Klarinet Archive - Posting 000076.txt from 2003/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] music123
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 13:31:14 -0500

In a message dated 11/5/2003 12:54:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, hanskenj@-----.net writes:

> Anywayz, the discussion is which these companies making it more and more difficult for the small music store to purchase insturments at a competetive rate, and to servive they will eventually have to purchase their instruments from a distribution center. WWBW gets extra special deals probably which makes thier cost even lower and
that if course is where we will all probably be getting our instruments from if this keeps up.>>

I looked into becoming a dealer for one of the clarinet makers. To even start you must purchase at least $15,000 worth of instruments. This qualifies you for the lowest level of discount, which is in no way competitive with rates advertised on the internet. Investigating further, I found that even at the highest discount level ($100,000 annual purchase), I could get discouts at the level of the list price that WW&BW advertises. At this point, I just gave up. No way to make any money, even $.05 on the dollar. So indeed, WW&BW must get special discounts.

Most music stores now loose money on instrument sales, making money only on accessories, repairs, lessons, and rentals. Without these streams of revenue, 99% of music stores would be forced to close their doors.

I have a friend who has a successful music store chain. He says the thing he hates most, is the people who come into the store, try out his stock of horns, then go buy that same model on the internet at $50 to $100 less. When he is asked to match the "internet" price, he cannot, as he cannot even GET the instrument at the price that the internet company is asking.

Unless this situation is changed, we will ALL be buying our horns from WW&BW, there might be no other alternative.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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