? Instead na mapahiya at isiping "can't afford" sila, they'll be forced to buy to keep their image and how they want to be perceived! 

actually. valid point yun ah!

at bigla ko lang naisip din, ang mas mura na stock, kunwari yung mga Fernando guitars ng JB, mga faster moving inventory yan, pag na-stock ng matagal, bababa ang value, or mabilis lang talaga mabubulok. Compared to slow moving inventory, ok lang kasi mataas ang quality nyan, hindi naman biglang bagsak ang presyo nyan tulad ng computers. Tamang alaga lang sa storage.

 

[yekoz]

year is 2015, stock still 2014.

[sonicassault]

year is 2015, stock still 2014.

talo pa ng CDR king, wala pang one year, pinalitan na ang stock 

[jm the mute]

limited choices/variants: after testing a sunburst road worn strat, "meron po ba kayo nung white?"

limited stock of specific variants: "ok na tong crybaby from hell, meron po kayong ibang stock na hindi display or test unit? scratchy na pots eh"

guitars not setup properly para ma-test ng maayos at malaman kung ok talaga: picks up a guitar from the display rack, plug into an amp...first strum: wala sa tono. after tuning: puro fret buzz. return to rack and walk out.

knowledge ng salesman about the item or anything music equipment related: "ok yan sir. Seymour Duncan pickups nyan eh" "anong model po ng Seymour Duncan?" (kamot ulo muna) "teka sir, check ko" after 15 mins, "sir, di ko sure eh, pero Seymour Duncan yan...kilala yan ng marami"

[sonicassault]

limited choices/variants: after testing a sunburst road worn strat, "meron po ba kayo nung white?"

limited stock of specific variants: "ok na tong crybaby from hell, meron po kayong ibang stock na hindi display or test unit? scratchy na pots eh"

guitars not setup properly para ma-test ng maayos at malaman kung ok talaga: picks up a guitar from the display rack, plug into an amp...first strum: wala sa tono. after tuning: puro fret buzz. return to rack and walk out.

knowledge ng salesman about the item or anything music equipment related: "ok yan sir. Seymour Duncan pickups nyan eh" "anong model po ng Seymour Duncan?" (kamot ulo muna) "teka sir, check ko" after 15 mins, "sir, di ko sure eh, pero Seymour Duncan yan...kilala yan ng marami"

while we know that not all salespeople are gearheads, and we shouldn't expect them to be, but we rightfully expect that they know their products even at the basic level.

so kung may Seymour Duncan na pups, I don't expect them to know how much it reads of a freaking meter, sakto na yung "sir pang metal yan, eto vintage sounding" or "yung set na to mas matinis kaysa dun sa isa". At least something useful, instead of "gamit ni franco yan" or "professional equipment yan"

[mysmileyface]

Di kaya effective selling method yan sa mga people with money? Instead na mapahiya at isiping "can't afford" sila, they'll be forced to buy to keep their image and how they want to be perceived! 

Totoo 'to. Kaya wag mainis kapag ganyan ang sinasabi. Depende lang talaga sa iyo kung paano mo natanggap ang mensahe. Masakit at nakakapikon pag walang perang pambili. Pag may pera ganito naman ang sasabihin, "very accomodating itong si juan" hahaha

[royc]

Concern ko lang sa ibang salesman is when they pretend to know the specs. Recently I asked for a demo ng epiphone tube amp. Mabait kasi ang salesman very eager to let me try the displays. I forgot ilang watts yun so I asked. He looked at the back of the amp and mentioned a high number. Sabi ko hindi tama yun and said baka power consumption yun. True enough I googled and he was wrong.

[analog.matt]

Di kaya effective selling method yan sa mga people with money? Instead na mapahiya at isiping "can't afford" sila, they'll be forced to buy to keep their image and how they want to be perceived! 

it could be. but i know there are people who will take off right away when the words "mahal" come into play. it could be a way of weeding out those who can't pay at the same time challenging those who can pay.

although i remember when i was 14, circa 1994, i answered back at the perfect pitch person. i told him, "look at me, im young, do you think i can't afford that? but my parents can"

it turned into a short interview and ended with a sweet "balik ka ha".

pero nakakaturn off pa din.

[bgarcia]

When I test an item in a music store, I hardly ask questions about specs.  I have usually researched the item beforehand and most likely know more about the product than the salesman anyway.

