I don't think this is cool at all

[bbkobabe]

well it used to be that way back in the day and yes there have been several scandals in recent years, but almost every school is highly ranked. this guy is an embarrassment to us Trojan alums

Uh... erm... Nothing personal, badhabits, and to all the other USC alum here on UU... Sorry!

My dad went to UCLA and these things just sort of pop out of my mind subconsciously... no offense intended... I'll be more aware about employing my personal bias in the future... This is about Ukuleles, after all.

Pono's rule! OK, that's more like it...

Actually... We Cal State School grads are really a bit envious, after all, if you dig right into the matter...

As the saying goes: Scratch a cynic, and underneath you will find an idealist sporting a bad paint job!

 

[DJ Mango]

... looks like Pono's also just had a price increase . ( on TUS website )

 

[Nickie]

I checked out the video too. Couldn’t even make it to the half-way mark, it was that painful.
Not to be snarky or anything, but the title of the song says it all ...

I almost made it to 2.5 minutes. That much was painful. (This guy doesn't sound very bright.) I wonder if he really has $100 Grand to blow on 2 videos?

 

[snowdenn]

Not to keep kicking the horse, but I think something to keep in mind: ULTP probably does do quite a bit of volume in sales. Between that and the relatively small number of non-Amazon type dealers, it seems unlikely to me that the brands he sells would stop doing business with him. It leaves too much money on the table. Will they say something to him? Possibly. Or probably. But if he's selling a lot of their ukes, I have a hard time seeing them stop doing business with him. I could be wrong, and I guess we'll see how this shakes out. But to me, it feels more like it will be a slap on the hand moment than actual pulling their brands from ULTP. He would actually have to be decreasing their sales volume with his tactics, and from what I can tell, despite his setup controversies, he seems to be mostly going after competing retailers. The brands he carries might tell him to cut it out. But I'm not holding my breath for them to withdraw from their partnerships. Man, I hate sounding so cynical.

 

[DJ Mango]

giddyup

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChL_YT3DAa4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

"Big announcement!!! This has been in the works for several years and my amazing team and I decided it was time to introduce you to @terrycartermusicstore. You will still get all the great courses, memberships, challenges, workshops and giveaways you are used to getting @ukelikethepros.

Yes we are still here for you to help you learn and grow in your musical journey.

Don’t worry you will still get the huge selection of ukuleles you are used to seeing at the store, yet now you will also have full access to our wide range of guitars, amps, pedals, strings, and accessories at terrycartermusicstore.com.

This is just the first of many big announcements we will be sharing with you from both @ukelikethepros and @terrycartermusicstore.

Stay tuned because big things are coming."

 

[Sargon]

Perfect time for a "distraction".

 

[DJ Mango]

Perfect time for a "distraction".

... more like part of an opening salvo in his war on ukulele stores and a consolidation of forces as he marches toward ukulele retail world domination .

 

[Joyful Uke]

Perfect time for a "distraction".

Rebranding after a mishap with the current brand name?
If he really was doing as well as he says with the current brand, it doesn't seem to me to be a good idea to change names, but what do I know?

 

[badhabits]

In the works for years?!
Or maybe he just realized he is not a pro?

 

[Tin Ear]

pro bozo vs pro bono

( no offense meant to any clowns )
( or those who actually do give free setups )

 

[badhabits]

This guy won't quit! I don't recommended watching, it's the usual rambling garbage, but the comments are worth a read, esp under the second one (takeway- some people just have to know but cannot figure it out for themselves and must be told what is going on). Mid-way through the second he says new players don't need a set up and that if you need an expensive set up you'd better be a great player otherwise you are foolish. And this is coming from someone who has admittedly bought hundreds of cheap ukuleles.

 

[Spieler]

giddyup

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChL_YT3DAa4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

"Big announcement!!! This has been in the works for several years and my amazing team and I decided it was time to introduce you to @terrycartermusicstore. You will still get all the great courses, memberships, challenges, workshops and giveaways you are used to getting @ukelikethepros.

