D'Pergo is pushing the limits!

[tradarama]

I can only imagine how many hours a day he spends on the phone with people who want to shoot the breeze. He must have had a few tough situations.

Between that and people "checking in" for a status on their guitars...wonder how these guys actually build anything. It's really rough because I've heard he is about the nicest guy on earth.

My gut tells me that if you get someone to shoot him an email telling him you are serious he'll do it.

[Rick51]

To all those who say that the design consultation is typically treated as overhead by most businesses, I would point out that it is not handled that way by choice. It is simply a recognition of their competitive position. They have to eat the cost in order to have more customers. D'Pergo apparently has all the business he wants. There isn't a business out there that does not want to reduce overhead.

Check out Bill Nash's web site for a look at another approach to the problem. Bill now sells exclusively through dealers. He may not have an explicit fee, but he has either raised his price or reduced his revenue in order to pay a commission to the dealer.

[Chops]

Originally Posted by Bassomatic

One might more aptly choose to view it as part of an alternative business plan that is both sustainable and profitable for the small business owner/operator.

Time will tell on that one, I do suppose.

[Mowcheeba]

Originally Posted by T2tele

Some advice for Mowcheeba, if English isn’t your “mother language”, then you should really "learn some English" and refrain from starting off a thread with…

“D'Pergo is pushing the limits! $300 consultation fee? What the f..K? Talk about bold. Even if the guitar was from another galaxy I would not pay that kind of money just to discuss a possible buy.”

The “What the f..K?” comment wasn’t necessary… pretty rude, insulting and quite BOLD, if you ask me? Why even make the negative comment, what do you think you’re achieving by taking a shot at a highly respected builder on this forum, one who has so many satisfied customers? If you don’t like D’Pergo’s policy, then go elsewhere, there are a number of builders out there that will talk your leg off for free, promise you greatness and then deliver you something very average at best. Take notice bro, through all of the posts regarding D’Pergo guitars, they are 99% positive and Stefan continues to steadily take on new orders… so who’s doing what right, in this extremely slow market?


T2 :AOK

If my way of expressing myself in the original post have offended anyone I apologize.
Maybe my choice of word wasn't the best but I do however believe my English is good enough to post or starting threads on TGP, TDPRI or whatever.
Are you suggesting future members with other mother language than English should take some kind of test to prove worthy of posting?

I am not taking a shot at this highly respected builder, if I was there are more things that could be said and I think there have been others doing that. I have never made a negative comment about D'Pergo unlike many others.
I have said more than once that I admire his work and that I have been curious about D'Pergo Guitars.

About the 99% positive posting by satisfied customer; to me it says more about the customers rather than about D'Pergo.
There is no doubt in my mind that his guitars are one of the finest out there and although the product is the most important
aspect when it comes to a guitar building company it is not the only.

[dspblues]

For what it's worth, I've spent hours on the phone with Stefan and haven't given him 1 cent. We did talk about the build sheet and constructing the guitar that would suit me best based on my playing, preferences, etc. He also talked about that loaner program where I get to try a guitar. Worth its weight in gold if you ask me. Before I put down that kind of money, I want to play one. Being able to spend 48 hrs with one... day and night is much different than what time you'll spend if you visit D'Pergo, visit a store, etc.

[jackaroo]

Some of you are missing what this is about-

He will talk about his products, and options and the impact of the choices available at no cost- It doesn't cost money to call him for general information.

What he is trying to discourage is taking the time to design an enire guitar for someone, and then having them flake out.

He is entitled to determine when the "meter" starts. Apparently he's a great guitar maker, and his time is valuable. Don't waste it. The truth is if you're serious, and go through with the build, these costs get folded into the price of the guitar- and if your full of shit, or were just wasting his time...well then- you get a bill. Seems to be a good solution.

Lot's of guitarists want to talk to builders and fantasize about owning the best gear- or really expensive/pedigree stuff. Paying for it? Some double clutch at that point, back out, and all the time spent by the builder is lost. Consequently, he's not building the instruments that are paid for already, and that leads to longer wait times for his paying customers. So to put the completion of paid orders above a tirekickers desire to talk about his dream guitar seems a sensible choice.

