Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Suzuki diatonics available at Costco

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

That's all very well Kevin, for those of us who have access to other  
methods of obtaining harmonicas and who live in countries with local stores or  
who have vehicles and can drive longer distances. 
 
But my original reason for posting that a warehouse store such as  Costco 
carried 4 particular Suzukis (in key of C only,  btw)...was precisely so 
those folks who live in areas NOT served by local  stores or who have to pay 
exorbitant import/handling fees to obtain harmonicas  could perhaps get to try 
out an instrument of interest to them prior to making  the investment of 
placing a bigger order for other keys online.
 
I've checked further and they actually allow return of items, and that  
policy seems to apply to the harmonicas as well.
 
In case you weren't aware, Costco has stores in several countries  around 
the world. I've heard enough complaints about people in certain poorer  areas 
having no access to harmonicas at all, so provided the  information 
hopefully for them, specifically. 
 
And for the record, since I too shop first in my local community like you,  
the only 'local ma and pa music store' in my entire area has never had the  
remotest interest in carrying harmonicas despite my entreaties over the  
years.  The other 'big music store' an hour+ drive away charges a  prohibitive 
amount for my chromatics of choice, the CX-12 as well  as carrying them 
only in one key. So thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather  purchase 3 at a time 
from a vendor at a harmonica convention. (I'm not unique in  this aspect).
 
 I have kept many of my local hardware, book and other stores in  business 
for years. However, when I cannot find the products I require  locally, then 
I drive the half hour to the Costco store where I shop. 
 
Are you also unaware that many small business owners (such as your local  
'ma and pa stores' ) manage to stay in business precisely because they're 
able  to consistently obtain their supplies at a huge discount from warehouse  
stores such as Costco, Sam's Warehouse, etc? 
 
Nothing is ever quite so simple as one might assume. 
 
 
To that end I've gone back in to the website to see just where their stores 
 are located and come up with this list. I must have been misled by the 
original  map: there are none in India as far as I now know.  The countries  
(unless more have been added recently) are:
 
 
The United States (40 States)
Australia
Canada
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Puerto Rico
Taiwan
United Kingdom
 

Elizabeth
 
"Message: 9
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:19:36 -0400
From: Kevin  Hamilton <kham27@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Subject: Suzuki  diatonics available at Costco
To: JohnnieHarp  <johnnieharp@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: martin oldsberg  <martinoldsberg@xxxxxxxxx>, harp-l
<Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>

I'm forever the guy rocking the boat or voting  with every dollar I spend.
Walmart, Costco or any other big box store kill  our local music stores, 
book
stores, clothing stores, farmer's markets,  grocery stores, hardware stores
etc...

I'd rather spend $5 or $10  bucks extra to keep a healthy vibrant local
economy happening then send my  money out of my community through the box
stores which more often than not  pay there employees less and blah blah 
blah
the list of reasons can stretch  on. I think some people will get my drift.

I'm just a poor organic veggie  farmer in the end, so I know about saving a
buck. However I do like my local  ma and pa shops!!!

That's my two cents. Or was that 4  cents.

Kevin