Soundcontrol Goes Into Receivership

[nfe]

As of today, administrators closed 13 stores so I think that leaves 12 remaining open, the superstores mostly, 100's of folks made redundant.

http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/29485/BREAKING-NEWS-Sound-Control-files-for-administration?comment=0#comments

Guess there'll be an enormous knock on effect for the industry. I've already heard that if debts aren't paid there's a fair chance Headline for one will go bust. Half of the new Gibson UK's forcasted goals were due to be taken by Soundcontrol in the next few weeks...

[Scotty477]

Hmmm

I don't really know what to feel here. Yes they were overpriced and some of the staff needed a personality bypass but it's real people out of work.

[noodleplugerine]

Feel the same.

Good the shop's gone - Sorry about the staff =/

[Scotty477]

I wonder where all the stock will go, if the remaining stores close?

[dave_mc]

wow  :o

[HTH AMPS]

it's a shame they're closing, the Newcastle shop is really cool - has some nice stuff in there.

[jpmaxxy]

What do you all think of this dolphin music email I just recieved:

Sound Control/Turnkey go into Administration.

After many months of speculation and rumour it has been revealed today, 30th April 2008, that Sound Control, including Turnkey, have gone into administration.

At least 10 stores have already closed and unfortunately 100+ staff have been laid-off. At this time we have no further information, but what is quite clear is that any new or existing orders are unlikely to be fulfilled.
We take customer service very seriously at Dolphin Music, so in view of the demise of Sound Control, we will be increasing staffing levels this week & this weekend to ensure that we can meet the increased demand.

In view of the serious impact these events could have on customers who have placed orders in good faith, Dolphin Music would like to offer an advice service to any worried Sound Control or Turnkey customers. Anyone seeking advice on how to cancel a Sound Control or Turnkey order and ensure that they receive a refund should call the number below and one of our advisors will be happy to assist.

Any customers planning to make a purchase from Sound Control or Turnkey are equally welcome to call Dolphin Music and we will match or better the price offered by them.

For Sales or Advice please call Dolphin Music Sales: 0844 815 0888
Finally, the Dolphin Music team would like to express sympathy for all the staff that have lost their jobs as a result of these unfortunate events.

Seems a cheap way to take their business away don't you think?

[ailean]

Seems a cheap way to take their business away don't you think?

It's a cheap shot for sure, but frankly in business high ideals don't last long in the face of a bottom line. Dolphin are taking advantage sure, but if not them then someone else will.

I'm not surprised that Soundcontrol have gone under. My local store (Southampton) really didn't induce me to buy anything, it was cool to look around and see some nice gear, but I never felt moved to buy anything from them. By contrast my will power and bank balance seem to just evaporate when I walk in my local music shop.

The only item I did buy from Soundcontrol was my ValveKing and that only because they were the only ones with one in stock at the time.

Oh well, look out for some bankrupt stock soon!

[nfe]

Hmmm

I don't really know what to feel here. Yes they were overpriced and some of the staff needed a personality bypass but it's real people out of work.

Thing is, it's the pricing that's caused it.

SC were (are) not overpriced, they're average, it's the internet retailers that are priced vastly under the norm, which forces people into a price-match or lose out situation, it just so happens that as the largest retailer in the country, in Europe in fact, that soundcontrol were in that position more than most, so obviously were forced into price matching daft internet prices more than most along with an egotistical head office trying to expand all the time has forced themselves into bankrupcy, costing people their jobs.

On the surface, for other retailers that could be seen as a positive, but it's going to reduce the selection of gear available country-wide as enormous losses hit distributors.

[Crazy_Joe]

It's a cheap shot to Soundcontrol, which are/were nice stores, but at the same time it's a damn smart move from Dolphin!

[Philly Q]

What do you all think of this dolphin music email I just recieved

Yeah, I got the same email.  I don't know whether to be disgusted by their shameless opportunism or impressed by their enterprise!  :lol:

SC were (are) not overpriced, they're average, it's the internet retailers that are priced vastly under the norm, which forces people into a price-match or lose out situation

I don't feel too sorry for Sound Control (apart from the staff).  There's no reason why they couldn't run the shops and an internet business - but in fact their website was utterly useless.

The likes of Guitar Village, Coda and Machinehead manage it, albeit on a much smaller scale.  And the fact that their shops are in the sticks - with presumably lower overheads - must help.  Maybe "high street" musical instrument retail just doesn't work in this country.

[ailean]

Yeah, I got the same email.  I don't know whether to be disgusted by their shameless opportunism or impressed by their enterprise!  :lol:

A little from column A and a little from column B.

The likes of Guitar Village, Coda and Machinehead manage it, albeit on a much smaller scale.  And the fact that their shops are in the sticks - with presumably lower overheads - must help.  Maybe "high street" musical instrument retail just doesn't work in this country.

I think the margins are just too small to support a large store and a lot of staff. The local one was an ex supermarket (not one of the huge ones), and frankly it didn't have that much stock in it, it was al very well spaced out, which means their income per square foot must have been awful.

[indysmith]

in regards to price - they did a price matching service which was very good.
Could get anything from the shop for internet prices!
Got a line6 toneport the other day from the brum soundcontrol for £37 cuz GAK had it on offer :P

They never offered very good customer service otherwise though, and I say that on behalf of myself and all my friends who ave experienced pain at the hands of  a PestControl employee.

[MDV]

Cant say I'm sorry

Sound controls stock, staff and (mostly) prices were rubbish.

I think dolphin are right on the ball!

A: Its good business practice. Fair play to them

B: Dolphin are great.

C: The 'new staff' will probably come from sound control in at least small part, and hopefully they can teach them some rudimentary information about the stock and teach them to be polite, helpfull and reliable (which I've always found dolphin to be).

[prozacbear]

I never found anything I really wanted to buy whenever I was in Soundcontrol, and to have that effect on me in a guitar shop. They were doomed.