so where should i order new amp from???

[hamfist]

If you're going to buy new, buy from Manson's - it'll be much easier should you need the use a warranty if you can get it back to the shop yourself.
And don't pay the price on the amp - at the moment you have a lot of bargaining power!

I recently bought a £600 Schecter for £500 - no haggling, I just told the guy I wanted the guitar and how much I was willing to spend.
Or was that haggling   :?  Well, I didn't need to twist his arm  :D

Yes, if you want to buy local, most shops have a lot of leeway in their prices. Tell Mansons that you'd really like to buy the amp from them, but they will have to match the price you can get it online. 10 to 1 that they will match the price !

On another note, I have no qualms buying from the big online retailers. I have found GAK, Andertons etc to be pretty good in the end if something goes wrong. Just phone to make sure something is actually in stock before placing an order, if you are not prepared to wait.  All these online retailers also have a clearly stated "no quibble" 7 day return period if you keep the item "as new" and don't like the item in the end. For me that's a big plus for buying online.

[Simon D]

As far as GAK go, every time I've emailed them asking if they have a big ticket or not-so-popular item in stock, they've taken severa days to reply, and the answer has always been no. I may just have been very unlucky, and I'm willing to accept that, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.

[Oli]

In my experience, GAK weren't willing to budge at all when i was buying an amp (Laney VH100R) a few years ago, even though i was paying cash. However, when the amp went wrong, they got it sent back to Laney and sorted. So a mixed review from me, but I must say I do tend to steer away from them- I just prefer to shop elsewhere.

[FELINEGUITARS]

u serious???!!! thats appauling... mansons let me stay there trying everything for as long as i wanted twice in one week...the service there was excellent...shame i cant do them the honours and pay the extra couple of hundred .....

I feel that maybe you should buy from Manson's - especially as:

• They have always had the stock to try,
• They have been cool and professional about letting you try the items of interest
• They have been helpful and informative and will continue to serve your needs (as long as they can afford to stay open)

• They are local and will probably offer good customer service should anything go wrong

Trying an amp or six in one shop and once buying decisions are made going to a box shifter who doesn't care is a stupid practice as if everybody did this sooner or later the cool shop will be forced to close and there wont be anywhere good to try out the stuff and get the genuinely good service - leaving you only poor service box-shifters
And even those box-shifter businesses may not last as they are cutting margins pretty thin and may fail in a recession if they don't shift enough units

I would take your wad of money and see if Mansons will go some way towards meeting the price - even if you agree to meet half way on the difference in price

[Simon D]

u serious???!!! thats appauling... mansons let me stay there trying everything for as long as i wanted twice in one week...the service there was excellent...shame i cant do them the honours and pay the extra couple of hundred .....

I feel that maybe you should buy from Manson's - especially as:

• They have always had the stock to try,
• They have been cool and professional about letting you try the items of interest
• They have been helpful and informative and will continue to serve your needs (as long as they can afford to stay open)

• They are local and will probably offer good customer service should anything go wrong

Trying an amp or six in one shop and once buying decisions are made going to a box shifter who doesn't care is a stupid practice as if everybody did this sooner or later the cool shop will be forced to close and there wont be anywhere good to try out the stuff and get the genuinely good service - leaving you only poor service box-shifters
And even those box-shifter businesses may not last as they are cutting margins pretty thin and may fail in a recession if they don't shift enough units

I would take your wad of money and see if Mansons will go some way towards meeting the price - even if you agree to meet half way on the difference in price

Everything Feline says here, I'd definitely agree with. I've bought gear locally because I've had good service and the guy and gals in the stores have been very accomodating, letting me try stuff out. It paid off with my Fender Strat - bought it from Cranes in Swansea, and when the middle pickup cr@pped out on me, they got it repaired without even having to send it back to Fender. I will buy from them again. If I'd bought that Strat (for less) from GAK and it'd gone wrong, it would have been a right arse-ache.

[Dmoney]

ey yo. for what it's worth. ive had no problem ordering from GAK. only with the delivery company.

on another note. SOUNDS GREAT in MANCHESTER are not only the worst musical item related store ive dealt with, they're also the worst company of any kind ive dealt with. read my 'im new here' thread and it explains in there. plus... there is extra stuff to add about the ongoing saga.