|
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4042
Location: Utah | immoody - 2015-05-09 5:17 PM
Ovation was trying to push this idea about 8-10 years ago. They put out a catalog showing different options and said that their custom shop could build anything......
So I went to their website numerous times to see what I might be able to buy. Some but not much info. Some wrong info. One time I contacted Al with some general questions and the best he could do was have me spec out a guitar and he'd have to send it to the factory for a quote. And turn around time on a custom order was 6 -12 months. I wanted to go online and see options and prices, and maybe even a cool composite photo of what the finished product would look like. If the price was a bit high, I would at least have a specific goal and a dream guitar to try to find a way to buy.
Not many are going to order an expensive pro level custom guitar, but young people these days buy everything online all day long, every day. My daughter sold numerous Ovations in high school and college to friends and classmates who saw her perform with one of her O/As. She also sold several at GC just hanging out with a friend jamming in the acoustic room. Today, those same buyers might well go on the internet after having their interest piqued.
They might even just want a standard model. Let them hit the Buy It Now button, pay with Paypal, and have it shipped to their local authorized dealer who will make sure it is set up right for them and probably sell them some accessories. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | FlySig - 2015-05-10 10:08 AM
...Not many are going to order an expensive pro level custom guitar, but young people these days buy everything online all day long, every day...
...They might even just want a standard model. Let them hit the Buy It Now button, pay with Paypal, and have it shipped to their local authorized dealer who will make sure it is set up right for them and probably sell them some accessories.
That is how I shop - I buy everything on line, pay-pal it, and get all excited for the big box to arrive. There just aren't any guitars shops by me, and I would be limited to what they stocked, or could get, and my driving range is very limited. The internet is how millions shop now (look at Amazon and eBay!)
It is cheaper for the Company, no stores, one inventory location, no salespeople, no benefits to be paid out. You order it online, and a central distribution center boxes it up and ships it out. Very efficient, very streamlined. I am NOT saying that it is the best way - I like meeting people, and asking questions, and seeing what I am buying from a Human Being. I remember walking into Schmidt Music back in the 70's, seeing that beautiful and totally unique Ovation hanging on the wall, trying it out, and *knowing* I had to have it!!! But the times they are a changin', and this is the way it is going.
I don't think I am going to like seeing a kabillion drones flying over-head delivering packages at some point either, but that is the way it is going. Don't be surprised if you hear on tv that someone is out there skeet-shooting those darned, pesky drones, but that is the direction things are moving. Maybe they will be able to teleport items soon too, who knows, technology is moving at lightning speeds anymore.
Perhaps on the Standard Model, or Lower End Custom Models, and online purchasing would be the ticket! And then, if a more Deluxe, or Higher End Model was being ordered, they could deal directly with John, or someone like Al, in a position to tell them what they can or cannot do, give a quote, a timeframe, and take the order. Some people are just going to want a standard production line Model XXXX-X in Lime Green, and that can easily be ordered, and paid for online. A more complex, off the Production Line, Custom you would *want* to talk to someone who knows their guitars, about placing your order. Just my .02 FWIW.
Edited by Nancy 2015-05-10 11:58 AM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4042
Location: Utah | I think the bedrock of guitar sales has to be in the retail store with knowledgeable sales staff. Especially at the entry or hobbiest level, people want to touch, play, and look at a variety of guitars. Eons ago I went to Rondo Music on Rt 22 in NJ as a 16 yr old having seen Ovation ads in magazines and seen Glen Campbell on tv. When I played the slot head 12 string I knew I had to have it, but alas could not quite afford it. I ended up with an Alvarez-Yairi which I played before buying. My daughter saw the Red Flame 1778T on the wall at GC and fell in love before she even played it. Most guitars are going to be bought this way.
Only based on the reputation of the Ovation/Adamas brand and of Al did I buy several new guitars online from him. I would have had zero reservations spec'ing out a custom order on the O/A website (basically a 47RI in reverse red burst but with a paddle headstock).
I hate the idea of completely cutting out the local Mom & Pop store, and honestly a brand cannot flourish without guitars on the wall for customers to play. Dealer service is key to satisfaction, too. Setting up the guitar for the new owner, offering advice to newbies on the care and feeding of their guitar, and maybe even upselling the customer to the next level of instrument. For the custom order, delivering it via the local dealer whenever possible will improve the customer's final satisfaction.
Edited by FlySig 2015-05-10 12:35 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | FlySig - 2015-05-10 12:32 PM
I think the bedrock of guitar sales has to be in the retail store with knowledgeable sales staff. Especially at the entry or hobbiest level, people want to touch, play, and look at a variety of guitars....
