Klarinet Archive - Posting 000098.txt from 2006/03

From: X-MailScanner-tom.henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] Buffet R-13 to be replaced AND I LOVE BUFFET
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:15:42 -0500

Hello Matthew,

I know that I did some pricing research for Buffet clarinets a couple of
years ago when I was looking for a clarinet at that time. In the US, I
found that the RC clarinet is sold at a premium over the price of a
standard R-13. I believe that most dealers back then were charging as
much as $300 more for a standard RC vs. an R-13. In addition, I found
that many dealers did not stock the RC in any large number and this made
it harder to compare to the R-13. I know in Europe, the RC is priced the
same as the R-13, but then you have a hard time finding dealers that
stock the R-13 unless in England. It could be that dealers who do stock
the RC know it will be harder to sell than an R-13 and thus add a longer
inventory life into the pricing to make up for that.

I also discovered that the Festival clarinet is perhaps the best bargain
of all the Buffet's. You get the premium unstained wood, silver keys,
two barrels, and some other features found on the Prestige models for
about a thousand dollars less than a Prestige. However, I found that in
Europe, the Festival model is priced the same or very close to the
Prestige models. So marketing must have a lot to do with how Buffet
prices their clarinets. Generally speaking, most companies will sell a
product for whatever the market will bear. Europeans, I have a feeling,
are used to paying higher prices for things in general and thus may be a
reason why the Festival sells for the same as the Prestige models there.

Since I did this research a couple of years ago, it may now be out of
date and inaccurate.

As to why people tend to want to look at Buffet first, I think there are
some very valid reasons which most likely have nothing to do with how
well a clarinet will play. I know that a used Buffet professional model
clarinet like the R-13 will almost always sell for more on auction sites
than other brands. Even other major brands. Buffet simply has a better
resale value from what I have experienced selling some of my own
clarinets and what I have seen to be the norm. The market dictates the
resale value of any item on an auction site, so it is a valid reason why
someone may buy Buffet over say a Leblanc or Selmer. I have seen almost
new Selmer Recital clarinets selling for almost half of what was
originally paid simply because the market for them was weak. Same for
Leblanc. As to why the resale value for a used Buffet may be higher, I
can only guess. Perhaps it is because their name may be better know by a
parent buying a used instrument for their child. It could be that the
school district band director recommended them, or they heard they were
the "best". In the end, it may simply have to do with marketing.

Tom Henson

<< Matthew said:

I'm interested in why he's so set on an R13. Buffet make a range of
instruments, and there is always the RC at the same price. >>

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