Klarinet Archive - Posting 000478.txt from 2004/02

From: "DWH" <dhatfield@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Costco Clarinets!!!
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 11:27:47 -0500

I'll wager you could buy them cheap enough and make lamps and other pieces
of furniture. I have a friend who does violin repair and custom work. He can
buy a raw, unfinished chinese-made violin for around $40.00, finish it, set
it up, and they're comparable to some violins in the $1000 range. And he can
sell them for $400 to 500 as fast as he can get them. The quality is
remarkable. But you're right about building band instruments to a price
point. As long as people want a cheap instrument that looks pretty, the
market will be there. It's frustrating to music dealerwho is trying to offer
quality products and service and integrity to the public.

> At 12:07 AM 2/28/2004 -0500, Ginger Hill wrote:
> >I definitely agree- I work for Sam Ash Music in Tampa (if you live near
> >tampa drop in!) :)- I work in the band department, and we get in these
> >horrid things all the time. I cringe every time I see a parent bring in
> >a case. It's SO HARD to tell a customer "you bought a piece of crap",
> >because they think they bought a "nice clarinet". Some people DO think
> >we come off as snobs "not wanting to fix instruments but sell OUR
> >expensive stuff"... Nah, it's just that there is NO HOPE in fixing one
> >of these chinese disastors. China makes good violins, but they are
> >severely lacking in the band department.
>
> We have recently started carrying some Chinese violins that are much
better
> than comparably-priced ones from a major US company. (Of course, THOSE
are
> imported as well, from Korea or eastern Europe.) They also make $99
dollar
> junk violins. I would assume that the Chinese CAN build better
> instruments, but they are building the band instruments we usually see to
a
> particular price point, and a quality product simply cannot be made that
> cheaply. Unfortunately, a nice LOOKING instrument CAN be made that
> cheaply! Maybe we could offer to make their POS horns into nice LAMPS for
> a reasonable charge! :-)

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