Stolen Instrument Registry - Looking for Feedback

[SatchmoBrecker]

Hello all. I'm a musician (saxophonist) and a technologist. I've created an online resource for musicians to assist them in recovering a lost or stolen instrument. There are plenty of very limited lists and whatnot online but they all lack two things: being searchable, and having broad exposure outside their own instrumental niche forum.

So I've created this universal tool and I'm looking for two things: feedback while it's in "test mode", and contacts with folks who might have connections with various music societies, organizations, etc. I myself do not have those connections.

Some details:
1) The admin of this site has allowed me to post here. Thanks Mr. Admin
2) The tentative name is SLIR - Stolen or Lost Instrument Registry. Cute little take on Slur of course
3) It will be absolutely free to use.
4) It's strictly in Test Mode, so Terms of Use aren't there yet, and some data lists aren't as full as they will be. See the BETA INFORMATION link on the site for more information.

SO...If anyone is interested, please give it a try, and feel free to put dummy info in for name and email. All data will be wiped out when it goes live.

Here's the link: http://slir.weebly.com/ (The site address is only temporary). Please use the Feedback form on the site or reply in this thread with any feedback. Any remember, it's NOT the final product but a first pass test "beta release" tool.

Thanks so much for your time - Ken

[Classitar]

Good luck with your service Ken

I tried to put in a test listing - the form wanted a working email

[SatchmoBrecker]

You can put in a dummy email, as long as it's in the right format, like abc@abc.com.

[SatchmoBrecker]

I see 688 views on this thread and not a single comment, and no one (minus the admin) trying the site. Can I take this as an indication that a Stolen Instrument database is not of interest to folks? That would be good feedback too.

[Classitar]

Satchmo,

If you search the past posts, there are only a few regarding stolen instruments over the last 8 years or so
It may not be a common occurrence but understandably very important to the victims.
My guess is that you'll need very widespread use of the website to make it effective.

Once the instruments are stolen, where would they be sold?
Are pawnshops and music shops the most likely spots?
If you can convince them to check info before they buy, and enter info after they buy, victims would have more data available

Have you considered contacting universities? They may be interested in promoting the site

Good luck with your project and Thank You!

[SatchmoBrecker]

Thanks, ya I've considered and contacted various pawn shops, musical organizations, universities, absolutely no luck as in no response whatsoever, not even a no thanks. And I've wordsmithed my emails to make sure they're not offensive, don't seem scammy, etc. I even tested that my emails aren't being blacklisted. Either musicians just don't care, are afraid of anyone outside their limited circle of musical acquaintances, or I don't know what. I've gotten some interest in other music forums I belong to, but I also actively participate in them. Maybe it's fear of the outsider?? I do appreciate your time though, and maybe I should just take this as a sign.

[pied_piper]

One reason why you have not received much interest here is because the traffic here is not as high as it once was. Facebook has several flute related groups and some of the activity has migrated there. Another reason is perhaps because the flute world has a very highly regarded stolen flute list that has been in existence for many, many years - there are flutes on that list dating back more than 20 years! It is the Krantz Stolen Flute List: http://www.larrykrantz.com/stolen.htm.

One small comment for your website: In addition to the type, make, and model, the serial number is the next most important piece of information people would want to know. IMO, the serial number should be displayed on the front page list along with the make, model, etc. I see it is on the details page, but if you had a bunch of similar instruments listed on the main page, the only thing that can differentiate them is the serial number...

[SatchmoBrecker]

Pied piper - thanks for the feedback. See that's where I've gotten so frustrated. So there's a stolen flute list, as if the only musicians that lose or find instruments are flutists. I've encountered the same thing with sax and trumpets players in their forums. Such a limited and, I'll say it, selfish attitude. Oh and just as a funny fyi, in another forum I posted to some of the replies were "absolutely have to include serial number" and others were "absolutely should not have serial number - I would never use a site that required me to enter serial number". Oy, can't win for losing

[SatchmoBrecker]

Just to wrap this up. I've decided to not pursue this project. The utter lack of positive response from forums, musical organizations, etc even individual musicians tells me this is not an idea worth pursuing. Thanks to all here for both the positive and negative feedback. As with publicity, even bad feedback is good feedback!

[Classitar]

Hope you stick around Satchmo!

[pied_piper]

Satchmo - Sometimes the best conceived ideas just don't connect with the targeted users. However, let me mention another perspective you might want to consider. If any of my instruments were stolen, I would want to post it on every available registry. In my mind, the more people who see it, the more likely it might be recovered and returned to me. Besides, I'm a doubler (flute, sax, clarinet) and it would be nice to be able to register all stolen instruments in one place.

Also, it might be possible that some of the people who commented to you misunderstood the purpose of your site. IMO, the differences of opinion over the serial number can be explained: When posting or advertising an instrument online, it's generally a bad idea to post the full serial number because sometimes scammers will try to claim it is their instrument and will forge sales documents with the serial number. On the other hand, once an instrument has been stolen, I see absolutely no reason why the serial number should not be posted in every possible venue. Police reports will generally want a serial number to aid them in identifying a specific instrument. Without the serial number, there is almost no way to ID an instrument beyond doubt.

While I hope I never have to use a stolen instrument registry such as yours, I certainly would use it if any of my instruments were lost or stolen.

[SylvreKat]

I agree with PP, if any of my horns were stolen I'd post it every possible place I can. And a site like you propose would be very helpful for doublers, if say someone broke into their car and stole all their horns.

But not having lost any horns (partly from being almost psychotic about not leaving them anywhere unsecured, including a car), I can't really give any advice on what I would or would not want in a site. Except a magic instant-locator feature

I think you have a good idea. It sounds like it just may take time to get it known and popular.

>'Kat