Commission. Once the person decides they want one, GC would place the order and have it shipped to that store on behalf of the customer. Same model as a car dealership.
So then the unit would have to cost extra, or FAS would have to accept less margin on orders placed through GC than they make direct.
Car dealerships are actually a bad business model for the consumer too. They force you to go through a middle man, adding cost, and imo, a typically awful buying experience. Of course many dealerships are owned by those with influence to keep the outdated dealer model going.....
Direct stores like Tesla does it make a lot more sense. Factory direct pricing, no sales commissions, middleman fees etc. Those who own dealerships of course are totally against factory direct sales as it makes them, their markups, etc obsolete.
I worked at a GC for what it’s worth. Absolute worst place to demo any gear I’ve been becasue it’s always so loud. Can’t hear anything unless you go Into the acoustic demo room and hope your alone. Think GC is going to build a private room for FAS to demo gear too? Lol
15 home trial is by far the smarter option if you ask me. Let’s you hear it with your own gear, under controlled conditions. Take it to a practice, even a gig. Just keep it in good shape. Have time to learn it too. Not really going to sit down at the thing for 5 minutes and master it at a GC now are you ?
For the OP, if $2500 is too much to “invest” into demoing soemthing, then your not a potential customer at the present time, so there wouldn’t be a real advantage in setting up a free way for you to play one. I don’t say that as an insult, but simply as a logical statement.
It’s no different than if the Ferrari dealer doesn’t have a $250k car for me to go test drive. If they did and I get to go drive it, then what? I say thanks, that was fun, but I’m realistically not in the market to buy a car this expensive ? I mean come on, that would be a fun thing to do and they’d have tons of “potential” buyers all wanting to test drive right, but no actual sales.
If you think a III would be a good upgrade, and you’ve got it in your budget, then your a realistic customer and you should order one. IF for some reason it does not satisfactory meet your needs, return it. No questions asked. Money back less shipping.
Just the overall most sensesable way to run a business if you ask me
