Double Bass Chinese bows - a perspective

[Andy Mopley]

Let's say a Chinese bow is on ebay for USD100.
At current exchange rate it equals 670 Chinese Yuan
The average monthly salary in China is reportedly about USD 1,200 per month
Thus USD100 is roughly a tenth of their monthly salary.

In the US, by comparison, some figures show $3,714 per month
A Finale bow at String Emporium is around USD360 / also roughly 10%.

Hence, I wonder if, on this crude comparison - and I don't want to get into an economic discussion here - a Chinese bow is indeed "cheap" as defined by a lot of people, when considering the price at which they are sold, relative to their income?

Disclaimer - I have no commercial connection or any other affiliations with Chinese bow manufacturers.

Regards to all

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Absurd. The US and Chinese economies are not remotely comparable in any quantifiable manner.

 

[Tom Lane]

Let's say a Chinese bow is on ebay for USD100.
At current exchange rate it equals 670 Chinese Yuan
The average monthly salary in China is reportedly about USD 1,200 per month
Thus USD100 is roughly a tenth of their monthly salary.

In the US, by comparison, some figures show $3,714 per month
A Finale bow at String Emporium is around USD360 / also roughly 10%.

Hence, I wonder if, on this crude comparison - and I don't want to get into an economic discussion here - a Chinese bow is indeed "cheap" as defined by a lot of people, when considering the price at which they are sold, relative to their income?

Disclaimer - I have no commercial connection or any other affiliations with Chinese bow manufacturers.

Regards to all

So Andy, I'm a bit confused by your post because you stated that you didn't want to get into "an economic discussion" but... that's exactly how you've framed this issue, so, what are you looking for?
I can tell you as an economist, that "all markets are local". Meaning that your apartment rent depends completely on where you live, how "good" the neighborhood is, and how convenient and safe it is, and varies literally from block to block. The internet has created a different type of "local market" that is no longer completely geographically based and varies depending on your country's web accessibility rules, it's mail and customs import rules, so... can you specify a bit more on your question?

 

[Andy Mopley]

Guys - all that I was trying to point out was that a Chinese bow, at USD100, represents, in % terms, the same amount of money that a Finale bow (or other comparable bows) would, using monthly income as the reference point. In other words, I THINK (and I am not an economist) that USD100, in Chinese money, represents a considerable amount of money for that country hence the notion that a Chinese bow is "cheap" at the USD100 mark is probably relevant compared to other markets, yet it would seem to me to be a considerable amount of money in China... I see how how this would need to be turned into a greater economic argument, maybe I oversimplified what may be a larger, more complex issue?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

You oversimplified what is absolutely a larger, more complex issue.

 

[eh_train]

The internet has created a different type of "local market"

It's definitely not an apples/apples comparison. This is the crux: North Americans can buy a bow from Asia for several hours worth of our salaries, not 10% of our monthly salaries.

 

[unbrokenchain]

Global wealth inequality and exchange rates are humongous issues and deserve to be discussed for sure, but they affect a lot more than the DB bow market, and I think are probably well outside the scope of typical discussion here...

 

[Lee Moses]

It's all circular. Of course a $100 bow would seem more expensive in China--the primary reason merchandise, including bows, is produced so cheaply in China is because labor is so cheap. But those same laborers obviously don't have much buying power, and the goods they make are not primarily being produced for the Chinese market, but rather for other markets with greater buying power.

 

[damonsmith]

Also, China is a big place. America is too big to generalize about and China is much bigger. There are people there who have gotten good at making bows and basses and undoubtedly many who are still terrible.
What seems to be "new" is better materials run through these cheap but experienced factories.

 

[jsf729]

Meanwhile in China, a Chinese bassist is wondering "How the heck can American bassists pay so much for a bow?"....

 

[Jacob_9012]

The idea that you've hit here is much bigger than how it affects double basses. This wealth inequality, labor cost difference, and currency exchange are what makes China such a large exporter. China takes advantage of these factors to export large quantities of cheaper products to countries like America. That is why you can generally always by something cheaper on eBay from China than you could here in America.