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Post by sinasoid on Oct 23, 2014 16:55:49 GMT -6
These days, the buyer experience is all about convenience, which is the main reason web sales have exploded in the past decade. Selling online is great, but doesn't really give a chance for someone to try something in their own setup before they buy. Kind of have to base your purchase off of user opinions and compressed YouTube videos, which works, but is never completely accurate.
I'm thinking about making a "gear caravan" where I arrive to someone's studio or home recording setup with a van full of gear, predetermined by the person interested in purchasing and have them try stuff out in their studio. This would be in Seattle, which has no shortage of professional and amateur studios.
Would you use a service like this? Or would it be cumbersome/not useful/intrusive?
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Post by wiz on Oct 23, 2014 17:07:44 GMT -6
sure... come over to Oz I will even buy you a libation of your choice
8)
cheers
Wiz
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Post by jeromemason on Oct 23, 2014 21:15:18 GMT -6
Why do I envision this almost seeming exactly similar to the dudes that run around in a van picking peoples 100 year old sheds?  |
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Post by drbill on Oct 23, 2014 23:26:46 GMT -6
There was a guy in TX (Paul Westbrook) who did exactly that. He had a motor home with a couple D&R consoles in it, and took it around to all the Soundcraft equipped studios in the 80's. He sold a ton of D&R's to (soon to be) EX sound craft owners by really taking the time to personally show them what great consoles D&R made - and he did it by showing & demoing them in people's own private environment. And it worked. It's a great way to do business, and one that's been completely overlooked in this "internet" era. I say go for it and good luck.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,099 
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Post by ericn on Oct 24, 2014 7:21:43 GMT -6
The Idea is great but the biggest problem is nobody wants to pay full price for a box that's been open, so you eat some of your margain. The client has to realize that they are paying for your time , over the years way to many guys who spent way to much time demoing only to price shop ( not much of a problem when you have the buying power terms and off sheet deals with just about everybody).
If you have the client base that gets the concept great, but I hear more and more about price .
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Post by lpedrum on Oct 24, 2014 10:47:08 GMT -6
Could be a great idea, but I'll play the devil's advocate. Here are some possible issues you might run in to:
1. Size of selection. There's an amazing amount of gear out there to be bought and there's no way you can demo it all. If you show up with 6 LDCs there's a good chance the customer might say, "I read great things about XXXXX. Why don't you have one of those?"
2. Pressure to buy. I can't speak for others, but if someone showed up here with a lot o gear to test I'd feel a bit sheepish about NOT buying something, so it could be a bit uncomfortable as a customer.
3. Insurance. With a van full of high end gear you'd have to insure it and guard it with your life. If you're going to a studio in a rougher part of town how would you deal with what stays in the van, who guards the van etc.
4. Open Box? As someone mentioned, are they buying what they're testing, and have other folks tested that piece of gear too? This idea wouldn't really work unless you could drive up, have the customer test the gear, and then sell the item on the spot. If the customer has to wait for something to be shipped later it makes the process less enticing.
I honestly think that if you're only thinking regional anyway that a well set up studio/store for testing gear would be better. There's nothing like that at all in my area. A store/studio that had regular hours (not a pesky "make an appointment" situation) where I could pop in to see and try the latest pre, mic or interface in a studio setting with no pressure to buy would be AMAZING. A lounge with coffee, engineers chatting up gear, comparing opinions etc--make it a destination. I think you'd really build customer loyalty.
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