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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Thought crossed my mind.
What Ovation Hamer Takimine Maybe Guild
had retail installment system like Kirby Vacumes?
Or
Revolving credit plan for Kaman Music products?
Would it make you more likily to buy stuff? |
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July 2010
Posts: 83
Location: Urbana, IL | No. I pay cash or I don't buy. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | They could do a deal with GE Capital like Taylor did and get their own commercial. But seriously, more credit card debt is not what most people need right now.
But the Kirby Vacuum plan was a door-to-door sales gig. Now THERE's an idea! |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
They could do a deal with GE Capital like Taylor did and get their own commercial. But seriously, more credit card debt is not what most people need right now.
But the Kirby Vacuum plan was a door-to-door sales gig. Now THERE's an idea! Need and want are 2 different things.
I bought a Kirby on thier installment plans $36
a month for 3 years.
If you had a checking account and a source of income you qualified. Direct debit
That was 17 years ago. Still have it. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | You gotta be kidding. No disputing that Kirbys are good machines, but 1300 bucks is a lot of dough for a vacuum cleaner now, never mind 17 years ago. Kirby's business model is horrible, and their selling practices are unethical at best. The music retail Industry has enough problems without getting into that kinda crap
That said, door to door selling of musical
Instruments is not unheard of. In the 30's and 40's Oahu built a publishing empire on it. In reality the instruments were suspect and almost given away while the real money was spent on correspondence music courses. But the uke and
Hawaiian guitar craze in the US was almost entirely driven by
door-to-door sales of music lessons |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | It's just what everyone says....get out on the road and build your business. Though I think I'd prefer house concerts to selling door to door.
Too much walking. |
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I'm not broke, but I have enough guitars to satisfy my needs. |
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January 2009
Posts: 379
Location: Alagoas, Brazil | Originally posted by dark bar:
I'm not broke, but I have enough guitars to satisfy my needs. How does it feels? I mean, having enough guitars?
I already know how does it feels being broke... |
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January 2006
Posts: 387
Location: Whitecourt, Ab | "Tupperware"/OFC gatherings seem to work pretty good for Ovations. At least in terms of GAS... |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Well, a form of gathering is the "chop shop"...Matt Smith, Brad Davis, John Jorgenson (including Takamine). Wonder if there was worthwhile sales for our moments of enjoyment and enlightenment. The store isn't passive in the workshop. It takes an effort and expense.
In the years that I attended in San Diego, I don't know of an OFC'er or Tak Forum (other than my recent purchases) that bought a guitar or accessories because the store sponsored a chop shop/workshop. Heck, doubt if their accessory sales (strings, etc.) made it worthwhile.
The youtube demos are probably a better marketing effort. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
[D]oor to door selling of musical
Instruments is not unheard of. In fact, that's how I met my wife. She was a librarian and I was the Professor (fancy that) selling band instruments to all the kids in River City. No kidding. True story. We were cast opposite one another in a regional production of the Music Man. |
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Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | I like the idea...it'd get me into something like that OFC II wideneck that causes me to drool so often. To answer the "ethics" questions: don't be unethical. Yes, $1,300 is a lot for a vacuum cleaner, but it got PEZ into a Kirby. Simple, objective proof that it IS A way to do it. A GOOD way? Or a GREAT way? Who knows? But, for, say $50 per month or so for three years? Yep. I love that wideneck that much! |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Nothing wrong with the concept of paying in installments amd paying a little extra in interest. In the case Of Pez's Kirby, he paid $1300 for a for a product worth a fraction of that. That is the unethical part. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Ironic, but back in the day when $1300 was real money, they were worth it. All metal, superior build quality... the things would last 30 years. You can still find Kirby's from the 50's in used vacuum shops.
Now they're just another plastic vacuum that sucks... but not very long. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | At one time, I owned a Kirby, Electrolux, and a Royal upright at the same time which were all handed down from family or friends. There might have been one more brand, too, but I don't recall the name. They were high-end competitors and each claimed superiority over the others. Still have the Royal upright for upstairs carpeting, but for everything else, I prefer my $75 Shopvac with a 20' accessory hose. |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Waskel:
Ironic, but back in the day when $1300 was real money, they were worth it. All metal, superior build quality... the things would last 30 years. You can still find Kirby's from the 50's in used vacuum shops.
