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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Looks like the guitar inventory is down 40%. They are hanging gig bags on the walls to fill up the empty spaces. Maybe they are getting ready for a renovation.
Also, my local music store of choice has more Ovations on display than I have every seen there. A nice variety also. |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | One of the major manufacturing areas for guitars is Indonesia. Maybe the tsunami has disrupted/destroyed that? |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Some retail places do inventory at this time of year. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Tsunami??? If you are serious, I don't think the pipline would have dried up that fast. If your not serious, :D :D :D !!!
Inventory??? Maybe, but I've have not seen it like this before.
I gotta think renovation. That store has not been remodeled since it opened.
It's a long shot that they are closing that store. |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| I was just in my gc today and it was far below normal inventory, also. I'm not sure about the Asian connection, but they were very low on Martins and Gibsons as well. |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Same here. I think they reduce their inventory at this time of the year.
Tommy |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | But where do it go??? |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Brad-
Is that the Guitar-Mart out on 14 Mile in Roseville? I've been in there a handful of times (my Echo Layla PCMCIA came from that store...I don't have nice things to say about them) and it was kind of trashed out. But, every time I went in there, there was always a ton of people milling about, so with the high traffic it wasn't surprising. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Yep...that's the one.
It's not my store of choice either.
If you ever get down this way, let me know. |
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January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | Maybe they have been pre-informed of new releases at Winter NAMM and sold down in order to be able to bring in some new stuff.
If the shelves (walls) are empty, it can only mean they had great holiday shopping sales numbers, their in recievership, or somebody robbed 'em!
I think its most likely hte former... and some inventory reduction. Lets see you pay effectively a million for Blackie... thats about, 2500-3000 mid level guitars at wholesale. SOMEBODY had to pay for all that big spendin'! |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Now you've got my curiosity up. I have to check out the two local GCs. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Well, it's not because they've got any financial woes. GTRC just came off a huge quarter, upped their guidance, and had very nice profits and margins. If you'd bought in 3 years ago, you'd be sitting on a 400% return as of today. They've got both the brick and mortar and the online markets well in hand. The only weak spot is that they're a bit thin on cash ... but they also carry a pretty light debt load. They are well managed and well positioned strategically. Like 'em or not, right now they are the 800 pound gorilla in the space, with little competition on the horizon. |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | You are good!
I just tell the wife that I’m going out to check on one of our investments…
When I return with another guitar, my justification is, “reinvestment of our return”. |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Just a guess from an ex small business owner. Inventory taken around this time determines the increase in value for the fiscal year and that has a lot to do with retail profit. Best to keep inventory down and cover the sales income with expenses, the IRS assumes that if you are fat with inventory that you have plowed profits back into stock and please send them their cut. It is easier to pay tax on cash then on inventory value as that hasn't been sold yet and so most stores have sales etc. to turn it into cash, maybe even at a loss when expenses, payroll, utilities, entertainment, mileage, internet costs, postage, charitable giving, disaster losses, bad debts, and blue sky deterioation are taken into account.
Once this little problem is taken care of, it is time to stock up with something that will sell, like 12 string LX's, slot head copies etc.
Bailey |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | My local GC in Canton is low now, also, and was low until nearly MARCH last year after Christmas. I think they intentionally sell down at Christmas (and right after---when people spend their Christmas gift money), and stay low on inventory for a while.
Roger |
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March 2004
Posts: 201
Location: Vernon, CT | Not always true. The GC here in Manchester, CT is loaded to the walls with guitars (both POS's and good ones likes Ovations, Gibsons, Martins, etc.). I was just there yesterday. Every time I'm there they have stuff coming in just about everyday.
John L. |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I got a post card from the Roseville GC saying they are moving and everything must go. Says there is a big sale and everything must go by Jan 22nd. It doesnt say where the new location will be. |
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October 2004
Posts: 256
Location: chicago | in chicago they had hundreds..bam..there are mostly gone my buddy says they sold during the holidays.the sat before xmas, said they needed to do 167k in one day thats a lot of gear..right |
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January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | My local guitar center normally has only a limited amound of quality acoustics in stock. They usually have a couple of decent Martins, Taylors, and an occasional higher end Ovation. For the most part, it's lower end Martins and Ovation Celebs. I did get lucky and spotted a sweet Legend 12 there last year and snapped it right up!
I try to do most of my shopping at a smaller store in my area called Ritchies Music. The prices are only a little more than G.C., but they have a great staff there. As I get older, I put more value on service than I do on price (unless it's a huge price difference). My local G.C. does have some very good people, but if they are not around, it's mainly kids, many of whom look like they belong on the cover of "Dirtbag Monthly". Most of them are actually nice kids, but they look scary and I don't feel comfortable making a large purchase from them. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 49
Location: Orlando, Fl | In talking to my GC connections in Attleboro and Boston, they tell me that it is common to have low stock for the 1-2 months after Christmas. Especially since the NAMM show after the Holidays. My guy in Boston said that the store in the burbs get really low, more so than the city stores. Anyways, thats my thoughts.
Kindest Regards,
Anthony |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Your right BrianT....they are moving a half mile up the road. |
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What's up at my GC?