Recent raise in prices?

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:27 pm

Given that this change wasn't even announced to our staff until about 4PM today, any changes by dealers out there would be entirely coincidental. Most dealers probably won't figure this out until they receive their new price list in the mail days from now.

It should also be noted that this is the first increase since January 1999 and it's not even across the board- the C Series for instance haven't changed a penny.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:57 pm

hey don't give him any ideas!

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:04 pm

John, you did well to hold the line on prices for 6 years. I wish some of your competition would follow suit. But then again, let them keep raising their prices with impunity. That only makes the 4003 look like an even better bargain.

brian · Post by **brian** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:11 pm

Hm, so the 380L is discontinued as well according to the news page.

ben_hall · Post by **ben_hall** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:47 pm

This is correct, no more 380 Laguna. Doesn't mean we don't have other ideas floating around the factory though...

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:44 am

I think it’s amazing that RIC has been able to hold their prices for such a long period of time.
For me a 4003 and a 4004Cii (5 string included) is a true value purchase.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:26 am

Andy, have you ordered a 4004/5Cii ?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:05 am

I thought the price of new Rics would go up ... because the the of used Rics are getting to the point that many of them sell for more than new ones ... so the price increase was driven from the bottom up ... also any business has increases in labor costs, and material costs, and operating costs ...

brian · Post by **brian** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:06 am

I'm sure the fact there are "other ideas floating around the factory" has generated interest here. I for one will be interested in seeing what any new model(s) announcement has to offer. While the information on what was considered but not offered will probably not be released, I'm sure that must be a very interesting topic as well for those involved in it.

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:49 am

Joey, not yet. I missed the FG a few weeks ago over at POTR. I called MP on Tuesday about ordering one for me but then the news broke on the new position of the pup. So then I figured I'd go for the one Ed R has but as usual he's trying to take advantage of a situation. So Joey I'm waiting to hear your comments on the new pup position – then I’ll decide.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:31 am

The used market has absolutely no bearing on the pricing of our products. We don't monitor used prices nor is there really any accurate way to do so over a large enough sample to mean anything.

Used prices are driven by supply and demand, as well as fashion. Our prices for new goods only reflect our exact costs to produce a specific product, supply and demand (and fashion) only determining unit sales, which in turn decides whether an item will remain in the line.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:25 am

well said!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:43 am

I would think that the prices of new instruments would, for the most part, determine the prices of used ones. The exceptions being the rarer models or colors.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:47 am

I would think so too, Ted, but the shortage of Ricks in the stores must be why some sellers show a higher-than-new BIN.

I'll be selling my Montezuma Brown 4003 before long. Now that the list price for the color-of-the-year model is $1729 and the color can no longer be ordered, I may be able get what I put into it ($1100). But I just don't understand listings for recent Fireglos or Mapleglos with a BIN $200 higher than you can buy a new one.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:57 am

I agree with Dave on all counts. The shortage of new instruments certainly pushes the the prices of the older ones up. If new Ricks were as plentiful today as they were 20 years ago, the used prices would be significantly lower. Ebay selling prices are sometimes puzzling.