mooncobra
Well-known member
The end is upon us.
The final nail in the coffin and real death of most Mom and Pops.........
romanianreaper
Well-known member
Good Guys in Heath, Ohio are great. I got my Marshall Mini Jube from Mom's Music in Louisville, Kentucky. They are great!
The~Kid
Well-known member
Seems to be an 80/20 on this so far pretty much.
mbt64
New member
I like Guitar Center, but the last time I tried to buy new from them, the display model they were going to give me had a caved-in output jack, AND the pickup selector just wandered around without doing anything. Granted, it was just an Epi LP, but I was going to pay $700 for it. At that price point, I wanted a "new" guitar.
The biggest problem I have is GC's website, which makes it tough to search inventory. It takes three steps to add an item to your favorites list, and the pictures are usually horrible. Compare that to Music Go Round, whose web presence is so much better. I live in Metro Atlanta, so I have six GCs in the area, the Music Go Round, and a pretty good selection of independent shops. Every other place has better customer service than Guitar Center. GC's is not bad; I find it generally indifferent most of the time.
The biggest problem I have is GC's website, which makes it tough to search inventory. It takes three steps to add an item to your favorites list, and the pictures are usually horrible. Compare that to Music Go Round, whose web presence is so much better. I live in Metro Atlanta, so I have six GCs in the area, the Music Go Round, and a pretty good selection of independent shops. Every other place has better customer service than Guitar Center. GC's is not bad; I find it generally indifferent most of the time.
Hiwatts-n-Gibsons
Active member
If you kicked a few tires at a mom and pop, then don't be too hard on yourself.
We guitarists and bassists as a market weren't shit compared to the volume of business mom and pops did with local schools in providing band instruments. With education budgets tightened, and arts tightened inordinately compared to other programs, high schools, and colleges had far more to do with it than guitarists, bassists, and drummers combined. Schools buying through online vendors at reduced prices had way more to do with it.
We guitarists and bassists as a market weren't shit compared to the volume of business mom and pops did with local schools in providing band instruments. With education budgets tightened, and arts tightened inordinately compared to other programs, high schools, and colleges had far more to do with it than guitarists, bassists, and drummers combined. Schools buying through online vendors at reduced prices had way more to do with it.
The~Kid
Well-known member
Honestly have shopped at GC and gotten most of my amps and guitars through there growing up as a lot of Mom and Pops didn't have much to offer aside from the occasional used guitar deal or pedal.
But even now GC just isn't what it used to be, no more layaway either as that's how I purchased most of my gear and overlapped it with holidays and compared to online 0 credit check and 0 percent interest fee it's getting harder and harder to justify GC even. Hell if online could do 0 percent interest and 0 percent credit check youd think Mom and Pops would too to stay competitive or hell GC.....
Now a lot of my recent purchases have been online as a result especially with the free money at 0 percent interest rates and stupid high inflation its free money pretty much and they send you the gear before even fully paying for it which is better than layway too
But even now GC just isn't what it used to be, no more layaway either as that's how I purchased most of my gear and overlapped it with holidays and compared to online 0 credit check and 0 percent interest fee it's getting harder and harder to justify GC even. Hell if online could do 0 percent interest and 0 percent credit check youd think Mom and Pops would too to stay competitive or hell GC.....
Now a lot of my recent purchases have been online as a result especially with the free money at 0 percent interest rates and stupid high inflation its free money pretty much and they send you the gear before even fully paying for it which is better than layway too
CDawg
Active member
"After 57 years of helping you make music, it is with heartfelt gratitude that we announce the closing of Cosmo Music. This was a difficult decision, and we want to express our deepest appreciation to our dedicated Cosmo team, loyal customers, educational partners, brand and vendor partners, the musical community, and everyone who has been part of our journey over the years.
The challenges after COVID were tough. We made significant technology investments to stay ahead, but they were expensive and didn’t go as planned. At the same time, the market softened, making it even harder to recover. Despite our best efforts, these challenges became too much to overcome.
Our retail store will remain open for the time being as we begin the wind-down process.
The exact closing date has not yet been determined and will depend on remaining inventory and other factors. We’ll be announcing sale details soon, giving you one last chance to find great deals. If you’d like to stop by, we’d love to see you one last time and share a moment together.
