Klarinet Archive - Posting 000568.txt from 1998/09

From: ROBERT ABRAHAM <rkabear@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] resale?
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 02:08:56 -0400

True...sorry about that. Through open market, I could sell a Prestige for $1800-2000 and a NEW one costs $3400 (wholesale - retail list is $5600 approx). A new R13 could sell on the open market for $1200 for an 80's model. I was quoting new prices at first, but 80's R13s sell for more than the $900 you quoted, unless you sell it through a wholesaler. Maybe that's all *you* would pay, because you know the wholesale/retail markup, but the average individual who goes to a local music store sees an R13 at $2400+ retail price, and would gladly pay $1200 for that R13 that's used. Just because you know what prices are, doesn't mean you have to sell *your* horn for that price. No one has to sell a used car below blue book value, just because they wouldn't buy a car for blue book value themselves. Supply and demand gives you the option of selling a clarinet for what it's worth to a music store, or what it's worth to a person who doesn't buy wholesale ;-). I don't think this is unethical...let the buyer beware. If a buyer wants to pay what is easily accessible in price for a used instrument, LET THEM. Don't take less money for an instrument that your selling. It's still a LOT less than retail or wholesale new...

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds/Computer Geek
New York City

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But that's original price, not the price one can get for it on the open market. A clarinet that cost $900.00 in the 80's will fetch (approx.) $900.00 today. With inflation and all, that's somewhere around a 40% drop in value. Not too bad considering that most things after 10 or 15 years have no intrinsic worth, but definitely not a _rise_ in value. If that clarinet you bought for $1300.00 in '87 fetched $3400 today ...

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