Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
What is the Remedy?
THE QUESTION RAISED BY THE REVIEW HAS CREATED WIDE-SPREAD INTEREST, CAN WE IMPROVE THE
TRADE CONDITIONS AND IF A BETTERMENT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN WHAT WAY CAN IT BE
DONE—WHAT SOME LEADING DEALERS SAY—KEEP UP THE WORK AND DO NOT LET
THE INTEREST FLAG—WHAT SAY YOU ?
We have received many communications from leading dealers in all parts of America,
anent the possibility of making certain trade reformations which shall be conducive to
trade good.
The Review has unequivocally declared that the piano business as a whole to-day, is
conducted on too close margins. Through The Review, the dealers of America are willing
to discuss the possibilities of the betterment of trade conditions.
If the business is not conducted on proper lines to-day can we make it so ?
W h a t is the remedy ?
This is what a few dealers have to say upon this subject, and next week we shall treat
the matter more extensively.
BAILEY'S nUSIC ROOMS, Burlington, Vt.
Taking the large capital into consideration,
I do not think the piano business is con- that is necessary to carry on the piano busi-
ducted to-day as it should be. First: There ness nowadays, considering the hard and
is no uniformity in the business. There are skillful work of the most talented men, that
as many prices for the same piano as there is necessary in our business, we certainly
are dealers. Prices and terms are made to believe that it is not fruitful enough and the
results in no way satisfactory. Of course,
suit every purchaser.
Second: The country is flooded with we must take into consideration the present
cheap irresponsible dealers, who care noth- circumstances and the prevailing hard times,
ing for reputation, devoid of honor, and re- and the changes the piano business had to
sort to all kinds of underhanded methods undergo, that was necessarily brought about
to dispose of goods held mostly through by the hard times. We particularly refer to
consignment. In my opinion, there is no the manufacture of and dealing in cheap in-
remedy for this while the manufacturers struments. The market has been over-flooded
continue to crowd goods at most any kind of with piano boxes (the name piano they cer-
terms upon this class of trade. The low- tainly do not deserve.) They are sold at all
priced piano so much decried, I believe is possible prices and terms. We have a man
here to stay. This class of piano is contin- right here in our city who buys them in hun-
ually improved without material advance dred lots from $65 to $75, then wholesales
in prices. It gives the ordinary man an op- and jobs them any way to get rid of them, all
portunity to own a piano at a low price, the way from $85 to $125. The public buys
that as a rule, proves quite satisfactory. At them up, and each purchaser is a new apos-
least, this is our experience, and we are sell- tle gained for that trashy goods. It is no
more a question of how much a piano is
ing a large number of them.
worth,
but how much can be obtained for it.
It does not seem to diminish the sale of
We
have
tried a local organization here, but
high-grade goods to any extent, but places
it
did
not
work. We fear, very much, that a
the low-priced goods in the hands of par-
combination,
either in form of a general
ties who otherwise would not purchase a
trust
or
a
national
association, would be
piano.
a like failure. We take things as they are,
If the manufacturers do not maket^he mis-
howl with the wolves, and await patiently
take of some of the so-called high-grade
the better times. This we certainly cannot
people, who, in order to keep up their regu-
expect again until the war is over. We
lar output, cheapen up the piano in order to
hope then to see more cash and less credit.
cut prices, depending upon the name on the
fall-board to keep up its reputation. The
CHAS. D. BLAKE & CO., Boston, Mass.
dealers are well aware of this, and take ad-
We probably are in a position to state, if
vantage iof it to a great extent.
any
one in the retail piano trade of this
In my opinion, the remedy lies with the
city
is,
that the business is being conducted
manufacturer, and when regulated by them,
it will no doubt be more fruitful in results. on very small margins especially in cash
Not by trusts or associations, but by resort- sales. We know at the present time, of sev-
ing to straightforward business methods on eral concerns that have been through the
hands of the receivers, and are now making
business: principles.
Gorgeous banquets and inspired oratory the settlement with their creditors at so much
are very gratifying to the recipient, but I on the dollar, or at present are in the hands
of receivers, and making no settlement, but
fail to see where it benefits the dealer, or
trying to disorganize any local trade that
improves the general business to any extent.
there may be by " cut-throat prices," also we
CHAS. H. FISCHER, Philadelphia, Pa.
have several removal sales which allow the
I do not believe the trust practicable. We dealer to cut his prices so there is but a
are trying a local combination in Philadel- small profit left. We have positive proof
phia for the general good of the piano trade, that pianos have been sold on fifteen dol-
and find, so far as it has gone, that it has lars margin, and out of that margin to come
not been a failure. I think this is all I can the expenses of freight, stool, cover and
say at present.
cartages. Trade has N got to that point
where it is necessary for us to do business
S. A. MONDSCHEIN CO., HHwaukee, Wls.
We believe the piano business to-day, and on a small margin of profit and if one don't
as a whole, is not conducted on proper lines. care to take the trade, there are plenty of
other dealers waiting and willing to sell at
the figure offered by the customer or even
lower. There can be no combination made
as there is too much jealousy in the trade.
We have been assailed by the Boston trade
in general, as being the first to offer tot lease
new pianos at " ten dollars down, and five
dollars per month," but there are instances
where the same dealers have sold their
goods on even smaller deposits ahd monthly
payments, but they call that "special-
tfade." Also we do not seek to deceive cus-
tomers by placing a " beautiful Stein way
upright " in the show-window, and idisplay-
ing in" : large type " Price $150," when upon
entering the party is assured that the piano
in the window is $350, but they haVe one in
the back-room which they can sell for $150,
and upon the customer investigating same,
they find a small, thirty-year-old Steinway
upright.
There is also another class of deception
instituted by a " so-called respectable " (?)
piano firm on Tremont St., who were lately
mentioned as an example of square and up-
right dealing by a well known Boston pa-
per, by getting a piano of a standard'make
(W. W. Kim ball) and advertising same at a
ridiculously low price, the firm who handle
the " Kimball " pianos in this pity, called
upon them, and tried to purchase said piano
but were informed that " it was already
sold " but their advertisement was kept in
force. The Kimball agents sent several
other parties to purchase said piano, but on
each occasion received a different story as
to the piano being already sold or a refusal
having been given, etc., this kind of cotnpe-
tion is of the lowest order and we are pre-
pared to show by the parties' card who are
salesmen for that firm and by affidavits, as
to the stories told them.
This is a fair sample of the competition in
this city, and if there could be an association
formed that would last any length of time,
it would be a benefit, but we are jaf.raid the
project would be short lived.
:
We enjoy reading your paper'each week
and think it one of the brightest and
newsiest trade sheets published. ;
r
A. ESCHENBACH &. CO., WHHamsport, Pa.
In my opinion no general trust pr national
organization will help the business, but
many of the piano manufacturers have for
the sake of a few sales and 30 pieces of
silver brought the piano business to a very
low level. They have sold pianos to men
who have not the least knowledge of a piano,
nor any pride to represent the business as it
ought to be; they as a rule have p. few hun-
dred dollars, generally under the impression
a fortune can be made in a short time. They
soon find out their mistake and ag they have
no store and no reputation at stake, they
will sell at any price, which they, can do as
they handle as a rule only cheap tjrash. This
class of dealers has done more harm to the
legitimate dealer, than most ariy thing I
know of.
: .
To strengthen the piano business and give
it the dignity, which ought to bejabout it, I
would say first that the legitimate dealer
should not buy of any manufacturer that
sells to hucksters and then the dealers
should form local organizations and estab-
lish prices by which they could live and do