From bw@ashbysolutions.com Mon Jan 23 20:11:26 2012
Subject:Re: Are you guys able to demo this stuff before you buy...and where?

There are so many more guitarists than keyboard players -- always has
been true -- and in a tough market, it doesn't pay to carry big-ticket
items that sell infrequently. This group is a classic example of what
retailers are up against. There are always posts from people looking to
get the same, or at least a similar, sound and feel to a $3-4K clone out
of a VST or a $400 Casio workstation. Not saying that it's wrong; your
needs and budget dictate your purchasing decisions. But how does that
encourage a music store owner to keep a collection of $2-4K B-3 clones
on the floor, ready to try out -- particularly new ones like the Crumar
Mojo which may have limited support and distribution channels?

I'll bet that the Nashua (NH) Guitar Center doesn't sell more than two
clonewheels a year, despite being the only 'serious' music store in a
30-mile radius now that Daddy's is gone. As much as you or I are
attracted to that CX-3 in the corner, I never seem to have to fight over
it on a Saturday afternoon -- unlike the Motif workstation next to it.
Would they sell more if they had a room full of clones? Probably, but
we're talking about maybe 2-3x the sales, after investing $10-15K in
floor models. And let's not mention the lack of anyone in the keyboard
department who knows that 87 6545 678 is *not* a popular drawbar setup! ;-)

By definition, every floor model immediately becomes a 'dealer demo' or
open-box -- at least until the owner turns his/her back and someone
really wails on it; then it's a scratch-n-dent model. And then there's
obsolescence. What if the store just took the plunge on a C2 in
November? Well, in another month it's going to be, "Yeah, that one
sounds good, but don't you have the C2D?" It was easier in the 'glory
days': Hammond stores kept one console and a couple of spinet models on
the floor. Yeah, you could *order* a C-3 or a less-popular cabinet
style 'A, but since the tone was the same on an A-122, C-3, and a B-3,
one demo unit covered all of them.

Regards,

-BW

Bruce Wahler
Ashby Solutions.com^(TM)
bw@ashbysolutions.com
http://music.ashbysolutions.com
877.55.ASHBY (877.552.7429)

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