...I hate the idea of completely cutting out the local Mom & Pop store, and honestly a brand cannot flourish without guitars on the wall for customers to play. Dealer service is key to satisfaction, too. Setting up the guitar for the new owner, offering advice to newbies on the care and feeding of their guitar, and maybe even upselling the customer to the next level of instrument...
I agree with you FlySig, I miss going into the stores, and ooohing and ahhhhing at all the gorgeous guitars! That experience is priceless! And walking out the door, proudly carrying your new purchase thinking you were going to be playing like John Denver or Jim Croce in no time at all! (I never had any illusions about playing like Glen Campbell) LOL!!
I am sure that DW already has the ordering and fullfillment down to a science, they would not be where they are without knowing what they are doing. It will be nice once we get to know what is going on, so we don't have to speculate anymore, and can start USING their ordering process, be it at 'Mom's & Pop's Geetar Shop', or On-Line - HINT, HINT Bill!!!!  "Soon" is a relative term of time, and in my world, Soon equates with NOW!!! LOL!!!
Edited by Nancy 2015-05-10 1:55 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Online Sucks! (as I type from my computer in my jammies)
The convenience is Great. The worldwide access is great.
But as I read about online marketing my minds sees more unemployed people.
Here in Portland Apple Music Row is closing.
So I won't be able to stop-in and see Chuck there and talk about the ole daze anymore.
The owners are retiring, but I am sure that the current retail market has a lot to do with that.
Otherwise the store would continue under new management.
There will be No replacement for Apple Music once it is gone.
Portland Music used to have a store dedicated to sheet music and lessons, that is gone.
Yeah, I get all of my songs online with chords and tab...
But I do have a bookshelf full of song-books that came from Portland Music.
So if the internet apocalypse comes, I will still have books of sheet music.
When I was young in the 70's in Falmouth, MA there was a store called "The Yellow Orange"
It was a combination Head-shop, Bookstore, and Music Store. also backpacks and macrame.
They had strings and guitars to supply all of the "Heads" in the pot circle in the Library Park.
I bought my first Blues Harp there for about $3 (still cannot play the harp).
I also bought STEAL THIS BOOK there for 97¢.
The Yellow Orange also had rolling paper and those pipes with all the fittings and chamber and such.
Oh yeah, the McGovern campaign office was upstairs.
Just rambling....
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | But I do remember the "Build your own guitar" page from the old website that Moody mentions.
Pick your bowl. Pick your top. Epaulets or Rosette. Pick your headstock. Pick your preamp.
I went searching for a clone of that page from the Wayback Machine http://archive.org/web/ but no luck. 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4042
Location: Utah | There's a world of difference between ordering a custom spec item online vs buying an item already manufactured from an online retailer. I do my share of online buying, but only when it isn't available locally. It is a Catch-22 for a music instrument seller these days. Have a physical store which raises your costs and you run the risk of customers being lookey-loos who go buy it online from a cheaper internet-only supplier. Don't have a showroom and nobody can test out the product and make a purchase right there. Small shops can't get good pricing from the distributor, so they cannot match online prices from the large warehouses.
I'd advocate for special orders to be delivered via a local authorized dealer. Give the dealer some $ incentive to process these custom orders. But also push hard for plenty of stock on the showroom floor at local dealers. The bread and butter is probably still the customer who makes a decision in the store after playing the guitar.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | arthurseery - 2015-05-10 1:21 PM
When I was young in the 70's in Falmouth, MA there was a store called "The Yellow Orange"
It was a combination Head-shop, Bookstore, and Music Store. also backpacks and macrame.
You just described pretty much every music store in Portland in the 70's. Bummer about Apple, though. Bought my first Ovation there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | arthurseery - 2015-05-10 3:21 PM
Online Sucks! (as I type from my computer in my jammies)
Arthur, you are just SO CUTE!  |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The words Arthur and cute appearing in the same sentence may be a first for these forums. Just sayin'. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | boltonb - 2015-05-10 6:40 PM
The words Arthur and cute appearing in the same sentence may be a first for these forums. Just sayin'.
LOL!!!! You are Cute Too!!!
(I am still on my Adamii High, Enjoy, I will return to my usual cranky self in a few years! ) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Haha! The Prof is cute too! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | richard.parker - 2015-05-10 9:17 PM
Haha! The Prof is cute too!
What are you laughing at TAFKAR? You are cute too, and I'm sure you have that Great Aussie accent!!!
