How do you decide what store to buy your modules from?

milkyjoe · Post by **milkyjoe** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:01 am

you can't be an asshole and expect things to work out. this scene is small but is bigger than any one little click. and the scene is getting bigger.[/quote]

Who's being an asshole ? Not sure where that comment came from.......

flexUSA · Post by **flexUSA** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:46 am

clarke68 wrote:
Orbless wrote:Please do not send me stickers. They go straight in the trash.
Really? I like stickers. I put them on the inside of my synth case. I figure someday after I'm dead and they're parting out my synth for sale on craigslist, someone will find them and go, "wow".
right on brother, caring is swagging

milkyjoe · Post by **milkyjoe** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:47 am

edit:was supposed to go to pm

trax · Post by **trax** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:47 am

Best swag is the 4ms screwdriver!. Just got one from the MW store!

flexUSA · Post by **flexUSA** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:54 am

trax wrote:Best swag is the 4ms screwdriver!. Just got one from the MW store!

gotta start a swag wishlist thread

can anyone say ALM cat favors?

Asym9 · Post by **Asym9** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 1:59 pm

I use AH, since I have a long history with Shawn dating back to the '90s on the Analogue Heaven list. Most of my Doepfer modules came from Enport in Omaha, if that says anything.

I'm not opposed to shopping elsewhere though. I've picked up a few things from nearly everyone else as well.

botstein · Post by **botstein** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:08 pm

trax wrote:Best swag is the 4ms screwdriver!. Just got one from the MW store!

I have lots of euro company swag. More t shirts, please!

I love my 4ms screwdrivers!
Noise Engineering gives away reversible flat/phillips screwdrivers now.
The Control HP ruler, while kind of silly, is fun too.

mattb · Post by **mattb** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:17 pm

Been using quite a few of the stores out there, but Detroit Modular is my fav as they offer free shipping, no tax and points that can be redeemed for future purchases

ignatius · Post by **ignatius** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:49 pm

ignatius wrote:
jonpines wrote:That being said, I'd love to buy from the Muff Wiggler Store, but where are the stickers?

More Stickers!!!!
pretty much every order gets some stickers

if you ordered and didn't get a sticker or two it's because we were out of them. it happens.

ps - i've bought from everywhere pretty much.. and had good experiences.

it's a pretty damn good community we have. when the MW Store hosted the trash audio synth meet last may there were people from other shops there which was nice. was good to meet them and hear stories and pick brains.

everyone knows everyone.. or has at least met somewhere along the way. you can't be an asshole and expect things to work out. this scene is small but is bigger than any one little click. and the scene is getting bigger.

btw - just to be totally clear.. my "asshole" comment is not aimed at you or anyone in particular. just my general observation about small markets/industries/scenes like ours.

so, please don't think i'm calling anyone an asshole! i haven't met anyone who's an asshole in this scene.. really. that's the truth. i'm sticking to it!

ignatius · Post by **ignatius** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:50 pm

milkyjoe wrote:
you can't be an asshole and expect things to work out. this scene is small but is bigger than any one little click. and the scene is getting bigger.
Who's being an asshole ? Not sure where that comment came from.......

no one is being an asshole.. that's the point! you can't be an asshole and try to be a part of this scene.. as a business. it doesn't work.

burkaygur · Post by **burkaygur** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:05 pm

So far, it's always been MW FS forums and some eBay. Never had a bad experience. But then, I only have a 6U.

For San Francisco residents, there is RobotSpeak. They are pretty cool. But we definitely need more of these stores around here!

suboptimal · Post by **suboptimal** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:07 pm

Most of my new modules have come from AH, but I've bought from Control, Muffs, and a couple others. I've appreciated Shawn's service over the years, but Control's free shipping is hard to beat given that my gear budget is a closed ecosystem these days. It's nice to have some choice.

I try to always buy used on the forum, but some things come along . . .

Gribs · Post by **Gribs** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:25 pm

(1) Check used
(2) If builder sells direct then buy from them (e.g. Intellijel, Amsynths)
(3) If Cwejman then Big City Music
(4) If available from MW Store then buy from there
(5) Else a trustworthy store such as Big City Music, Noisebug.net, or other that has the module in stock.

Also Matthew Goike for cases, Erthenvar.com for fun colored patch cords and bits and pieces (want to buy a module there sometime, too), and McMaster-Carr for black machine screws and nylon washers.

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 6:02 am

cpcompany wrote:I almost always buy from Rubadub in Glasgow as they usually have things stocked. In the UK stock levels can be hit and miss, or maybe that's the modular industry as a whole

I think it is Europe as a whole! Unless you are buying a euro module. All the ones I'm interested in are American or Canadian.

Ruba dub don't ever seem to have stock when I visit :(

Nobody seems to be stocking the Sputnik mixer either ? Everything but.

cosmic_son · Post by **cosmic_son** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:06 pm

In my experience, going to AH and playing with some of the modules was well well worth the trip. I also spent way too much money, but, I learned a ton and it totally changed some of the purchases I would have made online. Plus, LA is a great vacation spot, and AH is pretty close to the ocean. I'd make it a vacation and fly home with a rocket full of new modules

mapmap · Post by **mapmap** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:11 pm

Control Voltage.
Jason is a solid guy. He is very helpful + always takes the time to answer all my question.