Guardedly and perhaps naively, I consider this a good turn of events. Let the business stand or fall on the who/what/how of 'Terry Carter', no longer targeting the unsuspecting who are searching specifically for "ukulele."

~ S.

 

[badhabits]

I wonder if #1 really has the relationships he name drops. I've heard "my good friend (famous luthier)" and mention of going to see the guys at TUS. I have seen video of him playing with Andrew Molina and he was a livestream guest, so at least some of it is true. But given #1's track history I'm skeptical and think there's gotta be some BSing going on.

 

[Kaelrie]

If you stumble upon a fire and enjoy kicking it so you can watch a lot more sparks fly, even though you have little idea what is going on, watch this:
I've enjoyed his videos in the past. But for me, this one wasn't even slightly helpful.

Rich can be very, very passive-aggressive, hiding his anger behind southern hospitality language. This video makes sense when you realize his own business depends on his belief (honestly held or not, who knows) that no ukulele has more than $100 worth of sound in it. He almost exclusively sells $50-100 ukuleles and much of his marketing effort is directed towards convincing people that these cheap ukes are as good as or better than the K brands or others in the +$500 range.

That results in him saying a lot of nonsense things that people like Barry and Mim will call him out on, and he never takes it well. So he made this video to snipe at them all.

Badhabits:

Mid-way through the second he says new players don't need a set up and that if you need an expensive set up you'd better be a great player otherwise you are foolish. And this is coming from someone who has admittedly bought hundreds of cheap ukuleles.

Like I said... everything about Rich's POV makes sense when you remember he has his own business selling entry-level Chinese ukes, and he's not that ethical about it.

 

[Kaelrie]

... more like part of an opening salvo in his war on ukulele stores and a consolidation of forces as he marches toward ukulele retail world domination .

View attachment 142522

The Guitar-Centerization of ukuleles was probably inevitable, given the increased popularity of the instrument.

 

[Cadia]

Rich can be very, very passive-aggressive, hiding his anger behind southern hospitality language. This video makes sense when you realize his own business depends on his belief (honestly held or not, who knows) that no ukulele has more than $100 worth of sound in it. He almost exclusively sells $50-100 ukuleles and much of his marketing effort is directed towards convincing people that these cheap ukes are as good as or better than the K brands or others in the +$500 range.

That results in him saying a lot of nonsense things that people like Barry and Mim will call him out on, and he never takes it well. So he made this video to snipe at them all.



Like I said... everything about Rich's POV makes sense when you remember he has his own business selling entry-level Chinese ukes, and he's not that ethical about it.

Perfectly stated.

 

[ploverwing]

This video makes sense when you realize his own business depends on his belief (honestly held or not, who knows) that no ukulele has more than $100 worth of sound in it. He almost exclusively sells $50-100 ukuleles and much of his marketing effort is directed towards convincing people that these cheap ukes are as good as or better than the K brands or others in the +$500 range.

Well that is illuminating. Thank you.

 

[BigJackBrass]

This guy won't quit! I don't recommended watching, it's the usual rambling garbage, but the comments are worth a read, esp under the second one (takeway- some people just have to know but cannot figure it out for themselves and must be told what is going on). Mid-way through the second he says new players don't need a set up and that if you need an expensive set up you'd better be a great player otherwise you are foolish. And this is coming from someone who has admittedly bought hundreds of cheap ukuleles.

Tried to watch it, but I simply can’t separate the sound of whatever he’s playing from whatever he’s saying and I had to abandon it. A remarkably unhelpful way to present an opinion.

 

[Jerryc41]

Got my new Uke today from the Southern Ukuleke Store.

No basic, intermediate, advanced setup nonsense just a FREE professional setup (including setting up a MISI pickup) which is out of this world. Honestly, the Uke plays so smoothly, the intonation is off the scale it’s just solid & balanced. It must have taken them hours to set it up correctly.

Do you know why they took the time to do it… Because their decent people who care. No sales pitch, just a great business giving it their all.

Great! What did you get?

 

[SurferJay]

Great! What did you get?

Flight Carabao (Tenor) with MISI pickup