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Amazon undercuts your guitar prices by 20%. Sweetwater ships free. Reverb connects buyers to sellers nationwide.
Your rent is due. You’re competing with warehouses that have no showroom costs. And every customer who walks in is price-checking on their phone.
You can’t win a pricing war against online giants. But you can win by offering what they can’t — the chance to play a guitar before buying it, expert setup and repairs, and gear in hand today instead of waiting for shipping.
In this blog, you’ll discover six ways to compete by leaning into advantages only physical stores possess.
Let’s dive in.
1. Give Customers the Opportunity To Test Instruments In Person
You can watch a hundred YouTube demos of that Stratocaster, read specs about the neck radius and pickup configuration, and listen to audio samples on Reverb.
But none of that tells you how it feels in your hands. Two guitars with identical specs can play completely differently. The weight, the setup, and string action all matter. A drummer can’t tell if a snare sounds right through laptop speakers. A bassist needs to feel if the neck is comfortable for their hand size.
How You Can Compete
- Create proper testing spaces: Set up rooms where customers can play at volume. A drummer can’t evaluate a kit in a quiet corner, and guitarists need to test pedals through real amps.
- Stock instruments across price ranges: Carry entry-level and professional options side by side. When customers can compare a $400 guitar to a $900 model, they hear the difference — and often buy up.
- Encourage extended testing: Let serious buyers spend real time with instruments. Someone considering a $2,000 keyboard needs more than five minutes.
- Keep popular models in stock: Track which instruments people ask about most and make sure they’re available for hands-on testing.
Once customers find the right instrument, they need help making sure it’s ready for their playing style.
Related Read: 11 Music Store Design Ideas To Try Right Now
2. Share Expert Guidance and Recommendations
Amazon’s “customers also bought” feature shows you what’s popular, and Reddit threads debate the best beginner guitar under $500 all day.
But a dad buying his daughter her first guitar doesn’t know she has small hands and that neck width matters. He doesn’t know she wants to play Taylor Swift songs, which means different gear than if she wanted to play metal.
“When someone walks in saying they want to ‘sound like John Mayer,’ we can talk about their current setup, their amp, their playing style,” says Taylor Harnois, industry expert for Music Shop 360. “Online retailers can’t have that conversation. They just show you what’s popular.”
How You Can Compete
- Ask questions before recommending gear: Find out what music they play, their skill level, and what they’re trying to accomplish. Don’t just show them what’s on sale.
- Demonstrate gear in context: Plug in the guitar they’re considering and show them how it sounds through different amps. Let them hear a cymbal in person instead of through a YouTube video.
- Be honest about what they actually need: Recommend gear that matches their current skill level and explain when it makes sense to upgrade. A beginner doesn’t need a $3,000 guitar.
- Track customer preferences: Use your point of sale (POS) system to remember what regulars play and own. When Mike comes in, you know he plays metal and prefers active pickups.
The right recommendation only matters if the instrument is properly set up and maintained.
3. Offer Setup, Repair, and Maintenance Services
You can order a guitar online, and it arrives in a box with a setup guide and a manual.
But “factory fresh” doesn’t mean stage-ready. The action might be too high. The intonation might be off. The pickups might need adjusting. And when something breaks, you’re shipping it back and waiting weeks for a replacement — not an option when you have a gig this weekend.
How You Can Compete
- Include a basic setup with every instrument sale: Adjust the action, check the intonation, and install fresh strings. It only takes about 20 minutes but ensures customers walk out with a playable instrument.
- Offer ongoing maintenance packages: Sell annual service plans that include string changes, cleaning, and adjustments. This brings customers back regularly instead of only when something breaks.
- Handle emergency repairs: Expand your business to offer repairs. When a string breaks two hours before a gig, you’re the hero. Online retailers can’t fix that problem.
- Build custom solutions: Assemble pedalboards, wire PA systems, or configure recording setups. These services provide value that online retailers can’t match.
- Teach basic maintenance: Show customers how to change strings or clean their instruments. This builds trust and positions you as an expert, not just a retailer.
Pro tip: Keep a repair log in your POS system so you know each instrument’s service history. When someone brings in a guitar for the third time, you’ll have the context.
4. Provide Instant Gratification
Online retailers promise two-day shipping. Some even offer next-day delivery for a fee. But that’s still waiting.
A guitarist whose amp died before tonight’s gig can’t wait two days. A drummer who just got inspired to start a new project doesn’t want to sit around. A parent whose child needs an instrument for school band practice next week is cutting it close with shipping times.
Your store eliminates the wait. Customers walk in and walk out with gear in hand.
