To:
sales@jinbaomusic.com
Subject: Re: Re
I apologize. I should always take the time and be friendly enough to introduce myself!
My full name is Van Robert Bryant II. I am a student at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, U.S.A. I am majoring in both instrumental and vocal music education. I have been playing the trumpet for nine years.
I will further elaborate on why I decided to contact your company directly. I have not even heard of your name until very recently, when I came across a forum subject discussing your trumpets. There are those who are arguing about your horn's prices, and the shady nature of many retailers in this country for your horns. I checked. Regalmusic.com advertises your cupronickel horns as being "nickel silver," and shows pictures of what's basically older horns with sticky valves as bad horns. Many of the auction sellers of your horns have poor reputations and several complaints against them.
Thats not to say all U.S. dealers of Jinbao's are swindlers. Kessler music has begun selling your horns, and they have a great reputation. I'm sure there are many other dealers that sell your horns, I just couldn't find them all at this time :)
About the prices of your horns, I've seen Jinbao's advertised all over the place, from below $100 to about $500. I'm not one who likes guessing. What are the suggested retail prices of your horns?
I asked about the nickel content in your cupronickel horns because I discovered that nickel is around six time more expensive than copper, and TWELVE times more expensive than zinc. How do you still offer competetive prices for a mor expensive trumpet alloy? Also, is it taboo for you to discuss metal percentage of the alloys your company uses (A rough guess would do just as fine..)?
I also asked about craftsmen wages to gauge how much that would figure into the overall value of the horn. Of course, like most all questions that I am asking, if the information cannot be disclosed, that is perfectly fine as well. Just answering my strange e-mail is cooperation enough!
My main motivation for contacting your company was for knowledge. I have become fascinated with every facet of the trumpet-making process (even the BUSINESS part, and I have never been exceptional in math)! Also, it never hurts to know a little bit more about a subject when people are arguing about it (For example if someone dares tell me "cupronickel" is Nickel Silver!!). I apologize for the time you have spent on me, and am extremely grateful for your patience.
Van Bryant II