BEFORE YOU BUY ONLINE, CONSIDER THIS...

Posted by Allans Billy Hyde , Tuesday, December 21, 2010 12:05 PM

At Allans Music + Billy Hyde we strive to give our customers the best value for money.

We realise that with the Aussie Dollar at an all time high against the US dollar more people are deciding to buy off-shore, particularly from the USA. Some products are cheap enough in comparison to Australian prices to see customers willing to:

• Have NO warranty or service back up
• Possibly pay duty, freight, customs clearance fees and GST on certain goods
• Risk power supply issues
• Make our music industry less viable

The deals do seem that attractive and we can see that even considering the above, it is too attractive to ignore.

Our industry is working to create a more level playing field for our customers - we are working with our local suppliers to achieve a closer parity situation at every opportunity - in this climate it is in our interests to be able to more closely compete.

Australian music retailers invest heavily in our own industry to display and stock the world’s best brands. We also support our local musicians - NOT ONLY DO WE PRIMARILY EMPLOY MUSICIANS

• We sponsor local battles of the bands, gigs and festivals
• We support community music organisations in Australia
• We support music programs for less fortunate youth
• We present instore workshops and learning opportunities for our customers
• We provide after sales service and product back up

And so do many Australian music retailers.

So give us a chance at the business. We will go out of our way to match all bona-fide* overseas prices. Tell us what you want, where you're getting your prices from, and the TOTAL cost of getting it here and we will do our best to get your custom.

* Some overseas stores will NOT ship overseas, so there's no point quoting their on-line prices when you can't actually buy at these prices.

There will be times when we just can't match some OS prices but we will do our utmost to get as close as possible so that your business stays in Australia.

Buy from Allans Music + Billy Hyde and you will get all the support and warranties you're entitled to, plus professional service and advice both pre and post purchase.

Call us on 1300 88 4321 or 1300 885 496 and give us a go – we’ll do our best to give you the best deal.

9 Response to "BEFORE YOU BUY ONLINE, CONSIDER THIS..."

Anonymous Says:

Why is the discrepancy between the overseas price inc shipping and your floor price so high? Surely your overheads do not necessitate a 100%+ markup on gear. e.g. Korg, fender, gibson etc.

December 21, 2010 at 12:59 PM

Anonymous Says:

The anon above is making a very good point. It's something I've been confused about ever since I started playing guitar.
Why exactly?

December 21, 2010 at 1:08 PM

Anonymous Says:

Possibly due to the 'local distributor' being one extra step in the chain of markups between the factory and the customer ??

December 21, 2010 at 1:22 PM

Anonymous Says:

But some points to consider.

The music reatail is what it is today due to largely what Music link and billy hydes have created over the past few years, having retial outlets owned by the importer and distributer may be a ...conflict of interest, and I am sure does not do a lot for competitors.

If you cant get prices somewhat near OS maybe its time to cut out the middle man, how can a consumer get items delivered to the door, most of the time at less than 50% and more than the local price, they must be making a profit still OS so perhaps the markup from the local distributor is most fo the problem.

Dont think for 1 minute that if an OS supplier will not ship here you cannot get the item, there are many many freight forwarding companies that will help with this now, and most retailer will ship for free within the USA These companies will assist with itmes as small as guitar picks to as big as drum kits.

Maybe it is time for retailers to base their profit projections on turnover sold rather than per sale, sure if you make 100-300% markup on an item is great but if you now only sell 1 item per year well, its a problem. Imagine if you could capture all the business you have sent offshore with high prices over the years, your business would be booming again. I persoanlly along with many people I knwo in the industry have spent many thousands offshore, I would have happily bought local if prcies were comparable and even up to 25-35% more but not 100-250%.

Its great to hear that you guys are amkign steps to imrpove the industry, but I am not afraid to say that what has happened is largely at your own fault.

December 21, 2010 at 1:34 PM

Unknown Says:

Why won't you cut the crap and give the deals, discount straight away? I used to be believe your sincerity that I ask for a couple of instrument with the price of 130% of those published on music123.com. But your consultant says NO! That 's how you meet what you've promised? Quote your text above'Tell us what you want, where you're getting your prices from, and the TOTAL cost of getting it here and we will do our best to get your custom.' Ridiculous

December 21, 2010 at 3:05 PM

Unknown Says:

Lets not forget something here. Left handers. I'll bet if I head into any of your stores, I'll see the same cheap crap I see everything else, maybe one nice instrument, and a bunch of catalogues full of stuff you'll flip through, tell me you can't get without actually trying further than the catalogue. Anything you *can* get me, will be hideously overpriced, not at all what I want, because even though they make what I want, it isn't imported. My reason for believing this? Well it's simple. I rang one of your Brisbane stores, and was told no, no, no, and of course the stereotypical in almost every music store, "Would you like to settle for..." Nope. For Lefties, it's PK's Music in W.A.(Overpriced of course) or Ebay. No offence guys, but facts are facts, and the warranty, etc, etc, matters not at all if you can't even supply the instruments, does it?

December 21, 2010 at 3:27 PM

Sa3 Says:

Sad to say this, my wife just recently purchased a Feder from your store in Camperdown for $1350 n when I asked the guys in ur store at TarenPoint they said they could do it for $1250..can you refund me my $100?? We took an online quote from a leading Music store based in Australia to match the price. I simply cannot understand why do I need to bargain all the time at your store, why cant I just get what I need for a price that is affordable. Why cannot I stop wasting my time online looking for a bargain!!

If I have to invest my time online n yet get the best price then I will do it..sorry to say this, I have had been loyal to your stores for the past 5 years and setup my home studio but if you guys aren't willing to listen to your customers then I guess the customers will not listen to you either!!

December 21, 2010 at 7:08 PM

Sa3 Says:

Oh n the guitar was a Birthday Gift to me...!!

December 21, 2010 at 7:12 PM

Anonymous Says:

greed knows no bounds ...

December 31, 2011 at 9:31 AM