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Are stores a rip off or am I missing something?
- Thread starter dougfr67
- Start date
it’s not a rip off, it a marketing ploy to make you think you are getting a good deal. But really, a prudent marketer knows what the market may bear and will price accordingly, hence the gap.
As a buyer, it is good stewardship to find where the best value is on a purchase.
Don't forget to check shipping. Sweetwater won't open for me, but TalkBass' shipping is "free". Well, it's never really "free". More like "Included".
I didn't say that, responded to the OP's question.
The point is, manufacturers and retail stores can charge whatever they want and what some thing is "worth" is irrelevant.
Take a marketing or business class sometime.
If I want to charge you twice what it cost me to make something, then that's called profit. If I sell it for less than what it cost to make, that's called close the store. Anything in between starts to cut into employees and owners livilyhoods. Would you want to work for a company that no longer lets you put food on the table or buy shoes for your kids? You're not just buying several strands of metal. If you base the value on the the cost of raw materials alone, you got it all wrong.
I think you are missing the point of your own question. At least the way you've been asking it so far. The responses here have been spot on for what you've previously said.
The answer is yes. If that's what everyone sells them for, and enough people are willing to pay that price.
Are you questioning the build quality, or some other feature against the MSRP? Because if you are, you haven't said so.
What makes you the person who gets to decide the value for the rest of us? If you don't want to pay the going rate, which is less than $55 by all accounts, move on. It's a personal choice each of us gets to make.
Don't see why you're getting hung up on some fictional price. The value is what the general public is willing to pay. If you're budget is below that, you'll have to look elsewhere.
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That's because you're smart enough to understand what they're doing. But there are still a lot of people out there who are taken in by that psychology. If it wasn't effective, the marketing folks would move on to a more sophisticated ploy.
It's like buying anything: Know . . . Your . . . Prices. And when to hit the BUY button or reach for your wallet.
Then you know if THIS is a great deal and THAT is not. And lots of times, stores in brick-and-mortar and online run 'string deals!' as a promotion to get you in the door to try and sell you something else.
Keeping track of this in the grocery store is quite the education. I bought coffee yesterday, and the store had older pre-COVID-crash-date-of-manufacture that was 32oz for $7.99 and the new 26oz. packaging of the very same coffee in the new-since-COVID-price increase/portion shrinkage for . . . . $7.99. I bought the last four 32oz ones then and there.
This sort of thing goes on in every kind of retail sale, from appliances to zucchini. I hate paying too much, so I learn the prices and buy when I get a deal. Sooner or later, everything . . . . goes on sale. Getting in a hurry can cost you.
Then you know if THIS is a great deal and THAT is not. And lots of times, stores in brick-and-mortar and online run 'string deals!' as a promotion to get you in the door to try and sell you something else.
Keeping track of this in the grocery store is quite the education. I bought coffee yesterday, and the store had older pre-COVID-crash-date-of-manufacture that was 32oz for $7.99 and the new 26oz. packaging of the very same coffee in the new-since-COVID-price increase/portion shrinkage for . . . . $7.99. I bought the last four 32oz ones then and there.
This sort of thing goes on in every kind of retail sale, from appliances to zucchini. I hate paying too much, so I learn the prices and buy when I get a deal. Sooner or later, everything . . . . goes on sale. Getting in a hurry can cost you.
It’s always been this way. Just like mattresses and furniture.
Always on sale. Buy now!
Always on sale. Buy now!
Sweetwater does not charge for shipping. Plus you get candy!
Folks that paid $55 gave much better reviews than those that paid $23.
some small mom and pop shops may charge the full MSRP as they probably don't get the discounts larger stores get due to ordering volume.
btw, many kinds of stores do the same thing. it takes about a second to look the item up online and see what everyone is charging for it.
btw, many kinds of stores do the same thing. it takes about a second to look the item up online and see what everyone is charging for it.
Im surprised the ad didn't have a "low inventory warning" to also try to bait you into purchasing. That marketing team is slacking.
If the store cannot produce invoices that others paid $55[mrsp] then it is not a sale.
If they always had it listed at $23 and offer 10-15% off that price then it is a sale.
Instead of looking for discount off MRSP see what you can get for that price range.
IE: If and Amp is listed $1000 on sale for $500 and another is listed MRSP for $400 but priced at $500 and sounds better and built with same Quality it is the better value.
If they always had it listed at $23 and offer 10-15% off that price then it is a sale.
Instead of looking for discount off MRSP see what you can get for that price range.
IE: If and Amp is listed $1000 on sale for $500 and another is listed MRSP for $400 but priced at $500 and sounds better and built with same Quality it is the better value.