How You Can Compete
- Stock high-demand items consistently: Use your POS system to track bestsellers and reorder before you run out. This way, when someone needs guitar strings or drumsticks, you always have them.
- Promote same-day availability: Market that customers can get gear immediately. “Need it today? We’ve got it in stock” beats “Free shipping in two to three days.”
- Carry essential accessories: Keep cables, picks, straps, reeds, and other small items that musicians need urgently. These aren’t high-margin, but they bring people through your door.
- Offer special-order options with realistic timelines: Communicate clearly when an item isn’t in stock. If you can get it faster than online retailers, use that as a selling point.
When customers know they can rely on you for immediate needs, they stop turning to online retailers first.
5. Accept Trade-Ins and Sell Used Gear
Reverb connects you to used gear sellers nationwide, often at prices way below retail.
But photos can’t reveal hidden damage, and descriptions don’t always mention problems. Returns are often complicated. A used Les Paul might look perfect in pictures, but fret buzz can go unnoticed until you plug it in.
“Used gear is huge for us,” says Taylor Harnois. “A teenager saving up for their first real guitar isn’t buying new. They need something quality they can afford. We can offer that and let them play it before they commit.”
How You Can Compete
- Evaluate trade-ins honestly and fairly: Inspect used gear thoroughly and offer realistic values. Word gets around if you lowball people or overprice bad equipment.
- Guarantee used gear quality: Offer a return window or warranty on used instruments. This removes a risk that online marketplaces can’t match.
- Clean and set up used instruments before selling: Clean and set up every instrument. A used guitar with fresh strings and proper intonation sells faster and for more money than one that’s dusty or out of tune.
- Price used gear competitively: Check Reverb and local listings to ensure your prices make sense. You don’t need to be the cheapest, but you can’t be wildly overpriced either.
- Market your used inventory online: Post your used gear on your website and social media. Customers who see it online will come to your store to try it in person.
Used gear brings in customers who might not shop with you otherwise. Once they’re in your store, they see everything else you offer.
Related Read: Music Equipment Inventory: 7 Best Practices, Tips, & Tools
6. Build Community and Support Local Musicians
Amazon tracks your order history and sends you recommendations based on what you’ve bought.
But you’re not just a transaction. Sarah’s working toward her grade eight piano exam. Jake’s band just got their first paid gig. Emily’s daughter got accepted into the high school jazz band. Musicians don’t just need gear — they need connection, encouragement, and a place where they belong.
How You Can Compete
- Host in-store events: Organize open mic nights, gear demos, or workshops on topics like “Building Your First Pedalboard” or “Recording at Home on a Budget.”
- Offer music lessons: Provide lessons in-store or connect students with local teachers. This creates recurring traffic and builds long-term relationships.
- Sponsor local bands and events: Support school music programs, Battle of the Bands competitions, or community concerts. This creates goodwill and keeps your store top of mind.
- Create a space for musicians to connect: Set up a bulletin board for band auditions, gig postings, or musicians looking to collaborate. Your store becomes the hub where the local music scene happens.
- Showcase customer achievements: Feature local musicians on your social media. Post about students who passed exams or bands who released new music. Celebrate the community you’re part of.
- Remember names and milestones: Use your POS system to note important details. When David comes in, ask about his upcoming recital. When Lisa’s band has a show, wish her luck.
Online retailers send automated birthday emails. You remember that Tom’s been saving up for a new drum kit for months and celebrate with him when he finally buys it. That difference matters.
Turn Your Local Presence Into Your Biggest Advantage With Music Shop 360
You don’t need to match Amazon’s prices or Sweetwater’s warehouse inventory.
Your advantage is letting musicians play before they buy, providing expert setup and repair services, and building relationships that online retailers can’t replicate.
Music Shop 360 is a cloud-based POS system designed specifically for independent music stores. It gives you the technology to compete with larger retailers without losing what makes you unique.
Track sales patterns to ensure you always have the instruments and accessories musicians need in stock. Store detailed customer notes about their gear, preferences, and past purchases, so you can deliver personalized recommendations every visit. Send targeted messages when new inventory matches a customer’s interests.
Manage repairs and service appointments efficiently, giving customers confidence in your reliability. Monitor inventory levels in real time to avoid running out of high-demand items. Connect your in-store and online sales, so your e-commerce presence supports your physical store instead of competing with it.
Smart technology paired with your in-store expertise creates advantages online retailers can’t touch.
Ready to see how Music Shop 360 can work for your store? Schedule a demo today to discover how the right POS system helps you compete.
