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Recommendations For Broadcast Equipment Supplier

R

RJFletcher

My station was recently burned by Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW). I need a recommendation to another supplier that is equal or better. Thanks in advance for your replies.
 
http://www.scmsinc.com/

I really like working with Mike @ SCMS. They always had better prices than BSW.I just can't do business with BSW.BSW is like a new car dealer,they will tear your head off if they get a chance.On the same processor scms was 150.00 cheaper and on a console beat BSW by 300 bucks.I wrote off BSW years ago!!
 
It's a small industry and many of the people have moved from company to company over the years. Usually problems are the result of misunderstandings, though certainly there can be legitimate issues that crop up between a dealer and a customer. My personal experience is that most of the time, the dealer will try to work it out, if they can.


Here's a partial list of dealers. Apologies to any dealers not on the list.

Broadcast Connection, Inc.
Bellvue, CO 80512
Phone: (970) 482-9254
www.broadcastconnection.com

Broadcast Depot Corp.
Miami, FL 33166
877-902-3669
http://www.7bd.com

Broadcast Supply Worldwide
Tacoma, WA
Phone: (800) 426-8434
Fax: (800) 231-7055
http://www.bswusa.com
[email protected]

Broadcaster's General Store
Ocala, FL
Phone: (352) 622-7700
Fax: (352) 629-7000
http://www.broadcastdealer.com
[email protected]

Crouse-Kimzey Company
(AKA Proaudio.com)
Grand Prairie, TX
Phone: (800) 433-2105
Fax: (972) 623-2800
http://www.proaudio.com
[email protected]

Full Compass Systems
Madison, WI
Phone: (800) 356-5844
Fax: (608) 831-6330
http://www.fullcompass.com

Giesler Broadcast Supply Inc.
Alvin, TX
Phone: (281) 648-1189
Fax: (281) 648-1116
http://www.gbs-giesler.com

Lightner Electronics
Claysburg, PA
Phone: (866) 239-3888
Fax: (814) 239-8402
http://www.lightnerelectronics.com
[email protected]

M. W. Persons & Associates
Brainerd, MN
Phone: (218) 829-1326
Fax: (218) 829-2026
http://www.mwpersons.com

Oakwood Broadcast
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Phone: (800) 655-0501
Phone: (204) 775-4467
Fax: (204) 775-4503
http://www.oakwoodbroadcast.com
[email protected]

ProVideo Systems, Inc.
Perrysburg, OH
Phone: (419) 874-2850
Fax: (419) 874-8056
http://www.provideosystems.com
info@provideosystems

RAM Systems, LLC
Lakemoor, IL
Phone: (800) 779-7575
http://www.ramsystemsonline.com
[email protected]


RF Specialties, Inc.
RF Specialties' offices are independently owned in various locations. Check their web site for the closest office.
http://www.rfspec.com

S.C.M.S., Inc.
Pineville, NC
Phone: (800) 438-6040
Fax: (704) 889-4540
http://www.scmsinc.com
[email protected]
 
A second vote for SCMS. They don't have the fancy website that BSW has, but they have always given me better prices than BSW and they are easy to do business with.
 
I've worked with Paul at BSW for years, never had a problem. Prices are competitive.

RF specialties also a good company, particularly for, well, RF specialties--e.g. a 1/2 inch jumper with 7/8th EIA on both ends I needed for the output from my new VS 2.5.
 
First as a customer and then later as a vendor, my roughly three decades relationship with Broadcaster's General Store has been outstanding. Honest, helpful people, and really fair prices.

Kind Regards,
David
 
We've dealt with BSW, BGS and SCMS. By far SCMS is my favorite, but BGS comes in a close second. Sometimes one has a better price than the other. BSW is a "last resort." Unless you are one of the biggies buying hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment a year, BSW (at least in the past) has treated you like sh*t.
 
Throw my hat in for SCMS then BGS. Andy at SCMS has been on every quote I have asked of him, even when the client backs out at the last minute. Cecile with BGS has been equally responsive.
 
