Supporting the smaller Dealer

[Jack Kennedy]

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to take some time and space to offer a opinion.It is up to us as guitar players and our responsibilty to see that our hard earned money is spent supporting dealers that represent a positive influence in the guitar world and all of our social well being.Even a small purchase of strings or picks and whom we choose to deal with has significance. I recently read an article in "Vintage Guitar magazine" covering a recent annual guitar show. An importent highlight was the continual loss of smaller guitar dealers and the continual rise of corporate large scale dealers.
The negative impacts that the corporate take over techniqes have had on smaller buisnesses have been well documented in other areas of small buissness.
The point is, they are forced to close in the face of corporate power. We as guitar players have a choice and where we spend our money determines who stays as a dealer.
Do you like having a local guitar store to browse around and noodle on a guitar?
How about teaching a kid some playing techniques or running into this older player thats been playing for years and his playing is like old wine that has had the time to develope into something that can't be done in a few years?
How about witnessing virtuosity in bluegrass, classical,jazz, neoclassical at the localy owned guitar shop?
Walking into a guitar shop and seeing the owner as well as his family and knowing this is where your money goes and not some faceless corporation is significant.
Corporate take overs of buissness strip people of these valuable social & economic avenues and well being in our lifes. We will also lose diversity of products in the efforts to promote profit from the cheapest product to profit ratio from corporate take overs.
Its our choices that can make the difference for our well being. We can stop the corparate take over of our niche and preserve the smaller dealer as well as the social significance these guitar stores have in our lives.
The craftsman who make our guitars and amplifiers as well as many other items we need can be supported also by choosing who we purchase from also.Robin guitars are an excellent example of high quality at a reasonable price.
This has been a very opiniated email and may not seem significent to some. But I assure you these are importent matters that we have a choice and infuence in.
Support the smaller dealer!!

Thank-you
Blue Lightning

[BCRGreg]

As a small dealer, I thank you for this post.

[Ken Jones]

C'mon Greg, you can't be all that tiny...

[BCRGreg]

I have what it took to get the best woman on the planet......and she ain't complaining.

I'm talking about my sense of humor!

[Jack Kennedy]

Hello BCRGreg ,
Thankyou for the input. I hope that other dealers see this posting and offer some opinions. I do believe that something can be done . Our money and where , whom , what guitar shop we spend it on cast our vote for how want our future represented. It is within our control to be able to decide. I myself have been alienated by a guitar shop that went corporate/mega store. It would be really nice and admirable if we all got together and started a movement to end the destruction of our small guitar shoppes. It could all begin here , on the Robin Lovers website and spread with future input from all small guitar shoppes. There would be Sociological and economic value in this movement and we could provide an example to other small buissnesses to follow and stop corporate destruction of their niche. This really can be done , and it starts right here with myself, John Williams (Joyful Noise Music), BCRGreg (Guitar Shoppe) all these little inputs that serve as a whole .
Please , lets all make an effort to pass the word on to other dealers and guitarist to post on this topic . How about some input from Robin ??
How about your input?? Anyone?? Even those that disagree ? I want to hear from you you.
All constructive criticism is welcome. Lets lead this to a constructive positive movement :-)
Shop owners , guitarist , sales people ,teachers, luthiers , shop employees.
I challenge myself and others to get off our Butts and put in a little effort that could lead to a huge change in the guitar world !!!
An email a day on this website , perhaps an interview with a quality publication(S) about the start of this movement.
A grass roots movement , I am really serious here folks !! We could do a lot of good things here with perseverence and a good attitude !!
Everyone, please put your input here ...this is the beginning of our contribution to the future of quality guitar shoppes , craftsman , luthiers, guitarist and our people.
Please state your name , occupation , opinions and ideas !!! Lets start today !!!!
Thankyou,
Jack Kennedy
"Blue Lightning"

[Allen Hill]

Jack you're right on the money. Robin Guitars and Rio Grande Pickups would not exist with out independent dealers that invest their passion, time, money, and reputation in our instruments. Action always happens one person at a time so remember
The Robin/Rio Grande Golden Rule,
Tell A Pal About Something Cool.

