Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

[stratman1967]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

First time poster here.

To say that I'm disappointed with Gibson is an understatement. I was looking into buying a new Gibson SG Special (faded finish) or an Epiphone Dot Studio, but I don't think so now. Those Ibanez Artcores are starting to look pretty good all of a sudden.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

It's not "weeding" dealers out, it's kicking them out. Does anyone remember the official correspondence regarding the internet policy of publicly posting pictures of individual guitars?

Gibson's intent is to drive more customers into your store, thus making your store a destination location. It has always been Gibson's desire to have sales of their instruments be done on a personal level, not on a "point and click" shopping cart level. It is only when the end consumer interacts with your sales staff can the "Gibson story" be told, and an instrument be truly matched to that individual consumer's personal needs.


Pursuant to that goal, and effective immediately, all authorized Gibson & Epiphone dealers are expected to comply with the following:

Internet sales of all new Gibson Brand instruments and products, including Gibson USA, Gibson Montana, Gibson Memphis, Gibson OAI, Slingerland, Tobias, Gibson Custom/Historic, Epiphone, Valley Arts, Gibson Strings and Accessories are to cease immediately.
All authorized GMI dealers will be allowed to advertise that they are an "AUTHORIZED GIBSON DEALER" and link to the Gibson website, www.gibson.com.
Photos of "in-stock" instruments currently in dealer's inventory will not be allowed to be published on dealer's website.
Consumers are to be encouraged to actually visit the store to purchase instruments, or contact the store regarding a purchase via phone or email. Authorized GMI dealers will be allowed to email consumers photos of specific guitars in dealer's inventory.
Specific artwork and advertising templates for authorized dealers will be made available for dealer's use on their websites. These materials will be made available for download on Gibson's internet press site, www.gibson.com/press.
Advertising outside of dealer's immediate market area as specified in the Gibson Dealer Agreement will not be allowed. This includes (but not limited to) any printed materials such as catalogs, flyers, etc. If there is a question as to your specific market area, please contact XXXXXXXXXXX at Gibson, XXXXXXXXXXX, XXXX.
Sales of new Gibson brand instruments at guitar shows, music events, concerts, music festivals, etc. outside of dealer's approved market area are not allowed

How about the minimum order of like $100,000 policy?

This takes even the BEST brick and mortar stores, with their solid customer bases with expendable cash, and removes them from competing with intarweb warehouses at the most dumbed down and impersonal level possible.

Last time I purchased a new Gibson was in 2001, I saw a guitar on Dave's Guitars website that I really liked. I liked THAT PARTICULAR GUITAR. I drove to Dave's, I tried out many guitars, I bought THAT PARTICULAR GUITAR that I saw on the webpage. I really didn't need that guitar, but I wanted it. I spent over $3,000 and I got exactly the guitar I wanted.

If someone (not me) were to want a similar guitar new, they'd have to order from MF or the like and fork out $4,000 for a guitar you haven't even seen pictures of. It's not like you could call the MF operator and ask -does it resonate well? -how much does it weigh -does the nut look cut properly -does it look like a 4 year old with ADD did the inlay work?

And that's just the way Henry wants it.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

man i've never really liked gibson. But all those lawsuits make me really hate them now. I've always wanted an exploere sometimes(only gibson i really like) but now i think i'm gonna go with a nice esp(not ltd),better QC,better overall craftsmanship,better components(emgs/tonepros bridges/sperzel tuners etc.) and the most imporntant thing: gibson doesn't offer black diamondplate . Sueing great dealers is a shame and for something of that little importance it's just stupid.
So, **ck off Gibson!

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

Yeah all they had to do was call up eldery and give them a friendly "watch it, we have an agreement". Gibson is trying to make an example of them and I think it's backfiring.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

You guys keep protesting all ya want and don't buy any..then the price will drop and I can buy more..then when they come back in vogue, I'll make a mint and have a ton of fine instruments in the meantime to play :laugh2:

Since I saw alot of people throwin QC jabs around...even tho this thread isnt abotu QC...I will say FWIW, the last 3 I've bought (all 2005 instruments) have all been excellent instruments. As are most of the 2005 models I'm seeing in stores. Previous years..granted...I've seen some crap (considering the price)..even outta the custom shop (so be careful about boycotting new ones and goin' used :evil: ). Doesn't mean they can't or won't improve and from what I see, they are improving quite a bit.

As far as Elderly..welcome to big business folks...breach a contract...lawyers jump. Don't have to like it, but thats the way things work.

I'll keep buying what works for and sounds best to me.

 

[jayK]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

Bunch of overpriced guitar bastards!

There are plenty of guitars that are half the price or less that sound just as good or better.

Screw em. I probably would never had bought a Gibson anyway but now I will never consider it, just confirms what I thought about them as a company.

Arrogant.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

"Internet sales of all new Gibson Brand instruments and products, including Gibson USA, Gibson Montana, Gibson Memphis, Gibson OAI, Slingerland, Tobias, Gibson Custom/Historic, Epiphone, Valley Arts, Gibson Strings and Accessories are to cease immediately."

