The collective stories I've got on this end are that Tom Austin, a higher up in the SC chain of command, and two others are looking into purchasing 4 remaining stores [Seattle (Bellingham), Portland, OR., Frisco, and one other] as an investment group. I think the 'ol shark himself, Moe Unis is one of the prospective investors. LA no longer has a SC store. Eugene, OR a satelite of Portland will be having a big blow out sale with two big truck loads of pianos from who knows where, and then close. The remaining inventory goes to Portland, OR. The SC chain was at one time quite huge, as were many other such chains (Western Piano, Wells Music, Jordan Kits, Les Jorgansen, and a big FAT guy outa Omaha, etc) around the country. Pianos aren't at the level of importance in the home that they used to be. Manufacturers have downsized or gone out of the business, (RIP Kimball, Aeolian, Falcone, etc) and so naturally the dealers will follow. To blame it on politics is a bit short sighted in my opinion. This trend has been moving in this direction for many years. The dealers that only sell will be suffering the most, if not already. Dealers that have service to bolster their bottom line will fare better but will still be needing to trim the fat. That means that satelite stores will become rare, dealer techs will continue to be paid poorly, commisions on sales will increasingly become smaller, and piano delivery crews will be comprised of sales and service personel, all to help keep overhead down, and profits up to support a generally failing industry and keep the doors open another month. I strongly suggest that all techs diversify. If you're an independant, service as many dealers as you can get away with. The dealer you're presently servicing may not like it, but then most dealers don't just sell one brand either. Why should you service just one dealer? Putting all your eggs in one dealer's basket is asking for trouble. The techs that have relied on the conglomerate of SC all these years are now finding out what it's like servicing only one dealer. I don't particularily get along too well with the local SC dealer, I think simply because I refuse to give them exclusive support. Learn more about the trade, expand your expertise, become proficient at more than just a small handful of aspects of the trade. The trade as a whole is going to see some increasingly tough times ahead. We could lobby like the fishing, mining, farming and lumber industry does and whine to the government for subsidies I guess......... NOT!! If you don't already service a dealer, I suggest you talk to one. Without dealers we don't have product in the home. Yes there's plenty of them out there already, but we need to have more product off the sales floor and in the home. Support you local dealer somehow. Be present during a special event like a store sposored concert or sales event. Help with a delivery or two. Be present on the sales floor to help during high customer traffic hours. If you can't sell the product, mayhaps you could at least keep the customer's attention and interest without botching the saleperson's job until the salestaff can get to them. All this at the dealer's acceptance and guidance of course. Some local techs provide a short demo on the piano and it's parts, for free to piano teachers' groups and schools (science and music classes). This raises awareness and although it maybe doesn't generate immediate responses and fill your bank account, it will leave impressions on people and have long range effects on everything in the industry........ all to everyone's advantage. One dealer calls it beating the bushes. Expanding your market area to surrounding communities can be very expensive. Do so ever so carefully. After servicing a cultural void, the armpit of piano ownership, and my biggest career challenge ever, THE GREAT STATE OF WYOMING, I can speak with authority on traveling and tuning. It was fun while I was young, now it sucks heavily. Finally, a participant or two of this list have found it neccessary to post snippy remarks about my posts and perhaps other posts. Posting snippy remarks of this nature, scoffing "publicly", on such a "billboard" forum are self supporting. I try to make my posts somewhat enjoyable to read as well as be informative. It's adds moisture to a very dry subject and can be mildly entertaining which is in keeping with the big picture of our trade........ entertainment. If any of you have a problem with my posts or anyone else's, (as some of you have) be considerate of everyone involved and email me/them privately, (as some of you have) and resolve your needs away from the blaring blazing marching band anouncement to the entire list. We may have to meet in person some day ............ If you'll now turn to hymn 226 we'll all stand and sing .................. Lar Larry Fisher RPT specialist in players, retrofits, and other complicated stuff phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com http://www.pacifier.com/~larryf/homepage.html (revised 9/96) Beau Dahnker pianos work best under water
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