Greetings, everyone -
Since I almost started World War III in Joe's Mains Lead post and I have been given a stay of execution by Nigel, (Nigel, are you listening?) I thought I would tell you my conversation I had with a Panasonic representative.
I called 4 different numbers to Panasonic and left a message for someone to call me about the necessary changes required for converting a UK KN7000 to a US power conversion. Finally, 4 days later someone called and said that they were not in the tech department but referred me to their authorized service in my area. As it is, this authorized service place is 100 miles from where I live. This post is not about this but about what followed.
I mentioned that it was a shame that the company went out of the keyboard business and he said it was a money thing, which we all know. As we spoke, I gained his confidence and he said that he guessed it was OK to "talk about it now" since it is a well established fact that they no longer are making keyboards. He stated that the company gave strict orders not to talk about their decision. He then told me the Technics keyboard history from the beginning to its demise. He said that the company hired a "most unusual marketing director." The tone of his voice told me that he thought the marketing director was a total moron. This marketing director laid down the rules as to how the Technics keyboards were to be marketed. They are as follows:
They were to be marketed as keyboards for the home and for the nonprofessional player. (That ought to incense a few of us who do well on gigs.)
They would not be sold in professional gear music shops and there would be no hard cases made for the road, i.e., for traveling gigs.
They would be sold ONLY to their loyal piano and organ dealers and absolutely, no Internet sales.
They would not be discounted and no company employee was to give a retail price because this was reserved for their "loyal" longtime piano and organ dealers to give their customers a 'suggested manufacturer's retail price' and if they so desired, give a discount.
One dealer ONLY was allowed to sell the keyboards within a 150-mile radius. This leaves out well established piano and organ dealers to sell their keyboards. Should a dealer have more than one store in a city, they could sell the keyboards in all their stores, which at least would be a bit more exposure.
Sales, over the years were dismal due to this INGENIOUS marketing. The company was losing interest and it was considered a very small market for them. In later years, the keyboards were pushed in the direction of large department chains, such as Sears in the US. They were to be sold (get ready) in the department that sold small appliances, including sewing machines and washers and dryers. I can vouch for this as a fact. About 4 years ago, I was in a Sears store and in their appliance department, I saw Technics keyboards for sale. I was shocked! Out of interest, I spoke to a person working in that department and asked if he or someone could help me with questions I had about the keyboards. He replied that no one knew much about how to operate the keyboards but gave me the owner's manual to look at and left.
IS THE ABOVE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SCREAM AND PULL YOU HAIR OUT?!!!
You have to wonder where the brains are with people in charge of huge companies.