oldlou

I have some questions pertaining to the practice some dealers use, of allowing a trial period on supposedly new instruments. After this 'trial' do the horns get cleaned up to an 'as new' appearance and then, sold as new, sold as a demo, or used on a continuous basis for 'trial'? I see the very real chance that the horn will become a proverbial Typhoid Mary, spreading various infections and viruses through out the musical industry. Another concept frightens me; if I try one individual horn and happen to like it, is that the same individual horn that I will be able to buy a couple of months later, when I have tried a slew of other horns and decided on that particular horn? Another factor comes to mind. If the dealer lets out horns for trial, how does he cover the overhead cost of these 'trial' horns? There is just so much margin availably while remaining price competitive in any field, not just the musical instrument business. Hey, an inquiring mind want to know.


OLDLOU>>

__________________
Couturier trumpet
York Master Model trumpet
York Elite trumpet
York Airflow cornet
King super 20 Master Model cornet
King Liberty trumpet
Reynolds Professional cornet
Bohm & Meinl professional trumpet
Besson 10-10 trumpet with Holton M.F. bell
Olds Special cornet Los Angeles
B&H Sovereign cornet
G.R.Band Instr. cornet
Getzen Super Deluxe trumpet and cornet
Getzen Deluxe trumpet and cornet
Many others no room to list

Dave Mickley

I bought a demo cornet from NYTC that looked brand new [no scratches, clean as a whistle] at a reduced price. Don't know about the others.

__________________
formerly known as old geezer Dave
C7
Yam. 231 Fl. 15383
King Master Cornet 295628
Weril Cornet Lo 7535

B15M

I think they go to the stock room and grab the first trumpet they come to and send it out. If it comes back they just put it back on the pile.

I took a horn once from WWBW and when I returned it they charged me 10%. So, there is the margin and they have the horn back. They told me that if I bought the trumpet I could return it for no charge. I said OK I'll buy it and return it. They said no.
I was going to buy the trumpet in the first place. They talked me into the trial. That's why I don't deal with them anymore. Even though it's not the same company anymore.

I have been to music stores and tried a lot of trumpets. I don't think they washed them when I was done. Just put them back on the pile.

__________________
"Taking plain notes on the page and bringing them to life is an art" - Tony Kadleck


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=238487314

http://webpages.charter.net/joespitzer/

http://www.trumpetwedding.com/

Brekelefuw

When I tried horns out, or rented a few pro c trumpets and tuba's, the C's which were new were sold as slightly used afterwards because I had them for about 5 months each. The tuba (which cost me $300 for the month I rented it) was sold as used because it had been out on a trial before. It was still selling for $15000!
Horns I played in store were put back on the shelf, but any mouthpieces I tried were sterilized as soon as I gave them back.

edcon1981

you know i was wondering the same thing when i was up at dillon's a few weeks ago trying out horns. one guy there was really anal about trying horns that no-one has ever tried before (brand new, never touched). i don't know if they appeased him but it got me to thinking.

btw, never try out horns if you don't have the money to buy them, it just breaks your heart.

__________________

1890's (est) LeFevre 691 Cornet
1890's (est) Harwood "Solo Model" Cornet
1954 Olds (LA) Ambassador Cornet
1956 Olds (EF) Ambassador Trumpet
1989 Selmer Bundy Trumpet
2007 Kanstul KSB100 3-Valve Bugle

"Villains always have antidotes... they're funny that way. "

Bonasa

Not half as much as it breaks the shop-owner's.

I think most shop-owners are relying on the fact that buyers value the privilege of being able to audition a horn before buying it; that's the biggest advantage they can offer over online sellers. Especially with high-end horns, where very subtle differences of tone and timbre are common, serious buyers expect to be able to play a bunch of horns before settling on their favorite. Shops that are customer-oriented will make every effort to have a big inventory to attract discriminating buyers--with the understanding that buyers will probably be willing to pay a bit more for the certainty of being able to choose their one horn from many.

But I agree with Edcon that if you're not serious about buying from a given shop, it's really pretty shameless to be abusing the privilege of trying out his merchandise. As a repeat customer at my favorite shop, I feel I've earned the privilege to try new horns. And I don't think it much matters whether the "new" horn I bought has been auditioned a few times in the shop or maybe even gone out for a few days to be played in different performance spaces. If it begins to show some signs of being less than new, any customer-oriented shop-owner will be more than happy to make an adjustment in the price to account for that fact.

edcon1981

well in my defense i was truthfully trying out a mpc on their horns, as i went in not knowing i could try it out before buying (otherwise i woulda brought one of my horns). that didn't stop me from trying said mouthpiece on a trio of high-end horns...

i still bought the mpc though!

being from the ny area, do you ever frequent dillon's?

__________________

1890's (est) LeFevre 691 Cornet
1890's (est) Harwood "Solo Model" Cornet
1954 Olds (LA) Ambassador Cornet
1956 Olds (EF) Ambassador Trumpet
1989 Selmer Bundy Trumpet
2007 Kanstul KSB100 3-Valve Bugle

"Villains always have antidotes... they're funny that way. "

pbk917

I remember going into the original Giardinelli's in NYC years ago. Boy, that was really an amazing experience, you never knew who you may see there in the professional world. Anyway, I remember that their policy was 3 if trying, unlimited if buying. I thought that was very generous. I bought my first pro horn there. It was a great experience.

Bonasa

Actually, I'm up in the far western corner of New York--probably about 450 miles from Dillon's. But next time I get down that way, I'll definitely put it on my itinerary

B15M

Do you live in North Tonawanda?

__________________
"Taking plain notes on the page and bringing them to life is an art" - Tony Kadleck


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=238487314

http://webpages.charter.net/joespitzer/

http://www.trumpetwedding.com/