#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Selling at the Mega Market

We will again be showing at the Mega Market 136th & Q. We have been showing there the past 2 Saturdays. It is an indoor market open on the weekends. We will be there not only Friday the 29th but also Saturday the 30th. We have loved all the reactions and positive feed back from everyone that has come through.

I wanted to share a story about a customer that came through yesterday. I was away from the table but my wife had this interaction and related this story to me. This customer brings his wife and children to our table and states "These are the guitars I was talking about". He commented how great the guitars looked. He asked the price of the Mojo Guitar which is $1,000.00. He then begins to demean the work by saying he saw such a guitar on ebay for $40.00. Well long story short, my wife chased this guy away and was rightfully offended by such an attack on my craftsmanship. It's not that I consider myself to be the greatest craftsman, but the truth is I think this person really enjoyed my work, but didn't have the economic fortitude to be able to buy such a guitar. That is why I make other unique instruments so that almost anyone who wants a unique instrument can have one if they so desire. In the end we're all looking for a deal. In the world of handcrafted unique items the price paid is not all for materials, but for the time the craftsman took to come up with the idea to cutting, routing, drilling, sanding, spraying clear coat, sanding, winding pickups, wax potting, soldering, assembly and setup. I don't know one craftsman that isn't worried about the smallest details about what they are selling. A crafts person wants to put out a quality product to keep customers coming back, all the while honing their skills. Well, I just want someone to be happy with something they can't find just anywhere.

1 member likes this

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Al Nelson on November 27, 2013 at 4:13am: LOL, yeah I get the same responses. The true musicians get it. Everybody else thinks of a musician they know. But it's all good, because you get to see the excitement and wonderment in their eyes.

Comment by Scott aka Farmer Ted on November 27, 2013 at 3:51am: Great story. I used to set up at farmers markets and fairs. Most people I've met here in Nova Scotia can't wrap their heads around a four string instrument unless it's a fiddle or a tenor banjo. Some would ask "why only 3 or 4 strings"?

My response (which is quoted by others here in the Nation) is always "half the strings...twice the fun".

Comment by Al Nelson on November 27, 2013 at 3:24am: Right on Pete. I feel the same way. The positives far out way the one or two negatives in a season.

Comment by Pete Turner on November 26, 2013 at 12:00pm: Having for years sold my woodcarvings at various craft shows & festivals I occasionally get comments about the price or better yet "I could make one of those." These comments are far outweighed by the positive feedback I get from people who really appreciate handcrafted work. Like you I always have carvings in a wide range of prices. Ones I know I can sell and pay for the booth, travel, etc and others that if I sell one or two I'm happy.

By and large I usually ignore the negative comments or give a witty wiseass answer either way I don't let them ruin my day.

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on November 25, 2013 at 3:29am: She shoulda just told him he could build his own for 40 bucks, save the eBay shipping! Nice git. Problem is, most tire kickers like that have no earthly idea what is actually involved in building such a beauty. They only see the cigar box.