Brand New in the Box

[coastie72]

On a selfish level that sounds great, but seeing that I purchase from both large and small dealers, I think it would give an unfair advantage to GC unless the same was afforded to any dealer willing to provide the info for posting on this forum.

This is how many small competitors get taken out and then we are stuck with limited choices that big business feels will sell the best.

Just my $0.02 in looking out for great small dealers that have been there for me in the past and I know will be there if and when I need them.

--Ant

My exact thoughts! I support small local dealers, waiting if need be is worth it to keep these stores open. I don't have a GC closer than 80-100 miles and I have nothing against them!
I am not for anything that will give the mega stores an unfair advantage! Give all EBMM dealers the option to list inventory online in a common data base! That I would support!

[Big Poppa]

Whoa....Every dealer has an opportunity to post here.....I am very easy on this...things like Dubaldos gold ticket...clearance sales, labor day sales....Beavers postings, Brandt...
It is baffling that someone would take this position.

DId you stop to think that I cannot exist based on the forum? That I need a dealer base thats larger than your personal favorites? That maybe your position doesnt consider the mouths to feed in the factory?

What about the customer? If GC has a rosewood bongo that nobody else has..Should it go to a random store and get beat to death... or get sent to someone perffect new in the box.

You are all entitled to your opinion but try to have a little wider view than a protectionist knee jerk one.

[jlepre]

BP, that's what I thought as well. I mean, isn't that what this forum is all about? Just because GC is being proactive, doesn't make it wrong. Will it possibly give them an advantage, maybe, but like you said ALL dealers can utilize this practice to move merchandise. I personally haven't used GC for ANY of my MM purchases because of my dislike to the condition of off the rack condition, but if they utilized THIS practice, that may change in the future.

[oli@bass]

Question: Would that be open to international customers for rare instruments that cannot be bought anywhere else? Like the rosewood instruments...

[TheAntMan]

You are all entitled to your opinion but try to have a little wider view than a protectionist knee jerk one.

OK. Sorry about the protectionist reaction. I stand corrected on the availability of other dealers to post here. I also did not look at the bigger picture of keeping the factory feed. My main concern was a level playing field which I guess in the larger picture is outside the scope of my involvement in the forum and is on the business side of the house.

I just worry about things turning around where GC calls the shots that limit options (like with the Bongos) once they are the only player left.

But as always stated but not always remembered, this is EBMMs forum and also a business, not only a great place to hang out

Members of the family sometimes step out of bounds in the home and if I did, sorry.

-- Ant

[Big Poppa]

ant we are good Im just pointing out that any dealer regardless of size has access....it would be wrong to punish GC....I need the entire spectrum of our dealer base to survive

[TheAntMan]

ant we are good Im just pointing out that any dealer regardless of size has access....it would be wrong to punish GC....I need the entire spectrum of our dealer base to survive

Thanks BP. I totally understand

-- Ant

[coastie72]

Whoa....Every dealer has an opportunity to post here.....I am very easy on this...things like Dubaldos gold ticket...clearance sales, labor day sales....Beavers postings, Brandt...
It is baffling that someone would take this position.

DId you stop to think that I cannot exist based on the forum? That I need a dealer base thats larger than your personal favorites? That maybe your position doesnt consider the mouths to feed in the factory?

What about the customer? If GC has a rosewood bongo that nobody else has..Should it go to a random store and get beat to death... or get sent to someone perffect new in the box.

You are all entitled to your opinion but try to have a little wider view than a protectionist knee jerk one.

Like I said Big Poppa, I have nothing against GC or any of the large chains, I can fully understand the necessity of them for your survival as well as some of your competitors. Matter of fact, I would love to have one of their stores in my hometown. I never spend less than an hour anytime I go in one.
I wasn't aware that all dealers can post inventory online. I just prefer the personal service that you get in a smaller music store. I have an EBMM dealer in my hometown, but I choose to drive over 90 miles to a dealer that I found that gives me that service and satisfaction I desire. When I can, and it don't cost me too dearly I try to support the smaller independents so they too can survive. In my state SC, I have watched community after community lose mom and pop business's to the spread of Wal-Mart. That don't mean I dislike Wal-Mart, I shop in one maybe twice a month, the wife more often than that. I like the idea of right out the box buying instead of whats on display somewhere.

It probably couldn't work like this in your industry, but as a Ford Dealer Parts Manager, I can see every Ford Dealers inventory online, almost in real time. This allows us to expedite getting parts for customers faster, when it might not be readily available from the Ford stocking warehouses. Naturally we pay the selling dealer a mark-up, but generally small enough to still make a buck ourselves. Autos and trucks are the same way, we dealer transfer all the time.

They other side of this practice is there is no one forcing your hand! If a dealer has a part that I need, he don't have to sell it to me at the usual dealer to dealer mark-up. That decision is entirely up to the selling dealer. Sorry to ramble so much!!!!!!!!

It is real obvious that you know how to run your business I'm totally excited about the new 25th 5HH I have on order If I said anything that offended you in any way, I am very sorry! I think it's awesome that you allow us this forum, and share your own thoughts! I don't know of any other business owner that has this type of open dialogue with their customer base. Thank you for all you do! I can't wait and am very excited to get my first EBMM bass. Lord willing it won't be my last

[Big Poppa]

Coastie..you didnt offend me I was just giving an equally strong opinion. I also believe that sometimes dealers need to look into the mirror...not just music dealers.

Thie difference in Ford is that the parts are kept new, the dealers all have similar credit and there are not quite as many choices.

But the bottom line is that no one style of dealer can satisify every customer..thats why we have choices

[coastie72]

Coastie..you didnt offend me I was just giving an equally strong opinion. I also believe that sometimes dealers need to look into the mirror...not just music dealers.

Thie difference in Ford is that the parts are kept new, the dealers all have similar credit and there are not quite as many choices.

But the bottom line is that no one style of dealer can satisify every customer..thats why we have choices

You are so right, what a terrible world it would be if we didn't have choices. I guess I just have a soft spot for the little guy entrepreneur. However with that said, I know some not musically necessarily, that needs to look into that mirror you speak of.