canadian online music stores

[xuthal]

what is your favourite canadian online music stores?I like lamusic.ca.i have looked at axemusic.com but doesnt really do anything for me.Which stores do you like?

[jcayer]

I bought twice from axemusic.com

Great service, fast shipping, very good prices. No complaints...

[skydigger]

I'm also a lefty and usually use Axe.

Other options are TomLee, lamusic.ca and http://www.guitarconnection.ca/

I find Axemusics website easier to navigate than the rest...

[Vincent]

Order from both sites...La music has brands axe doesnt sell and vice versa plus sometimes the same product is cheaper at one site (usually axe is cheaper) however La sells gibson,marshall ect and I dont think axe does.

Use both sites and try to make your order $199 or more for free shipping...Axe has better customer service and is quicker at shipping...La music seems to be out of stock on products more often however they still get you the product it just might take longer.

Also if your looking for a product at La Music I suggest using search function to find it because the navigation on that site doesnt work properly.

search by brand name or type of product

[Mike MacLeod]

<www.acousticguitar.net>

:-)

[pattste]

what is your favourite canadian online music stores?I like lamusic.ca.i have looked at axemusic.com but doesnt really do anything for me.Which stores do you like?

I think they're all laughable. Minuscule selection and high prices.

Pray tell why can't someone like Long and McQuade come up with a usable site, good selection and competitive prices. Something like Sweetwater, Music123, Musician's Friends, for us :smilie_flagge17:.

The typical canadian music store seems happy with a site listing the brand names they carry with a link to Peavey or Fender's web site.

Gee, thanks.

(Sorry for the rant)

[Mooh]

There's really no reason other than expense and bother that L&M can't have a site that's comparable to The Twelfth Fret, for example. They don't feel they need one I guess, with enough walk in traffic. 12th Fret has been very useful to those of us beyond the easy commute of the big smoke. Mind you, L&M will take my phone orders with humour, speed, and grace, but that's hardly comparable to online ordering from an online catalogue.

Both shops should get more internet savvy, it's not just the wave of the future, the future is now.

Peace, Mooh.

[crj55]

I cannot understand either why L and M would not have an online catalogue. I bought a guitar at one of their stores in December and they gave me a great price (less than MF). But I don't live close to their stores so I prefer online catalogues and I hate ordering from MF due to their huge shipping fees for Canada and also their refusal to ship via US postal. So large UPS brokerage fees are involved also. Anyone know of any US dealers that will ship to Canada by US Postal?.... I know of Axe and L.A., and Tom Lee in Canada I will use them as much as possible. Their only downside is their selection is not as wide as the big US dealers.. Any other Canadian onliners out there?

[mrmatt1972]

This store is local where I live, but their web site is ever expanding and they have a USD price match guarantee. Tim, who owns the place, is a really decent guy too. They don't have the "big names" like fender and Gibson, but they do have some good offshore guitars (is that an oxymoron?) and a bunch of good amp lines.

http://www.acclaim-music.com/

[mrmatt1972]

There's really no reason other than expense and bother that L&M can't have a site that's comparable to The Twelfth Fret, for example. They don't feel they need one I guess,

It's probably because L&M is also yorkville sound and they sell to almost every music store in Canada. Their wholesale customers would be right pissed if L&M started double dipping.

L&M is like a virus too. I've heard that they buy mom & pop music stores by overloading them with stock and debt and then coming in as white nights to buy the stores out by assuming the debt.

[Mooh]

mrmatt1972...The Yorkville connection may be part of the answer...I didn't think of that.

As for how they take over, I don't know. I do know that the Stratford location had struggled for years, but seems to do great in a smaller market with L&M running it. The customer benefits. I like mom'n'pops, but many are poorly managed, even without the power of L&M, to the point where we have to shop elsewhere anyway.

At any one time the business world is unkind to someone.

I've had dreams of an Elderly style Canadian music shop for years. Anyone care to bankroll me?

Peace, Mooh.

[Paul]

L&M is like a virus too. I've heard that they buy mom & pop music stores by overloading them with stock and debt and then coming in as white nights to buy the stores out by assuming the debt.

I know from a horse's mouth how L&M assumes and re-brands local music stores, and that couldn't be more wrong. In how many of the stores they buy out do they keep the original owner on as local management? If the mom and/or pop was that bably treated by L&M, do you think they'd stick around?????

L&M has been busy filling geographical holes the past few years to become a truly national chain. The big hole left in Ontario is the London area. I don't think they have any interest in putting Bellone's out of business by competing directly with them, and as long as Bellone's aggresively represents the Yorkville product lines, there really is no need.

L&M isn't perfect by any means, but when you compare their vibe to GC in the US, (which is more like a car dealership than anything else), L&M is quite fine.

YMMV

[Cowinacape]

I think they're all laughable. Minuscule selection and high prices.

Pray tell why can't someone like Long and McQuade come up with a usable site, good selection and competitive prices. Something like Sweetwater, Music123, Musician's Friends, for us :smilie_flagge17:.

The typical canadian music store seems happy with a site listing the brand names they carry with a link to Peavey or Fender's web site.

Gee, thanks.

(Sorry for the rant)

No rant there buddy, seem most Canadian sites are like that, every time I go searching for something, regardless of what it is. I fully agree with you!

[ShooApple]

I'm still liking http://www.12fret.com/new/index.html because they update every day and have great gear. I find they answer their email, although getting through on the phone can be difficult. I live about an hour away, so I usually drive in when I'm in a serious buying mood.

[sunshowers]

For people with small budgets, L.A. Music has a way better selection than Axe Music. :)

[mrmatt1972]

I know from a horse's mouth how L&M assumes and re-brands local music stores, and that couldn't be more wrong.


Then how pray tell does it work? I had just heard what I heard through some retailer friends of mine. I don't disagree that L&M leaves the stores they take over intact and sometimes in better shape than when they got them. When I lived in Kitchener L&M bought Murch in Cambridge and the staff stayed and the products stayed too, so no harm done to the consumer at least.