(Ok, I am going to get off now, before I get a vacation for posting while semi-lucid...) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I've bought loads of USED guitars on the web.
Over the years, I've bought 6 brand new Ovations. 5 were brick and mortar store, 1 was my Adamas from Al (Never saw one in a brick and mortar except for the RoadShow).
My opinion is they gotta be in the stores, and the smaller mom and pop ones should be at the core. Of course you don't rule out the big stores, but to get a real grass roots movement to change the PERCEPTION of the brand, it will take LOTS of training and education. It'll be easier to do this with the smaller stores as they typically have less turn over... actually, there's like zero turnover almost. When I go into a place like Guitar Center, it's a different face nearly every time. It's hard to keep up the education when there's someone new every couple of months. You'd almost need quarterly trainings in those places.
Even though my main guitar for 20 years was an Ovation UKII, when I was looking for an acoustic/electric I had no plans on a roundback. I went into American Music, a small mom and pop store, the sales guy (Johnny, been there forever, still is) said 'put that Seagull down and try this 1778LX"...
I've been hooked every since cuz he understood my style of playing and that it would fit in perfectly with the playability of Ovation.
We need these guys... we gotta educate these guys... get 'em on our side. Really it's not that hard to do once you pry the wood box outta their arms and put a USA model round back in their hands.
We need the people putting them in the hands.
Edited by Damon67 2015-05-11 1:05 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I agree with you 100% Damon. I'm someone who knows Ovations inside and out, and I believe that's why whenever I get a used one in it sellls quickly. When I point out all of the good points and then put it in their hands they are hooked. And as a "Mom" (no Pop) store owner, what I am hoping for is a low enough buy-in that small stores like mine can afford to become authorized Ovation dealers.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | richard.parker - 2015-05-10 9:17 PM
Haha! The Prof is cute too!
Nancy is relatively new so she hasn't seen the Professor's- "Does this cannon make me look fat?" picture. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | My first Ovation was a 1158 (acoustic dark sunburst 12-string) from a mom & pop store in Gresham, OR. The owner had brought it back from the 1980 NAMM. Took me three trips to decide I had to have it (had been playing a Martin D-18 series 12-str so I had to overcome the 'radical' bowl v. wood box). Next year he brought back a 6-string that I bought.
"low enough buy-in that small stores like mine can afford to become authorized Ovation dealers."
For one, I am more likely to buy a guitar from someone I know and knows me, especially if the guitar is in stock...long time relationships matter as long as they are an Ovation/Adamas and Takamine dealer with inventory or the ability to "drop-ship".
I understand that DW will have no control over Takamine as it is now distributed by a separate company. However, a dealer that would have contracts with DW and Takamine would have a strong inventory with additional revenue from lessons, play books, stands, straps, etc.
What has helped me buy an Ovation/Adamas guitar is that I didn't have to try our 5 guitars of the same model and make to find the one I liked (i.e, Martin). Quality was consistent. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2315
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Tony Calman - 2015-05-11 12:08 PM
What has helped me buy an Ovation/Adamas guitar is that I didn't have to try our 5 guitars of the same model and make to find the one I liked (i.e, Martin). Quality was consistent.
That's what made me an Ovation man. I know that no matter what model I play, I can expect consistently good sound.
I recently accompanied my youngest daughter to GC to look at, and possibly buy her a guitar. (doesn't like Ovations --yet)
We tried two Epiphones. Both were the exact same model. One sounded really nice. The other, not so nice. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | philwong - 2015-05-11 1:42 PM richard.parker - 2015-05-10 9:17 PM Haha! The Prof is cute too! Nancy is relatively new so she hasn't seen the Professor's- "Does this cannon make me look fat?" picture. I am so busted! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Just you're turn..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | I believe the proper spelling would have been Does this cannon make me look phat? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | naellis58 - 2015-05-10 6:38 PM
arthurseery - 2015-05-10 3:21 PM
Online Sucks! (as I type from my computer in my jammies)
Arthur, you are just SO CUTE!
Coming from someone who never saw OMA's topless Hotel California video... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | darkbarguitar - 2015-05-19 5:17 AM
naellis58 - 2015-05-10 6:38 PM
arthurseery - 2015-05-10 3:21 PM
Online Sucks! (as I type from my computer in my jammies)
Arthur, you are just SO CUTE!
Coming from someone who never saw OMA's topless Hotel California video...
And not so sure I want too....
But I am intrigued by the Cannon picture! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | A very weak moment where I was feeling a bit stronger than I had any right to. Seems so long ago. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | So... is someone going to post up the pic? |
|
| |
OFC 3
