Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    well, i had GREAT luck working with West L.A. Sound on my original
    MIDI purchase: KX88/Roland MKS-20/MIDIverb. Of course, I had been
    in a couple of times and spoken directly with the salesman that
    I eventually bought from long-distance. Be clear about your rep's
    name and tell him that you'll make sure all orders get his name
    on them.. incentive !
    
    Just about to check out some mailorder open-reel contacts I got
    in note 1055. more later.
    
    karl

    I've recently mail ordered from two differnt places both provided
    good serivce over the phone
    
    one is Profound Sound (Kansas) 1-800-63-SOUND mention your DEC
    connectin ot Shane and he'll take good care of you.
    
    the other is East Coast Sound (Conn.) 1-203-748-2799, I dealt with
    Reid.
    
    My experience was that Profoudn had the Midiverb in stock and aside
    from a slight address mixup (he sent it to my home address care
    of Digital Equipment Corp, in Augusta they ignore the address when
    they see DEC, it was delivered to the plant and sat for a week before
    anyone bothered to tell me it was here, meantime Shane initiated
    a trace via UPS). East Coast Sound didn't have either of the things
    I ordered in stock, I now have one and am satisfied with the price
    etc. the other I expect any day now.
    
    Up here I don;t have the luxury of well stocked local stores, most
    stores up here seem to be on the verg of bankruptcy and have next
    to nothing in stock. for example the only tascam dealer in Maine
    hasn't any tascam gear in stock, they can order it but right now
    I've been waiting over two months for a stupid remote for my 234
    and they can't even give an estimate of a delivery date. Needless
    to say this dealer isn't going to get a great deal of my business
    in the future if any at all...mail order is a quick way for me to
    1. get the gear I need/want 2. beat the local prices by mucho $$$.
                                                               
    dave

Mail order musical stuff may be like mail order computer stuff, which has
received a lot of press lately.  A big thing to watch out for is whether
they charge your credit card when they receive the order, or when they ship
the goods.  Some sleazy types charge your card when the order goes in, even
if they don't have the item in stock.  Do not do business with these types.

The computer places have big multi-page ads listing everything they sell as
well as their charging and shipping policies.  I haven't seen such ads for
music equipment. 

My list:

Profound Sound         800-637-6863
East Coast Sound       203-748-2799
Sam Ash                800-472-6274
Manny's                212-819-0576
Thoroughbred Music     813-237-5597
Rhythm City            404-237-9552
Music Emporium         800-648-8460
47th St Photo (Casio)  800-221-7774
Zampino's (drums only) 216-499-1198

Todd.

>received a lot of press lately.  A big thing to watch out for is whether
>they charge your credit card when they receive the order, or when they ship
>the goods.  Some sleazy types charge your card when the order goes in, even
>if they don't have the item in stock.  Do not do business with these types.

Profound did this to me when I purchased the MIDIVERB.  I don't think they
knew was part of the "DEC connection".  They claimed that they had mailed
it and it was lost in transit, but when I talked to a different sales person,
he said that they had been out of stock on the unit for some time.  Basically
you have to expect crap like this if you're gonna get the best price.
Most of the local music stores are no better...

Todd.

Indeed salesmen at local music stores may know nothing, or may lie, or both,
but at least you can see the item in its sealed factory carton sitting
in front of you on the counter before you hand over the money.

    I cast my vote for Profound Sound. I just called Shane to order
    some equipment (TX-81Z and MIDIverb II) and was very impressed with
    him. When I told him I was from DEC, he treated me as if I were
    a long time friend of his. Got a good price too ($395 and $269).
    
    pcv

    Is there anyone here who *hasn't* spoken to Shane in the last hour?
    
    Edd (who_just_ordered_MVII_and_HR-16)

    re:.8
    That's sort of the impression I got when I spoke with him...
    
    pcv
    
    PS: 20 days!!!, you're home free. Congrats!!!
    

    
    
    
    re .8
    
    ya, ME!  I've been having the same luck as yesterday....:^(
    
    gotta go try again....
    
    ralph
    
    

    FWIW - when I've gotten stuff I've found the best prices at either
    Profound or Sam Ash, as a rule.  Shane's good to deal with.  Seems
    like he's ready to match or beat any deal I get from other places.
    I don't think he would ever intentionally give any of us a bad deal.
    
