Re: [Harp-L] SUB-30 price in USA

[Kevin Hamilton <kham27@xxxxxxxxx>]

Suzuki USA told me that Suzuki Japan was the problem. Suzuki USA were not
marking them up outrageously. So I guess complaints should be sent there
way if people want to bark up trees. I agree with Mike. Well directed
informed complaints are the best ones to make when you know something is
not right.

As a farmer I would be out of business if I marked up my produce 100%. Its
even hard to get a fair price if I used full cost accounting for my
veggies.

People need to eat. People also need music! ;)

I do think us North Americans feel a little too much entitlement.

My 2 cents!

On 23 October 2012 20:33, Matthew Smart <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I'm not defending suzukis prices because it seems high, but also consider
> that there is always 50 to 100 percent markup in anything you buy in retail
> whether it is an iPhone or clothes. I know someone that sells designer
> jeans for 100 bucks and pays a few dollars for them. I think retail
> clothing markup is the most offensive.
>
> But there is a reason for this. Suzuki USA is not suzuki. They probably
> buy them at 80 cost from Japan. Then they have to mark it up to make a
> profit. If it is not 20  to 30 percent or more you cannot stay in business.
> You have thousands of dollars on the line in inventory, employees to handle
> service and orders, taxes, etc. the markup has to pay for that. Every
> business works this way. Even in harmonica. Now Suzuki buys tons of these
> harps but they don't have the manpower or reach to get them out there...
> They have to make it attractive for dealers to carry it. If a dealer is not
> making a decent cut they will not carry it and the product won't sell. This
> is how stores make money. When you are buying from a dealer you are paying
> for the product, their service, technical support, their time etc. if they
> only made 5 bucks on something they would go out of business too.
>
> How many times have you called a dealer and asked them questions on the
> phone? That is their time that needs to be paid for. In my case, most of
> what we sell we make in house so I can keep prices lower but I just got
> harangued recently on another forum for the price on an item that we were
> selling as a dealer. We literally make 15 dollars profit on the thing and
> this guy was acting like we were raping people. Keeping in mind that we
> have to buy huge amounts of them at a time so
> Money is tied up. I have to take time supporting the product, answering
> questions, and most importantly what is built into the price is the
> expertise that I'm offering like in this case the free video on the product
> I spent hours making. It's not uncommon For me to spend 30 minutes
> answering questions to a customer about screws. Don't get me wrong I love
> it, but I cant sell stuff at cost or I would be homeless.
>
> If Suzuki cut out the middle man then you would buy from them direct and
> likely get no service. No questions no help no love! So keep in mind that
> you are paying for the service and there is a lot of service required on
> harmonicas. Maybe not right away but eventually you will suck up their time
> when you have a problem. I've heard Suzuki is really good on warranties and
> repair that has to also be worked into cost.
>
> Now, there are certain things that are overpriced. selling cover plate
> screws at 4 bucks each yes. Best buy stores selling monster cables for 50
> bucks when they cost 5 bucks absolutely ( my friend worked there). But most
> harmonicas have been undervalued and underpriced for years. It's only
> recently that they are more where they need to be. I think we all have it
> in our minds that they should be cheap because they were cheap for so long.
> I know I had sticker shock when sp20s jumped from 18 to 35 bucks but
> honestly it's ok because i think they are worth that. Consider that nearly
> every major harmonica company including Hohner and Seydel nearly went out
> of business and/or had money problems. Why? Harmonicas are too underpriced.
> Think about What it is. The best sounding instrument in the world with 20
> or more working reeds, expensive screws, expensive coverplates, hand
> tuned...fits in the pocket! I'll stop now.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 23, 2012, at 11:47 AM, Kevin Hamilton <kham27@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > They told me that is the price that Suzuki Japan has given to the North
> > American distributors. The guy on the phone annoyingly told me to go and
> > order it from Japan if I can get that price and around taxes. Somebody is
> > getting ripped off!
> >
> > They also said they have had a bunch of calls and are looking into it. I
> > suppose I wasn't the first to call today.
> >
> > On 23 October 2012 09:59, Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> For anyone looking into this, please let the List (or at least me)
> aware of
> >> any updates.  For example, is this confirmed, what was Suzuki's
> comments,
> >> etc.  I really enjoy the harp - when tweaked - and would love to see the
> >> technology succeed.  I'd also like to provide customized versions at a
> >> limited mark up, providing a cheaper alternative to certain overbend
> >> models.
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >>
> >> On Tuesday, October 23, 2012 8:38:41 AM UTC-5, Richard Sleigh wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I sent a post her a couple of weeks defending the price of the Suzuki
> SUB
> >>> -30 ($185 US)
> >>>
> >>> I compared the SUB 30 to a Bassoon that cost $36,000. Well.... now I
> have
> >>> a new instrument to compare with the SUB - 30.  That is the SUB 30 in
> >> Japan
> >>> - 6,480 yen, or $82 US.
> >>>
> >>> I put out a youtube video on the subject :
> http://youtu.be/GyHagW-8qEU
> >>>
> >>> I want to make this clear - I think that the people of Suzuki Japan are
> >>> good, honorable people, and I support the risk they are taking in
> putting
> >>> out the SUB 30. I also think the SUB 30 has the potential to be a real
> >> gift
> >>> to the harmonica community, opening up new and powerful ways to express
> >> the
> >>> music we hear in our heads and the passion in our hearts.
> >>>
> >>> But I do not support Suzuki USA selling this instrument for more than
> >>> twice what it sells for in Japan. If you bought one of these harps and
> >> want
> >>> to talk to Suzuki customer service about the price, hers is the number:
> >>> 1-800-854-1594. I looked for an email of their website and could not
> >> find
> >>> one.
> >>>
> >>> Richard Sleigh
> >>>
> >>> P.O. Box 23
> >>> Boalsburg PA 16827
> >>>
> >>> Join my list & get entertaining emails and special offers- go to
> >>> http://rsleigh.com/ on the left hand side, give me your name & email &
> >>> you're in!
> >>>
> >>> http://www.rsleigh.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
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> >>>
> >>
>