Northwest Acoustic Music Network
The Website of the Northwest Acoustic Music Association
Support Your Local Music Stores
The music business is feeling the effects of the economic woes of the nation, including local music stores. I suggest that we support local music stores. It's true that the best prices on instruments and accessories are available from the big catalog companies like Musician's Friend and Guitar Center. But how is the service of those chains? You be the judge of their service after you get an unplayable instrument dropped on your door by FedEx or UPS.
The economic trends all point to a dramatic decrease in local music outlets. How can a local music store keep the business profitable when they can't match the economically depressed prices of the big mail order outlets? They can't! So they slowly drift away. And that's the rub. The personal service offered by local music outlets goes by the wayside, and the consumer is the loser.
Anyone who loves acoustic instruments knows the immediacy of an instrument purchase. Is the action okay? What kind of strings?....the case?.....is there a slight warp in the neck?.......should I sent it back....? And shipping? Is it insured? Moreover, few players are comfortable buying "sight unseen." Each individual instrument has it's own voice--it's own personality. Playing it will decide if it's an instrument worth the investment!
With a local outlet, those questions are usually answered on the spot.
Okay, you may pay more. But in the long run you have a direct connection to a local business that needs support. They are part of the local economy. Their income supports local schools, roads, infrastructure, and other local businesses.
Three local businesses come to mind, because I support several of them: Replay Music, Mark's Guitar Shop, Hoffman's Music, all of Spokane. In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho: Burt's Music, and Lundin's Violins. Surely, you've got your favorites, too.
So, support your local music store and they'll be there to help you in ways that a mail order outlet cannot!
The economic trends all point to a dramatic decrease in local music outlets. How can a local music store keep the business profitable when they can't match the economically depressed prices of the big mail order outlets? They can't! So they slowly drift away. And that's the rub. The personal service offered by local music outlets goes by the wayside, and the consumer is the loser.
Anyone who loves acoustic instruments knows the immediacy of an instrument purchase. Is the action okay? What kind of strings?....the case?.....is there a slight warp in the neck?.......should I sent it back....? And shipping? Is it insured? Moreover, few players are comfortable buying "sight unseen." Each individual instrument has it's own voice--it's own personality. Playing it will decide if it's an instrument worth the investment!
With a local outlet, those questions are usually answered on the spot.
Okay, you may pay more. But in the long run you have a direct connection to a local business that needs support. They are part of the local economy. Their income supports local schools, roads, infrastructure, and other local businesses.
Three local businesses come to mind, because I support several of them: Replay Music, Mark's Guitar Shop, Hoffman's Music, all of Spokane. In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho: Burt's Music, and Lundin's Violins. Surely, you've got your favorites, too.
So, support your local music store and they'll be there to help you in ways that a mail order outlet cannot!
Comment
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Comment by Jim Crowley on July 6, 2009 at 10:01am - I agree. Jim C
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