Allen
Robin Guitars

[Jack Kennedy]

Thankyou,
We are now experiencing the beginnings of " Action always happens one person at a time". A wonderful ideology and method too apply to this effort to form a movement that ensures the recognition and sustain of the independent dealer.There is also an old saying about one butterfly flapping its wings in China and more butterflys joining in that would create a huge wind storm . So , we have Robins input on this topic which is positive. Remember , this movement will have positive effects thru the guitar niche. We preserve the independent dealer , who in turn supports independent guitar crafts men , supporting the luthiers, supporting the guitarplayers. We will have diversity of amplifiers,guitars,pedals, equipment available from different independent sources of craftsmanship of these products.
What casts your vote is where and whom you spend your dollar. I really don't think any of us want to be faced with the " cheapest made, high volume approach " when it comes time to purchase another guitar , amp , bass.
If you value high quality of your instruments and equipment. Then support an independent dealer. If you value diversity and quality of your instruments and equipment. Support an independent dealer. If you value meeting other guitar players, walking around and trying out instruments. meeting nice people and socializing. Support an independent dealer. Thankyou Allen Hill/Robin Guitars/Rio Grande Pickups. Where and whom is our next contributor to this topic ?
We want to hear from you :-)

Blue Lightning

[John Williams]

There is no way that a mega store could duplicate an independant dealer's personal touch.There is no way a mega store can duplicate an independant dealer's knowledge of products that they carry.There is no way that a mega store can manufacture charm,character,personality,attention to detail the same way that we small guys do.We are not perfect,but we represent the best that America has to offer.It's is a crying shame that mega stores have become the "norm" for a lot of buyers recently,and one of the main reasons for this trend is the forcing out of the little guys.I challenge each and every one of you out there to affiliate yourselves with a mom and pop shop for your musical needs,and you will never regret it.Thanks to all,God bless you,John Williams Joyful Noise Music 1-440-632-1663

[Brent Williams]

You folks are absolutely correct. After nearly two years at the Center(Guitar), I stepped down from being assistant store manager. One bad taste after another, after awhile, it poisons ones passions. I find joy in the corner music store. Mega stores just cannot keep high quality, knowledgable people on the crew. For gear junkies (like everyone here!) it is so disheartening to experience the ubiquitous 18yo kid who wants to sell you a signature ... and a brand new .... amp, cuz that is what ...plays. Please support your local everything, restraunts, grocery stores, mechanics. Pay for thier childrens food and education, not the CEO's new Hummer.

[Jack Kennedy]

Thankyou,
We have recieved another input from John Williams ( Joyful Noise Music )and a new member Brent Williams . These guys both have the last same name and are really putting in constructive thoughts.
Continued and diverse perspectives will broaden the horizen for a well thought out statement of our intentions behind this movement.
A statement of " Intent and purpose " that would be subject too changing as we learn more from others on this subject I believe is a good idea .
Both of these latest postings have put forth facts and ideas that could be utilized for such an endeavor.
After enough postings, I just might put togethor an written guest editorial to a guitar magazine regarding the subject. Consisting of input from this chat subject and its beginnings. Will they have the guts and honesty too put it in their publication ? :-)
Everyone who has posted please continue and tell others too get on here.
While I am here, please remember our right to vote in this country. Take some time to think about it and its significance when election time rolls around .
More input on the independent dealer subject is waiting for you too help out and post your thoughts.
Keep em coming ...
Blue Lightning

[BCRGreg]

Vote with your dollar.

I buy my tires at a local shop.

I buy my furniture at a local shop.

I bought my lawnmower and snowblower(yup, unlike Tejas, we need these things!) from a local shop.

In every instance I paid more but got more. More service, more satisfaction, more interest in return business.

Things that I cannot get locally, I find small stores that have a reputation for quality service and I go there.