Well, you sure can buy a buttload of Gibsons online at Guitar Center.com

Of course, GC will OWN Gibson by year end...

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

Yeah all they had to do was call up eldery and give them a friendly "watch it, we have an agreement". Gibson is trying to make an example of them and I think it's backfiring.

It's not backfiring- they tried to scare them off via the intarweb policy, which scared a lot of dealers- then they tried to scare them off via the minimum order policy- THAT got rid of most of the dealers, but it didn't scare off Elderly. They had to find some kind of Scooby Doo scheme to scare off those meddling kids and unwanted Authorized Gibson Dealers...

Zoinks!!

It's Gibson's Heartless Lawyers!!!

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

I truly believe that Gibson is engaging in corporate fascism. Here's the dictionary definition:

fas·cism Audio pronunciation of "Fascism" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fshzm)
n.

1. often Fascism
A. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
B. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

Perhaps Elderly breached a contract; in my opinion, it was not a fair contract and they should not have agreed to the terms in the first place But they did, and I suppose that's on them. But throwing around lawsuits so easily? Whatever happened to a cease and desist order? Insisting that Elderly only sell their brand of banjos and mandolins? Seriously?!! Hey Gibson, if you want to sell a lot of product, make excellent quality instruments with exceptional QC and sell them at a FAIR, REASONABLE PRICE!!! I would imagine that this imposed monopoly violates some sort of business code. If it doesn't then it's not illegal, just despicable.

Again, after doing business with Elderly many, many times, they are probably my all-time favorite guitar store ever, and a top-notch business. Although I live in California now, I have mail ordered from them because I am so fond of the company and I want to support them. I will not give my money to a company that literally engages is corporate fascism. ESPECIALLY against an independent store I know to be world-class.

 

[Old Ghost]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

This is really sad. To hell with Gibson! Their prices are Bull****!! Nowadays owning a Gibson has become a status symbol just because of the name. On most cases, that's just really what it is, just a name on the headstock and nothing more. And the quality?......what else but doo-doo. Ptuu!!

 

[Funky P]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

Hmmm, my local boutique shop is starting to thin out on Gibsons and stocking more PRS's, Tom Anderson's, And John Suhr's, frankly i'm happy with that.

 

[mashingan]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

Gibson is a joke!

 

[strat_master]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

hmm thats pretty lame on gibsons part to sue on something like that consdiering its only a banjo, its not they were selling illegal lp copies. As much as i love gibson they are abstards for it...haha time for some epiphone... lol wait they own them too....

 

[rainsong86]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

the local music shop doesn't carry gibson or epiphone anymore because Gibson said they couldn't sell their guitars unless they kept at least 30 gibsons and 20 epiphones in stock.. this store barely has 50 guitars in all anyways.. what kinda business is that?

 

[rainsong86]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

hence the popularity of customizing epiphones or buying their Elite series (basically gibsons without the american labor)

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

hence the popularity of customizing epiphones or buying their Elite series (basically gibsons without the american labor)

But it's still owned by Gibson.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

I wonder how vindictive Gibson is really trying to be? Elderly has endured GMI's new policies to date and I like to think they will make it through this, too. At the very least, if GMI is really trying to push all smaller stores out of the Gibson picture (and we can speculate all we want, fact is, none of you guys have a shred of proof regarding this), then GMI is putting themselves in a precarious position. If you look at the number of stores who generate enough cash flow to stock Gibson, there aren't a great many of Gibson dealers. Hypothetically, what if GC/MF had to fold... how big of a dent would that put in the Gibson market? And how many mom and pop dealers would welcome Gibson back into their stores with open arms? Very few I'd presume.

I love my LP Studio. To this day, it's still my number one. I may not agree with GMI's modern business practice, but that does not change the fact that my LP is a great instrument, and I will likely never get rid of it. That said, given the exposure I've had to all these other manufacturers (thanks in part to all of you guys), I'll more than likely never own another Gibson. There are far too many other great choices out there at less cost to me.

 

[kherman]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

Was this banjo "new" or "used"?
Was it a trade in?

If it was new, I can see how Gibson has reason for concern.
It would be like Elderly going to Tokai and starting to import brand
new Tokai replicas of Gibsons while still being a Gibson dealer.

If it was used trade-in or something, I don't see how Gibson has a complaint.
My undrstanding is their contract refers to new items sold in the store.
I don't see how Gibson can dictate what Elderly or any other store sells used.

Kent

 

[ErikH]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

I don't plan on getting another Gibson anyway. Owned two in the past (LP Studio and SG Junior), wish I still had them though because they were great playing guitars. I'm happy with my Epiphone LP and would probably buy another, even though they are owned by Gibson. Then again, my next one may be a mahogany body dual humbucker strat-style or tele-style built with Warmoth parts.

 

[junior]

Re: Gibson sues Elderly Instruments...

In the Guitar Player out this month (Keith Richards on the cover) Hartley Peavy says some cool stuff about the PRS- Gibson lawsuit. I don't care for Peavy a whole lot, but its a real good article, and I have more respect now for Hartley.