Which do you use more, Amazon/Ebay or local music shops?

[nubdrummer]

I'm very fortunate living here Southern California,I'm not too far away from about 3 GC's, 2 S.A's. and all kinds of independent music stores. A lot of competition out here! I'm hearing that G.C. is starting to open smaller stores now. I know the wife of the person who opens new stores for G.C.It's a good source. I don't know if that's good or a bad trend. Seems forcing more on line shopping.I like to try before I buy myself. For hardware and smaller stuff I'll buy online, but cymbals and drums, I like to shop at stores.

A new GC opened near me recently. My excitement at having a major music retailer nearby quickly subsided once I went into the store. As you said, it is smaller then others I've been to. The selection is limited, and it's hardly worth the short trip to browse. The first time I went in they had NO acoustic sets on the floor to try out! Since then they've added a few, but with such limited square footage it will never be much. I'll go in there if I need heads or sticks in an emergency, but otherwise it will be Amazon, CL, Ebay or anywhere else I find a deal.

[late8]

Man, horrible. That sounds like every GC I've ever been into. Service is ROUGH. Best to order online and pick up in store. That's about all I do. Used to be you could walk in and ask for a discount. More often than not they'd give you 10-20% off. Now they won't do that.

Wow! I wonder if GC days are numbered??

[late8]

I'm very fortunate living here Southern California,I'm not too far away from about 3 GC's, 2 S.A's. and all kinds of independent music stores. A lot of competition out here! I'm hearing that G.C. is starting to open smaller stores now. I know the wife of the person who opens new stores for G.C.It's a good source. I don't know if that's good or a bad trend. Seems forcing more on line shopping.I like to try before I buy myself. For hardware and smaller stuff I'll buy online, but cymbals and drums, I like to shop at stores.

I live about 6 hours (via car) north of you and up here in the Sacramento Valley, the music scene is weak. Unless you drive to San Francisco or visit Bentley's Drum Shop in Fresno, (3 hours one way), there's just the small indie shops or GC. The GC in Sac. is known as the "return depot" for our area so the floor is nearly empty. So sad...

[Goro]

I live in southern California as well and surprisingly there are no mom and pop music stores in my area. GC is about 10 miles away in the city of Cerritos. They also use the floor space for e-kits and only 1 or 2 acoustic drum sets.The SA moved to San Diego because the owner of the property didn't renew their lease and wanted condos/lofts. Even though Hollywood is 25 miles away, depending on the time of day it could take an hour one-way to get there. Haven't been there in a while but there were plenty of local music stores. Yesterday was my first time using CL and bought some hardware and a piccolo snare. Never done eBay, Amazon, or MF. I have used GC online and Drum Factory Direct.

[longgun]

We don't have a good local selection....................hopefully one day!

Right now it is Ebay

[Redeye-OLD]

I have a local store in my town, but it's very tiny and mostly deals with school band instruments. I'll buy sticks there, and I do send my band students there for rentals and extras. I live 90 minutes from Columbus, so I'll go to Columbus Percussion once every couple of months and pick up whatever I need. For major purchases, I'll mostly likely use Musician's Friend because I have the 6 months same as cash credit deal they offer.

[Olimpass]

Depends on price. Usually out of state with no base in my state. I've bought local too.
Sometimes you need something right then and there.