Now they're just another plastic vacuum that sucks... but not very long. Mine all metal and built to last.
Plus it has a carpet shampooer.
I figure I'm ahead of the game.
No trips to stores, most people I know bough 5 or 6 $200 vac plus rented shampooers twice a year.
I will surprised if it doesn't last longer than
I do.
I was not talking about door to door as much as the way they finance them. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Topic: everybody is broke(?)
Not really, but the media has convinced everybody to be skeered :p |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I got my Kirby for free when the pawn shop next door gave it away because it didn't work. One new belt later and it works again. And mine has the shampooer too. :cool: |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by PEZ:
Originally posted by Waskel:
Ironic, but back in the day when $1300 was real money, they were worth it. All metal, superior build quality... the things would last 30 years. You can still find Kirby's from the 50's in used vacuum shops.
Now they're just another plastic vacuum that sucks... but not very long. Mine all metal and built to last.
Plus it has a carpet shampooer.
I figure I'm ahead of the game.
No trips to stores, most people I know bough 5 or 6 $200 vac plus rented shampooers twice a year.
I will surprised if it doesn't last longer than
I do.
I actually sold Kirby's in the early 70's - they've changed.
Yes, they still look durable, but the guts of the things are NOT built like they used to be.
Pez, I certainly wish you luck with yours, maybe they've seen the light and gone back to using durable parts and materials. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | And as for the quality of their salesmanship ... |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by AlanM:
I like the idea...it'd get me into something like that OFC II wideneck that causes me to drool so often. To answer the "ethics" questions: don't be unethical. Yes, $1,300 is a lot for a vacuum cleaner, but it got PEZ into a Kirby. Simple, objective proof that it IS A way to do it. A GOOD way? Or a GREAT way? Who knows? But, for, say $50 per month or so for three years? Yep. I love that wideneck that much! I wanted a country artist but can't swing it. |
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Posts: 379
Location: Alagoas, Brazil | And I was trying to guess what kind of guitar a Kirby could be... |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | How can sign a retail installment agreement and not know its a loan. |
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November 2009
Posts: 152
Location: Corpus Christi, TX | My thought is instead of using credit use a layaway plan. Kind of a pay now play later plan.
Credit or play now pay later plans might be more fun but are a lot more costly over time.
Of course the other downside to a layaway plan is you recieve no interest on your payments but at least if you get some "extra" money you will have incentive to pay the balance down sooner so you can "play"
If you buy on credit the temptation is to use the extra money to buy somthing else rather than pay down debt. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | The '60s introduced 'planned obsolescence'. Ergo, now it's cheaper to replace items, as opposed to repair. That's not even considering if it can be repaired! I remember my Dad using two rivets to repair the points on a '49 Merc 'cause he couldn't afford 75ยข for a new set.
Since CAM, etc, I must admit that some of the higher valued items are performing quite well over an extended time.
As far as the topic, that might induce a few to purchase 'on-time'. But, would the manufacturer/backer losses overwhelm the bottom line? Probably... So why should they go out on the 'limb'?
Oh... yeah... Kirby's D2D campaign probably was the major factor in vac cleaners replacing brooms in the common household. But, it also, more than likely, contributed to the now common concept of the 'dollar a month forever' credit trap...
BTW, I've spent most of my life getting out of that vicious credit cycle. I don't plan on going back! 
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | How about adopting the Apple philosophy instead ... get a few into every school in the world. |
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March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
How about adopting the Apple philosophy instead ... get a few into every school in the world. Now that makes sense to me!
Get donated Ovations into school music programs, set up student/teacher equipment discounts, etc.
That early exposure could do a lot for future sales. |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | Have no money, no credit cards, I'm so broke I have to steel the neighbors garbage to have something to take to the curb on tuesdays. I do on the other hand have 2 Kirbys? Go figure......I real old one had for years. Can't use it because it hurts my chest pushing that cadillac. The new one has 2 wheel drive. Ha...I got to ask, do you know how hard it is to find bags for those things. When you live between the corn rows, let me tell you it's easier buying an OVATION. Play now Pay later Mmmmm we can take the money from playing out and pay the bill. Yeah. |
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everybody is broke