Posted by C(G) on March 25, 2003 at 02:14:04:
In Reply to: comparison of Japan brass instr. prices posted by js on March 24, 2003 at 23:34:57:
Here's another link, this one in Japan:
http://www.izutsugakki.com/wind/tp.html
The discount price (128000 Yen) isn't that much different from the US discount, but get a load of the Japan MSRP: 160000 Yen (1338.86 USD).
Now, here's another site, this time in the UK:
http://www.bandsupplies.co.uk/Brass.asp?SubCategory=82. It shows only one price (GBP 770) which translates to 1214.41 USD. No MSRP shown. But the the UK has substantial import duties.
Okay, how about Germany? Thomann is a big outfit:
http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/artikel-128010.html?sn=c34f59ffc0f8e5aa93e781bd87e4cfb9
They want 1048 EUR, which translates to 1121.57 USD. According to them, the MSRP is 1430 EUR, which translates to 1530.35 USD.
So what does this show? Well, the big thing is that MSRP is a load of bullfeathers. The US seems to inflate list price like no other country. The shame is that some music stores will sell the horn to you for MSRP.