[Jack Kennedy]

Thankyou,
Vote with your dollar is a very powerful means of eliminating corporate takeover of independent buisness in the U.S.
Purchase from independent dealers , pay a little extra for something and get USA independent treatment for your purchase.
Know that your dollar spent supports someones family and children. Puts food on the table , a roof over their heads, clothing for children.
Read BCRGreg's latest posting, it really puts things in perspective.
We had a " Guitar Center" open up in a City recently where there are independent guitar dealers and luthiers. This is a corporate buisness that rapes our sociological , economic, well being in the guitar world.
Do not buy from these places, they hurt us as people and destroy the independent dealers. They rape our well being in many ways that may not be visible to us . You have to think a bit about the hidden negative costs to us.
Yes, thats strong wording and I intend to defend it against anyone who thinks otherwise. I will not back down or be snowed by some profit digging corporate rapist.
These situations can even effect generations of people to come. We must vote with our dollar and stop it and its negative consequences.
Read the guitar publications , the corparate advancement is rearing its ugly head and its up to us to get off of our asses and stop it.
Lets be the grass roots movement that stopped them . It can be done...
Jack Kennedy
Blue Lightning

[Bourget Rider]

I have worked for those corporate guitar monsters, rhymes with CARS. It burried itself in its own junk. When we opened a store here in HOUSTON,...sorry true TEXAN...everything is capitalized when talking about TEXAS, they had top of the line P*S, FE**ER, and G*BSON. Did we move them no, not really. Everything was hurry get them in, get thier money and get them out. The funniest part was even our managers knew that we were not selling to "true" musicians but to moms and dads whose kids had "rock star" eyes. I sold two "Kurt Cobains" in the first week, but were we allowed to "educate our customers", oh no!
I bought my first real guitar from a mom and pop shop that damn near did the whole deal over the phone. Which is unlike the used car salesmen technique of today, "come on in and lets take a look".
Oh yeah the manager I had at - rhymes with cars - talked me out of a L*S P*UL. Told me to buy a Avalon...played it, but bought a neck thru Machette instead.
LONG LIVE ALPO!

[Vincent Craig]

The truth is, the large music stores only carry mediocre quality gear. Marshall, Gibson and Fender ain't what they were. As far as I'm concerned, they suck. The smaller stores turned me on to boutique amps and fine guitars. There are so many other reasons to buy from small stores (I'm a lousy 2 finger typist so I won't kill myself typing them) that I don't even go to the big stores to buy tubes or strings, or food for that matter. If we support small businesses in general, we make competition possible. Much better for our nation economically all around.

[BCRGreg]

We have refused Gibson, Marshall, Mesa, Fender, and several other "big" companies. We do what we feel are QUALITY companies. I need to enjoy the instrument before I can recommend it.

A good connection to the people AT the company is important, too. I talk to Grandpa and Elfboy alla time, and they are PASSIONATE about Robin guitars.

Even though the stores like mine are becoming merely showrooms for the online dealers, we are STILL the only place to get a guitar fixed. Ebay has no repair department, most of the BIG stores don't BOTHER with expert repairs.

Fuggem, let's crank up some tubes and RIP!!!!

[DCWalters]

I used to be a "super center" shopper, I even had their company credit card...I realized as stated in the other posts, this is a nameless faceless entity. Now when I go to these stores it is for browsing purposes only. I will look around get an idea of what I want then go to my indy shop and have them order it. I do not mind paying a little extra if I have too. I feel it was the small local business man that helped make this country and I think we as consumers need to remember this and continue to support our small local business men...I don't care if he is selling Robin's or widgets, just support the small guy!

[Daniel J. Sedia]

I just ordered a Savoy Standard from Randy at Infinity Guitars. He was sooo helpful. He answered any "knit-pickin'" question I had. I too feel that supporting the independent dealers is is really important. If we could find more visible (the big companies have such extensive advertising) avenues to get the word out about small dealers we could educate more players about the many fine instruments which are available. Dan Sedai

[Jack Kennedy]

Hello Robin People ,
In the interest of independent Dealers lets try and sway our musical purchases towards them during the holiday rush . Keep American buisness independent , not corporate ...
Thankyou,
Jack Kennedy
Blue Lightning

[Chollie]

As said in a previous post, not too many shops will hand you a personal guitar they just order and have you plug it in to play. and that's what had me sold on BCR/Robin.

[Kane Miller]

What I really like is being able to call on the phone and say, "Here's what I'm looking for: ____ model, lightweight, in ____ color, with _____features. I want it to be really resonant (beefy, crystaline, etc) What have you got?" and have them tell me "I have something here like that I can recommend" or "I don't have anything like that now, but I'll keep my eyes peeled and call you if it comes in". Now that's cool.

I'm fortunate to know a handful of shops like that, scattered around the nation. It's really saying something for me to buy an instrument I've never laid my hands on, purely on the recommendation of a salesperson.