Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
T H E 7V^VSIO TRHDE
DEALERS' VIEWS ON THE TRADE SITUATION.
REiZIEW
Ninth. Yes ; quite a good many.
Tenth. Closer affiliation.
A Further Instalment of the Opinions of Leading Members of the Trade Regarding Subjects Which are of M. A. MALONE, Columbia, S. C.
I think there were more pianos sold in
Vital Interest to the Industry—Some Interesting Views—The Outlook Most Encouraging—More Pianos
South Carolina in 1902 than in 1901, as crops
Will be Sold Than in 1902—Condition of Stock—What the Association Should Take Up.
were better. Can't estimate average price,
E v e r y manufacturer and every dealer is interested in t h e trade possibilities of but don't think exceeding $275 or $300 on
the present year. T h e y also will be glad to k n o w t h e opinions of l e a d i n g dealers time, sales less for cash.
Don't think retail methods improved.
in widely separated localities r e g a r d i n g i m p o r t a n t trade topics. W e have t h e r e -
The greatest single question in my judg-
fore presented the questions which appear below to h u n d r e d s of t h e best known ment, for the Piano Dealers' National Asso-
piano m e n i n America. Last week w e p r e s e n t e d t h e first instalment covering ciation to take up is the misleading adver-
some four pages, and this week we present some more replies which are fairly r e - tising, especially sales by agents represent-
ing pianos, at factory cost, freight, etc., add-
presentative of t h e whole. N e x t week we shall publish a t h i r d series.
ed. If this is not stopped the dealer in self-
defense will have to expose invoices or "fight
In your opinion how many more pianos were sold in your locality in 1902 than 1901?
the devil with fire."
About what was the average sales price for the past year?
LUDDEN, CAMPBELL & SMITH, Jacksonville, F!a.
What per cent, was sold at less than $300.00?
In your opinion how many more pianos
What kind of terms would you estimate were generally made?
were sold in your locality in 1902 than in
Have not retail piano methods materially improved in your vicinage?
1901 ? Twenty per cent.
Will there be an increase in sales this year over 1902?
About what was the average sales price
Has the music trade ever been in healthier condition in your locality than at present ?
for the past year? $350..
Do you figure that the department store will cut any figurt as a distributing factor in your locality?
What per cent, was sold at less than $300?
Twenty per cent.
Are pianos of indefinite (stencil) origin sold in appreciable numbers in your city?
What kind of terms would you estimate
What in your opinion is the greatest single question that the Dealers National Association can take up for
were
generally made? Average three years.
trade betterment?
Have not retail piano methods materially
improved in your vicinage? No.
THE WILEY B. ALLEN CO., San Francisco.
ier condition in your locality than at present ?
Will there be an increase in sales this
I am unable to supply an answer to many No.
year over 1902? Yes.
Do you figure that the department store
of your inquiries for the reason that we have
Has the music trade ever been in health-
not been in San Francisco long enough to will cut any figure as a distributing factor ier condition in your locality than at pres-
know how to gauge last year's business as in your locality? Not here.
ent? Yes.
Does the condition of your stock compare
compared with the past, but from informa-
Do you figure that the department store
tion gleaned from railroad officials, I should favorably with that of January of the past will cut any figure as a distributing factor
judge that during the year 1902 almost dou- year? We are shy on goods.
in your locality? No.
Are pianos of indefinite (stencil) origin
ble the quantity of pianos came into this
Does the condition of your stock compare
section that have ever come here previously sold in appreciable numbers in your city? favorably with that of January of the past
in any one year. It looks now as if there Yes.
year? Short of stock. Orders not promptly
What, in your opinion, is the greatest sin- filled.
would be a still greater increase in sales
during the year 1903, for every dealer I gle question that the Dealers' National Asso-
Are pianos of indefinite (stencil) origin
come in contact with is boasting over his ciation can take up for trade betterment? sold in appreciable numbers in your city?
success, and the outlook seems most favor- Commissions.
No.
PHILIP WERLEIN. LIMITED, New Orleans.
able for everyone.