[sonicassault]

it could be. but i know there are people who will take off right away when the words "mahal" come into play. it could be a way of weeding out those who can't pay at the same time challenging those who can pay.

although i remember when i was 14, circa 1994, i answered back at the perfect pitch person. i told him, "look at me, im young, do you think i can't afford that? but my parents can"

it turned into a short interview and ended with a sweet "balik ka ha".

pero nakakaturn off pa din.

isn't is much easier if they just mention the price? "mahal" is very subjective. for most filipinos, even an RJ or an SX is "mahal". so if the goal is to weed out those who can't pay, and at the same time challenge or entice those who can, I think just saying the price is more effective.

pag sinabing mahal kasi, yung di kaya magbayad diretso walk out na lang, tapos  yung kaya naman magbayad maooffend lang, lalo na kasi usually pag tinanong ulit ang price, ang sagot "mahal" pa rin. nakakainsulto at nakakaturnoff. so that's already two kinds of sales down the drain.

compared to just saying the price outright. "sir/maam, 35K po yan." it has the same effect on those who can't afford it. but there will be some of them who might think, "pag-iipunan ko yan, mangungutang ako, makikiride sa credit card" whatever, and that converts an inquiry into a sale. pag sa may kaya naman, he can either just snap it up if it's the right guitar, or even stay in the store for a better or more expensive guitar. that's also an inquiry converted into a sale, plus you gain the respect of both markets.

it's puzzling really, how we treat our music shops like a store in a public market. you're playing the economy at a high level but still think in the same demeaning way.

[treblinkalovescene]

I'm just upset by the lack of flatwounds and gauges 11 and up.

[analog.matt]

isn't is much easier if they just mention the price? "mahal" is very subjective. for most filipinos, even an RJ or an SX is "mahal". so if the goal is to weed out those who can't pay, and at the same time challenge or entice those who can, I think just saying the price is more effective.

pag sinabing mahal kasi, yung di kaya magbayad diretso walk out na lang, tapos  yung kaya naman magbayad maooffend lang, lalo na kasi usually pag tinanong ulit ang price, ang sagot "mahal" pa rin. nakakainsulto at nakakaturnoff. so that's already two kinds of sales down the drain.

compared to just saying the price outright. "sir/maam, 35K po yan." it has the same effect on those who can't afford it. but there will be some of them who might think, "pag-iipunan ko yan, mangungutang ako, makikiride sa credit card" whatever, and that converts an inquiry into a sale. pag sa may kaya naman, he can either just snap it up if it's the right guitar, or even stay in the store for a better or more expensive guitar. that's also an inquiry converted into a sale, plus you gain the respect of both markets.

it's puzzling really, how we treat our music shops like a store in a public market. you're playing the economy at a high level but still think in the same demeaning way.

ewan ko nga sa pinas kung bakit ganun. sa ibang bansa naman naroon na ang price. although pansin ko din sa mga puti, pag hindi nila kaya bilin, marami sa kanila won't even think of testing something they can't afford.

also this saying rings true for most guitar products, "lahat napag iipunan".

so yeah in a way that tactic of theirs is really weird.

[curiousdcat]

Very good points, sonicassault and analog.matt! 

[gandydancer123]

i only buy strings.. the cheapest quality set too -300php-ish for a set of '10s at music stores....and the occassional test of some gear/guitar (which is very seldom) because I never ever see myself buying new at a local music store ever.

[MrGobots]

Me too, just strings if I run out of stock and still waiting for my regulars to arrive. Music stores (in malls) here overprice their products, under-deliver their service and harbor underpaid/incompetent a-holes for staff. Lazer though, at least the ones I go to, gets a passing mark. Mabait at honest naman sila so far. But the others geez.

Lazada for small and hard to mess up orders like picks and common parts that need to be ordered from china like tuners straplocks etc.
US for brand new electronic gear like pedals tuners... Via johnnyair.
I only buy guitars when i travel personally or if I have a friend who can hand carry it back here. Like last year a friend vacationed in japan, had her hand carry an Ibby prestige.

[mbsunga]

na try ko pumunta sa tom lee sa hong kong at ibaibang music store sa singapore and ang napansin ko mas madami kang choices at mas mura for some reason ang mga presyo sa kanila compared sa presyuhan sa mga music stores dito sa pinas.

baket doon parang ok lang magtest ng mga items dito sa atin hinde

para sa akin dapat iencourage ng mga music stores dito sa pinas na ipatest nila up to sawa ang mga items nila lalo na ang mga mamahaling items.
dapat lakihan pa nila ang mga stores nila to accomodate yung mga magtetest ng mga items.
bale wala kase kung idisplay lang ang mga mamahaling items nila kung di naman matetest.... lahat naman pwede igoogle ang mga yun sa internet so anong use kung makikita lang at hinde matetest......pano nila malalaman na maganda yun kung hinde mo ipapatest......pano nila babalikan yun at bibilhin kung hinde mo ipapatest

parang ikaw..... pag may maganda kang gitara di ba ang gusto  mo ipatest sa mga kakilala mo para maappreciate din nila..... dun nagsisimula ang GAS at dun nagsisimula ang pagiipon kahit gaano pa yan kamahal.

