Rip off pricing ??? Your observations please.

[newkid]

Got a catalog yesterday.
Looked at some things I had recently bought.
Prices are up 40% !!! over their last catalog.

Up 70% !!!!!! over their last sale price when I bought.

Either inflation is much worse than bamas boys are admitting
or this is a rip off.

Did they raise the prices before Christmas just to gouge people?

I know catalogs tend to be higher priced than looking directly at their web site. And that is usually higher than other web sites. If you look around usually somebody is having a sale or at least a better price than this.

What are your observations?
Are prices going up? Or is this an exception.

How would you buy gear at the lowest price without getting screwed by a scam ?? Any tips for saving money in these hard times with the economy ??

[Husky Band]

What catalog? What equipment?

[newkid]

Originally Posted by Husky Band

What catalog? What equipment?

Not sure. I get a lot of catalogs.
Possibly musicians friend. Might have been GC's other web site.
They all look alike after awhile.

The item was mikes. MXL was 49 last time, 69 now
and was on sale for 39 last summer.

[garageband]

prices go up
prices go down
just like milk and eggs
doesnt mean any oliver stone jfkonspiracy

[newkid]

Originally Posted by garageband

prices go up
prices go down
just like milk and eggs
doesnt mean any oliver stone jfkonspiracy

True except for the eggs. They have done nothign but go up at our grocery store. Milk too, although they keep that somewhat low as a loss leader.

But if they don't come down then it is inflation - no?
And if they do come down after the holidays it was a gouge - no?

Just cause you are not paranoid does not mean that they are not out to get you.

[brandondrury]

prices go up
prices go down
just like milk and eggs
doesnt mean any oliver stone jfkonspiracy

Yup. I was quite frustrated with inflation about 18 months ago when gas was $4 a gallon, milk was $3.50, and seemingly everything was skyrocketing. Then gas went down to $2. Milk went down to $2. etc. I learned it ain't that big of deal. Inflation is real (some of that is actually an economic necessity), but it's not the end of the world. If you start believing it's a super problem, it is.

When you are talking about the super budget stuff the prices always fluctuate. They toss sales on all the time. They jack the price up. The pull it down. You never know what they are up to but I'm positive the price of a MXL has almost nothing to do with inflation.

Watching the prices of a U87 may be more indicative of economic events.

All the while, you can get 32" flat screen TVs for $320 now.

Brandon

[ankursamtaney]

I'd like to add that it doesn't make much sense saying prices are up 40% and 70% when you're looking at products that are as cheap as 50 bucks! It's a 20 - 30 dollar difference; not so bad when you look at it in absolute terms, is it? Makes sense in saying that prices have gone up 40% when something that was a 1000 bucks has shot up to 1400!

And yea, very often catalogues show higher prices than what you'd pay at the store. It's probably to do with restrictions placed by manufacturers such as not advertising prices that are below MSRP / MAP, etc.

[willjrockstar]

Originally Posted by ankursamtaney

I'd like to add that it doesn't make much sense saying prices are up 40% and 70% when you're looking at products that are as cheap as 50 bucks!.

+1 Why is this a thread

[String7th]

Most cheap pro-audio items that retail under $100 will end up being less than half if you are patient. I needed 2 talkback mics a while ago and saw Digital Reference brand vocal mics on sale for $60, marked down from $99. I still didn't want to spend $120 for 2 cheapo mics so I waited. After 2 months guitar center had a midnight madness sale, got 3 for $90.

Oh, and I ignore the catalog prices. They change the prices every month on thousands of items. And catalogs like Full Compass and B&H, only list retail prices. They know they would never sell it for that much, it's just for reference.

[shackman]

Originally Posted by newkid

True except for the eggs. They have done nothign but go up at our grocery store.

Hey Whomper: do what we did: Get yourself some CHICKENS!