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

[Matthew Smart <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx>]

Umm yeah! We don't mark our stuff up that high not even close ha ha

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 23, 2012, at 9:33 PM, Kevin Hamilton <kham27@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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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> >>
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