Nickie
Well-known member
I am awkward on the phone and I get super chatty. It is a problem.
I love it! Can I call you even if I can't buy anything?
I am awkward on the phone and I get super chatty. It is a problem.
I love it! Can I call you even if I can't buy anything?
Kala is one of the most recognized brands in ukuleles. If not THE most recognized. They advertise a lot. Support events. And donate to causes and charities.
They've earned their position by making decent quality ukuleles for affordable prices. Now, they seem to be capitalizing on their recognition by selling direct. Perhaps they've seen the writing on the wall and don't believe the small brick and mortar stores will survive the pandemic.
Oh Ohana... how I love thee... let me count the ways...
-Great Value for price
-True to wood tone
-Customer care
-Good to dealers
-GREAT people!
Yes! Those big dealers not being myself, but GC and Sweetwater and such.
Then there is development and innovation.. Ohana has developed many of their styles. With models that can be seen from no other company. Flight as well.
This is what I meant when I said Kala hasn't kept up with their competition. I'm not under the impression that brands like Ohana or Flight are somehow that much better regarding actual build or sound quality but what they do is innovate and produce new and interesting models. In this regard, Kala has stagnated in my opinion.
Having bought from Mim and getting to watch her do the setup on the uke, I know what a great job she does. However, in May I bought a Kala KA-FMCG from Kala at it's 20% off sale, never thinking how it would hurt dealers. Because of this thread, I've learned to be more careful in the future. I like the uke I bought. After taking it to my repair/set-up guy and paying $40 more I enjoy playing it. My point is that right now, if you were to buy a Kala uke from Mim at her 10% discount and get her setup, you would be getting a slighter better price than I got after paying Kala and the setup man. So don't wait for the next round of discounts from her. That Kala uke you want to satisfy your UAS may be gone.
Besides the great setups and all the other good things Mim is involved in, without trying she's also an advocate for a "steady-state economy." Growth, for growth's sake isn't a good thing and as frustrated as I get when I want to look at her website and it's closed, I tip my hat to her and her standards. More folks should be like her.
This is what I meant when I said Kala hasn't kept up with their competition. I'm not under the impression that brands like Ohana or Flight are somehow that much better regarding actual build or sound quality but what they do is innovate and produce new and interesting models. In this regard, Kala has stagnated in my opinion.
Yep, I just did :smileybounce:... if you were to buy a Kala uke from Mim at her 10% discount and get her setup...
I am awkward on the phone and I get super chatty. It is a problem.
I take individual pictures of every ukulele too... sort of as proof you are getting an in-stock instrument! I cant drop ship direct from the manufacturer because you would know you arent getting the ukulele in the picture.
I really have no ill-will towards the Kala ukuleles in general and would not un-recommend them.
Yes! Your individual pictures are what made the difference between me buying from you versus somewhere else for a few dollars less. There is so much variety in wood grain and hue, I want to see the instrument I am buying. Setup is a bonus.
I agree. Just because Mim has made the business decision to not carry Kalas anymore doesn't mean they are of lesser quality. She has sold them and set them up for years, and I don't think she would have carried them if she didn't believe they offered good value and were decent ukes. But they're undermining their dealers.I think that’s important! It’s a brand you had your name on, so I would hope it’s a brand you still back even if it doesn’t make business sense to sell them. I have a (non-Mim) Kala Ubass and have played a couple of friends’ Kalas, and they are fine instruments. I understand folks saying that the competition left them behind in terms of value, but that doesn’t somehow make them poor instruments. In fact, suddenly I’m tempted to pick up a couple set-up Dolphins or Sharks for the little people…
Having bought from Mim and getting to watch her do the setup on the uke, I know what a great job she does. However, in May I bought a Kala KA-FMCG from Kala at it's 20% off sale, never thinking how it would hurt dealers. Because of this thread, I've learned to be more careful in the future. I like the uke I bought. After taking it to my repair/set-up guy and paying $40 more I enjoy playing it. My point is that right now, if you were to buy a Kala uke from Mim at her 10% discount and get her setup, you would be getting a slighter better price than I got after paying Kala and the setup man. So don't wait for the next round of discounts from her. That Kala uke you want to satisfy your UAS may be gone.
Besides the great setups and all the other good things Mim is involved in, without trying she's also an advocate for a "steady-state economy." Growth, for growth's sake isn't a good thing and as frustrated as I get when I want to look at her website and it's closed, I tip my hat to her and her standards. More folks should be like her.
It’s a brand you had your name on, so I would hope it’s a brand you still back even if it doesn’t make business sense to sell them. I have a (non-Mim) Kala Ubass and have played a couple of friends’ Kalas, and they are fine instruments. I understand folks saying that the competition left them behind in terms of value, but that doesn’t somehow make them poor instruments. In fact, suddenly I’m tempted to pick up a couple set-up Dolphins or Sharks for the little people…