Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm still in the beggars can't be choosers phase of my business' development, (although I do still choose. )

But saw this and thought it was pretty funny...

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByisKEpHRHd ... zyvz8aq3vn

And that is why I no longer have a shop in a retail store....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I've got ready answers to all of them.. stop in and try me!

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

When I worked in a retail store years ago a guy came in and asked how much it was for one string. The owner said £1. The next question? “How much for cash?”


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Okay.... Had a guy come in years ago to the store, wanted to buy a new Ibanez Musician. $1000 list, we told him he could have it for 20% off..... He came back with "will you take $900?".....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Sold!

I read that Matt Uminov had a sign over the counter at his repair division that said (approximately) "if you want low action with no buzz you're in the wrong place"

Ed

That was true.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Sign sen inan auto repair shop

Repairs $15/hr
You looking over my shoulder $20/hr
You started the repair $30/hr

Can I watch you when you work on my guitar?

Get out!



Of course context is important on that one, the guy was practically accusing me of ruining his guitar before he even opened the case. If you want to watch me, and you are cool and able to have a good conversation, then sure you can watch me dress your frets.

Oh yeah and the other one:

I wouldn't do it that way...

Wait until one comes in and asks you to teach them how to do guitar repair.... in an hour.
Proper response: GTFO!

Or one asks you to build a guitar because it would be cheaper than buying one from the store.
Proper response: Explain how mass manufacturing reduces the price of goods in the marketplace.

Or offers drugs for repairs...
Proper response: The bank doesn't take coke or weed (and I'm a straightedge lifestyle guy).

Or wants goods / services donated "so they can serve God".
Proper response: As soon as God brings in the cash, it's yours.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

LOL I have never had the drug offer before but I have definitely found a bag of weed or two in guitar cases... Dude I lost my weed! Don't worry you'll get it all back.

Had all of these and then some.

One of my favorites:
Customer: We're tired of paying to have someone setup the guitars at the studio. Can you just come out some day and show us how to do it?
Me: Sure, but it'll cost xxx$
Customer: ....You wouldn't just do it for a burger?
Me: no

So many others. The majority of my clients all use the same excuse "I read online that x = y so y must be $#%" usually they read some goop from the Acoustic Guitar Forum and then take it as gospel. Education is a part of the business, but if you constantly have to re-educate your clients then it gets really old really fast.

On, 'Can I watch?"
The one I hate is the customer watches, you get done, and his response is. "I could have done that"
"Yeah, buddy, if you had known what to do before I started"
I DO NOT allow anyone to watch me, ever. Matter of fact, I have a permanent "waiting list". Drop it off, I'll get to it soon.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Picasso’s “Dove of Peace” Napkin Art
The story goes that Picasso was sitting in a Paris café when an admirer approached and asked if he would do a quick sketch on a paper napkin. Picasso politely agreed, swiftly executed the work, and handed back the napkin — but not before asking for a rather significant amount of money. The admirer was shocked: “How can you ask for so much? It took you a minute to draw this!” “No”, Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years”

There are lots of stories about Picasso. In one, a couple send their cute child over with pen and paper in his hand to ask Picasso for a picture when he is sitting on the beach at Nice. They figure he might be more receptive to a child asking? Pablo takes the pen and draws something on the kid’s belly, signs it and sends him back to Mama.