What in your opinion is the greatest single
I think there were probably 500 more pia- question that the Dealers' National Associ-
There are many stencil pianos sold in this
city, and some of them to all intents and nos sold in the past year than in the previous ation can take up for trade betterment?
Average sale price was about $300. Get rid of the rotten $5 and $6 monthly pay-
purposes are very fine pianos, notably those one.
which we sell ourselves. It seems to be a In number of instruments the percentage ments.
fad among dealers here that everyone must was about even, under and below $300.
Terms generally made were better than SEALS PIANO & ORGAN CO., Birmingham, Ala.
have a piano with their own name on it,
We fully agree with you yi your opinion
and we have put one out ourselves, and are the terms were the previous few years.
as
regards the trade of 1902. It was, by
I
am
of
the
opinion
that
there
will
be
an
finding a very ready sale for them.
In my opinion the greatest single ques- increase of sales in 1903 over 1902 because far, the best year we have ever experienced
tion that should be brought before the Deal- there is not so much of a boom about it, as in the music business regarding both quan-
ers' National Association is that which re- I feel that all of the months will be good tity and quality of trade. It would be im-
lates to one dealer advertising the goods of months; while 1902 was divided between possible to say how many more pianos, in
another, such as has been done in the in- good and bad months, one following the number, were sold during 1902 over 1901
in this locality, but taking our individual ex-
stance of the Eilers Piano House at Port- other with apparently no reason.
I think the music trade is in better condi- perience as a basis, we would be safe in say-
land, Ore.., wherein they advertise brand
new Fischer, Packard, Knabe, Steinway and tion here than it has ever been and the de- ing twenty-five per cent, as a conservative
Ludwig pianos at ridiculously low prices. partment store will cut no figure.. Our stock estimate.
The average piano price would figure
"You can see the maliciousness of this kind on hand is the same as it was the previous
of advertising when you take into consider- year in quantity, but has been materially out in the neighborhood of $350. The aver-
age terms would show up something like
ation that the Eilers Co. are interested in a cleaned out and in much better shape.
There are a great many pianos sold here eight per cent, for cash payments and about
house here, and these ads. might be used by
their salesmen to indicate to the customers that are not manufactured by the makers four per cent, monthly. Retail piano meth-
ods have improved a great deal, yet there is
here that in Portland, Ore., they are selling whose name appears on the front board.
The National Association's greatest effort lots of room for further progress in this di-
cur pianos brand new for a great deal less
than we are offering these pianos for here. should lie in the direction of producing uni- rection.
Present indications point to a better busi-
1 his thing ought to be stopped, for it hurts form action throughout the country among
the manufacturer quite as much as it does dealers, arranging a one-price system and ness for 1903, but these indications are mere-
ly surface signs and the situation could
one set of terms.
the dealer and the general trade.
change on short notice. We do not consider
S. HAMILTON, Pittsburg, Pa.
S. W. RAUDENBUSH & CO., St. Paul, Minn.
We sold more goods last year than any the music trade to have ever been in a health-
How many more pianos were sold in your year for fifteen previous years. Then we ier condition, in our locality, than at the pres-
locality in 1902 than in 1901 ? Twenty-five sold large quantities through consignment to ent time. Yet, we must bear in mind that
this condition is subject to many contingen-
agents, at much loss of profit.
per cent.
About what was the average sales price
First. Possibly twenty-five to thirty per cies.
Regarding the department store proposi-
for the past year? $275.
cent, more pianos.
tion, as far as our observation goes, they are
Second. Approximately $350.
What per cent, was sold at less than $300?
enjoying a good trade in all departments,
Ninety per cent.
Third.. Forty per cent.
and it would be a surprise to us if any of
Fourth. Ten per cent better.
What kind of terms would you estimate
our local institutions would care to branch
were generally made? Good.
Fifth. Yes.
out into the piano business.
Have not retail piano methods materially
Sixth. Hope so.
Speaking from a personal standpoint, our
improved in your vicinage? Yes.
Seventh. Greatly improved over former
stock on hand is not as good as it was Jan-
Will there be an increase in sales this year years.
over 1902? I think so.
Eighth. Cannot say, as there are none uary one year ago. We thought we had
made ample preparation for our holiday
Has the music trade ever been in health- now.