We’ve already started processing refunds for customers with existing orders and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition as we wrap up operations. If you have any questions about an order, refund, or other outstanding matter, we’ll be here to help during this time.
We’ll continue to post updates and provide any additional information on CosmoMusic.ca.
Please check the site regularly for the latest news and important updates.
Cosmo Music has been more than just a store—it’s been a place where musicians found inspiration, connected with others, and shared their passion for music. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have supported your love for music.
Thank you for 57 incredible years of music, memories, and community.
– The Hebert Family
#cosmomusic"
You can also add Cosmo Music to the list of Mom and Pops closing up shop. I believe that was Canada's largest musical instrument store and one of the largest in the world.
The challenges after COVID were tough. We made significant technology investments to stay ahead, but they were expensive and didn’t go as planned. At the same time, the market softened, making it even harder to recover. Despite our best efforts, these challenges became too much to overcome.
Our retail store will remain open for the time being as we begin the wind-down process.
The exact closing date has not yet been determined and will depend on remaining inventory and other factors. We’ll be announcing sale details soon, giving you one last chance to find great deals. If you’d like to stop by, we’d love to see you one last time and share a moment together.
We’ve already started processing refunds for customers with existing orders and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition as we wrap up operations. If you have any questions about an order, refund, or other outstanding matter, we’ll be here to help during this time.
We’ll continue to post updates and provide any additional information on CosmoMusic.ca.
Please check the site regularly for the latest news and important updates.
Cosmo Music has been more than just a store—it’s been a place where musicians found inspiration, connected with others, and shared their passion for music. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have supported your love for music.
Thank you for 57 incredible years of music, memories, and community.
– The Hebert Family
#cosmomusic"
You can also add Cosmo Music to the list of Mom and Pops closing up shop. I believe that was Canada's largest musical instrument store and one of the largest in the world.
The~Kid
Well-known member
I mean it sucks and it's not so clear cut and combination of online, Mom and Pops not catching up with the times or not wanting to and just changing environments faster than smaller businesses can keep up with consumer trends.......
It's honesty hour and for example Jims Music while great refused to do business on Reverb. Mos Music though did started changing with the times and never had Fenders for example and always had some knockoffs.
I always told them why not carry Fenders as it would probably help as I would always go in my college days to play as it was down the street from my school and shot the shit with the sales guys, cool dudes and people there always.......They started carrying mid tier and higher tier MIA and MIM Fenders and Ibanez guitars too like Prestige models and some other nice stuff......they also had G&L guitars as it is in Fullerton and they were proud of that.
MxR pedals and Way HUGE and some EQD stuff, tube amps and other nice pedals too and PSUs and such..... it actually started turning around for them and they started getting more business but by then unfortunately it was too late I figure and the owner has been in charge forever and probably just can't do it anymore and figured it's time to retire.
I bought a few things there too like a first run Way HUGE Geisha Drive or some Nux pedals for friends as a gift like the Plexi Crunch. They even had Eastmans and some other nice guitars like BlueRidge acoustics you wouldn't find in many other places...... and a bunch of nice picks too and other nice stuff in general......
It sucks but yeah I mean I guess it can't be helped and the time of the Mom and Pop seems to have come to an end.
It's honesty hour and for example Jims Music while great refused to do business on Reverb. Mos Music though did started changing with the times and never had Fenders for example and always had some knockoffs.
I always told them why not carry Fenders as it would probably help as I would always go in my college days to play as it was down the street from my school and shot the shit with the sales guys, cool dudes and people there always.......They started carrying mid tier and higher tier MIA and MIM Fenders and Ibanez guitars too like Prestige models and some other nice stuff......they also had G&L guitars as it is in Fullerton and they were proud of that.
MxR pedals and Way HUGE and some EQD stuff, tube amps and other nice pedals too and PSUs and such..... it actually started turning around for them and they started getting more business but by then unfortunately it was too late I figure and the owner has been in charge forever and probably just can't do it anymore and figured it's time to retire.
I bought a few things there too like a first run Way HUGE Geisha Drive or some Nux pedals for friends as a gift like the Plexi Crunch. They even had Eastmans and some other nice guitars like BlueRidge acoustics you wouldn't find in many other places...... and a bunch of nice picks too and other nice stuff in general......
