Klarinet Archive - Posting 000627.txt from 1999/07

From: "Ed Wojtowicz" <ewoj@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] consumers vs. sellers
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 00:39:06 -0400

At least as a consumer we have the option of looking elsewhere. If the music
dealer cannot get a price from the manufacturer which allows them to compete
with the big guys, they have no other option. The playing field is not a
level one for them.

My repairman had a retail shop, doing all of the usual school business,
sheet music, etc. as well as pro repairs. He is top notch repairman, and one
of the most honest guys I have ever dealt with. He recently got out of the
retail end and is only doing repairs.

He had always stocked a good supply of R13's ( often as many as a dozen). A
few years back I called him looking for a horn for a student. He replied
that he was no longer stocking them. When I inquired about this, he replied
that he could not compete, as the big catalogue guys were selling them for
virtually the same price he was paying from the manufacturer. This was a
contributing factor to his frustration with the retail trade.

I realize that there are stores out there without any integrity or knowledge
who might as well be selling toasters and blenders. At the same time there
are those who are doing their best to provide a good service at honest
prices that enable them to make a reasonable living. No different than any
of us would hope for ourselves; fair price for our services. Performers who
contract their own ensembles (weddings, parties, etc) know that often the
consumer is happy to find someone to play for less money. But you know what
is fair for your services.

I for one do value the service and convenience a quality local shop can
supply. They are looking to keep you coming back. Note that I realize that
not all businesses are quality, but I will patronize those that are good. I
do sometimes pay a little more, but feel that there is more at stake than
just money. For that reason,I generally shop at my local hardware store, who
has excellent service, great stock and interest in the customer rather than
go to Home Depot.

Ed

----------
>From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>

> At 11:37 AM 7/17/1999 -0400, gtgallant wrote:
>>All this talk of the pros and cons of catalog and
>>store buying boils down to a simple matter. Most
>>people will and cannot afford to spend $200 to $400
>>more dollars on an instrument, whether from a store or
>>catalog. It's too bad that the local business cannot
>>compete with the bigshots, but that's capitalism for
>>you!
>
> No, that is OVERHEAD for you. It costs money to buy/rent that store, pay
> the staff, electricity phone, etc. We have THREE such stores and three
> road people servicing schools, and even with the volume that generates, we
> cannot get the best discounts from the manufacturers except on a few lines.
> As I have said before, WW & BW sells Farkas french horns for less that we
> can buy them direct from the company! The only thing we can offer that
> they can't is personal service right in your own backyard. If that is not
> worth anything to you, fine. But when the market consolidates down to just
> a few superstores in the major cities (NOT the one you live in, of course),
> don't complain about the lack of local availablility of products and
> services. We don't make any more per transaction than the big boys do; it
> just cost us more to do it.
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org