Let's be honest here....

[PeteDuBaldo]

Steve I get it but there was a veiled shot in there. I wonder what Pete's take is on this as he has many in inventory........

I mean look at the leap of faith you showed with the Buttercremes? It got a little hairy at the end...the LE's and 30th you put your sack on the line, I hope that you get the support you need.

Sterling, not sure what you mean? Is this in reference to all the instruments I have on backorder, in stock, or just 20th Anniversary Silhouettes? It was a leap of faith for me to "buy in" as a dealer 2 years ago, and I am ecstatic about the levels at which it has taken our store to. That's right, just 2 years ago we received our first EBMMs, a Graphite Pearl Silo, and a Trans Red Axis SuperSport.

Buying items for store stock sometimes kills me. I do try to live within my means, and fortunately I only have 3 stragglers here now, 2 of which happen to be from my opening order because I ordered what looked cool, not what people want. I have between 12 and 25 EB instruments in stock at all times. Fortunately in the past 2 years I have developed a decent feel for the market and I can pick what will sell and what wont. (The trans red axis supersport and the black axis both killed me).

Without giving away too much info, the Anniversary Silhouettes are amazing, and I have A LOT on order. Will these guitars put my sack on the line? No, but the amount of other guitars I have on order for store stock may cause my dad to kill me if they don't start to sell. I'm glad the backorders are running out to November now!

I think that the EBMM color palatte is exceptionally good, and at the moment there is nothing I would do to change it. As far as the sparkles go, I'm not a sparkle freak but I am a Blue Dawn freak. Example - Blue Dawn Morse would set me over the top, but a White, Red, or Gold Sparkle Morse? Blechh no thanks.

Thanks again for running a top-notch company and socializing with us knuckleheads.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Everything is better in green

NOT TRUE - SIMPLY LOOK!!!!

See what I mean?

 

[Figjam]

I agree about blue dawn...mmm

 

[tommyindelaware]

NOT TRUE - SIMPLY LOOK!!!!

See what I mean?

now i'm hungover......

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

Sterling, not sure what you mean?

That was a directed at me not you Pete but I don't know how you or other B&M's do it man. It's hard to predict what customers will or won't want when you have so many choices when ordering.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Ahhhhhh I see....

 

[mbgreene]

NOT TRUE - SIMPLY LOOK!!!!

What, thats not an improvement

 

[RockinRayDuke]

<---------still wants his green Bongo. Please?

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

<---------still wants his green Bongo. Please?

Weren't you supposed to buy a 30th Ray last night??

 

[RockinRayDuke]

Doesn't stop my lust for a green Bongo.

Reminds me, need to post some stuff in GFS.

 

[SteveB]

wrangling this thread back on topic..

.. which is very unusual for a thread derailer like myself...

I think Dargin's green Bongo is OK. I could take it or leave it and be happy either way.

I think Dargie needs an avatar made from that gorgeous mahogany Bongo.

 

[82Daion]

If I end up playing bass in Ohio University's marching band, I could really use a green Music Man, although the chances of obtaining one are pretty minimal.

Whoever created that green abomination above should die.

 

[oddjob]

If I end up playing bass in Ohio University's marching band, I could really use a green Music Man, although the chances of obtaining one are pretty minimal.

Whoever created that green abomination above should die.

Ahhhh OU... the best place for Halloween

Sorry for the small detour (memories)... please proceed with the original topic.

 

[tkarter]

This thread is very interesting. It is no longer about a green bongo though.

I want a green bongo. I want a white one more. I don't care if the neck white don't match. I don't even care if the back of the neck is painted. I want a white one.

Any yeah I want green ones too.

Dargie has the bongo that would sell.

I am this way cuz I can afford more basses than I can women.




tk

 

[fogman]

Is that a Tort thong???

 

[tkarter]

I am too matter of fact to count on what I would buy. I see it and want it I buy it.

Lots of them I see that were made I want I want alot. Still I play what I bought.


I am not the salesman's dream buyer. I am me.

In fact never build any bass with me in mind unless it is a white bongo 5 h.

tk

 

[tadawson]

NOT TRUE - SIMPLY LOOK!!!!

See what I mean?

Captain Kirk would do that in a heartbeat . . . .

- Tim

 

[bovinehost]

But they can't fly off the shelves if nobody stocks them, and nobody stocks them 'cuz they claim they won't fly off the shelves. Classic catch 22. The claim that they won't sell is nothing more than a (probably bad) guess unless a major retailer has already tried and failed . . . . and most folks won't take the time to order a color if their second choice can be bought NOW . . . . so mebbe Steebo's got a point . . . .

- Tim

Believe me, Tim, I've both thought about and talked about this particular idea, both here and on the phone with Steve and Sterling and John Worthington and Ray and a troop of Boy Scouts from Vancleave, Mississippi.

If, for reasons good or bad, a major force in the market such as Guitar Center decides green basses will not sell, then they don't order them and Musicman (and other manufacturers) won't build them. That much, I think, is true.

I have to think, however, given how easy it is these days to track market trends and sales numbers and inventory, that they're not just making this up to annoy me. Steve and I are small beans compared to Musicians Fiend, for instance, but even I can give you a damned good idea what we're selling and what we're not.

(Keep in mind that we're not 'average' retailers and our customer base is far from representative.)

I don't think Guitar Center is making wild-ass guesses at this point. If they are, then they need to hire me right quick like. I'm good at wild-ass guesses.

If someone from GC wants to weigh in and tell me that they are, in fact, making wild-ass guesses, I'll shut up, but I bet they're actually tracking the numbers.

Don't get me wrong - as a consumer, I'm 100 percent with you guys who want the green basses and the sparkles. I love those things. In fact, I think Sterling (deep in his heart) loves those kinds of things, too.

But if I were a brick and mortar guy, I'd look at what the vast majority of people want, over time, and I'd stock those things.

I really think that's what we're seeing. As always, I am willing to learn and change my mind if I'm way off.

Jack

 

[tkarter]

What Jack just said is the exact reason you can't play a Bongo in the brick and mortar stores in Northeast Kansas.

I was told by a person I very much respect that he wouldn't order a bongo for stock because he did not think it would sell in his market.

Fair enough but I am one of his market and I wanted a Bongo.

I am one. I am happy. He might be right about everything except the one that is me.


tk

 

[RockinRayDuke]

Jack has explained this to me so many times he's turned green in the face.

I understand it all.

I still keep the faith.