From fortepianonj@yahoo.com Wed Jul 14 19:35:35 2004
Subject:Re: Musings on the XK-3 brouhaha / lack of posts

There are real manufacturing cost differences between
a keyboard and an organ.

1) The furniture (case)
2) The Pedals and expression pedal
3) The Bench
4) Much longer warranty (which must be supported)
5) Additional keyboard
6) Additional internal features
7) Assembly of the internals and the organ
8) Additional shipping carton(s)
9) QC that requires more time, etc.
10) Higher cost marketing, advertising, and support
for the organ/church market.

When you add up the cost of all these components, it
is quite a lot more money. It almost seems as if some
of you just can't understand that manufacturing takes
money - and a LOT of it. These products don't sell
themselves either. Sales, marketing, and promotions
are a part of selling organs (& keyboards). You can't
expect a company to sell them cheaply just to please
people. No one will stay in business very long if that
happens. Keyboards are never expected to turn a big
profit for companies. It's more about volume (numbers)
and getting x number of units out there with the name
on it. High quantities of units equals more people
owning your product and discussing it, just as they do
here.

HS knows that the recreation of the "New B-3" will
also be able to capture more $$ for other reasons:
1) The churches are the market, and they are better
equipped to afford one than you or I.
2) There is a certain amount of increase in money that
one will pay just to have the "New B-3."

There is no reason to reduce or justify the price of
the New B-3. It is worth $20,000 whether it is
mechanical or not. It is a fine product, and doing
very well, from what I see. The market will bear this
price point.

FP

> Then maybe H/S ought to reduce the price of the
> new B-3 to a reasonable price.
__________________________
>
> IF, and I say IF, the XK-3 has the same sound engine
> that the new B-3 has (that's what H/S claims), and
the XK-3 has enough sound generation for two
> manuals and pedals, then why does the new B-3 costs
> 10 times what the XK-3 costs? If there is
"something extra" about the new B that makes it more
than a
> XK-3 with two manuals and pedals, then why is "the
> Ham-Suz lower-manual project for the XK-3 cancelled,
because it would cut into sales of the B-3p."? If
there is "something extra" about the new B, is it
enough to justify pricing it at $20,000?
>
> Bill
>



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