I was also their very first customer.

modernage · Post by **modernage** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:24 pm

My thought process, when I'm ready to spend some money, is as follows:

1. Can I buy it used and help fund a fellow wiggler's next purchase or rent payment. Also, buying used is often the deciding factor in whether I can afford to buy a module at all, or multiple modules if I only have the budget for one.

2. If I'm looking for a specific module/s from just one company, and nothing pops up in the FS/FT, I will try to buy direct.

3. If that's not an option, or I am also wanting to pick up some more patch cables or other goodies I will check out the stores. If there was a shop locally I would just give them my business by default. But a modular store in Nashville? Get real. I'm not going to hold my breath. haha.

Since most places in the states have the similar pricing, and I have never had a scarring experience to keep me from returning as a customer (quiet the opposite actually), I usually go with the store that offers a little something extra. Usually all it takes for me is free shipping. I do like the idea Detroit Modular's rewards program. Definitely entices me to become a returning customer.

I have probably ordered from Control and ControlVoltage the most. Ordered from AH and MeMe many times as well. Placed my first order with Detroit Modular a couple months ago and was very satisfied with my experience. I would like to order from MeMe Antenna more often, because they run sales more frequently than all the other store combined, but they never have anything in stock. It's gotten to the point where I sometimes don't even check, because I just think "eh, they're probably sold out." I will be giving the Muff store a chance to prove themselves with the next order I am ready to make. 8_)

Mefistophelees · Post by **Mefistophelees** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:53 am

I've bought from loads of places. I get most from Postmodular, Schneiders, London Modular and EMIS for Doepfer. I've also got a load of DIY from Thonk. I've even built some of it.

I have ordered from AH a couple of times to get modules I couldn't find in stock anywhere else.
I once ordered from Moog audio in Canada but the postage was *really* expensive to the UK. OTOH it was the only Maths I could find on the planet at the time (they stopped making them for a while for some reason).

I've also ordered direct from quite a few different places in different countries.

I think I can honestly say this has been a pleasant experience, there have been very few issues and any have been corrected very quickly.

I haven't bought many modules from BST but when I have it's been problem free.

If I'm after something new I'll check who carries that vendor and who has it in stock.
If I'm ordering multiple modules I'll sometimes go to the same place to save postage.
Sometimes if I really want something I know is due soon I'll go where I can pre-order.

Manzanedo · Post by **Manzanedo** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 3:26 am

Control Voltage. Also live in CA, and not paying sales tax for modules is significant savings. Free shipping on modules as well, and great customer service and fast shipping.

b-art · Post by **b-art** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:55 am

AAG wrote:For anything else, I'm at a loss. Am currently looking for the Intellijel Quadra, and every store in Europe seems to be out...

Let me make your day

http://www.modularsynthesizers.nl/a-356 ... el-quadra/

They still have 1 in stock after i bought one last night

For all those in the EU: http://www.modularsynthesizers.nl

They update their stock, show exact delivery time estimations when something is not in stock, are competitive (price wise) with Schneidersladen, and respond/communicate way better then schneidersladen ( a lot of times i don't even get a response from schneidersladen :( when i order something ).

moofi · Post by **moofi** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:51 am

EscapefromNoise

Have been shopping at Schneider´s, Thonk, Thomann, AnalogueZone, ModularSquare + Rubbadub aswell (several modules directly from manufacturers). Only good experience. Still EscapefromNoise is my personal favourite. Ulf is simply a very friendly, reliable person + prices are very good on top.

AAG · Post by **AAG** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:30 am

b-art wrote:
AAG wrote:For anything else, I'm at a loss. Am currently looking for the Intellijel Quadra, and every store in Europe seems to be out...
Let me make your day http://www.modularsynthesizers.nl/a-356 ... el-quadra/

They still have 1 in stock after i bought one last night

Hanz · Post by **Hanz** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 4:25 am

b-art wrote:For all those in the EU: http://www.modularsynthesizers.nl

They update their stock, show exact delivery time estimations when something is not in stock, are competitive (price wise) with Schneidersladen, and respond/communicate way better then schneidersladen ( a lot of times i don't even get a response from schneidersladen :( when i order something ).

Indeed. Another strong recommendation for www.modularsynthesizers.nl from my side. Good communication and fast shipping, but that's with almost all modular shops I bought from.
What promotes them to being "my first port of call" is Pieter taking especially good care of his customers (in terms of pre-purchase assistance and also post-purchase support)

risome · Post by **risome** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 5:11 am

Where i can get the module i want from usually determines it for me

djhyperspace · Post by **djhyperspace** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 6:33 am

I like to talk to humans about synths! Try to make it down to local synth shop (London Modular, Red Dog) for a little interaction!! I don't get out much....

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MOD WIGGLER

How do you decide what store to buy your modules from?