Acoustic Corner on the Internet

You're reading this because you've found our site on the internet; you're probably shopping around, looking for something in particular or perhaps for a really great deal. Why should you buy from us instead of one of the other internet sites?

1. Selection. Acoustic Corner prefers to buy from small-time builders whose instruments generally aren't available through the big internet discounters; about half of our instruments fall in this category. This is because these builders can't, or won't, provide the production the big guys demand. Most of our builders can only supply us with a few instruments a year; we can only sell a few of their instruments a year, so it's a perfect fit. This means we sell many instruments that are hand-made with talent and care by builders who take pride in their work and who we know personally. Quite simply, this means we have many unique, high-quality instruments you can't get anywhere else.

2. Creative Advocacy. Since one of Acoustic Corner's owners is a long-time luthier, we have a deep respect for the craftsmanship and dedication of the luthier's trade. It's not an easy life, and no one ever got rich making instruments by hand. When builders choose to go into production and sell in quantity to the big discounters, they often find themselves caught in a mechanistic grind, obliged to crank out the same limited models over and over, rarely finding the time to experiment and exercise their more creative talents. By buying in small quantities direct from builders, and by being willing to wait for well-built, hand-made instruments, we're doing our part to keep the instrument-building arts alive and profitable.

3. Service, service, service. Customer service is the backbone of Acoustic Corner. We try to provide the same quality of service whether we're face-to-face, talking on the phone, or communicating via email. If you've been to our shop, then you already know you'll be helped in making your selection and educated by our knowledgeable showroom staff about our various products, their construction and unique characteristics. You'll have the opportunity to play the instrument in a variety of environments, for as long as you want, and we'll help you in choosing options and accessories and advise you on instrument care. We'll install strap buttons and check your set-up before you leave. We provide free truss rod adjustments, affordable string changes, and plenty of after-sale advice. If you need something in a pinch, you can call us and we'll do our best to get it to you when you need it. We remember who you are, what you play, and why you bought your instrument. At Acoustic Corner, long-term relationships with our customers are far more important than short-term sales profits.

4. Quality, Take One: Set-up. Many instruments sold over the internet aren't set-up and ready to play [and here's our disclaimer: We're mostly talking about instruments sold over the internet through internet-only and discount catalog 'store-fronts', NOT necessarily through other brick-and-mortar shops like ours who happen to have an internet presence]. Violins, even the best, are especially notorious for needing additional shop adjustment. Every instrument that comes into our shop is carefully examined and adjusted by our repair staff when it comes in, and then it's maintained in tip-top shape as long as it's in the showroom. You may find a great deal on the internet, but wind up paying a repair person the big bucks to make it playable. Every week we get customers who bring in something they bought really cheap but can't be played in its present condition. After they pay us to set it up for them, we wonder, why didn't they just buy from us in the first place?

5. Quality, Take Two: Seconds. Quite a few manufacturers 'dump' their seconds on their quantity buyers, the big internet discounters. We've heard this from both sales reps and customers; it's sad but true. They can do this because they know that many of the big discounters never even open the boxes before they're shipped out again (see #4). We order in small quantities, usually only one or two instruments at a time, and our suppliers know we're going to carefully examine every instrument that comes in. They send us the best; if they don't, we send it back.

6. Hidden Costs. Look carefully at some of the great deals offered on the internet. Do they include a case, and what kind? Are options included, available, or extra? Does the instrument come with quality strings? What kind of bow is included in that violin outfit? Are the shipping costs reasonable? What's the return policy? The price of almost every instrument posted on our website includes a quality case and/or accessories, and our return policy is clearly posted. We charge only actual shipping charges.

7. Economic Independence. Some of the big discounters enter legal contracts with some of the huge music corporations which require them to sell the full array of the corporation's products. This leaves little room for other products, and allows, at times, the corporations to 'dump' products that haven't sold well onto their contractually committed retailers. Similarly, big discounters may buy up products based on price, and may not be attuned to what is actually in demand by their customers. At Acoustic Corner, we choose what we sell based on what our customers ask for, and on what we perceive to be good, useful items. This doesn't mean we always get the best price, but we DO have the best products.

8. The Little Stuff. So, where does that leave us when it comes to the little stuff, the violin strings, the tuners, the picks, etc., that are the same everywhere, only cheaper at the internet discount sites? We do the best we can, and we price our items as low as we possibly can go. We can't beat, much less match, some of the prices you see on websites, and we don't even try. There are a few brands that are heavily volume-discounted elsewhere which we don't carry, because we aren't willing to do the sales work for manufacturers that don't value their small-time retailers. We all make choices, and we vote with our dollars. We hope you'll do the same and choose to help keep independent, family-owned stores like Acoustic Corner around for years to come.

Why Isn't This an E-Commerce Website?

1. Frankly, we don't have the time. Our staff is busy helping customers in the showroom, setting up instruments, placing orders, managing rentals, teaching lessons, etc. We just don't have the human resources to set-up and administrate an e-commerce site and fill and pack orders.

2. We also don't have the space. The only way to make an e-commerce site worthwhile is to buy merchandise in large quantities to get big discounts. You have to have warehouse space for all that, and we just don't have it.

3. It's not how we do business. We could invest a huge amount of time, space, and resources, and still struggle to compete online. At some point, it just becomes a matter of how attractive your site is, how easy is it to use your shopping cart, how well do search engines find you, and who has the best price. If we wanted to do business that way, we wouldn't be selling fine musical instruments. We'd rather work with our customers one-at-a-time, face-to-face, in the real world. Mass marketing and music just don't seem to go together for us.