Hello all,
I am considering a new business venture and wanted to get the opinions of the guitar pedal loving community!
There a loads of pedals that i would love but are just a nightmare to get a hold of so I would like to set up an online store that helps the independent and boutique builders of pedals easier to get a hold of here in the UK at reasonable prices!
So I ask you these questions,
What companies would you like to see available here?
What attracts you to the shops that you currently buy from?
What services do you think are missing from online stores that could be implemented for a better service?
Do you ever buy from a second had section of a online store or do you prefer to buy from forums/ebay etc..
What is your favourite pedal that will never leave your board?
Comments
What companies would you like to see available here? Prymaxe, RGS mostly
What attracts you to the shops that you currently buy from? Price, variety of stock
What services do you think are missing from online stores that could be implemented for a better service? All I ask for is pedal in stock or live stock level and send out promptly
Do you ever buy from a second had section of a online store or do you prefer to buy from forums/ebay etc.. Only bought new from a shop.
What is your favourite pedal that will never leave your board? Polytune, Disaster Area DPC-5 looper.
Your gonna struggle to compete with that
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Having to parcel the thing up to send back is always a pain. Some kind of quick closing, self-sealing packaging (like online retailers like M&S, Amazon etc. sometimes use) and ideally a self-sticking return label (so you don't have to faff about with sellotape) make it an awful lot easier. It's always still going to be a pain, but at least less of one.
Offer to pay return postage if something is faulty (or ideally have a prepaid return label with the original receipt- as above it just makes it handier). Don't make me ask for it (legally the customer is entitled to it, if it's faulty), because it's not worth the bother for £4. But it's a nice gesture, and just because I don't complain doesn't mean I'm not annoyed.
No idea if there is a cost effective way of doing this, but maybe with better support, it will be a more viable career option for the few UK builders who'd like to do it. It'd be a much more attractive proposition that importing from the US for me.
Also, as @drew_fx said, something from the shop itself about the pedals about real world use - this is why PGS demos are good, they actually use the pedals to their strengths.
Vat and corporation tax will take up nearly 50% of your profit so on a pedal with a profit margin of £40 you'll only take £20
And people want money off coupons!!
Even the american retailers were complaining as people were wanting 25% off vouchers for black Friday. That's just ridiculous!
It's hard to beat something that is £300 here, $350 in the states, take off 25% black friday deal (or generally a 15% off coupon around anyway), take off 30% for exchange rate, add £15 for postage.
At most you are paying £200 for a £300 pedal here. I paid £170 for a Panther Cub. UK price is £269. That is £100 off. Can you even get that for £170 trade?
If you build this, I will come.
From my experience i know of 1, and they're a guitar shop. Most will refuse, and many will take offence at the suggestion that they conduct their business affairs in anything less than 100% leagal fashion.