Uncle Bob at BB

[Taylorgyrl]

I've been in a cave for the past couple of weeks. Anyone going to see uncle Bob at Buffalo Bros tomorrow? Might be cool to try to take in a tour of the Taylor factory. If I go, it'll likely be a last minute decision though. Tg

[Jeff M]

You ARE tempting fate bringing up this thread again, aren't you? ;)
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58613

[buddiesorg]

I'll be at BB. I won't be going to the factory, though.

[TimB]

Why no tour?

-=Tim=-

[buddiesorg]

no guitars in progress ... no guitars to take in for work and none to pick up ...

[taygull]

I sure wish someone would go and video tape the question to Bob....

So Bob how has the internet impacted your business, specifically the ability for people to learn about your products through the many "guitar forums" out there?

….and Bob as a follow up could you please explain a comment I heard came from you….we as guitar players are not your customers?

[Jeff M]

And while there, a similar question could be asked of Bob, one of the owners of Buffalo Brothers. ;)
Dang, A perfect two-fer missed. :lol:

[Guyute]

If you think this viewpoint is unusual among manufacturers, you're wrong.

Taylor's customers are the people who buy guitars from them. Their dealers. Just as you you don't buy your car directly from the manufacturer (unless it's a custom hot rod), you don't buy your guitar directly from the manufacturer (unless it's a custom hot rod).

So while this view may be a bit narrow, it's not inaccurate. And I think people would be surprised how many corporations don't think of the end user as their customer.

[franchelB]

I've been in a cave for the past couple of weeks. Anyone going to see uncle Bob at Buffalo Bros tomorrow? Might be cool to try to take in a tour of the Taylor factory. If I go, it'll likely be a last minute decision though. Tg

So, how did things go? Did "uncle Bob" answer (certain) questions??;)

[mjz]

If you think this viewpoint is unusual among manufacturers, you're wrong.

Taylor's customers are the people who buy guitars from them. Their dealers. Just as you you don't buy your car directly from the manufacturer (unless it's a custom hot rod), you don't buy your guitar directly from the manufacturer (unless it's a custom hot rod).

So while this view may be a bit narrow, it's not inaccurate. And I think people would be surprised how many corporations don't think of the end user as their customer.

Chris:

The concept is called two tier distribution. It's marketing 101 stuff. The companies that understand they have two customers to satifsfy are the companies that prosper and survive. If it's actually true that Uncle Bob said forumites like us are not his customers it's a major blunder and completely inaccurate. It's a recipe for failure and i have to believe Uncle Bob is smarter than that -- although there is that pesky thing called the ES :)

Max

[buddiesorg]

It was an excellent evening. Those of you who went to TaylorStock would have found this to be just a continuation of those conversations.

I'm not sure where one would get the impression that Taylor Guitars doesn't think of end users as customers. To me, their excellent customer service proves they do. The people (i.e. BT and his management) who put that in place were thinking about end users.

[franchelB]

It was an excellent evening. Those of you who went to TaylorStock would have found this to be just a continuation of those conversations....

ah, I guess certain "topics" were avoided by both "BT" and certain forumites attendees?
(Not that I want to open old wounds or anything...)
I'm still somewhat curious...

[Guyute]

I didn't suppose whether Taylor considers end users customers or not. I'm just pointing out that there are a lot of companies who think this way.

My suspicion is that Taylor isn't one of these companies or they wouldn't be advertising/marketing the way they do.

[Jeff M]

My suspicion is that Taylor isn't one of these companies or they wouldn't be advertising/marketing the way they do.


We can only go off what they said when they "dropped" this forum. :(

[taygull]

We can only go off what they said when they "dropped" this forum. :(

Yep, the fly on the wall heard the comment straight from the top, Taylor does not consider "us" (forum members and guitar buyers) it's customers, I guess we really are not. We are customers of "Taylor Dealers".

[mjz]

Yep, the fly on the wall heard the comment straight from the top, Taylor does not consider "us" (forum members and guitar buyers) it's customers, I guess we really are not. We are customers of "Taylor Dealers".

That's the lamest thing I heard today. If BT truly believes this it's only a matter of time before they are gone. Hey, anyone hear of the next great acoustic guitar company?? I think they are called Tacoma, or Larrivee or Morgan or fill in the blank.

Not his customer? Let's see. The list price is X. I paid 40% of X for my Taylor. My dealer payed 50% of X to Taylor. That means 90% of my money went to Taylor and 10% to the dealer. But I'm not his customer? Heck, I even ordered my 810 from Taylor using the dealers phone.

I'm thinking he must have had a ton of pressure from dealers (read Guitar Center) about all the negativity cropping up on this board when it was TGF and uttered this ridiculous comment to appease them. Build a product that resonates with the consumer and you really don't have to worry about the dealer. The marketplace NOT the dealer should determine which products are stocked on the shelves. I guess Guitar Center is that influential. Bummer.

I know my local dealer is concerned about the quality coming out of Taylor lately. I gotta wonder how many other dealers are thinking the same thing.
Have you played a Tacoma lately. Honestly, they give Taylor a huge run for their money. It will be interesting to see what Fender does with them.


max