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Sire USA is looking for DEALERS!

#2
It'll be interesting to see what dealers they end up with, and whether there's an effect on prices. I was going to say maybe the retail prices will be higher, but that wouldn't work - people would only go to try and then buy online. I sure hope they don't shut down the direct channel.
 
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#4
Considering they said "add", I'm hoping that's not in the plans. But hard to make a good deal for retailers when you'e competing directly with them. Then again, their costs may be low enough with the increased volume to be able to split the profit and still make things go. We'll see. I'm thinking this will be a good thing.
 
#8
So they start selling this for $700-$750, right?
ash4wb_2.jpg

What's the problem, isn't it worth it being able to see and play this bass first without having to worry about buying one online and waiting a few months to have it arrive?
 
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#9
tubatodd said:
I ordered a Sire M7 fretless in blue burst.....sight unseen. I'm taking a gamble. I have no idea when it will arrive. Looks like 45-60 days from what I read.
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That's about what mine was, actually came quicker than I expected. If you haven't seen my pics and want to know what they look like: Belated NBD - Sire M7 fretless 5 trans blue I went with Alder for the body.
 
#10
This will only work with two caveats. I've been in another industry with common similar two tier marketing.

1) Sire will have to keep it's dealers in stock. If Sire is pulling a bass waiting to ship to a dealer for an on-line order they will lose dealers quick.

2) They will have to keep prices the same for dealers as on-line. While they'll lose margin, it could mean a tremendous increase in distribution.

This is not without risk. Right now I can assure you most dealers aren't happy with Sire hurting their sales of Squires, MIM's and Skylines. If they get reputable dealers on their side they will see a huge increase in sale just with the availability for customers to try out and see the workmanship. But If they fail, either with reduced quality or distribution issues. They'll lose the trust of a lot of customers.

I hope they pull it off, I like the idea of supporting the local dealer. Plus the idea that you can get a pretty good quality instrument like a Squire in the hands of a dealer offering lessons is good for the industry,
 
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#12
jd56hawk said:
So they start selling this for $700-$750, right?
ash4wb_2.jpg

What's the problem, isn't it worth it being able to see and play this bass first without having to worry about buying one online and waiting a few months to have it arrive?
Click to expand...
Yes, considering they tend to be on the heavy side playing the bass in person would be beneficial!
 
#13
Just saw an incredible jazz-funk bassist at a club.
Was maybe 20 feet away and from a distance I thought he was playing a white Lakland jazz.
The tone was great and it appeared like the fretboard was butter.
At break I went up to talk to him about his bass and was amazed it was a Sire.
Told him I thought it was a Lakland. He said the Sire was 1/3 the cost.
 
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#17
bholder said:
...But hard to make a good deal for retailers when you'e competing directly with them. Then again, their costs may be low enough with the increased volume to be able to split the profit and still make things go. We'll see. I'm thinking this will be a good thing.
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Retailers in direct competiton with their wholesalers has been the norm in the hobby business for some years now and it is slowly killing off all but the most mega of the mega retail outlets. Ironically, most of the big walkups are surviving by doing a large portion of their business by mail these days. The distributors sell for the same price as retailers with no sales tax and mostly free shipping, but what's killing the smaller places is lack of in store inventory. Hobby shops exist thanks to impulse buyers. It's the only place i've ever gone where i'm after a two dollar item and walk out with a hundred (or more) dollars worth of stuff. If it's on the shelf someone will usually buy it, which may be the reasoning behind Sire looking to expand into retail. There is also the chance they realize how much their volume will increase given the prevailing "try before you buy" mindset of most stringed instrument players and are looking for retailers interested in having a demo model and offering them a sliver of the pie for orders they are responsible for.
 
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#18
Other manufacturers are already doing this, Fender for example. You can buy direct from Fender online, or from your local dealer such as GC.

I'm sure this is why GC has certain products that are always excluded from coupons and promotions, unless the vendor is running the promotion. They need to charge a consistent price, otherwise they would be competing with each other. The question is whether the price will go up in general, or stay the same.
 
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#19
bholder said:
Considering they said "add", I'm hoping that's not in the plans. But hard to make a good deal for retailers when you'e competing directly with them. Then again, their costs may be low enough with the increased volume to be able to split the profit and still make things go. We'll see. I'm thinking this will be a good thing.
Click to expand...

They may have economized their manufacturing process in china to the point that it would be economical.
 

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