The price of horns is Too Damn High!

[WillDellinger]

To what do we attribute the increasing price of new horns? Specifically, was looking a at the 2250. Over only a few years, the new price has ridden by around $3000.

Are German labor costs increasing rapidly? The price of brass? Do I just happen to be looking at models whose demand increased their prices like that?

I find it hard to believe inflation can account for a while lot of the increase.

[Three Valves]

It's fixed.

The whole system is rigged!!

[bort]

It's a combination of a lot of things, political and economic. Not to mention, they raise the prices and people buy them anyway. Why wouldn't they raise them if that's the case?

BTW, you might check the cost of buying it in Germany, and having it shipped here. Shipping is expensive, but your dollar goes pretty far over there right now.

[windshieldbug]

The price of horns is TOO DAMN HIGH!

[circusboy]

I think the thread is interesting.

Not everything is going up at the rate of tubas (and mouthpieces, for that matter: G&W up 46% in about 7-8 years, e.g., nearest I can figure).

I keep hearing that overall inflation in the U.S. has been holding at 1-3%/year for many years (hence the historically low interest rates).

Tubas have gone up WAY more than that. What gives?

[bort]

Undercut by cheapo Chinese stuff?

[TheGoyWonder]

The euro will go to crap before the dollar...then people will get belligerent when their socialism cuts off, and it'll fall some more.

[MikeMason]

All currency,even gold, is symbolic.only barter has real value. I don't propose we go that route on any large scale. I'm having fun and making some really satisfying music on a horn I have less than 1,000 in. To each his own.

[MikeMason]

One of my eccentric retired band directors says seeds and shotgun shells are the only currency he believes in he still accepts and spends his monthly direct deposit,however.

[Dan Schultz]

I'm always amused by the 'suggest list price' or 'retail price' of most anything.

Who the Hell actually pays retail, anyway?

[MikeMason]

Perhaps,but our version of serf has the highest standard of living and luxury in human history. No complaints here.

[roweenie]

he still accepts and spends his monthly direct deposit,however.

He really has no choice, does he?
Again, he's a serf - just like all of the rest of us.

The answer = distributism

https://ethikapolitika.org/2014/08/19/d ... apitalism/" target="_blank

[TubaKen]

Our version of serf has the highest standard of living...in human history.

No! No! No! It's all going to collapse ANY SECOND! The New World Order is right around the corner! (Says Bloke's folks for the last 7 1/2 years. )
Back to topic--as was suggested, the price is high because there are plenty of people willing to pay those prices.

[ronr]

The price of horns is TOO DAMN HIGH!

I thought of this exact same thing...

[edsel585960]

The cost of new horns makes a good quality, pre owned Conn or King (or whatever axe you prefer) look pretty good. It's like cars, let someone else take the initial hit for new price.

[bisontuba]

We'll see if currency volatility shifts dramatically next week with the vote of Brexit, and what happens to the pounds sterling/Euro/Dollar, etc....

[alfredr]

Possible trigger warning.

Don't blame me; I voted for McGovern!

(and lots of other losers over the years)

[Three Valves]

We'll see if currency volatility shifts dramatically next week with the vote of Brexit, and what happens to the pounds sterling/Euro/Dollar, etc....

Prediction;

Provided the UK exits; nothing will happen (immediately)

Just like "sequestration" was going to be the end of the world here.

And nothing happened.

Oh, the inevitable will still happen, but for the near term, nothing.

But if the UK exits, they will delay the inevitable happening to them, while the inevitable moves closer to Germany and France.

You heard it here first!!

[Matt Walters]

To what do we attribute the increasing price of new horns?

Businesses strive to be profitable. Therefore; as consumers vote with their wallets, manufacturers and retailers have to vote back with inventory control.

Compare the work of selling 1 million individual widgets with a profit of $1 each to selling 10 widgets at a profit of $100,000 each. Smart businesses have to find the sweet spot in pricing that yields the best profit for the least amount of work and capital expenditure. Price too low and you make now net profit working you arse of. Price too high and you don't sell any. There is always a sweet spot. Doubt me? Look around at all the abandoned store fronts whose defunct businesses have signs still saying "Lowest Prices", "We'll beat anyone's Price", etc. Look at Woodwind & Brasswind who blew the doors off with lower prices 30 years ago. Went bankrupt and now only going with no brick and mortar store front expense.

Personally, I agree that I don't understand how some of these manufacturers are rasing prices higher than inflation rate. Some have let the MAP price the same but raised the dealer cost so they don't look bad but the dealer makes even less selling their item.

[bububassboner]

the price is high because there are plenty of people willing to pay those prices.

This is the answer. It's called capitalism. The price of an item is based on what the market will pay. People are willing to buy $14,000 f tubas so they sell them at that price. We have all seen it. Every time a new horn comes out tons of people buy it. We all know someone like that, or it may even be you. If no one bought them the price would drop until it gets to a place where people will accept it.

This isn't a hard question to answer.