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estebanana -> RE: prejudice against USA guitars (Jul. 13 2018 8:34:53)
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The VAT taxes and shipping internationally is a big factor.
I don't think there much predudice now, it's mainly ease of availability; difficulties of European dealers and American makers to connect and to connect with customers. It's not practical when EU based products are closer and fall inside trade zones of the EU.
In contact with European dealers I get a lot of enthusiasm and good feedback. But the price range has to justify the shipping and tax barrier be overcome to stock a lot of American guitar product.
Attitude wise I don't perceive predudice, practical to trade incentives to work with Spanish products.
Upper tier imports to foriegn markets justify the cost of tarrifs and shipment. But most of the market for entry level guitars and good playing product is the under 3000 US dollar range.
The next bracket is guitars over 8000 US and the third bracket is 12,000 to 20,000 and above.
The latter market is exclusive and the customer plays and wants what they want. They will pay tarrifs and shipping as part of the game. They don't have predudice as much as they have cultivated certain likes and dislikes and collect across international tastes. Some are also top level pro players who need access to certain instruments no matter what the costs.
Level two also warrants international trade because it provides the committed player it collection maker with international products.
The under 3000 market is big, but doesn't warrant the trade because the dealer loses money after all the work is done. Local trade makes that market work, or very low bulk wholesale prices for big dealers.
The dead zone is 3000 to 7000 US dollars- most guitars are in this range. Oddly it's the most difficult market. But it's the market for builders. It's difficult for a builder to make money in this range unless they deal one on one with commission. Dealers put in as much work selling a 10,000 dollar instrument as they do a 6,000 $ instrument be and there's import tax and shipping in internationally traded guitars.
Predudice may exist, but much of it is enabled by trade barriers. The Spanish however did invent the thing, and to they know what they are doing. Especially in the regions with intact schools that have continuity with the past makers.
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