Giganova said:
I just can't believe that a giant seller like the GC (= biggest music gear seller on the planet) wouldn't know that the mics are from China. That's hard to imagine.
I assume that they must have ordered directly from China -- but why would a store put its reputation on the line for such a relatively small profit??
The hole story stinks IMHO. Nothing really makes sense here.
...it's simple...the US Sales Rep for Oktava was let go by the home office...he's been servicing the GC account for years...before anybody noticed his departure from the company, he went ahead and filled existing orders that were secured for GC prior to his parting with the company, by contracting product himself directly from China...GC gets delivery of the product at their main distribution center, unsuspecting of the origin of the product (but really, what's the difference to GC where the mics were made...Russia...China...I mean, it's entry-level priced goods...where do you think most of the other entry-level priced guitars, basses, amps, PA's, mixers, etc. are comin' from?...C-H-I-N-A)...the product gets distributed to all the local stores...easier to liquidate the inventory in a blowout sale, than reship all that product back to the distribution center and negotiate returning goods to a manufacturer, who now claims "they're not OUR goods!"...
...this kinda shit goes on all the time in major chain retail stores...I was a sales manager for a manufacturing company in NY for years...we supplied many of the big chain stores...you got a big order...you find a way to FILL the order...it's all about dollars...
...ever buy some BVD underwear in Walmart?...check the country of origin...Malaysia...Costa Rica...Honduras...El Salvador...you think Walmart cares who stitched that crap together?...if you don't buy it, some other poor slob will...
...if 30-40% of these conterfeit Oktavas get returned to GC, somebody else will gladly pony up the dough to take home a tube mic for under a $100...no sweat off GC's ass...none at all!...make any sense now?...
...point is, if you're happy with your purchase, that's great!...great value is a judgement by the buyer...I just wonder if these SAME exact mics were selling for these SAME exact prices, BUT they had the name "Nady" or "Behringer" on them instead of Oktava, would everybody be running out to grab one up?...