[jimfog]

Originally Posted by dspblues

For what it's worth, I've spent hours on the phone with Stefan and haven't given him 1 cent...........

Ah-hah.......so, YOU'RE the culprit we can blame for this policy!!!!



- Jim

[dspblues]

Hahaha, well it was only 2 hours and Stefan is quite the talker himself! I will buy a guitar, just trying to sell a couple things first.

[JPERRYROCKS]

I sell Audi's for a living. Do you know how much of my time people waste that NEVER buy a car?
I wish I could bill every prospect for the 4 Hours I spend on a busy Saturday afternoon test driving 5 cars that never buy anything. That's part of life when your in business. Dealing with people that "might" buy something is just the ground work you have to do.

[jimfog]

Originally Posted by JPERRYROCKS

I sell Audi's for a living. Do you know how much of my time people waste that NEVER buy a car?

I wish I could bill every prospect for the 4 Hours I spend on a busy Saturday afternoon test driving 5 cars that never buy anything.

That's part of life when your in business. Dealing with people that "might" buy something is just the ground work you have to do.

Selling cars is nothing like building a custom instrument..............but I'm sure you know that.

How about if you were custom modding or even building hotrods.........I bet you sure as shit would charge for the time spent in design.

Originally Posted by JPERRYROCKS

How much consultation do you need for a guitar with a copy of a 50 year old bolt on design?

Apparently, $300 worth.

:AOK

- Jim

[JPERRYROCKS]

jim,

I used to work for a custom guitar builder that hand-makes guitars with old fashioned equiptment. No CNC. I won't mention the name but they're high end original designs with glue in necks.

So I've worked and had my hands on several hundred custom guitars in my time. Making guitars is low pay done for love of craft and not money, I know that. I can make double or triple the money selling Audis. I make guitars in my spare time for myself as a hobby now.

But people are hired to do PR work and discuss options and what's possible on guitars.

Time is money for everybody in life, so no need to put a guitar builder on a pedestal like he's the only one running a business.

[JoeB63]

I support D'Pergo's strategy here. It makes sense to me since he's one guy who's doing both the building and the selling/specing. He's going to greatly reduce his time spent with tire kickers. Smart strategy in his situation. However, this product, which I recently bought for my home office, could solve that problem without the consultation fee. He can talk and build at the same time (except when he's cutting wood, I suppose.


It's the Calisto Pro - cordless phone with Bluetooth headset.

[loudboy]

After reading this whole thread, two thoughts:

1. Howard Dumble wouldn't talk to you on the phone unless you had a credit card number to give him, or so the legend has it.

2. Makes his own screws? Things like this have absolutely no effect on the overall guitar and probably take up hours of time. I understand being a quality freak and I also understand OCD, both desirable qualities in a luthier, but surely Mr. D'Pergo could find a source for these which meets his standards. Not only would it reduce his wait times, but it might give him a little time back.

Other than that, if he wants to charge for consultation, and his customers are all in favor of that, which seems to be the case, what's the harm?

Loudboy

[rwe333]

Originally Posted by loudboy

1. Howard Dumble wouldn't talk to you on the phone unless you had a credit card number to give him, or so the legend has it.

I've chatted w/ him - no charges involved plus call was on his dime.

Originally Posted by loudboy

2. Makes his own screws? Things like this have absolutely no effect on the overall guitar and probably take up hours of time. I understand being a quality freak and I also understand OCD, both desirable qualities in a luthier, but surely Mr. D'Pergo could find a source for these which meets his standards. Not only would it reduce his wait times, but it might give him a little time back.

If that's the way he wants to do it, well...

[Mastervolume]

Originally Posted by JoeB63

I support D'Pergo's strategy here. It makes sense to me since he's one guy who's doing both the building and the selling/specing. He's going to greatly reduce his time spent with tire kickers. Smart strategy in his situation. However, this product, which I recently bought for my home office, could solve that problem without the consultation fee. He can talk and build at the same time (except when he's cutting wood, I suppose.


It's the Calisto Pro - cordless phone with Bluetooth headset.

If only it was an IP phone.....