Hi Scott,
You make some valid points however there are many more to be made. I will touch on a couple of points that effect us as local consumers.
I have owned businesses all my life, having built from scratch 5 corporations, the largest having 165 employees. Our problem was always offshore competition. Realistically I think it still is. We don’t know who owns these major on line companies that we deal with because it is not important to us.
Musicians Friend used to be a local company up in a small town in southern Oregon. I knew the owner and many of his employees as I often went through there and always stopped to visit and buy something. Now it is a major privately held corporation warehousing in the Midwest and who knows who the principals are?
You and I suffer the same problem of dealing with the same dealer in different locations. I can’t believe that you get treated much different 50 miles up the street then we do down in San Jose.
A case in point. The Technics 6000 was list priced and advertised at $5950.00. Parts and service are non existent unless it is through a third party contractor that you contact. The sales people that I was familiar with were great pianists and organists, as it is a piano/organ store, however they barely knew how to turn a keyboard on and play the demo. Answers to questions? Forget that!. Do I buy locally? Only if they match my best cash no trade offer and I am a cash and carry customer that knows I will not see the inside of that store again until I am ready to make another offer on a new model.
We could use a store in this area like I perceive the store that our member George owns. I can see that he is a businessman, and intends to sell his customer time after time. I understand that he has survived these many years because he gives his customers what they need and think they want. That builds loyalty that overcomes price. The customer is willingly sharing the overhead cost of the service, advice, parts and follow up that so many need and want. That is worth a lot more then the last dollar of discount on the new shiny keyboard on the demo floor.
I have considered starting such a store in this area, but I feel I am too far past my prime to start another business. Someone will though. The opportunity is there and it will happen. You can only take advantage of your customers for so long and the void created will be filled, almost always.
I leave you with these thought as I am sure there are many here that will add to our posts.
Best to all.
Bebop