Sound Control - oops!

[MarkMono]

They were more overpriced than any other music store in Glasgow long before internet shopping took off.

[endless psych]

They were dicks long before that also.

[Largest of Als]

I don't compute you people that say that you "baulk" at paying 5-10% for a store that have the decency to kit out their branch with the best of gear for you to try out while some wanker online manages to sell at a cut price because they don't have all the normal overheads a shop would have.

Guitar Guitar and Sound Control (and McCormacks and Merchy to an extent) have been suffering for years with trying to compete prices with these people and I think its a real shame that the likes of Thomann, Dolphin Music and Gear4Music are flourihing from their PC desks while stores that give young guys as well as old the chance to try some decent gears and give assistance are failing.

While we're not set up to cater for the general public, I have to agree with what George has said about some of the bigger net retailers and their pricing..

Quite a few of the big manufacturers are actually looking into this, I know because I've been speaking to them.

Unfortunately, with the 'free market' and no pricing control, there's no way for the manufacturers and distributors to control the pricing apart from simply stopping supplies to that retailer, and thats cutting their own throat.


Al

[dalamarthedark]

I got an email from Dolphin Music saying that it was all confirmed. Soundcontrol are administration and so are Turnkey. In case anyone was wondering.

[djtoast]

Sound Control were helpful when I bought my guitar; not bought much else there beyond speakon leads and stuff. I was given some really bad advice about mixers one time though

McCormacks are very varied depending what you want I think; good for sheet music recently (it's really cool they've got full band scores/parts in stock) but for example they have an okay selection of drum hardware but an odd selection of cymbals... I bought my keyboard and keyboard amp there and there were loads to choose from and at good prices... but they had a £4000 xylophone sitting around that was obviously just a waste of time - I think they just need to understand the market a little better.

Biggars have done that strange thing of opening a coffee shop and shunting the instruments upstairs, so I guess they were struggling a bit in that sector too.

Damn, just realised the shop on Otago St (formerly CC Music) is a Sound Control these days, hope that doesn't shut down, it was well handy not having to go into town sometimes.

[Largest of Als]

Damn, just realised the shop on Otago St (formerly CC Music) is a Sound Control these days, hope that doesn't shut down, it was well handy not having to go into town sometimes.

Dont go into town.. call me and have it delivered


Al

[djtoast]

Dont go into town.. call me and have it delivered


Al

well obvoiusly, now

[slicer]

From my mate Dougie

Dougie that used to work at the Note with me?

That's well shite, means that four decent folks I know are out of work. Well pish.

I've got to agree with Yorgo. I think I'd have to be hard pressed to buy a guitar/amp or effects online. I like to go to the shop and try out the gear before I buy it, especially with guitars. You can try two or three of the same model and find that one kick ass compared to the others. And I'd happily more often than not pay the price on the tag for a decent bit of kit that floats my boat.

[MarkMono]

So they was killed by the interwebs, rather than the companys own incompetence?

Sure. Place has been empty for years, and when I said 'go somewhere else' to get my equipment cheaper, I meant going to a different guitar shop. Expensive, empty, and now closed.

But lets rant about internet shopping, and how tough its making life for high street retailers, thats always good for a laugh.

[Largest of Als]

So they was killed by the interwebs, rather than the companys own incompetence?

Sure. Place has been empty for years, and when I said 'go somewhere else' to get my equipment cheaper, I meant going to a different guitar shop. Expensive, empty, and now closed.

But lets rant about internet shopping, and how tough its making life for high street retailers, thats always good for a laugh.

I'm not saying that there may or may not have been a level of incompetence from the store staff/management.

BUT.. e-tailers are having a huge effect on what you call 'high street' music stores.

We're not a store, let alone a hight street store, and I know they're having an effect on us. A combination of smaller overheads, and bulk buying power/turnover, means it's very hard to compete.

But it's business.. I accept that.

Al

[Yorgo]

I'm not saying Sound Control is my first choice of shop, I use Rhythm Base, Merchy and will probably use Tour Supply courtesy of Al, in the future.

What i'm saying is this, Sound Control, whether you like it or not, has been the strongest musical presence in Glasgow for quite some time, and has let most of Glasgow's musical population try and buy some great gear through the years.

Sound Control's pricing policy has always been a bit vague, marking up stock maybe 5% more than competitors, but with the buying power it had, they always had room for a bit of haggling.

Once you got "in" with the PA/tech guys (Danny and Ollie more than most) you always felt looked after and got some good deals.

The thing that gets my back up is when people try out gear in these stores, buy elsewhere, and then wonder why they have to up prices.

I'll miss the place.

G

[MarkMono]

Its a vicious circle. Unless they started out being overpriced, I mean, they've by far been the most expensive music store in town since I started playing guitar all those years ago.

Still think its good that its closing now before it gets embarassing: Do you sell guitars? Ah, thanks, do you have any other ones apart from that one?

But it's business.. I accept that.

Al

Yup, essence of capitalism right there.

[slicer]

I'm not sayin it was the internet that killed the place, as such.

Of course things like issues with some of the staff seeming a bit up their own arses at times, is off-putting as fuck. Prices being dearer than other "high street" music reatilers is another one. These certainly don't seem to have too much to do with the intardnet, but a lot of places will feel the heat from the net.

Didn't say anything about McCormacks, but aye, they've had the same stock on the walls for an eternity. Couple of good guitars, but some right shite, and not even inexpensive shite. Heh, I was trying out an Ltd F-series guitar there and found that the jack socket was loose (and it had a licensed Floyd that was well out of tune). I says to the guy about the jack firstly and he says "Aye, that seems to be a problem wi these Ltds".

Needless to say I didn't evn bother playin it lol.

[MarkMono]

I'm not sayin it was the internet that killed the place

Didn't say anything about McCormacks

Heh, no offense intended mate, but no-one was replying to you as far as I can see.

[slicer]

See I thought you were replying with the bit about internet killing it instead of the company's incompetence....my bad lol.

The bit about McCormacks was just a by-the-by. I just thought it was a skelper!