[Harp-L] Re: Harmonica Shelf Space

[diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx]

A few things. 


Hohner didn't raise their wholesale prices this year. One of my reps called me last week to give the good news. $43 has been the list price for a year now. 
I use 3 suppliers in the US to buy Hohner's. I've noticed several changes over the past several years that isn't the fault of the music stores. 


Non of the music wholesalers I've dealt with carry the complete Hohner line. The most common harps a dealer could purchase thru regular distributors are Hohner, LO, and Huang and some off brand packaged kits. Non of them carry the Huang brand now. 


The Dist.'s tend to control what the stores stock unless someone places a special order. I've been trying for years to have my suppliers carry CX-12's. They keep contacting me about the lame ass Dylan and Tyler harps that only an idiot would waste good money on. I tell them gigging harp players don't want those harps. If they want to make sales start stocking CX-12 and the jazz version, Toots models, Seydel, Suzuki and others for diatonics and chromatics. I don't think it will happen. 


One rep told me he would order CX-12's if I placed a minimum order of 10. He acted like Hohner charges extra for special orders. I contacted Sissi awhile back and she said their is no minimum order or special amount a Dist. has to place with them to get their discount. So back to square one. 


Some wholesalers also cut back big time on what Hohner harps they carry. It's mostly the harps players actually want to play and not beginner C harps. 
First the wholesalers cut back then the dealers cut back. 


Side note. I like stopping in at Sam Ash every time I go to NYC. I usually buy Aebersold books there. They sell harps in the wind and reed store. I paid a visit last September. There was a guy in there looking to buy some harps but he wasn't sure what he wanted. He was playing for about a year. The sales rep was a bit clueless so I asked him what style he liked to play and who he listened to. From there I told him the differences in the different Hohner diatonics and what would probably best suit his playing technique for now. When I was done he bought 2 practice books/cd's, several S20's and a Pro64 harp. 


The sales rep was super grateful for me making the sale for him. Afterwards I leaned into his ear and asked, "when do I get my cut of the sale." 
No deal but they treated me royally while I was still shopping. 


mike