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Post subject: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:26 am
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Wow. Times have certainly been changing for awhile. The shop I got my first P bass at in the mid 80's just let me know that they aren't a dealer anymore. I went in to talk about trading in my current rig for a new Bassman 100T/410 stack. Apparently Fender is requiring a lot upfront from dealers now days and pressuring them to move a lot of lower end product. As this shop is mainly frequented by the local working musician community there isn't a lot of interest in the kinds of things Fender moves at BestBuy. So the decision was made by the shop not to order. Pretty messed up. There aren't a lot of shops around here. Looks like I may have to head out of town... or just not order, at all.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:32 am
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A sign of the times, KoP.

:(

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 12:18 pm
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I really hope this isn't the case for my local store. I love their Fender and Squier selection. I have noticed that a large portion of their stock is going to Godin.

I'm just really hoping they keep the Fender stuff in.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 12:42 pm
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Happens everywhere I'm afraid. A mate who works in a large UK music shop says gibson are a lot less demanding to deal with when it comes to ordering stock.


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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:04 pm
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Which is nice for shops, but not a help to me. On any level.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:46 pm
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One of the sales staff at my local music store joked that half the people who walk through the door want to buy a Fender product. Not sure how turning them away equates to good business.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:19 pm
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Yeah, there'd never be anyway I'd play a Gibson bass. Seems silly to turn people away. However, I'm not going to line the pockets of a MF or GC on a major purchase. Strings, cable deals a strap on a blowout sale? Sure, Why not? Buying a Pro series rig, or an American Vintage or Custom Shop instrument? Nah. I'll save my money, buy used, and help out a private individual. I've been on the fence about getting an old Bassman 100 or 135 head anyhow. There is one other shop a few towns over that might still deal with Fender. They are a bit bigger, and usually carry lower end Fender stuff for Bass, but do stock decent guitar rigs. If they won't order it I'll just keep my old Pro 115s and buy a vintage head. I've got my Beta 52 to mic it with anyhow. Seems like Fender has been going out of their way to push me into the used market on all fronts lately. Both on the Custom Shop end and the amp side of things. I guess they are gambling on 13 year olds buying Squiers in Best Buy and not working musicians for their loyal customer base. Good luck with that. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:23 pm
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SKcoppertele wrote:
Unfortunately, I no longer have a local store. So its internet or GC for me. :roll: sorry to hear about you his happening to every one though. Seem like nowadays, If you want Gibson you deal with unfair prices and bad quality control. If you want fender you deal with unfair business strategies and a failure to live up to reputation.

Why do you feel gibsons prices are unfair compared to fender?


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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:35 pm
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SKcoppertele wrote:
Unfortunately, I no longer have a local store. So its internet or GC for me. :roll: sorry to hear about you his happening to every one though. Seem like nowadays, If you want Gibson you deal with unfair prices and bad quality control. If you want fender you deal with unfair business strategies and a failure to live up to reputation.


Last year, I paid half as much for my new made-in-USA Gibson SG as I paid for my new MIM Tele.
And the quality was way better on the Gibson. If anything, it's Fender USA that's overpriced, and Fender QC that's severely lacking - pretty much down to late CBS era, in my opinion.
They're still nice guitars, but expect problems and inflated prices.


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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:45 pm
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Hmmm, it used to be Gibson that had large buying requirements on their dealers. Maybe Gibson has been requiring less, while Fender is asking more.

Some dealers move their required "overstock" to the grey market (the unofficial "dealers" willing to sell the stuff).

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:56 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:


Some dealers move their required "overstock" to the grey market (the unofficial "dealers" willing to sell the stuff).


I was wondering how so many non dealers could buy so much new product at a price that they could still turn a profit. So basically Fender is supplying a non authorized supply chain via the back door by way of their authorized dealer policies. A bit ironic, but I guess it moves product.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:23 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
Wow. Times have certainly been changing for awhile. The shop I got my first P bass at in the mid 80's just let me know that they aren't a dealer anymore. I went in to talk about trading in my current rig for a new Bassman 100T/410 stack. Apparently Fender is requiring a lot upfront from dealers now days and pressuring them to move a lot of lower end product. As this shop is mainly frequented by the local working musician community there isn't a lot of interest in the kinds of things Fender moves at BestBuy. So the decision was made by the shop not to order. Pretty messed up. There aren't a lot of shops around here. Looks like I may have to head out of town... or just not order, at all.


