Ron wrote: <It's amazing to me how many many thousands of supremely awful pianos have been not only made but purchased, which just encouraged making more. This IS the point. If nobody bought 'em, they wouldn't have made 'em. But they gobbled this crap up by the truckloads...and continue to... So what went on and continues to go on in consumer's brains?? In an economics class, I remember the look on the lecture hall student's faces when after a thorough analysis of market mentality, the professor finally said, "nothing has any intrinsic monetary value whatsoever...Nothing! Not even gold!... All monetary value is a psychological construct having absolutely no meaning in and of itself. So why do they buy this crap? How do you construct the conditions that will convince consumers to part with their funds and get such garbage in return? -herd mentality -keeping up with the Joneses (though entry price on this one isn't too big a price hit, as long as you buy it, stick it in the corner, and never touch it again) -have a celebrity tell them to buy it, as they seem to have to be "told" what to buy -brand...create a brand, and give it market visibility, have a celebrity endorse it...and then happily take their money...brand trumps most things...except price point, quality being an unnecessary part of the equation, and therefore mostly not -consumers, having been through the above have cynically come to expect crap, and therefore don't complain, because they got what they expected...crap I'm a fairly optimistic guy, and can find good sides to many intractable and unfortunate situations. But this marketing cynicism pushes my buttons if I think too closely about it. Luckily I still have a few customers who either know what they are looking for and will not be swayed by the bull, or are looking for a real person who they think can get them to the point they want to get to. Mostly they really don't know how to get there, and are looking for a trusted and experienced and committed hand to guide them there. They are really fun to work for, but they ain't knock'in down the door. Interestingly for me, those who can see through the bull are not well heeled at all, but rather have to really commit themselves to the project in order to come up with the funds required. They are as committed to the project... the process and the outcome, as I am ...But put me in the above cynical consumer situation where nothing matters but "get it out the door", crap or not, and I'd shrivel up and croak...pleasure removed from the experience...what's the point? Jim Ialeggio -- Jim Ialeggio jim at grandpianosolutions.com 978 425-9026 Shirley Center, MA
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC