Wow.
Rory - I don't blame you one bit for pursuing the purchases of your Alembics the way you do. It's a free country, and we all can choose what we wish to do with our money. You wanted the get the best deal for what must have been an important reason for you. Nothing wrong with that at all.
I don't think anyone's equating customer loyalty with price shopping. They are simply two methods to an end, namely, the acquisition of what just about everyone here feels are the finest bass guitars (and guitars) on the planet. Some feel better about the experience via price shopping; others feel customer loyalty to a particular dealer is the way to go, price be damned. So be it.
I agree with Tom that we should support small businesses when we can. I feel they make, on average, the purchasing experience that much more personal, something I feel is woefully absent in America these days. For me, it's something I look for when considering the purchase of any major item, and an Alembic is one of those. This is why I chose Bass Central for my custom - my experiences with Beaver and crew have been stellar, and I have no reason to believe they won't continue to be so.
Foderas as mediocre - I've never played one, so I can't comment. I do know that there are those who believe that Alembics aren't worth it, over priced, sterile, etc. I don't agree, but that's their opinion. Victor Wooten uses a Fodera, and he's a monster player. There must be something good about Foderas that he likes, or else he wouldn't be using them. And no, he's not using them simply because he's an endorsee now - he began playing them years before he became famous. Calling one bass mediocre and another stellar is a bit unfair, I think. We all have our favorites, and they work for us. Other brands work for others. In the end we all get what we like and make music. That's all that really matters, IMHO.
I also think most businesses tend to reward, if such a term is appropriate, repeat customers. They know if they treat that customer right, he/she is more likely to return when shopping for a like or newer item. When it came to my custom, I didn't shop anywhere else. I'd had a good experience with Beaver and crew, and felt that the price I would be quoted would be reasonable (which it was). Could I have save a few bucks by price shopping? Maybe. Speaking only for myself, I would rather spend a little more to get the kind of service I get from Bass Central than less to get a lower level of service. And I feel great about the purchase. Again, in the end, that's the bottom line.
My two cents,
Alan
