I thank you for taking the time to interact with your customers.
I hope you're proud that at least some think the color was beautiful and bugs you on public forums, asking for it!
However, I didn't ask for the rainbow..
Suggestion:
Why not keep a few cans (or whatever the color is kept in) in case a couple of future special orders drop in?
(I'm strictly talking about the discontinued ones, not the entire rainbow)
Offer it as a special-special order: "discontinued colors +350$"
I bet at least some people don't concern about the extra and it would for sure cover the cost of keeping the color in stock.
I know your opinion on custom shops but offering previously colors as specials isn't really the same thing in my opinion
As a salesman you've probably already consider this but came to the conclusion the reason you can't offer discontinued colors is because:
1. it's expensive to keep old colors in stock because spray cans have a best-before-date and you have limited storage facilities.
2. your supplier of paint also discontinues the paint at the same time you do.
3. the method of production won't allow individual paint jobs (without big adjustments) because of some logistic issues
(its a machine that makes the paint job and it needs reprogramming or some other reason)
4. if you did, people would come to think EBMM is a regular custom shop.
That will end up with all making special orders and no one buying from the local retailers.
The retailers then wouldn't dare to buy any pre-produced and you end up loosing the advertisement value of having the guitars hanging on the retailers walls.
In the end you'll go bankruptcy and you're fall will be remembered as
"the trans black death"
If none of the above options are correct, please feel free to enlighten me
Thanks again for taking the time to answer and special thanks for a great product!
/Kent