Posted by music store owner on August 23, 2003 at 11:24:37:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Cheap Instruments Are Here posted by And... on August 23, 2003 at 10:36:50:
"Similarly, an enterprising out-of-state repair service could probably make a tidy profit by bidding for the annual summer repair work against the local stores, many of whom have techs that shouldn't be working on a rusty Chevette, much less a Buffet R13."
On this one point I believe you don't quite know the situation. Just like the vast majority of the American work force lacking any real expertise in anything in particular, there are very few good musical instrument repairmen in this country.
One of the main advantages of selling on the internet or with a catalog is not having to see the customer when repairs are needed. That's one reason why we (too) are shifting more to internet sales. The assumption by walk-in customers that expert service is available (like some pack of gum at the check-out line at Walmart) just because they have the money to pay for it is a very widely-held misconception...
...and if anyone things that repair services are being "withheld" because of some "grudge" regarding where they were purchased (assuming quality repairable instruments) please re-read the sentence (in bold) in the second paragraph above.