Significant Fender price increases coming next month

[tekhna]

Supposedly, anyway. Really hard to imagine spending $1000 on a Player II, but the introduction of the Standard line makes a whole lot more sense.

 

[jd56hawk]

I've been expecting this for quite some time, and I welcome it.

 

[Thumpin6string]

They are already way overpriced for what they are. A price increase should steer more buyers away. Too bad.

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

Thanks for sharing. I was expecting to see it hit in a couple months.
Support your local luthier.

 

[vvvmmm]

I just rec'd the '25 of one of those pricing books - last one I had was from '22.

My decent gear pretty much consistently went up 25-33% since then.

No surprise to me that Big Bass & Guitar prices are going up significantly as well.

But I do hope it's not 25-33%, or even 10%.

I mean, from what I've read, any new car now gonna cost mebbe three Player II's more.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Is it the whole Fender line, or just Mexican imports that may be subject to a 25% tariff? ? Doesn't sound like a great idea in a market already awash with perfectly playable, high quality instruments for 1/4-1/2 the price, not to mention a complete glut of used instruments. What new "improvements" are they offering to justify a price increase? Fender makes good quality basses and guitars, but they aren't 2-3 times "better" in terms of playability or tone than their competitors, at least to my ears and eyes. This sounds like Bad Business 101 to me.

 

[InhumanResource]

Can’t say I’m surprised.

 

[InhumanResource]

Is it the whole Fender line, or just Mexican imports that may be subject to a 25% tariff? ? Doesn't sound like a great idea in a market already awash with perfectly playable, high quality instruments for 1/4-1/2 the price, not to mention a complete glut of used instruments. What new "improvements" are they offering to justify a price increase? Fender makes good quality basses and guitars, but they aren't 2-3 times "better" in terms of playability or tone than their competitors, at least to my ears and eyes.

Justification? Desire for more money and/or increased costs = higher price. The timing is good for gouging and there is nothing in place to prevent it, so here we are.

 

[N4860]

Not surprised at all to see that. Doesn't bother me though as I have no interest in any Fender instruments.

 

[JazznFunk]

Now he whiplashed and said no tariffs for at least another month, at least on Mexican imports. People are getting tired of this back and forth real fast at all levels. It's not good business practice or policy, but hey... it's not unexpected. I wonder if this will still affect their pricing short term, or if they'll just raise prices and say 'it is what it is... deal with it', like what Lakland and others did at the start of the year for their imported lines.

 

[darwin-bass]

Inflation makes living more expensive. People need higher salaries and this puts pressure on businesses. Add tariffs to increase the cost of materials and there are reasons for price increases that don’t rely on greed.

Mix in some greed to amplify the situation.

 

[Swipter]

They are probably going up because of the "new" standard line. I love love my 2014 fender standard stratocaster. This separates the Player II from the pack, but $1k is too much.

I also have all the fender basses I want or need.

 

[JazznFunk]

Inflation makes living more expensive. People need higher salaries and this puts pressure on businesses. Add tariffs to increase the cost of materials and there are reasons for price increases that don’t rely on greed.

Mix in some greed to amplify the situation.

Especially when it's inflation that could be avoided by making decisions which are rooted in sound economic policy, versus using it as a petty retaliation technique. I don't put this down to greed on Fender's part. I put it down to greed and pettiness in other areas.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Now he whiplashed and said no tariffs for at least another month, at least on Mexican imports. People are getting tired of this back and forth real fast at all levels. It's not good business practice or policy, but hey... it's not unexpected. I wonder if this will still affect their pricing short term, or if they'll just raise prices and say 'it is what it is... deal with it', like what Lakland and others did at the start of the year for their imported lines.

the month reprieve is just on auto stuff

 

[H K]

AGAIN?
Or have they not increased in the US yet? Over here they've hiked prices atleast twice since covid already.

 

[Discount Bassy]

Fender has been able to scrape by with the eensiest of wee profit margins for a long time. There is no way to reduce their minimal profits further, much less sate their starving shareholders begging crumbs on Wall Street. I guess average people will have to take the hit and spend a few of their huge stacks of cash.

 

[JazznFunk]

the month reprieve is just on auto stuff

Not according to the news in the last hour or so. A reprieve on all products from Mexico until April... maybe longer. Stay tuned! Another example of how quickly these poor decisions confuse everyone at all levels, especially those who have to set prices based on this constant flip flopping.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Justification? Desire for more money and/or increased costs = higher price. The timing is good for gouging and there is nothing in place to prevent it, so here we are.

And that's the unfortunate truth, a lot of US companies may use a Trade War as an excuse to price-gouge, sounds like maybe Fender is jumping on that bandwagon. Curious to see if the other Majors follow suit. It's not much skin off my back either way (yet), since I build my own instruments.... until a similar level of inflation hits the price of rough lumber (which is already insanely expensive) and guitar parts, of which virtually all are imported. Up is Down, Night is Day. Interesting times we live in.

 

[logdrum]

You do not need new basses every year. My first bass which was the only one I had for many years served me well. It's not food but that is probably going to increase too. That is something to worry about. I'll show myself out.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Not according to the news in the last hour or so. A reprieve on all products from Mexico until April... maybe longer. Stay tuned! Another example of how quickly these poor decisions confuse everyone at all levels, especially those who have to set prices based on this constant flip flopping.

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