AJ, it is not as difficult as it appears..

Music stores...especially the large chain stores, have to have trained , open minded sales people...In all sales , we need to know our products and the competition 's products..

All of the major stores frown on stocking the Top of the line arrangers...why, because they don't know how to sell them...

The US stores need to take a page from the old organ sales days..that is being able to sell the "sizzle and not the steak"..

There is such a large market that is untapped...primarily the over 40 customer...and it is not limited to the home user..

If the arranger keyboards were shown/demo to working keyboardist, in a way that would show the benefits in an all in one keyboard..it can change things..

You would find the stigma of "auto" play, diminished, when one can see the many ways an arranger can be used professionally..

It has to start with the salesperson..
The US market has to be educated, and the big stores have to be willing to step it up...hire the right people and bring in the right people to train the sales force...

Maybe the Roland, Yamaha, Korg, Gem and Ketron companies have to get involved in this training..

If you think I am wrong....just go into any chain store, and ask to see a top model arranger...first you are lucky to find one, if you find one I will bet you , there will be no one to properly sell the instrument..

Right now in the US, most musicians misunderstand the value of arrangers..they are thinking , "little Susie's Casio toy"..

Once in a while we get a chance to show off our arranger keyboards to other musicians...and it becomes an eye opener to them[they are truly amazed]...now if the stores were equipped to do their part..this can come about..

As a side line , we only have to look at our Keyboard mags and see even at this level....they just do not know......