A vote for BGS here too. Also SCMS has done well for me with Wheatstone consoles and the like.

One of my clients uses RF Spec and they like them, haven't had the need myself.
 
Although I've purchased a lot of stuff from BSW, I'm going to vote for SCMS. Recently they did an equipment swap out for me, rather than having to wait for something to be repaired. They even paid the shipping. It was great customer service which I really appreciated. I'll give them a shot at my business on future purchases.
 
RJFletcher said:
My station was recently burned by Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW). I need a recommendation to another supplier that is equal or better. Thanks in advance for your replies.
Click to expand...
Without naming names, what happened with BSW? I've had a multi-year string of good experiences with them.
 
BobOnTheJob said:
RJFletcher said:
My station was recently burned by Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW). I need a recommendation to another supplier that is equal or better. Thanks in advance for your replies.
Click to expand...
Without naming names, what happened with BSW? I've had a multi-year string of good experiences with them.
Click to expand...

Yes please elaborate-

I personally have not had a bad experience with BSW and have found their pricing to be competitive.
I am a small station owner operator with a few side contract projects so I'm not buying huge quantities of anything.

My wife, however, has issues with their billing department. She likes to pay our bills using a company credit card-
we rack up a lot of hotel points this way- and the last time they wanted to mark the invoice up another 2 or 3 percent
to cover the card fees. This was a first for her as nobody else has ever tried to do this.

I'd love to hear more.

Mark Bohach
 
STATES THAT PROHIBIT CREDIT CARD SURCHARGES
The following states prohibit merchants from adding surcharges to credit card transactions

California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
New York
Oklahoma
Texas.

credit card companies frown on this.and the states listed above prohibit it.Amex has cancelled many merchant agreements that surcharged.
 
Paul at BSW is a good guy - I also use Bob Mayben at SCMS - another good guy!
I have never had a problem with either company. I use a credit card with BSW and have never had the quoted price marked up. But remember.......the vendor has to recapture the credit user fees imposed by their card processor. Every company is going to recoup this expense somehow.
BTW.......these are also the only two companies who have ever bothered to thank me for doing business with them.......
 
I've done a lot of business with BSW for my full time employer and my contract work the past 6-7 years. I've always had good experiences with them and found them to be competitive on prices.

RFB
 
Shop around for the best prices. But as far as service goes, BSW, BGS, SCMS, RF Specialities and ProAudio have always been responsive to our needs and treated us well.
 
Add another vote here for Broadcasters General Store (BGS). Had good luck with them after BSW burned me on some defective gear.

I recently grabbed some quotes from BSW on remote gear (a huge buy) and asked BGS to match or beat them. They did and now get my business.

In addition, I give my business to folks that support the industry. Buck Waters, from BGS, has contributed/helped many of the SBE chapters.
 
I've been a minor customer at BSW for close to 20 years, I've always found them competitive on price and service. My vote for Bob Mayben at SCMS, but generally those 2 are who we shop, unless specialized ie Marti systems
Dan P
 
SCMS - Matt Cauthen (son of the owner). I was introduced to them on a bid for a translator project several years ago via our purchasing dept. They most always are at least a few dollars less expensive than BSW, and don't screw up orders like BSW seems to do a lot anymore. I thought it might just "be me" but a couple of my contract stations bought some stuff from BSW and got the run-around on getting stuff on time. BSW anymore seems rather disorganized and a bit dis-functional. I still use them for pricing, but rarely buy from them anymore. Also, Matt has fixed some issues where I know damn good and well his actually lost a few bucks doing it to take care of my client, without even a slight fight about it. SCMS reminds me of the old Harris-Allied back in the day. Ironically they have their old phone number too. They have stuff in stock, are quick to ship it, and seem to give a damn after they sell it to you if there's an issue. They are certainly my first choice.
 
BSW does add a surcharge. I paid a bill once this way and since it was the first time, they waived it, but warned me (nicely) that on Net 30 accounts they need payment by check.
 
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