Many guitars these days are purchased online. But even with all the technology, price slashing and convenience of buying online, it's important to remember the advantages of shopping for a guitar in a good old fashioned music store.Whether it's a mom & pop local store - or a big name, big box retailer - the main advantage to buying a guitar in a music store is the ability to actually touch a guitar.
The value of this cannot be overstated. Every guitar has its own unique personality that can only be determined when it's in your hands. No amount of time behind a computer monitor can show you how a guitar is really going to "feel".
As a former music store owner, I am obviously a little biased toward shopping locally. So from an insider's point of view, here are some tips on how to buy a guitar from a real live, bricks and mortar, music store.
1. Research online in advance. Try to get an idea of a good guitar choice based on the style of music you play. Read reviews, visit forums and compare pricing. Maybe even narrow it down to a make and model that might be a good fit for you.
2. Check out all of them. My mid-sized town has a few good stores, but 90 miles up the road there is a metro area with a number of "big box" retailers. Make a point to visit them all.
3. Shop in the "off" hours. Music stores are busiest on the weekends and in the evenings after people get off work and out of school. Scheduling doesn't always permit this, but you will find that if you can shop a music store during their slow hours, you will get much more personalized attention.
4. Ask to play some guitars. Most stores will let you try out guitars, but some are reluctant to have people "fingering" the merchandise. If you come across some resistance to let you test drive guitars, just move on. That's, after all, why you came into the store in the first place.
5. Talk to someone. Music store employees are usually comprised of musicians, many times these are gigging musicians that might be able to share a unique, "real life", perspective on the guitar that interests you. Take advantage of that.
6. Negotiate. The retail music business is still like the car business. People expect a certain amount of haggling. It's an unfortunate aspect of the business in terms of the owner's profit margins, but it's still the nature of the beast.
In addition to haggling over price, you can sometimes get some extra "goodies" thrown in, like guitar strings, straps, picks or free lessons.
7. Take your trade-in. Some online dealers now accept trades, but it's a cumbersome process. You can usually shave some money off the price of your new guitar by trading in your old one. You may not get as much for it as you would selling it on eBay - but it sure saves a lot of hassle.
8. Make sure you are clear on the store's return policy, and any re-stocking fees that may apply.
9. Take competitors ads. In today's competitive retail environment, most music stores are well aware of what the online dealers are charging for a similar instrument. Come armed with the facts on competitors pricing, and many stores will meet or beat it to earn your business.
10. Pay a little more... What?... Yes, if the price is a little higher than the online competitors, find out what you get for that extra price. It may include a high level of customer service after the sale. The value of having a relationship with a music store, and qualified personnel to work on your guitar down the road cannot be overstated. It may be more than worth paying a few extra bucks on the front end.
The security blanket of anonymity, and the isolation from perceived "sales pressure" when shopping online, keeps many out of physically making the effort to venture across the threshold of a music store when shopping for a new guitar.
But the advantages of being able to actually "lay hands" on guitars, and the ability to talk to knowledgeable personnel, coupled with the customer service after the sale aspect, should not be neglected.
You may very well find that your new dream guitar is in your own back yard!