Price Wars???
I was in my local music store yesterday to pick up some valve oil and some treble clef duets to take with me to England. I noticed a brand new Yamaha 321 (lacquer not silver) hanging on the wall. The small paper price sticker said $1,495. That seems like a very good price, since I know that the same store was selling the same model for nearer $2000 a year ago, This led me to believe that something is happenning in the market.
I know that franchise agreements do not permit retail and internet stores to "advertise" a price below a certain point. I usually use WWBW or Dillon's web listings as the benchmark for the best "advertised" price on horns. Since WWBW lists the lacquer 321 at $1,995 (which is a recent reduction) and Dillon lists it at $2,595, I am assuming that Yamaha's best advertised price is close to $1,995 for the lacquer 321. However, clearly stores such as mine are willing to "deal" at prices significantly below this price point and they have to be making some profit.
As a general comment to all...Is the price of brass instruments (Euphoniums in particular) undergoing a change? I would be interested in your experience on what the "real" price of the following three reference horns would likely be if purchased through a local dealer as compared with a large regional dealer such as Baltimore Brass, Dillon or Ferguson: (I will include WWBW advertised pricing for reference
Yamaha 321S (silver) - WWBW $2,095
Yamaha 642S - WWBW $5,401
Besson 2052-2 - WWBW $6,670
Any recent experience?
Doug
Adams E3 0.60 Sterling bell - Prototype top sprung valves
Concord Band
Winchendon Winds
Townsend Military Band