The Setup

[Jerryc41]

It seems that the "included" setup is becoming a thing of the past, except for Mim's Ukes. I'm sure there are other dealers who still include a setup, but many are charging for them, regardless of the sale price, and some have different levels of setup, which seems odd. "Do you want your $2,000 to sound good or really good?"

If I were to buy a uke costing $1,000 or more, I would think it would be built well enough that I would be able to make some kind of music with it. Paying $100 more and waiting a week or two doesn't appeal to me. Of course, I'm not a pro, so if the uke makes "music," I'm satisfied. If the clearance at the 12th fret is 2mm or 2.5mm, it makes no difference to me. I've never paid for a setup, and I never will. All of my ukuleles are perfect.

 

[rhiggie]

When did HMS stop their free setups?

 

[badhabits]

Who is eliminating the included/free set up?

 

[badhabits]

When did HMS stop their free setups?

it's been years, for cheaper ukes, I remember it being discussed here. Still available on high end stuff:
"We provide our FULL SETUP service at a reasonable price of $30 for instruments under $300 in value / $20 for instruments $300-$399 / and it is available at no extra cost for instruments $399 and over."

The Ukulele Site | The Setup

Ukulele Setup

theukulelesite.com

 

[kkimura]

The legendary Music Guy Mike used to setup every ukulele he sold regardless of price. When he started to work for HMS the free setups came with him. Recently HMS decided that the free setups would only be offered for the high end ukuleles.
And so another example of aloha over profit fades away.

 

[badhabits]

And so another example of aloha over profit fades away

Do you think they are making a big profit on set ups? Or perhaps just covering their costs/labor?

 

[frets alot]

My local store has always done quality set ups on all their instruments....still do. That's why I've supported them since 1974.

 

[ripock]

I generally don't give favors nor ask for them. So when I want something, I pay for it. Last time I bought an assembly-line uke, I tested out the intonation on a few notes up and down the fretboard and then paid $35 for the tech to do his thing while I looked at interesting instruments like double basses and some brass instruments.

 

[kkimura]

Do you think they are making a big profit on set ups? Or perhaps just covering their costs/labor?

I’m guessing they’re barely covering their costs if that.
But, that has always been the case even back in the MGM days.

(Edit to add a reference to MGM)

 

[ploverwing]

Do you think they are making a big profit on set ups? Or perhaps just covering their costs/labor?

Yes, I think (barely) covering (labour) costs. If they're charging on low-cost ukes, there's probably not an enormous amount of profit to them in the first place (I mean really, there's very little likelihood they're becoming millionaires off of us), other than regarding volume, and since they'd be selling way more $300 ukes than >$1K ukes, there's a lot of labour that would be required to set up all of those $300 ukes.

Mim's is very special. She controls how many ukuleles are released to the wild, because she personally sets each of them up. She is choosing to include this service into her prices.

Set-ups were never free.

They were included in the purchase price.

Exactly this.

 

[kkimura]

I believe that people who buy a well setup entry level ukulele are more likely to stick with it and eventually upgrade to more expensive ones. That should be enough incentive for sellers to provide setups on low cost ukuleles.
Another is to not sell “junk” which differentiates the drop shippers from the “recommended” ukulele sellers.

 

[don_b]

I am one of the lucky people who has always been able to play any uke I ever bought comfortably without a setup, across a range of prices.

 

[oldjazznut]

Gold Tone only has reso and banjo ukes, mostly Chinese parts, but they do the assembly and set-up in Florida. I have one of each, and both were on the money. They have a video tour of the factory.

I wonder if their $190 plastic body banjo uke gets the same treatment. They probably get it assembled, and do a basic inspection. It gets good reviews.

All of my wood ukes came setup great, except my cheap Hilo. String height a pinch high (I left it alone) and a few sharp fret ends. All made in 2006. I wonder if 2023 would be as good?

 

[rainbow21]

Set-ups were never free.

They were included in the purchase price.

The shops are businesses. You pay for everything. Sometimes they put the costs into a purchase price, sometimes they make it an add on. The shop will not be in business very long if the customers don't pay for all the stuff.

Semantics can be confounding and clichés can add to this.

Is it incorrect to say that Mim does a free set up with purchase? I like to think of it this way since the price is the same as all other vendors that do not include a setup. Technically, it may be (or may not be) correct to say that someone is paying for it. But what is the difference for the buyer, seller, and the grammar police to say a setup is included with purchase or a setup is free with purchase?

Either way, modern economic realities are catching up with some of our valued sellers. The easiest place to see this is shipping costs. But worker shortage is real as is cost of living, supply issues, and market vagaries. So the "free setup" with inexpensive ukuleles is tougher to absorb with their minimal margins.

To the OP... you are correct for meeting your needs. I personally prefer a setup to optimize the playing and will willingly (not necessarily patiently, lol) wait longer for a setup. I will also choose vendors that do a setup "for free" (well, specifically Mim's and TUS).

 

[merlin666]

If there are some that include set up in the price, then should there not be a discount for people who don't want a set up and insist on getting a new untouched uke in unopened factory box (such as myself)?

 

[Joyful Uke]

I believe that people who buy a well setup entry level ukulele are more likely to stick with it and eventually upgrade to more expensive ones. That should be enough incentive for sellers to provide setups on low cost ukuleles.
Another is to not sell “junk” which differentiates the drop shippers from the “recommended” ukulele sellers.

You beat me to saying this.

The first ukulele I bought was not set up. It was so horrible that I put it away and decided I hated ukuleles.
I tried giving it away eventually, and it kept coming back to me because everyone else hated it too. I finally found a youngster who was happy to bang away on it. I was delighted to give it to them.

I eventually decided to try ukulele again, and this time got one that was set up well. It was the beginning of my UAS and journey with ukulele.

But that poorly set up initial ukulele derailed my journey for a few years and nearly ended it completely.
If we want more people to enjoy ukulele, well set up ukuleles are important, IMO. And beginners don't even know to ask for that.

 

[keenonuke]

The legendary Music Guy Mike used to setup every ukulele he sold regardless of price. When he started to work for HMS the free setups came with him. Recently HMS decided that the free setups would only be offered for the high end ukuleles.
And so another example of aloha over profit fades away.

Or perhaps part of inflation and the reality of cash flow, etc.

 

[kkimura]

Or perhaps part of inflation and the reality of cash flow, etc.

So true, the biggest margins and best cash flow can be had by having no store front or employees. Just take orders online and have ukuleles shipped directly from the manufacture's warehouse to the buyer.

Or, set aside some of the margin across all the sales to help pay for setups. The ones that need it most have the smallest markups,. Their setups can be underwritten by the expensive ones which have bigger markups and need less work to setup.

 

[oldjazznut]

People expect to buy something that's setup, ready to use. Would you buy a new car with bad alignment, half flat tires, and loose brakes?

 

[LorenFL]

Am I the only one who questions just how much "setup" is involved in a "free setup"? (or even a $30 add-on setup)

I've only bought one uke from an online specialist shop, and it was supposed to be "set up for Low G". I question whether they did anything other than fit a Low G string to it. (despite the fact that I specifically told them NOT to do that, but to instead use a particular set of Worth Brown strings rearranged for Low G)

Just because they SAY they're doing a setup doesn't mean they're actually doing anything. And if they are, they're going to be very conservative about the adjustments that they make both to limit their risk and their investment in time. They might CHECK the instrument to see that it's not completely knackered, you're not gonna get junk. But, I expect that "yeah, that's good enough" if a very big part of their vocabulary. And most of their customers will be fine with that, as most people really aren't that picky.

Just my thought.