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Why Is Fender Raising Their Prices AGAIN!!!!

#81
If people stopped paying the increased prices the companies would stop raising the prices. But, in the greedy business fashion, rather then lower the prices the company would just raise the prices further to make the same profit from selling fewer units.

I also feel that many times businesses see variances in other markets as a good excuse to raise their prices more than any reason.
 
#82
Chris Breese said:
Over here in the US, you can get any color you want, as long is it's Blizzard Pearl... Or black.. white.. sunburst. ZZZZZZZZZ. *Snort* Candy cola...

If they started producing some of that stuff over here and make it available to us, wouldn't it fly off the shelves?!

Hey! Fender USA! You listening?!!
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I happened to call Fender Customer Service the other day to ask why some "new" American Standards (which came out in '08) have an '07 S/N. He said it's because they have a certain number of S/N's to use in any given year. If they still have some "left over" (at the end of '07, lets say), they go ahead and use up the '07 numbers, even though the new American Standards were all made in '08. He said they don't like to "waste" the numbers they already set aside. Didn't make much sense to me, but that's what he said.

But I digress. The real reason I'm replying is because I asked if the '09 American Standards would be offered in any new colors. He did not sound adamant about it, but said he does NOT believe they will be offered in any new colors in '09 (at least for the Am. Stds.).
 
#84
look at japan in relation to the u.s. on a globe--it takes a lot of fossil fuel to get something from one of those places to the other...it takes less fossil fuel to get something from california to the rest of the continental u.s.--it's starting to diminish the returns of outsourcing mfg, evident by the narrowing of the price gap between the CIJ and MIA models
 
#85
:bassist:
rarisgod said:
Not even that long ago, I saw the Geddy Lee bass for around $700...odd, why are they so expensive?
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For what it is worth, I bought a Geddy Lee last week new on ebay from a music store in Ohio. The list price was still $849, listed as the buy it now price, with an "or best offer."

Figuring I would low ball and see what happened, I put my best offer in at $600. They countered at $735. I countered at $650, they came back at $675, and I accepted.

This made me think that the reason the prices were higher, it because they were selling enough to justify a price hike. But the Fender price to the store must be about the same, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to come down so far. This was a 2008 GL brand new in the box. Just my 2 cents.

If you want to buy one new, get out your haggling shoes my friends.
 
#87
()smoke() said:
look at japan in relation to the u.s. on a globe--it takes a lot of fossil fuel to get something from one of those places to the other...it takes less fossil fuel to get something from california to the rest of the continental u.s.--it's starting to diminish the returns of outsourcing mfg, evident by the narrowing of the price gap between the CIJ and MIA models
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What about the MIM Reggie Hamilton price increase?
 
#88
Tyrannius said:
What about the MIM Reggie Hamilton price increase?
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inflation probably has a lot to do with it, but i'm sure there are plenty of corporate decisions behind the increases as to which lines/models...probably a lot to due with maintaining a perception of quality amongst price points, etc...

i don't know if any of the specific models mentioned are CIJ other than the GL an MM, just wanted to point out the idea as it relates to those increases--i've read a few pieces on it recently, and i think it'll affect u.s. prices of asian-produced goods even moreso in the future
 
#89
I can't believe that y'all are bitching about a couple of hundred bucks in a bass with gas having near tripled in the same period of time. You seriously consume a boat load more gas than you do bass guitars. The costs of materials and transportation have gone up. The cost of finished good will also go up after a lag period. Guess what - the lag period is over.

BTW - what the heck does a dollar increase in the minimum wage have to do with a $100 increase in the cost of a bass ? How many minumum wage dollars do we think Fender actually consumes in the US? Not very many is my guess ... I'd love for someone to find that out. That idea is just daft...
 
#90
No doubt inputs such as material and energy have increased in teh latest commidities bubble, but this is Fender excercising its pricing power, pure and simple, IMO.

The dollar to the Yen has not moved that much, and Japan has had a deflationary or flat economy so wages have not moved that much. So I don't see the drivers to justify a price increase of thie magnatude other than the supply and demand curve. They are just raising the price because they can. This is one of their best selling basses. People want them. And the economy is not as important a factor for kids who want these basses. They'll mow lawns, swap gear, and spend the cash in a heartbeat as long as their parents are putting food on the table and a roof over their heads.
 
#94
I have only recently started to feel your pain, but not because of Fender, because of Guitar Center. As a former GC employee my ex co-workers would sell things to me at cost! However since GC has changed ownership, they have hard minimums that don't allow for discounts. This is by no means a complaint, just a realization that times are a-changin.

See you in line when I buy my $1,000 Geddy Lee and $45 DR Strings.
 
#95
Slackerprince said:
Now that times are tough, I have seen a HUGE increase in used gear on Craigslist recently.
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Yep, I've actually been considering selling my beloved White Sparkle Sterling. That's something I thought I'd never do. LA was hit pretty hard with the Writer's strike and now SAG might be striking too. If thinks don't pick up around here, it's by by Sterling :bawl:
 

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