Well.... it gets even better (or more screwed up???)
So I need a bass pedal. Amazon has a decent one, but the BIGGEST benefit is that I can get it NEXT DAY! But how much of a discount will PRIME get you? Geezeus... a fucking lot.
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So the total is $94 dollars and that includes NEXT DAY DELIVERY. Prime costs $10.99 for the month, but I've already used the 2 day shipping twice and the next day service once. So on my 4th order ($10.99/4 = $2.75) so that means I Amazon sold me a $73 pedal, and flew it from CALIFORNIA to PA and will have it in my hands in less than 24 hours FOR LESS THAN $20. BRILLIANT!
What does the competition offer? Well, Sweetwater is in Indiana which is only two states away (Indiana -> Ohio -> PA ~ 700 miles). CA is 2800+ miles.
And while Sweetwater didn't have a comparable double pedal at this same price point as Amazon shipping would be twice as much.
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And whats funny here is that service BEFORE 4:30 is cheaper than the 'SAVER' rate of before 7:00pm AND Sweetwater doesn't offer (at least the shopping cart didn't show it) Saturday delivery.
I'd love to support Sweetwater. I'd prefer to give money to a business that directly supports music and musicans. But its not even close. The lowest priced double base pedal was $139 and was out of stock, and would cost $50 to ship next day (or free 1-3 day.. big deal, everyone is doing free ground shipping). But if they had it in stock, it would cost me $200 vs $100 to achieve the same result. That's not acceptable considering that $50 of the cost is nothing but shipping that evidently can be done for less than $20.
I know Amazon is the 700lb shopping gorilla in the room. But music stores are not going to get business if they can't compete. If Sweetwater was $120-130 vs Amazon's $94 I'd definitely buy from them. But uncompetitive shipping and not having items in stock? What the hell? Sweetwater, you're a MUSIC STORE. Keep shit in stock and ship it fast and at a decent price.
