I‘ve noticed there’s a trend with new synths where the price often goes down a few days after release at all or at least several retailers. It’s happening to Tonverk right now, at least in Germany, several retailers sell it way below 1.400€ but started at that price. Same happened with Bento a few months ago where it was 100€ more after release and then permanently dropped a few days later. I also remember this happening with several new Elektrons like ST but I also think the digi IIs.
So why the hell is this happening? It’s definitely not because they don’t sell otherwise, TV is number 1 in Thomann‘s sampler category right now. It also doesn’t seem to be the case that it’s tariffs necessarily, because it also happened with ST and prices tend to go lower instead of higher offen (before there’s a permanent price increase like we‘ve seen over the past years with nearly everything).
Yeah getting extra money in the bump if you can, from the people who just can’t wait feels like pretty rational economics to me. That said I can’t see why retailers wouldn’t compete on price during that period like any other?
I’ve been getting some very shady vibes from companies’ practices for a while already.
Pricing is one of those things, I think it started with COVID unpredictability and stock uncertainty &price speculation.
And then there’s also quality control issues, unfinished products, bugs, over the top marketing, YouTubers&synthfluencers (a lot of conflict of interests), and other stuff, that makes me feel really yucky for having participated (and indulged) in this as a consumer.
So returning the device for free after a month and buying another one cheaper also feels like pretty rational economics to me.
If many people do that, you’d even have a reasonable chance getting one that is cheaper than the reduced price (B stock). If you’re lucky, you’ll even get the one you sent back
Possibly the most basic supply & demand + inventory management dynamics. it’s likely all up and down during first weeks of new product introduction and stabilities over time afterwards.
But that’s what I’m wondering: the price for TV has already gone down a week after release on several platforms.
I guess I’m just a hit surprised since I’m used to something like a video game console having a set price decided by the company making it which retailers will then also stick to, until the company decides to raise or lower the price.
Oh I see - it’s been £1200 everywhere in the UK, maybe stock is different where you are? Or I’m not seeing the cheaper shops.
The video game pricing thing is an interesting story - I remember when Tesco got in serious heat for loss-leading video games as it was destroying dedicated retailers businesses.
There’s several shops in Germany that sell it between 1320 and 1400 €, so significantly cheaper than the official price. There also seem to be B-stocks popping up regularly as many people seem to send it back.
I’m not sure what margins they run at Elektron, but it does kinda seem like they were a bit confident (to use the bad gear terminology) wrt pricing here.
Not bashing the company at all. I would think they’re strong enough to operate in the synth space similar to how Apple positions themselves as a premium desktop / laptop / handset manufacturer. Definitely not the same as TE’s moonshot pricing which relies more on [removed by mods].
Maybe someone(s) simply miscalculated on strategy here?
I am mostly out of new Hardware in general. Bought a REV2-8 a few years ago. 1200€
Now its 2699€, that is just nuts. So maybe they ran the maths and sell less for higher will add up. I don‘t know.
Same with Elektron Stuff. 100€ up here 200€ up there. Its Inflation they say.
Only way why Tonverk is going down seems to be that it undersells. Maybe first place at thomann, but its new and shiny. Still think people are going Digitakt or Octatrack.
By the way you see that greed thing backfire in general at the moment. People have less money. Nintendo tried to raise prices. It backfired. All Games came down at amazon for switch 2 games to come.
Nintendo is one of my favorite marketers. They’re breaking records for a new console release with the Switch 2, and it was just an iterative release. They do have pricing power but can’t go crazy.
This thesis still stands.
TL;DR => Console cycles smoothing out as kids who grew up on Nintendo become parents, and act as brand ambassadors to their own kids. Add in the new measured monetization of IP and addition of social to game play, for a winner over the next 5 to 10 years IMO.
MMW, people will be introducing their kids and grandkids to Elektron boxes just like the Nintendo model. Come to think of it, Elektron should do a theatrical release and maybe even partner up with Comcast / NBC Universal theme parks. Extend and smooth the hardware release cycles?
The price today at Thomann’s is indeed 2699 EUR. However, your 1200 EUR seems like it was a very good deal because, in January 2018, Thomann-de had listed it for 1659 EUR (internet archives: Dave Smith Instruments Prophet REV2-8 – Musikhaus Thomann). It is still an impressive price increase, though!
