Klarinet Archive - Posting 001093.txt from 2004/07

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Feeling like Yamaha is one stupidly run company!
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 13:14:41 -0400

Ken Wolman posted:

<<<Is Yamaha the only maker among the "bigs" to do something like this?>>>

No. They all have list prices, and manage their messaging. Ken, you
pointed out yourself that:

<<<I think it's only recently that Selmer allowed their instruments to be
shown in catalogues, period, and you still won't find prices on the new
instruments. Buffet also doesn't seem to allow vendors to put up what their
"street price," perhaps only what I suppose amounts to what car dealers call
the MSRP--Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.>>>

Yes. It is exactly the same issue. The manufacturer's MSRP is on the
sticker in the window of every car. Every car dealer can push up or down at
will.

The only difference is that Yamaha tried to differentiate between the
"sticker" price and the "MAP" that people were allowed to advertise. Don't
think that worked too well, as they morphed to the same price in many
circumstances (see the YAS23 discussed).

Further:

<<<Now, I don't think I dreamed this: the smaller handcrafters like Eaton,
Patricola, and Rossi also sell through the big vendors, but there I believe
the price is the price is the price. So this MAP jive seems to be the
purview of the big manufacturers.>>>

Not really - the MAP is the purview of manufacturers that sell through local
dealers. The artisan-makers typically sell only through the mega-dealers
like IMS and WW&BW; they don't go through local music stores. Local
distribution networks cost money that the lower volume of the artisan-makers
won't support.

<<<And all these are as nothing when you look at the factory-direct prices
(stated in Euros) from the companies in Germany that make German, Oehler,
and Reform Boehm (do these different from Orthodox and Conservative?) system
instruments. Have a clear credit card with a huge limit, sell one of your
kids, or take out a second mortgage:-).>>>

Their volumes are even smaller - they sell every one they make without any
significant marketing costs at all.

kjf

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