R&C Prices on the Rise!!!!

[sycc]

My recently aquired Rampone nino listed for $4199(Mathew Aaron(owner of SaxForte) and I negotiated a good deal on mine) on the SaxForte site. I bought the last nino he had. The nino(s) on order now list for $4615. If you want a R&C,I would get one now;if you wait it will hurt your wallet more. The dollar weakens against the Euro more every day it seems.

[goodsax]

Are you looking for a contra-bass to play before you turn 40? ;)

[sycc]

Nah I'm good to go!!!!The wife says your're 40 now so your back on a short leash!!!!LOL I turned 40 nov 10.

[tjontheroad]

With such a limited distribution channel and a no return policy, I can't see how raising prices is going to help cover the exchange rate costs (if that's reason for the increase). It's only going to make possible buyers look elsewhere. Therefor, less sold and less profit.

[milandro]

Aside from the exchange rate............ have you seen anything of all the metals, overhead costs and consumables which are needed to produce and sell saxophones (or anything else for that matter) going down in price? Even just to keep up with the real inflation (not the official one they tell you about.... but the one you feel in the pocket) you need to rise prices...........

[sycc]

I think(not sure) R&C only makes about 800 saxes a year. I wonder what the % is that comes to the USA. I know anout 20% of Selmers(paris) are USA bound!!!!!Selmer Paris makes about 1500 saxes a month.

[sycc]

And gold is on the rise!!!!The nino that went up in price is 24K heavy gold plate. At $800 an ounce I wonder how much gold is on a 2-3 lb nino.

[sycc]

Well at least you get red brass(R1 jazz) w/ the price increase as opposed to yellow brass(R1). Mathew Aaron(SAxForte) has ordered the R1 jazz instead of the R1.

[queperknuckle]

I almost sold my soprano twice, and both times I played it as was just blown away again and couldn't sell it. So, I guess I'm gonna have to be a doubler on alto and soprano. How will I find the time? These gold plated sops sing so wonderfully it makes me wanna cry.

[littlemanbighorn]

I wonder how much gold is on a 2-3 lb nino.

Not much.

[playitfunky]

I wouldn't worry about the dollar going much lower. The trade deficit is starting to shrink because of the low dollar. As the trade deficit shrinks the dollar will gain in value and eventually be more like 1.25 to 1 Euro instead of 1.45 like right now. We went through the same thing with the Yen in the 80's.

I'd say only run out and make a big purchase like a top of the line Saxophone based on when you can afford it best, and if you need it at all. Don't run out because you think the dollar is going to keep dropping. The few hundred dollars you might save aren't worth making a snap decision.

[playitfunky]

Not much.

I agree there prob is like 1-2 grams of actual gold in them if even that. I'm no expert so I don't want to say I know but I would agree not much.

[Sigmund451]

Turning the dollar into the Peso is one hell of a way to address a trade deficit!

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face...

[Yellowhorn]

Not only RC - which is a known Italian brand that has been in business for quite some time - has raised prices, but Taiwanese ones, particularly P Mauriat, that are new in the trade have also done it.

But you have to ask yourself, which one between the RC and PM will retain its value in the long run?

[Sigmund451]

Dont forget the other reasons companies increase their price: "Because we can".

In addition to the current economic factors there are those who increase margins because of the publics expectation of price hikes. Its easier to increase profit and spread the blame than to wait till you have to shoulder it yourself.

[sycc]

It went up more!!!It's $4774 now up from 4615. Still on order. Mine listed for $4199. I got a good deal from Mathew Aaron(SaxForte). Must say if I had to pay $4774 it might have been a no go on the Rampone!!!!I'm grateful I got mine at a good price back in November!!!

[milandro]

as I said before....the free fall of the U.S. $ is responsible for the price increase at the American end but also inflation in Italy accounts for price rise.....I don't know where you live..... but in the last few yeras the only things going down in price in Europe are cellphones and phone fares....the rest is all gone up.....perhaps you didn't notice but the petrol (gasoline for those who call it this way) is going up and up like a rocket all the time.....

[sycc]

I ordered a R1 jazz baritone to low Bb while it's still feasible to own one. R&C prices went up 5% to 12% as of March 1. Here's a link to price increases. http://saxforte.com/index.html

[sycc]

It went up more!!!It's $4774 now up from 4615. Still on order. Mine listed for $4199. I got a good deal from Mathew Aaron(SaxForte). Must say if I had to pay $4774 it might have been a no go on the Rampone!!!!I'm grateful I got mine at a good price back in November!!! $4965 now!!!!

[milandro]

metals, gas and transports up, dollar down, RAMPONE up........these are the facts of life ;) :(

[wyliecoyote]

A "couple of grams" of gold is not going to go very far..electroplating a sax..certainly not enough for a bari. There is also the rising expense of the "precoat"...silverplating. My gold plated bari is worth more now..right?;)

I'm a dental director of a large health clinic. I can tell you that our dental lab costs for gold crowns and bridges has become prohibitive.

[sycc]

R&C ninos went through the roof since I bought mine in Nov 07. There up again and are now special order only!!!!! http://saxforte.com/saxophones/available_saxophones/available_saxophones.html#rcnino While I love my R&C nino if it cost that much in Nov 07 I'd of bought a Yanagisawa nino. That's alot of green for a specialty "fun" sax.

[wyliecoyote]

Most everything is going thru the roof...Yani and Selmer prices haven't exactly cruised in neutral! Most of this is going to go to the wayside..once the Chinese figure out how to make a respectable horn(s). If they do...my guess is that Selmer...Yani...Yamaha...R&C...etc...will greatly lose ground in an already tight market.

[sycc]

That's why I ordered the R&C Jazz low Bb baritone. I think in 5-10 years The big 4 and Rampone will be in bad shape. People will flock to the cheaper chinese saxes once their horns are rspectable. I wanted a hand made baritone while it is still a viable option.