Lack of Larrivee Dealers....

[Walkerman]

We don't have a single Larrivee dealer in......OXNARD........
However, that may change now that GC will be carrying them.

[arriflex]

Is GC picking up larrivee nationally?

[HAMFIST]

When I worked for a Larrivee dealer we had lots of Larrivee's pretty much the full line plus limited runs with inlays.It was also the ONLY new acoustic guitar we carried.The other stuff was standard import stuff very low end.What helped us move guitars was I was a fan.We sold both local and mail order.If you called I would even play the guitar over the phone for you.Most store's you go into now don't have very knowledgable people working in them and most mail order is done by an order taker.When I left that store everyone asked when I was going to open my own place I had one simple answer.."when someone give's me a million dollars,$250K for inventory,$250K to keep it operating for 5 years,and the last $500K to sit on so my family and staff of 2 when the economy trashed".I left in May of 2006 and saw the writting on the wall.My wife and I went straight into survival mode and have been there since.I sold my stash of 180 guitars that were my retirement just to pay bills.I've brought myself down to if I make $40 a day 6 days a week I could pay the morgate and some of the grociers.Nothin else.Let me tell you its hard just pulling this off.So when a store just carries what it can sell and they can keep the doors open,well thats what you have to do or go on goverment assistance because getting a job not that easy any more.

Yup. It is tough. One store in my neck of the woods is a Larrivee dealer. They have had the same L-03S on the wall for over a year. They have a hard time moving new instruments. The place mostly sells pianos, band and orchestra instruments and handles a high volume of lessons.

Success is not certain, and is dependent on a number of factors.

The price on that L-03S is like $900, too, if anyone is in the market.

[Danny]

Is GC picking up larrivee nationally?

Good question, I hope they do.

[broKen]

We don't have a single Larrivee dealer in......OXNARD........
However, that may change now that GC will be carrying them.

Sounds like an opportunity Walkerman. So,,,when will you be taking orders? 

[HAMFIST]

  Good question, I hope they do.

Larrivee nationally in a store like GC could be a mixed blessing. Chances are, GC will push for some really aggressive wholesale pricing. And they have a lot of stores. Me -- I learned the hard way that you can't lose a little on every sale and make up for it on volume.

If Larrivee gets into a deal with GC, I hope they take special care. The saying is tha when you make a deal with the devil, you are always the junior partner ...

[Mr_LV19E]

I have searched and can't find his post but Matthew Larrivee stated somewhere recently that they were supplying guitars for Guitar Centers with Platinum Rooms.

[HAMFIST]

I have searched and can't find his post but Matthew Larrivee stated somewhere recently that they were supplying guitars for Guitar Centers with Platinum Rooms.

So at least they are limited in scale. Not sure how many GCs have platinum rooms.

[HAMFIST]

http://platinum.guitarcenter.com/PlatRooms/

Seems like a manageable number ...

[Walkerman]

I believe that is where they are starting...the platinum GC stores.  It will take them awhile to gear up production to supply all GC's

[Mr_LV19E]

The Platinum rooms I've been in are humidified. They might want to stick with those GC's only, that seems to be the biggest risk in stocking a big box.

[HAMFIST]

The Platinum rooms I've been in are humidified. They might want to stick with those GC's only, that seems to be the biggest risk in stocking a big box.

Well, if GC has purchased the inventory. issues with humidification would be GC's risk. Risk for Larrivee would be just losing money due to an aggressive pricing policy and pressure to offer a lower price point than is offered to other, smaller dealers.

[arriflex]

I remember how the Sam Ash days finished up. Blowout prices on Larries..........abused and poorly maintained Larries (for the most part). There were a few gems to be had here and there, but at least at the local store here they hadn't been real well taken care of.

[unclrob]

I remember how the Sam Ash days finished up. Blowout prices on Larries..........abused and poorly maintained Larries (for the most part). There were a few gems to be had here and there, but at least at the local store here they hadn't been real well taken care of.

That and getting paid on time......

[rockstar_not]

Long ago, like around 1999, I thought GC carried at least the 02 series.  Yes or no?

[unclrob]

Long ago, like around 1999, I thought GC carried at least the 02 series.  Yes or no?

Yes they did and many who worked in the store's in the Miami area told people that Larrivee made them for GC only and that anyone who said they were a Larrivee dealer wasn't because they didn't get the 02's.It also funny too note that those same store's told everyone that Larrivee's didn't have truss rods.Make's you wonder about there new ad campaign about how all there employee's are knowledgable pro's that know there product better then anyone.Of coarse this make's me 

[skatalite]

http://platinum.guitarcenter.com/PlatRooms/

Seems like a manageable number ...

I just spoke with an associate at the Oklahoma City store, and he said the following:

GC carried Larrivee about a decade ago, but since GC expanded so quickly, Larrivee couldn't keep up. So that ended the relationship. Right now, he believes only one Platinum Room in the nation carries Larrivess. He was unsure if that is going to change, and become something all PlatRooms adopt.

I didn't speak to Joe, who is the PlatRoom manager. He's going to call me when he's in on Thursday to give me precise information.

Even though I have a love-hate relationship with Guitar Center, I certainly would like to see Larrivee's available here. There is one small shop within driving distance who carries Larrivee's, but a small amount. Last I talked to them, they had two in stock.

So, we'll see!

[rockstar_not]

I just spoke with an associate at the Oklahoma City store, and he said the following:

GC carried Larrivee about a decade ago, but since GC expanded so quickly, Larrivee couldn't keep up. So that ended the relationship. Right now, he believes only one Platinum Room in the nation carries Larrivess. He was unsure if that is going to change, and become something all PlatRooms adopt.

I didn't speak to Joe, who is the PlatRoom manager. He's going to call me when he's in on Thursday to give me precise information.

Even though I have a love-hate relationship with Guitar Center, I certainly would like to see Larrivee's available here. There is one small shop within driving distance who carries Larrivee's, but a small amount. Last I talked to them, they had two in stock.

So, we'll see!

Well, the nationally mailed catalog from GC that just arrived yesterday at my house had an L-10 in it featured alongside a Martin.  Full page in the catalog.  Randy Jackson on the cover hawking a new music man bass.

-Scott

[Mr_LV19E]

Well, the nationally mailed catalog from GC that just arrived yesterday at my house had an L-10 in it featured alongside a Martin.  Full page in the catalog.  Randy Jackson on the cover hawking a new music man bass.

-Scott

I was just going to post the same thing, they call it a LV-10RWI. If they sell at the listed price all of our Larrivees will go up in value.