Roland G - When is it shipping?

[madAhorn]

Guitar Center Tempe Arizona also said they have them in the back but are not allowed to sell them until May 1st.
They also had none on display.
I did get to play the 700GX however.
The piano's were great, the EP's disappointing...See the ARX-02 thread.

[2TIM316]

This must be Roland's current policy - no store can display until a certain date, in this case 5/1. But probably some people have pre-ordered and they can pick them up. Okay, less than a week to go.

[Nico421]

Is there any lucky G owner in the UK already? My local dealer now says later this week...

[The Audacity Works]

Unless I can make it down to GC next week with my pair of Sennheiser HD580s, looks like I won't get to play with a G until I visit the fam for Mother's Day.

[checks calendar] May 11th?! Damn, that long?!

[sonxpro]

Now my East coast dealer says may 8 availibility, changed from May 1, originaly April 26.

[Jimknopf]

sounds like mayday...

[keysme]

This must be Roland's current policy - no store can display until a certain date, in this case 5/1. But probably some people have pre-ordered and they can pick them up. Okay, less than a week to go.

It just dawned on me why Roland may have 'waited' until May 1st before "opening up" the Fantom G to the public and beginning to sell them, at least here in the States anyway.

If you pay income taxes (and most of us do) you are then likely aware of the stimulus rebate checks that the government is dishing out to those who have filed for income tax. Couples who filed jointly will receive $1,200 and any children in the household under 18 will each receive $300, those who are single and file will receive $600, and there are those who don't pay taxes yet meet certain conditions or restrictions and they too will get $300. I said all that to say this - the public is just starting to receive and/or will soon receive their stimulus checks in the mail or through direct deposit and the government recently stated that around the first of May was when the government was going to start mailing the checks and those who wanted their money sent through direct deposit started receiving their stimulus rebates today i.e. April 28th. And people will then have some extra cash on hand and the government is encouraging people to go out and spend it to "stimulate" the economy. Roland, in my opinion, has waited until May 1st before releasing the Fantom G because their corporate heads realize people will have extra cash on hand around that time i.e. May 1st. Roland smells the money and they want to release the G at the most opportune moment which if you look at the landscape of financial advantage for a corporation or company it is May 1st. That's when people start getting their rebates and will have more spare cash on hand to buy, among other things, a Fantom G. Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want to but it makes a whole lot of sense to me. And apparently Roland agrees! They could have released the G most likely in early April. But why?? When they can release it May 1st when the money starts to roll in?

And it's not a bad thing mind you. Roland sees a financial opportunity and they are seizing upon it. Pretty smart if you ask me.

[The Audacity Works]

I bet you $20 it's because of (lack of) inventory. GC most likely got the first batch of Gs, and to appease other dealers (Sam Ash, Sweetwater, but mostly smaller independent stores), Roland required GC wait until everyone else has stock—to even the playing field.

If I owned an independent music store and all my otherwise loyal customers drove down to the local GC just because they got them first, I'd be pissed at Roland. I may just start pushing Korg instead.

Product availability is a big deal.

[madAhorn]

Excellent point and a real temptation if Guitar Center had them available 1st.

Excellent commentary...

[dasinsasion]

Im with Keys. Seems they are after a "The fastest selling music instrument in history award". When the "Bush" checks come in people looking for new gear is gonna be wooed by the GC employees to buy the "greatest and newest keyboard". I never thought about it, but Roland isnt the only company targeting this money. (Anyone seen the GTA 4 and Mario Kart commercials?)

[cgreene]

Everybody' gonna go to Best Buy with their checks and get a new flat screen TV.

[pbk]

Well, I have confirmation from my dealer that their Gs were shipped from Roland on Friday and they should be arriving between tomorrow and Thursday to them. So most probably I will receive my own by Monday next week. I also couldn't resist and upgraded my order to a G7. Tempus fugit, fingers crossed.

[jessej]

I will get my Fantom G home delivered next tuesday or wednesday. I will also get a Roland GT-10. Happiness!

[2TIM316]

As I understand it, $1,200 is the cap, per family. So kids wouldn't get more money on top of the $1,200. Here's another thing. Not everyone's getting $1,200. It depends on your tax status and income bracket, etc... For example as a joint filer, I'm getting $7 something.

As regards gear, remember, A Fantom-G is not an American product, although some American businesses would profit from the purchase of one. On the other hand a Dave Smith Prophet 08 is 100% American and 100% great sounding. So is a Minimoog.

[Beantown]

Everybody keep in mind... there will be a limited quantity of G's available upon the initial release. Most of us will have to wait until the second shipment to get our hands on one.