It sucks but yeah I mean I guess it can't be helped and the time of the Mom and Pop seems to have come to an end.
jabps
Well-known member
So IMO is wasn't just one thing but several.
The first thing that happened though to make a "real dent" was the big manufacturers exiting the M&P's for the big chain stores around the 90's early 2000's.
When you can only buy Gibson, Marshall etc... at GC or Sam Ash, that put a massive dent into legit inventory/turnover at your M&Ps. My local store, the one I did 80% of my business with lost their Gibson deal, then lost their Marshall deal. They did have PRS, Boogie and other high end product that helped them survive longer but it eventually took it's toll.
@MusicIsLife mentioned complacency, I disagree. This particular store went toe to toe with GC and Sam Ash in Nashville with IMO the best product offering around and prices. But when your big manufacturers aren't making deals with them because they are locked into the big chains, pricing is irrelevant at that point.
Same with one of my close friends stores in my hometown, they lost their Marshall and Peavey deal and that was that. They sold alot of product for a M&P but Marshall and Peavey put the squeeze on them by constantly requiring them to buy the junk to get the good stuff. I mean this store had 5150's and Vandenberg guitars before even the big chains but new rep, new policies and suddenly they're getting the Peavey trash in order to get the better stuff. Eventually it killed the store.
Next up was online shopping. It's the way of the world. We all do it and just don't see that changing. There's a small shop here in Nashville now that specializes in pedals and it's really the only place I actually go in. They'll trade with you, buy from you and offer good product and great staff. I hope they make it, granted it's found it's niche since it isn't relying on big box brands items but still I always wonder if they are next.
The first thing that happened though to make a "real dent" was the big manufacturers exiting the M&P's for the big chain stores around the 90's early 2000's.
When you can only buy Gibson, Marshall etc... at GC or Sam Ash, that put a massive dent into legit inventory/turnover at your M&Ps. My local store, the one I did 80% of my business with lost their Gibson deal, then lost their Marshall deal. They did have PRS, Boogie and other high end product that helped them survive longer but it eventually took it's toll.
@MusicIsLife mentioned complacency, I disagree. This particular store went toe to toe with GC and Sam Ash in Nashville with IMO the best product offering around and prices. But when your big manufacturers aren't making deals with them because they are locked into the big chains, pricing is irrelevant at that point.
Same with one of my close friends stores in my hometown, they lost their Marshall and Peavey deal and that was that. They sold alot of product for a M&P but Marshall and Peavey put the squeeze on them by constantly requiring them to buy the junk to get the good stuff. I mean this store had 5150's and Vandenberg guitars before even the big chains but new rep, new policies and suddenly they're getting the Peavey trash in order to get the better stuff. Eventually it killed the store.
Next up was online shopping. It's the way of the world. We all do it and just don't see that changing. There's a small shop here in Nashville now that specializes in pedals and it's really the only place I actually go in. They'll trade with you, buy from you and offer good product and great staff. I hope they make it, granted it's found it's niche since it isn't relying on big box brands items but still I always wonder if they are next.
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njshred
Well-known member
For a mom and pop to be prosperous they either need to offer lessons, or have a school band rental program. Selling guitars is fun, but doesn’t pay the rent anymore.
romanianreaper
Well-known member
There was a Mom and Pop shop in the town I love in and was probably around since the 70s. They never updated with the times and still had stuff like faded Tom Scholtz posters and advertisements for thr Gorilla Combo, etc. They would have good things here and there but was fairly run down. People would still go though, hoping they would turn things around.
They went out of business and closed last year. I thought about taking out a loan and buying it even though I have no experience in that work. But I thought, I'll advertise for Chubtone, Wayne with his pedals, Keeley, Tonenerd, etc. and kind of work up to more brands.
At the end of the day, I knew it would be a money pit and I'd get tire kickers all day long and people would just buy online. In my mind I was picturing a Norman's Rare Guitars type of thing and reality was me selling lemonade on the corner...
They went out of business and closed last year. I thought about taking out a loan and buying it even though I have no experience in that work. But I thought, I'll advertise for Chubtone, Wayne with his pedals, Keeley, Tonenerd, etc. and kind of work up to more brands.
At the end of the day, I knew it would be a money pit and I'd get tire kickers all day long and people would just buy online. In my mind I was picturing a Norman's Rare Guitars type of thing and reality was me selling lemonade on the corner...