New Fender dealer rules. - stolen from richardsguitars facebook (Sorry!)

Hertz32

"Have you heard about Fender?! They are going around their dealerships putting a sock over the headstocks of guitars in their dealerships!!! If the guitar can be mistake for a Fender with the sock over the headstock then the dealer can no longer sell that guitar - or face losing their dealership.

Tis true!" - Richard

What the hell? Thats nuts, especially as they didn't actually copyright the body in the same way Gibson did with the LP.

darcym

what does this mean ?

Fender are putting a sock over the headstock of Fender guitars and they test the dealer to see if they can identify Fenders ??

what ?

could you try to explain what you mean a little clearer please ?

spacecadet

I heard about this a while ago. Dealers like to bitch and moan about these things but generally just the ones that can't afford the dealerships and when the likes of Fender or Gibson won't let them cherry pick, they get arsey. I think there are arguments for and against this sort of thing. 

Hertz32

Fender go into a dealership

place a sock over the head of other manufacturers guitars

if that guitar could pass for a fender with a sock on it, they are no longer a fender dealer.

bingefeller

Wat?

Hertz32

I think Fender are trying to move into direct sales though aren't they? They're just weeding out retailers of their guitars for naff reasons. 

XWulfhere

This sounds like a variation on the 'all the pubs have been told to take down England flags' rumour I used to see when I was on Facebook and there was a football tournament on

monquixote

Hertz32 said:

I think Fender are trying to move into direct sales though aren't they? They're just weeding out retailers of their guitars for naff reasons. 

I don't think they need to do that though do they. If they want to stop selling them to dealer then they can.

John_P

I'd be very surprised to hear they would stop supplying any retailer that it's selling a lot of guitars for them, regardless of what else they sell.

Philly_Q

Is this for real?  First we've had Gibson increasing the prices of Historics to a point where no-one can afford them.... now Fender are going to be complete and utter twats as well?

I've been thinking for a while about buying my first Fender CS guitar.  Maybe I should just do it quick then forget about them before everything gets stupid.

spacecadet

Philly_Q said:

Is this for real?  First we've had Gibson increasing the prices of Historics to a point where no-one can afford them.... now Fender are going to be complete and utter twats as well?

I've been thinking for a while about buying my first Fender CS guitar.  Maybe I should just do it quick then forget about them before everything gets stupid.

Or buy a Suhr.

guitarfishbay

Well I hope it is an authentic Fender sock. Would be pretty embarrassing if someone mistook another brand of guitar for a real Fender with a counterfeit sock on it.

Hertz32

Just buy used :P 

guitarfishbay

FS one sock, some signs of wear as expected with a sock but no holes. Never gigged. As good at covering headstocks as any other sock but as I've recently switched to piano I need some bigger socks.

Hertz32

@guitarfishbay

Basher

The results were not pretty when Fender attempted to implement this policy at a RHCP gig.

Philly_Q

spacecadet said:

Philly_Q said:

Is this for real?  First we've had Gibson increasing the prices of Historics to a point where no-one can afford them.... now Fender are going to be complete and utter twats as well?

I've been thinking for a while about buying my first Fender CS guitar.  Maybe I should just do it quick then forget about them before everything gets stupid.

Or buy a Suhr.

Too modern for me, even the Classic Antique models.

I might consider something like an LSL or K-Line, but really I'm a sucker for that F word on the headstock (even if it is hidden under a sock).

FelineGuitars

Clever corporate plan abut to backfire in 3.....2.....1

Isn't this a bit like a popular kid at school telling other kids that they can't be his friend if they are also friends with (insert rival's name here)

Thought that only happened on US high school movies like Mean Girls.

sticker

Sounds like nonsense to me .... What does @MattFGBI have to say on that rumour ?

DougCoda

we've had no visitors with socks, I'll keep my eyes peeled and report back...in fact I may make people remove their shoes and sock before they come in just to be sure

usedtobe

My feet are barely recognisable with socks on!