Posted by js on March 24, 2003 at 23:34:57:
When one takes this comparison of a fairly desirable Japan-made Bb trumpet sold for right at the very lowest price in the U.S.
http://www.music123.com/item/?itemno=25971
and in Australia (U.S. dollars)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2518413876&category=16214
one begins to get some idea of just how much the import firm in Michigan marks up the wholesale prices on these instruments before they ever arrive at U.S. music stores for consumption.