    Steve

    
    	I have ordered an HR-16 from Profound, (Shane). I felt good
    about doing business with Shane, except that recently I seem to
    be getting the run-a-round as far as the situation on the HR-16's
    go. If it turns out that I am getting the shaft, I will mention
    it here, but sofar Profound is my choice for mail order.
    
                                                     Mark

    I've got one ordered too. What makes you think you're getting the
    runaround? I'm as frustrated as the next person when it comes to
    getting one of these but I don't get any indication that Profound
    is pulling my chain.
    
    Edd

    re: runaround...and I still don't have mine yet either... and that's
    not Profound but East Coast Sound....yeah the first on the east coast
    to get them...that's the ticket!
    
    dbII 

    This list of mail order houses cam in on usenet complete with the
    recommendations from different folk. Perhaps the DECCMS can us this
    list as a starting point.
    
    dave
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     
Musician's Friend
P.O. Box 869 
Eagle Point, OR 97524
(503) 826-9545
 
----------------------------------------------------------
 
Profound Sound
800-63-SOUND.
 
Ask for Shane.  On a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being bestest) I rate them
at 9.3, nearly perfect, and hours off calling around Sam Ash (who
appear to be scitzophrenic), Manny's, Rhythm City, Thoughbred Music
etc...has never found a lower price...
 
----------------------------------------------------------
 
SAM ASH MUSIC
124 Fulton Ave
Hempstead, NY 11550
(718) 347-7757
 
Ask operator for toll free order number These guys have been the
cheapest on everything I have ordered so far and they have very FAST
service.
 
----------------------------------------------------------
 
I have also had very good service from:
 
CARUSO MUSIC
20 Bank Street
New London, CT 06320
(203) 442-9600
 
----------------------------------------------------------
 
Musician's Co-op
(919)968-1616 (Carrboro, NC -- near UNC-CH)
 
They have good prices (I got a TX81Z for $359, which was a special,
and got the quotes I mentioned on rec.music.synth for MIDI switchers),
and when they have the item in stock they are very reliable.
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------
 
Thoroughbred Music
(813) 237-5597
 
 
    
    

    Just in off USENET:
    
    Jack's Music, Red Bank N.J. 10% over cost sale for USENET users...
    
    (201) 842-0731 ask for Rich or Chris
    
    prior to orderreing you should send mail to
    
    decwrl::"mtund!mlt" 
    or 
    decwrl::"mtdca!rmp" 
    
    to verify that you are a USENET user...the dealer asked for this
    verification
    
    good hunting!
    
    dave

RE: .16

    Could you please post the proper route to get back to these guys? The
    address DECWRL::"mtdca!rmp" will NOT deliver from our node. What's the
    routing information? 

    BTW - these guys just quoted me $2295 on the S-550.

-b

    Brad, I've misplaced my usenet map so bear with me...it used to
    reside in soft copy on ROLL:: I'll check it out...
    
    dave

    It's not in any of the maps I've got of the usenet....I'll post
    to rec.music.synth and see if they can send me mail so I can figure
    out a path...
    
    
    dave

    
    	Just a general comment of the wet blanket variety.
    
    	I think mail order is a great way to save $$$$ but it has some
    drawbacks. I watched the 8-bit computer market take off and wane
    several years ago. For a while it was great... plenty of stores,
    plenty of chances to try out what you wanted to buy, easy to return
    problems, new toys in hand the day you buy them. Eventually people
    discovered the mail order houses... business dried up, stores closed.
    Of course there were other factors but I'd hate to loose the chance
    to actually try out a new piece of music gear with my very own ears at
    a nearby store.
    	Solution? I really can't suggest one. I'm all in favor of saving
    $$$. Maybe if we remember what can happen and throw *some* business
    at these poor local music store owners ;-} ... My own rule is to
    try to compensate for some of the time I use a store to gawk by
    spending a bit of the green stuff there.
    
    	Mark
    

    Do any of these mail order places sell software?  I never see it
    mentioned in their catalogs.  The magazines sometimes have ads from
    places I've never heard off that list lots of software, but they never
    publish the prices.
    
    (Looking for an Opcode TZ editor for under $100.)

    Have you tried East Coast?  They're supposed to be cutting us (DECMS)
    *great* prices on software.  Best you'll do is around 40% anywhere. 

-b

    You can also buy a wide selection of software from the MIX Bookshelf.
    
    len.