[queer_rocker]

na try ko pumunta sa tom lee sa hong kong at ibaibang music store sa singapore and ang napansin ko mas madami kang choices at mas mura for some reason ang mga presyo sa kanila compared sa presyuhan sa mga music stores dito sa pinas.

baket doon parang ok lang magtest ng mga items dito sa atin hinde

oo kahit ano ituro mo na guitar multifx amp etc

bait mga staffs nila 

[bgarcia]

Sa SG at HK, siguro 1 out of 2 na magtetesting ng item sa music stores eh bibili.  Dito sa Pinas, baka 1/20 ang ratio. LOL.  Kaya di mo rin masisi kung minsan aburido ang mga salesman.  Kaya dati eh nagpanukala ako na mag-implement ng testing fee ang mga music stores na nasa malls/commercial establishments lalo na sa mga hi-end items nila para yun mga salesman eh hindi na nanghuhula kung sino seryoso at hindi sa pagbili.  Since nagbayad ng testing fee yung customer, bibili man or hinde in the end, eh dapat na asikasuhin na ng mabuti.  Kung limited lang ang pagtetesting sa mga nagbabayad ay hindi rin malalaspag ang mga gamit. Etong testing fee ay di lang para sa store; para din sa customer.  Marami ang willing magbayad para sa magandang serbisyo, kesa sa libre nga pero iinit naman ang ulo mo sa masamang serbisyo.

na try ko pumunta sa tom lee sa hong kong at ibaibang music store sa singapore and ang napansin ko mas madami kang choices at mas mura for some reason ang mga presyo sa kanila compared sa presyuhan sa mga music stores dito sa pinas.

baket doon parang ok lang magtest ng mga items dito sa atin hinde

para sa akin dapat iencourage ng mga music stores dito sa pinas na ipatest nila up to sawa ang mga items nila lalo na ang mga mamahaling items.
dapat lakihan pa nila ang mga stores nila to accomodate yung mga magtetest ng mga items.
bale wala kase kung idisplay lang ang mga mamahaling items nila kung di naman matetest.... lahat naman pwede igoogle ang mga yun sa internet so anong use kung makikita lang at hinde matetest......pano nila malalaman na maganda yun kung hinde mo ipapatest......pano nila babalikan yun at bibilhin kung hinde mo ipapatest

parang ikaw..... pag may maganda kang gitara di ba ang gusto  mo ipatest sa mga kakilala mo para maappreciate din nila..... dun nagsisimula ang GAS at dun nagsisimula ang pagiipon kahit gaano pa yan kamahal.

[gandydancer123]

haha visited tom lee tsim sha tsui recently.. haha sarap mag try all you can.. sinubukan ko mga acoustics..taylor martin try try lang sarap..

iba talaga sa pinas guys... panisnin ninyo sa hotels, at mga entrances ng pinas laging may sekyu, daming tanong tanong, requirements.. etc.. sablay talaga culure natin..mapanira at mapangabuso kaya the more na nirerestrain... kawawa din music store sa pinas kung nachambahan ng mga ungas na testers na gasgasin at bababyuin mga gamit sa pagtest... mas mataas kasi percentage ng mga jologs talaga..

[inexperience]

Well most was not able to maintain their guitars in a good playable condition kahit sa mga hi-end na, rusted strings, inaalikabok, ang taas/baba ng action, daming mantsa etc. Samantalang daming free time ng salesman

[firemodel55]

I wish RJ just offers 50% off as early as the store opens.  This saves customers having to line up and it allows his salesmen to even out the load across the day.  Anyway, Pinoys will all just line up at 8 o clock in the evening to maximise their discount on already crappy gear.

Which brings me to my point -- Who is really having the last laugh?  I mean if RJ can give a 50% discount; he must have at least a 55% margin.  Which means Pinoys are actually paying for a 45% of the price guitar.  Given the prices, that again translates to lousier guitars. 

[gandydancer123]

i think to pinoys its just the trill of getting a good deal..well at least the illusion of getting gear for cheaps... kahit na alam naman nating walng ka value value mga current rebadged stuff niya...

[shodawmoon]

I wish RJ just offers 50% off as early as the store opens.  This saves customers having to line up and it allows his salesmen to even out the load across the day.  Anyway, Pinoys will all just line up at 8 o clock in the evening to maximise their discount on already crappy gear.

Which brings me to my point -- Who is really having the last laugh?  I mean if RJ can give a 50% discount; he must have at least a 55% margin.  Which means Pinoys are actually paying for a 45% of the price guitar.  Given the prices, that again translates to lousier guitars.

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