Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave Lynas on January 12, 2016 at 1:50am

If it was me, I'd try and sell this instructor one of your builds. If he won't do that, you can bet he's just using you. He wants you to do the work and he'll look good. I've been used in this way too many times. They tell you "I'll show your work and promote you". They can then get free equipment to use. Beware. I'm an old man and I've been a self employed artist most of my life. I've seen it all. It's human nature to try and get other people to do there work free. Perhaps you could become one of the teachers yourself. Teach the kids to make their own guitars.

Permalink Reply by Hillbilly Jeff on January 12, 2016 at 3:03am

Yes I agree with Dave I recently tried to get a upscale furniture and design studio store to consign selling my guitars they loved them they were very excited to incorporate my guitars in with musical themed design. Then when we tried to nagotiate a price they wanted to buy one guitar a month for 50$ a piece and sell them for 375$ I told them that was impossible being the guitars they wanted were all resonators they were interested in. Then they wanted just props non working just something that looked like a guitar and I told them I only make instruments that function properly which ended our meeting. So yes somebody always wants somethen for nothen.

Permalink Reply by Orcabait on January 12, 2016 at 9:16am

I work in a used good store and we sell a lot on consignment, including a lot of electric guitars. Our standard deal is the consignor sets the price (with some advice from us on the market rates for items) and we split the sales price 50/50. A $300 guitar gets us 150 the guitar owner 150. Most are happy with that. We handle all the merchandising, marketing, selling and money handling as well as taking the risk of keeping and storing the guitar. Most are happy because all they do is drop it off with us and pick up a check when it sells.

 

Permalink Reply by Justice Crafted on January 12, 2016 at 3:06am

Good idea Dave, kind of what I was thinking as far as selling one to him. I can't help but think that if it hangs on the wall on consignment it will get used by the teachers and probably not sell. Don't want to be negative just realistic about it.

Permalink Reply by Dave Lynas on January 12, 2016 at 5:52am

I agree. I wasn't trying to seem negative, just cautious. A demo model is ok if your work is honored by paying for it. In a school situation, the school owns the instruments in the school band. They loan them to students to learn on. They don't ask the luthier to consign the instruments to the school in hopes of selling some to the students.