 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jen L.
Date: 1999-02-27 20:36
I've been cruising the websites of the standard four clarinet manufacturers (drooling over clarinets that I probably will never have), and I realized that none of these company websites publish the list prices for their instruments. Is there a reason for this? Do they not like to show this information online because it changes rapidly? Or is this proprietary information that only authorized dealers get? Since several of the mail-order companies will tell you what the list price of a new R 13 is, it seems a bit odd that the Buffet site doesn't have this information. Or am I just looking in the wrong spots?
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-02-27 21:36
I think it's because you need to go through a distributor. Leblanc will tell you the suggested retail price for a given clarinet if you tell them the model number. I suspect the others will also.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-02-27 22:47
Jen L. wrote:
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I've been cruising the websites of the standard four clarinet manufacturers (drooling over clarinets that I probably will never have), and I realized that none of these company websites publish the list prices for their instruments. Is there a reason for this? Do they not like to show this information online because it changes rapidly? Or is this proprietary information that only authorized dealers get?
Probably it's a little bit of all of the above. Price fluctuations should be easy enough to change as needed on a web site, but the manufacturer can't control the way people download this information and pass it around all over the place. The original date and context of the posting ("these prices will stay in effect until...") may disappear in the process. Then the manufacturer has to cope with a lot of outdated numbers floating around and confusing people.
And yes, manufacturers often prefer to keep their dealers' actual costs private, not because the manufacturer needs secrecy but because their dealers will get livid if they find out that their customers can discover their profit margins. The customer who finds out that information gains a lot of bargaining power. A fair-minded customer won't begrudge a dealer a decent profit, but not all customers play fair. Better for the dealer to just avoid the fight. (When I was in the stained glass business, some retailers launched a boycott of a wholesaler who would sell directly to anyone who sent for the catalogue--and then sent the *same* catalogue with the *same* price list to everybody.) Because of the ubiquity of discounting, "suggested retail prices" are becoming increasingly phony, not just on musical instruments but on everything. The idea is for the manufacturer to give each dealer the chance to encourage the customer to think the *real* regular price is a bargain, since it's less than the "suggested retail price." That *real* regular price (the street price) depends a lot on the volume of product a particular dealer can stock, because most wholesalers give quantity discounts. Generally, big dealers get better prices and can discount more than small dealers.
Sometimes a big discount isn't the best bargain, though, because some volume discounters charge a hefty shipping and handling charge, and because the small dealer may back up the product better. When you take a clarinet back to a reliable local dealer for an adjustment, you're dealing with someone who will get to know you and your particular instrument, and will work with you. And of course you don't need to pay shipping and handling charges again. I also think that the instrument bought locally, face-to-face, in a small store, is somewhat less likely to need adjustment, because that type of dealer is more likely to take the time to look over, test and adjust instruments carefully as they arrive.
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Author: mommaq
Date: 1999-02-28 03:33
<A HREF="http://www.wwandbw.com/">
The Woodwind and Brasswind site might offer you some help. Just e-mail them for their catalog and you'll get a good idea of what price the manufacturer is asking and a good price a store might ask.
Also keep in mind that if you purchase through a teacher, they should get an additional price break for you.
I hope this helps a little.
mommaq
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-03-01 00:45
The real reason they don't publish their prices is because they don't sell to individuals. If you go to the Eaton or Patricola or Rossi site you'll find prices published because they <b>do</b> sell to individuals.
Even then, the prices that are "list prices" are (by law) "Suggested list" prices - not what has to be charged for them.
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