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What's With New Bass Price Hikes?

jaywa

jaywa

May 5, 2008
7,702
283
Iowa City, IA
#1
So I was in my local GC yesterday and imagine my shock when I saw a Marcus Miller Jazz Bass priced at $1,199 when it had been under a grand as late as last summer. For all I know it may have even been the very same bass.

I know inflation is rampant, but a 20% hike in 7 months?

I am wondering if this is a GC thing, a manufacturers thing, or some of both. If it's a manufacturers thing are all U.S. guitar makers hiking prices to that degree? I have been saving my shekels for a new StingRay (new around $1,500 last I checked which is already plenty...) but if this is the way prices are going I will either have to push back my timeline, or buy used.

To be honest, the way the economy is going been I would think price hikes are the last thing a company would want to do that is interested in moving inventory at all.
 
#4
budget bassist said:
It's called a recession.
Click to expand...

So recession = higher prices?

I'm not tracking, sorry. Please elaborate. Seems like less people able to buy at current prices should equal prices coming down, not going up.

But then, I'm a musician not an economist.

I'll tell you this, if Ernie Ball can hold the line on pricing while Fender jacks their prices 20% then I will be a MusicMan player the rest of my life.
 
#8
jaywa said:
So recession = higher prices?

I'm not tracking, sorry. Please elaborate. Seems like less people able to buy at current prices should equal prices coming down, not going up.

But then, I'm a musician not an economist.

I'll tell you this, if Ernie Ball can hold the line on pricing while Fender jacks their prices 20% then I will be a MusicMan player the rest of my life.
Click to expand...

(Has taken econ) When we go into a recession, in theory, companies should lower their prices. But, when the recession becomes severe enough to lower the worth of the American dollar (as it is relative to other countries), then they raise prices because the materials and parts that they order cost more (near worthless) American dollars. At the same time, during the recession, less people buy the product and the company moves less inventory. To a certain extent, a company should lower prices to raise consumer interest. But (again), once the recession hits a certain mark, they must raise prices to cover losses. Combine that with raising taxes and fees from a faltering government, bloating from a horrid economy, and worry about the company's financial status and product movement quota, and you have the 20% increase.

Complicated and unnavoidably boring, but relevant and sad nonetheless.
 
#12
Zoidberg523 said:
(Has taken econ) ...lower the worth of the American dollar (as it is relative to other countries), then they raise prices because the materials and parts that they order cost more (near worthless) American dollars...
Complicated and unnavoidably boring, but relevant and sad nonetheless.
Click to expand...

You checked the strength of the American dollar lately? You may be surprised.
 
#17
Way Off Bass said:
sorry guys, but bass is not a necessity. In a recession, the cost of needs go down, but the cost of luxury items goes up
Click to expand...

I'm not an economist either, but I did minor in it at university, and this defies logic to me, sorry. :)

Define needs, and show examples of how in a recession, the cost of "needs" go down.

Isn't the definition of a recession that necessities get more expensive, so we can buy fewer luxuries than before?
 
#18
I think alot of prices went up because last year, when fuel prices went up so high, people started putting in higher prices. In some cases, the prices didn't get updated until recently - and people are going to wonder why.

I'm seeing that a bit in my line of work (online retail)
 

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