| Musicians
Inventory Marketplace - Main Street Not Wall Street |
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Our
approach is a little different. We're here to battle the On-line
super sellers of musical equipment that really do not give
back to the people or communities that they serve. A couple
big-box sellers are on that list as well. Most
folks don't realize that much of the marketplace pricing is
manufacturer controlled through a program entitled MAP. MAP
helps keep competition fair and dispels the common thought
process that On-line super sellers are the best deal to be
found. In fact, they are not. We'll
explain MAP and why you should be purchasing your gear through
local music stores.
But most
of all, we want you to know that through your support of Musicians
Inventory, you are supporting the local guy, the local music
store that gives back to you, your community and your local
economy.
On-line
super sellers and big-box stores, just give back to their
centralized bank account and perhaps maybe the venture capital
fund that might own them.
Sounds
a lot like Wall Street, certainly not Main Street. |
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| Our
Marketplace |
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M.A.P.
Explained |
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We love playing music. Like most musicians,
we also love buying and selling equipment. Well, we love buying
equipment, at times selling can seem a little burdensome.
Through the Internet years, we have watched the explosion of On-line
super sellers of musical equipment. Most of these guys would not
know a music store if it jumped up and hit them in the head. They
just want to sell the gear through an On-line store without the
worries or challenges associated with owning a brick and mortar
shop, without participating in specific communities, without contributing
to local economies.
They just want to bank their bucks and move on to the next sale
that takes advantage of a particular community.
It's time to reduce this trend, it's time to restore the health
of local music stores by assisting them in capturing more market
share.
We are a little different. We do not work with the On-line super
seller, we have no desire to. We work with local music stores
assisting them in building market share, enhancing their On-line
offerings and increasing their local exposure and business community
credibility.
We support the local music store in your community. We also support
the financial contributions they make to your local economy and
the investment of intellectual processes they make to your local
community.
Support
local music stores everywhere.
Support Musicians Inventory!
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In June, 2007, a United States Supreme Court
ruling found that minimum pricing policies are legal and do not
represent a violation of U.S. antitrust statutes.
This ruling made
it legal for a manufacturer to set and enforce MAP (Minimum Advertised
Price) for resellers of its product, and pull the line or sue retailers
who violate.
There are many
reasons why manufacturers may impose such pricing policies:
- Manufacturers
want to protect brand image, which discounting can work against
for premium brands and new, innovative products
- High margin is
an incentive for retailers (who are the manufacturer’s
extended sales force) to promote these items more than others
(although without the ability to offer price breaks, it’s
harder to motivate consumers to buy)
- Maintaining MAP
or MSRP maintains retail value so manufacturers can retain wholesale
pricing
- To prevent bargain
basement retailers from underselling other resellers of the
product (who may discontinue selling these brands or complain
to the manufacturer)
MAP
doesn't necessarily apply forever, especially for seasonal products
or categories like consumer electronics where new models are constantly
hitting the market. But under a MAP policy, a product must be
sold at a MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) until
the manufacturer permits a markdown.
Obviously consumers
don’t like paying more for products, especially in this economy
where people expect everything to be on sale. (On the flip-side,
if consumers stop buying nonessentials, however discounted, they
actually come out ahead).
Consumers skilled
at online comparison shopping might be frustrated to find no price
breaks (with the exceptions of retailers who break MAP or on factory
refurbished products), or may hunt out free shipping offers and
other incentives. Comparison engines that display the total cost
including taxes and shipping will aid these customers, as will
those that provide seller ratings to help them decide who to ultimately
buy from.
Some retailers
will benefit from the level-playing field (smaller retailers,
those with higher operational costs or lower efficiency and retailers
with a reputation for excellent customer service).
Every purchase
you make from Musicians Inventory benefits a local community,
helps create jobs and supports local businesses.
MUSICIANS
INVENTORY
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