Semi-OT: Sweetwater vs Vintage King? (For non-location audio stuff)

[Jim Feeley]

I have my preferred dealers for location-audio equipment (usual suspects here). But for post equipment, I don't have established relationships with any local or online dealers.

 

Sweetwater I've bought from in the past. But I'm hearing less-than-great things about recent after-sales support. So as I get ready to make a couple big-for-me purchases, I wonder if I should check out another dealer. Such at Vintage King.

 

I know this is more of a Gearspace question, but I don't want hundreds of responses. So I ask here: Does anyone have any strong feelings pro or con about Sweetwater these days (ie- after a private-equity firm became major owner)? And same for Vintage King: Any strong pro or con feelings about them?

[Johnny Karlsson]

Jim, things may have changed. YMMV etc.

I only know what happened when I ordered a Digi002 Protools interface from SW back in the day. Before they even shipped it, some guy started calling, and kept calling weekly “to make sure that I had everything I needed”, trying to sell all kinds of stuff to go along with the 002 …. from cables to mics to external pre-amps, speakers, sound proofing etc etc.

Yeah…. that was quite a while ago, but it turned me off so much that I would never consider buying from them again.

[Philip Perkins]

Yes, SW does kind of keep after you.  But I had pretty good luck with them otherwise.  Ditto VK--they were a little more hands-on about complex shipping issues and they are into real vintage gear in a big way if that interests you, w/o any pitching afterwards.  SW is a general shop--I think they deal with a lot of amateur musicians, sells guitars etc..  VK is more of a pro audio dealer I'd say.

[Wandering Ear]

I've always had a good experience with SW.  I haven't bought from VK, but I used to work a lot with Ryan Coomer at Trew Audio in LA, and he's now at VK.  Might be worth a call if you want someone who understands both sides of the business.

[Michael Render]

The thing that keeps me going to Sweetwater is the 2-Year warranty. A few times I had things go bad and they just shipped me a new one. I understand that some people get annoyed when their “personal” salesperson calls, but I don’t find it too intrusive. I have even had lovely conversations when they call.

[Jim Feeley]

Thanks everyone. Really helpful. I used to have what I considered a good handle on the different markets SW & VK were after. But now SW lists big $100,000+++ SSL, API, and Neve consoles in their website (perhaps just window dressing; not sure how many they move). And VK sells inexpensive non-vintage guitar pedals. Smart moves for both companies, I think.

 

But since SW got bought, or invested in, a couple years ago, the calls from them have stepped up. Perhaps there's more pressure on their sales engineers to hit specific revenue targets. But I feel like they're trying to close sales more than help me make intelligent purchases with the added goal of making me a long-term customer. Not evil; that's business. But SW generates fewer warm fuzzies than it used to.

 

 

Thanks again. Glad to hear that people's VK experiences (and most SW experiences) are good.

[Werner Althaus]

I bought two IZ Technologies RADAR Studio workstations from VK, as well as some other stuff, always first rate, very professional. IMO SW is more for buying  stuff I can't get at my local store, like guitar pedals, recording interfaces, etc.

[Placeslost]

I buy from Sweetwater every now and then. They usually call, but I've never felt them pressuring me to buy more, just seems like slightly annoying customer service.

 

[Matt Radlauer]

I've been a customer of SW for quite a few years. They have been great IMO. Customer services has always been top notch. I've bought some demo gear in the past, a couple times was received damaged. They replaced with brand new gear...No question! The ONLY call I get from them is an after-sale call thanking me for the sale and offering assistance. I have never gotten another call from them otherwise in all my years.