Buying parts in advance

Ask your wood and other materials questions here. Please DO NOT post pictures and ask us to identify your wood, we have found that accurate ID is nearly impossible, and such discussions will be deleted. Thanks.
Post Reply
Christ Kacoyannakis
Posts: 252
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 8:58 pm

Buying parts in advance

Post by Christ Kacoyannakis »

Looking for advice on what you folks do about buying parts and supplies in advance. I often see parts (tuning machines, bridges, stop tails, etc.) that I see at a good sale price, and just hang onto them for future projects. So, what happens if a year or two or more, you go to use that part, and you find out it is defective. I totally understand the supplier's point of view that the part is now x number of years old, and they don't know if you have been using it all that time, or just installed it on your new guitar. However, I can't be the only luthier who stockpiles wood, parts, supplies, etc. Should I not expect them to warranty their part after their normal return period (whatever that is)?
User avatar
Bob Gramann
Posts: 1101
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:08 am
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Contact:

Re: Buying parts in advance

Post by Bob Gramann »

I generally inspect things when they’re delivered. If I discover a problem a couple of years later with something I bought from a small supplier that I don’t normally deal with, I would guess it’s a cost of doing business. But, my two major suppliers, LMI and StewMac, totally stand behind their stuff. StewMac has replaced stuff for me several years out. It’s a pleasure doing business with both of them. So, I guess the short answer is “It depends.” That said, I try hard not to buy stuff that I might never use.
Christ Kacoyannakis
Posts: 252
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 8:58 pm

Re: Buying parts in advance

Post by Christ Kacoyannakis »

Bob, that seems to be the way to go - a "best practices" approach. I have heard from several luthiers that StewMac and LMII totally stand behind their stuff, which is fantastic. I usually don't just buy stuff on a whim, but because I know I will need it and use it for a project I have in mind. In this instance, the parts were purchased from a smaller supplier, but at the start of a specific build, knowing I would be using those parts on the instruments I was about to build. It just took me a while to finish those instruments, and that is when I discovered the problem. I should have examined them more carefully.
David King
Posts: 2690
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:01 pm
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:

Re: Buying parts in advance

Post by David King »

I don't see the point in stockpiling especially come tax time when you have to deal with it as inventory. I try to order for three months at a time. Granted wood is something we all stockpile. I expense my wood since it's raw lumber and inventorying it all would be too much hassle or so said the IRS agent I asked about it.

If you are building lots of identical instruments and use Gotoh hardware then it does make sense to order from one of their Japanese distributors but the minimums are around $2k however you pay about 1/4 of retail + shipping and customs.
Post Reply

Return to “Wood and Materials Q&A”