Banjo Tard - Posted - 05/15/2011:  10:27:34

i have a friend that is a "The Loar" dealer and wanted to see if there is any interest in getting some kind of deal together for you guys. i see that the lm-700 is selling on ebay for 950-1050  buy it now and i think if i can find a few people that want a loar mandolin i get get a good price drop. he can order any "the loar" model and would set them up before shipping.  he is also a morgan monroe dealer. 

Edited by - Banjo Tard on 05/17/2011 09:58:57

Banjo Tard - Posted - 05/16/2011:  14:59:49

have i heard wrong about the quality of "the Loar" mandolins? i was sure id get some interest, just trying to help a buddy sell some instruments and help out fellow hangout members. 

Skyraider50 - Posted - 05/16/2011:  17:24:43

 I think it may be more a case of  your apparently new to the hangout?

I am interested.  What's the deal?  Who's your friend?  Post some details and maybe that will help.

Banjo Tard - Posted - 05/16/2011:  21:00:18

yea i guess 1 post and no profile pic will look that way. i spend my time on the banjo hangout. my friend is my fiddle teacher,  he has a small music shop where he gives lessons and has instruments for sale. i heard from another friend that people were buying up the loars on ebay and my teacher wouldnt mind moving a few instruments at a lower price and still make a few bucks. i dont know his dealer cost but he seemed to be on board with beating the current prices. it would be either a private or public listing on ebay  so that no one will feel like its a shady deal. i have a fiddle lesson tomorrow and i will find out his cost and so that we can figure out a price.  my banjo hangout profile is banjohangout.org/myhangout/hom...?id=55895 . please reply if you might be interested in buying. i will find out what other brands he is a dealer for also. i know for sure he is a dealer for "the loar", flinthill, morgan monroe, Kentucky and johnson. 

Edited by - Banjo Tard on 05/17/2011 09:59:27

Skyraider50 - Posted - 05/17/2011:  05:39:59

I k now little about the subject as I am interested in learning to play Mandolin (I play a little Banjo and Guitar and have used those forums more).  I have just begun to research the Mando world.  It appears that the MM's and "the Loars" are well thought of and produce quality instruments.  If it is going to be an ebay type deal I am sure you will garner some interest.  I am interested as well.

BTW Banjo Tard, I do not see on your BHO home page where I can PM you? 

your pic looks like the balcony of my old condo in Port Aransas?

Edited by - Skyraider50 on 05/17/2011 05:56:40

Banjo Tard - Posted - 05/17/2011:  09:54:47

you can email me at trevor@rb250.com    

good eye on the balcony, its the sandcastle in port A

mandovoodoo - Posted - 05/17/2011:  17:17:41

Frankly, this seems weird for a new poster to show up promoting a systematic process of undercutting dealers.  Legitimate dealers, like me and others here, rather than an unnamed "friend."  That might be the source of the reluctance.  

It's a strange way to introduce oneself.

Banjo Tard - Posted - 05/17/2011:  20:26:24

quote:

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Originally posted by mandovoodoo

Frankly, this seems weird for a new poster to show up promoting a systematic process of undercutting dealers.  Legitimate dealers, like me and others here, rather than an unnamed "friend."  That might be the source of the reluctance.  

 

It's a strange way to introduce oneself.

---

a systematic process of undercutting dealers?  dealers set their own prices, i happen to know a  Legitimate dealer that  will beat the current prices. inst that how you survive in the business world? i was trying to see if anyone wanted these mandos,   im not gaining anything out of this just want to help people get a good instrument. if he could order banjos i would post on the banjohangout as well.  

Robee - Posted - 05/18/2011:  06:30:54

If I had seen this a couple of weeks ago, I may have been interested.  I just bought the LM-520-vs from The Mandolin Store though.  Since the Loars are imported from China, but they are a decent instrument, you can be sure that someone is making money on them.  A good chunk of that profit, however, is probably used up on set-up though as Steve could probably tell you.  I had seen only 1 Loar in a music store here and I was ready to buy it.  The frets needed a little work and the intonation was a little off.  It did have great action though as far as how the strings felt to my fingers.  The day I went to buy it, it had been sold.  I ordered from the good folks in Arizona and it was set up nicely.  The one in the store was $450 without a case.  It hadn't been set up all that well.  Cha-ching!  more profit!  The one I bought  was $449 with a case.  Someone took some time to make sure I would be a happy customer by taking a little time to set it up.  Less profit for them but they could have a repeat customer if I ever want to upgrade.

Like I said, I may have been interested as that is an upgrade to what I could buy right now and I can do my own set up.  I am happy with my new mando that I did get.

Robee

mandovoodoo - Posted - 05/18/2011:  08:50:07

Legitimate dealers can generally order banjos.  I do so.  I don't advertise them, because I'm not generally acting as a banjo shop.  I've ended up doing a great number of banjo setups anyway!

Legitimate dealers tend to advertise openly, rather than using covert frontmen.  

Legitimate dealers tend to advertise on service, reputation, and things other than merely price.  

I don't hide behind others' skirts, I don't see why a dealer would.  Unless they have something to hide.  This thread looks like "something to hide" to me.  

The OP is also being rather pushy and condescending towards the regular readers here.  That doesn't play well.  

Hedgehog - Posted - 05/20/2011:  10:35:15

Here's a thought, since your advertising services, granted for a "friend", on the Mando Hangout are you planning on giving a percentage of the sale the the management here for the service they have provided?

Robee - Posted - 05/20/2011:  19:21:31

I certainly don't feel like I was being pushed in any way.

I do see others here selling their services, and or products.  No one gives them a hard time, so why this time?  Like I said, I would have been interested in a good price and would asked lots of questions first, if I hadn't just got my new mandolin.   I am sure I would have checked out the dealer because if he sells Loars and Morgan Monroes, I am sure he has an actual business.  I also buy stuff on ebay, even though most people say, "beware of buying on ebay."   I look stuff up on ebay all the time and usually find it to just be a store trying to expand their customer base outside of the local area where they are located.  Then I find the price to be just about equal to what the local stores have plus shipping to boot. 

I bought my mandolin online because there were none to compare locally.  I am not impressed with the music stores in my area.  I checked out a lot of websites for my mandolin and read lots of reviews of various online stores before choosing the store that I went with. 

Skyraider50 - Posted - 05/20/2011:  20:56:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robee

I certainly don't feel like I was being pushed in any way.

I do see others here selling their services, and or products.  No one gives them a hard time, so why this time?  Like I said, I would have been interested in a good price and would asked lots of questions first, if I hadn't just got my new mandolin.   I am sure I would have checked out the dealer because if he sells Loars and Morgan Monroes, I am sure he has an actual business.  I also buy stuff on ebay, even though most people say, "beware of buying on ebay."   I look stuff up on ebay all the time and usually find it to just be a store trying to expand their customer base outside of the local area where they are located.  Then I find the price to be just about equal to what the local stores have plus shipping to boot. 

I bought my mandolin online because there were none to compare locally.  I am not impressed with the music stores in my area.  I checked out a lot of websites for my mandolin and read lots of reviews of various online stores before choosing the store that I went with. 

There does seem to be some....... seemingly unfounded hysteria???

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Richard - Posted - 07/26/2011:  12:39:47

If it seems to good to be true it probably is. Words to the wise. If you buy something from a no name "friend at a no name store you will get what you pay for. And how much can you save? $50 bucks??? I'd rather spend the extra few dollars and buy for a reputable store that will stand behind their products.