When talking about a big box store like Bestbuy they gave it a valiant effort and in some select brick and mortar stores took a section and tried to make it into a sort of mini Guitar Center and went from Starcaster and Squire beginner packages to selling Mexi and USAs as well as signature series. It was a fail for them as they are restricted in advertised pricing like any other legit Fender dealer and it was doubtful you would really get a knowledgeable salesperson in their showroom. I know that on eBay you could buy the same exact models for the same cost Best Buy was paying and save on tax (granted you had shipping fees).

As of now the selection at Best Buy even on line for example in the $500-750 dollar range is limited to mostly acoustics. When you see the "Marketplace" on bestbuy.com it means they do not even stock it in stores or service it but simply "renting" out the space on their website.

Now as far as a smaller local retailer I can not be sure of their agreement with Fender but from my experience find when dealing with a well known desirable brand they expect minimum orders that some can not always afford and also expect a minimum sales number or they pressure you and threaten to cut you off.

So as a small retailer (or even large for that matter) if you can make 25-50 points and up on another brand but only a few points on a Fender...simple economics sometimes forces the decision to carry the line or not for you. I would imagine most smaller "mom/pops" do not want to be locally known for their Squire beginner package sales you can find at Target or Walmart.

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Last edited by ebaysux on Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:40 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
Hmmm, it used to be Gibson that had large buying requirements on their dealers. Maybe Gibson has been requiring less, while Fender is asking more.

Some dealers move their required "overstock" to the grey market (the unofficial "dealers" willing to sell the stuff).



This was how it was explained to me. Fender is requiring more from their dealers in terms of dollar amount of stock they carry. Moreover, they are pushing low end product. So not only are they pushing product on people. They are pushing BAD product on people. Now for the GCs and Best Buys that's no big deal. They cater to low end impulse buyers. The local shops that supply working musicians who need to be able to order higher end merchandise on request and stock mid-range product in limited quantities are being squeezed out. I don't consider Gibson's prices any more unfair than Fenders. Fender American Vintage Basses are nearly going for what Custom Shop basses went for a decade ago. Now I hate the Federal Reserve more than most, but inflation hasn't doubled in the last decade. They are simply upping the profit margin on the high end product that sells to their older dedicated customers to finance their efforts in developing nations where they can churn out garbage for pennies on the dollar by the boat load to sell to people with low standards. Thus cashing in on the Fender name and bankrupting it's worth. Just like CBS did.

Gibson isn't much different with the exception that they seem to take a more level and controlled approach to what they do. Which makes them more consistent and to musicians. That's a good thing. I just don't care for anything about Gibson basses. (Or Guitars) That's just my personal taste. So while Gibson may treat their dealers better. They don't make anything I would play. Fender still makes things that I would play. However, apparently they don't think players outside major metropolitan areas are worthy of being able to access it at real stores. Sad.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:50 pm
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I'm sure if they could stock it and profit from it they would. Requiring a large stock for small retailers ties up their cash flow and they end up falling into a downward money spiral, unless they can move the product fast. The same thing has happened in my town. Good for the big guys who can ride it out, but hard on the little guys. Please know that I have no knowledge of Fenders policy, I'm just making a general commit about the retail business.

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Post subject: Re: My local just let me know they no longer a Fender Dealer
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:02 pm
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arth1 wrote:
SKcoppertele wrote:
Unfortunately, I no longer have a local store. So its internet or GC for me. :roll: sorry to hear about you his happening to every one though. Seem like nowadays, If you want Gibson you deal with unfair prices and bad quality control. If you want fender you deal with unfair business strategies and a failure to live up to reputation.


Last year, I paid half as much for my new made-in-USA Gibson SG as I paid for my new MIM Tele.
And the quality was way better on the Gibson. If anything, it's Fender USA that's overpriced, and Fender QC that's severely lacking - pretty much down to late CBS era, in my opinion.
They're still nice guitars, but expect problems and inflated prices.


Not sure if the best place to post that is on a Fender forum unless you expected a critical response. It is not Fenders fault if you overpaid for an MIM or got a great deal on a USA SG. That aside the 2 guitars are so much on different ends of the spectrum you might as well go on a Chevy forum and tell them you got a better deal on Mustang then a Corvette and see how that pans out for you. :D

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